Yoga session for Advanced Beginners (no instruction)
Added 7/12/2009
Professionally recorded, this yoga session is very soothing with emphasis on seamlessly integrating the breath with movement. This is not for novices due to the lack of instruction, but those who know how to do the asanas/poses correctly w/o any direction, and being able to know the poses by their Sanskrit name & not just English is better since the English name is never given.
The music is a live band, and you have the option of voice overs from either David Life who will always tell you when to inhale/exhale, the pose name, and generally is quiet, or Sharon Gannon who tells you always when to inhale/exhale, the pose name, as well as more mind/body awareness, and occasionally the benefits of poses (especially inverted).
The session is made for advanced beginners as the hardest poses are full wheel, and a headstand w/forearms done with David while Sharon stays in a high downward dog. The pace is almost yin yoga, you will be holding the pose for several/many breaths to really feel the stretch and to relax into the pose.
Grounding/chanting - (3 min) standing, just sometimes chanting OM
Sun Salutations - (6 min) mostly mountain, standing back bend, standing fwd bend, downward dog, plank, chaturanga, cobra, and adding lunges
Standing Poses - (13 min) warrior 1, triangle, warrior 2, side angle, pyramid, twisted prayer lunge, seated twist, fwd bend over simple seated cross legged pose, plank, chaturanga, cobra, downward dog. Repeat with the other foot fwd. This requires more lower body strength as you are doing all those poses on the same leg before allowed to switch. Next wide legged seated fwd bend, chaturanga, rest in downward dog.
Balancing - (2 min) Intro about balancing while resting in downward dog, side plank on both sides, chaturanga, rest in cobra
Back Bending - (6 min) locust, bow, bridge, wheel, rest, knees to chest, reclined spinal twist knees to side, downward dog.
Forward Bending - (4 min) intro while in staff/seated legs straight, single straight leg fwd bends both sides, butterfly, star seat (looser butterfly stretch), both straight leg fwd bend.
Inverted Poses - (13 min) shoulder stand straight legs up, plow & knees to floor, fish, child's pose, down dog w/head cradled between forearms in 1/2 headstand then full headstand if ready, child's pose.
Meditation/Savasana - 5 min seated & 5 min reclined
This was a very soothing session with great yogis, the only issue I had was when holding the pose, though I enjoyed the constant inhale/exhale overall, a few more benefits of the pose in between would have been good inbetween, and the counting of the breath (inhale/exhale 1, inhale/exhale 2, inhale/exhale 3 .... inhale/exhale 24...) was very annoying, like a very slow aerobics session.
Bonus:
Bios of both yogis
Over one minute freestyle yoga - demonstration of them doing harder poses
Almost 9 min. facial massage - voiced over by Sharon which includes a couple yoga facial poses, massage of the face/ears, and stimulating acupressure points of the face w/calming music.
Video Clips:
Trailer at: acaciacatalog
Sequence at: youtube under "Jivamukti Yoga Sequence"
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I love the live indian music and that you can have with Shannon's or Davids voice giving the instructions. You can also have just the music. Nice! Good balanced workout.
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Exotic Advanced Practice
Added 1/3/2009
If you are new to yoga, this is not a good place to start. This is definitely an advanced practice with quite a few challenges. The cueing is good but you have to know the poses beforehand so you can follow along quickly. Also, the headstand and shoulder stands are held for an extended time. Some of the poses are held for 10 to 26 breaths. You need to develop some endurance or you just have to try to hold the poses for as long as possible.
The set is gorgeous with flowing curtains, candles, pillows and carpets. David Life and Sharon Gannon sit and exercise on orange yoga mats. The music is beautiful with violin, drums, a sitar and flute performed exclusively for this workout.
The practice begins with sun salutations and works into standing poses like triangle, and warrior II. You might recognize plank, fish, downward facing dog, upward facing dog, cobra, backbends and forward bends. All the poses flow together well so you are getting a good cardiovascular workout.
What I liked most about this workout is the atmosphere (sunlight streaming into the room) and the fact that they include a meditation session and extended relaxation. What I didn't like was the music they played during the final relaxation and the comment about worshiping mother nature. Other than those two things I think this is a perfect workout with great appeal to anyone looking for the full yoga experience.
Something you might want to try is putting sandalwood, patchouli and ylang ylang in an oil burner. That helped me to relax and made the practice feel more authentic and healing.
~The Rebecca Review
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A wonderfully complete routine
Added 1/2/2009
For me this is a nearly perfect routine (full disclosure- I typically do kundalini yoga, but among the other yoga styles jivamukti is my favorite.) It has great pacing and isn't as predictable as most yoga DVDs. Even the sun salutations are slightly different- a typical "surya namaskar a" is followed by a variation on surya b.
I found myself feeling invigorated throughout rather than tired. I suppose this routine doesn't push me overly hard (I am approximately intermediate level), but it offers a great variety of poses. I like that the disc was willing to take a risk and include both shoulderstand and headstand (which I do against a wall for support). I also loved the bonus 10 minute facial massage, which is lovely to do with the facial serum / oil of your choice.
Regarding the music- I adored the background music throughout except for, as most everyone else has mentioned, during savasana. It didn't drive me to distraction as it did most reviewers, but I did roll my eyes the first time I heard it.
I had done some of the jivamukti CDs before this (I nabbed them when I visited the main studio on a trip to NYC), and found the DVD true to my prior experiences. Anyway, the Ana Brett/Ravi Singh DVDs will remain my favorites discs, but this is a great addition to my collection.
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Challenging, but definitely worth it.
Added 12/20/2008
This was my first experience with any kind of yoga. Not really knowing where to begin, I searched the web for information on all forms, and was really impressed with the videos I saw for Jivamukti. My daily exercise routine included running, push-ups, and sit-ups, but I really wanted something that would help 'center' me better. I have to admit, Jivamukti was very challenging at first, and I was wondering what good all my other exercise was doing for me, because I felt very 'weak' trying to follow David and Sharon through the exercises. But, as David says at the beginning, in time you will be amazed how your body and mind will benefit by keeping with the routines. I am still not totally one with Jivamukti, but I'm not giving up, because it really helps me physically, but more importantly, mentally.
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I like it but I don't...
Added 8/6/2009
This is for advanced beginners to intermediates because it does move fast and there are NO alignment cues.
What I found to be uncalming: the instructors count during all poses. They had the perfect opportunity to cue instead of saying one...two...three...four...The counting made me a little aggravated during the practice. They could just say, "take 5 breaths."
If you know how to do the poses correctly already, then it's ok not to have alignment cues, although they are always useful.
The practice is just under an hour and there are some nice sequences. They talk a bit rushed because they try to say a lot about being a vegetarian and Earth and other stuff...but no cues.
Overall, I would choose the music only option next time to avoid the counting because I did feel peaceful when the practice was finished. Also, the music was cool and that Michael Franti isn't too tough on the eyes either :)
Buy it if you already know how to perform the basic poses well.
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Faster Paced yoga w/David & Sharon then Jivamukti Yoga
Added 8/2/2009
Rebecca Johnson wrote a great review.
This 52 min. yoga session is a bit more fast paced then their "Transform Yourself with Jivamukti Yoga." The sun salutations are super fast, but they do slow down to hold the standing, twisting, etc. poses. David & Sharon take turns in voice over with telling you the sanscrit & English pose names & 1-2 sentence reminder on where to focus in the pose. This is not for anyone who doesn't know how to do the poses by name. They always tell you when to inhale/exhale, though they don't hold the poses anywhere as long as the Jivamukti Yoga. The pace of their speaking also seems very rushed in the beginning, like they only had the studio for a very short time, but it relaxes as it goes on. They don't count like they did in Jivamukti when holding a pose which is great.
With three people, they will demonstrate three different levels of some of the poses.
The faster paced feel may also be due to the music choices by Michael Franti, a lot of it has a more rock, jazz, etc. music tempo that isn't as soothing, but some might like this more. I do love Engima with it's heavy beat, but this is more regular rock, jazz, etc.
If you're looking for more relaxed pace, Jivamukti Yoga is the better choice, if you're for something that is bit faster paced, this is the better choice.
The ending credits are cool w/most of the production crew getting up to dance & seeing the entire set.
Bonus:
2 music videos
text bios
6 min. Soothing discussion about yoga & society, etc. w/David Life, Sharon Gannon & Michael Franti.
Freeform yoga with Sharon, David & Michael doing more advanced poses.
Video clip of part of the sun salutation that's at the beginning of the workout: "Feel Liberated with Jivamukti Yoga" on youtube
Edit: Yogabear points out there IS counting, which is very true. They just don't do it anywhere as badly as they did in Jivamukti, so it did not bother me much unlike it being the only thing that was highly distracting in Jivamukti. Since the poses are also held for a shorter time, it also doesn't build so it becomes annoying and they won't count every number in succession.
I do agree counting has no place in yoga, the only things you need is to know is in the next breath that you will be coming out of it, and possibly to know you will be holding that pose for a certain amount of time/breaths as you go into it, never more. Any other speaking should be how to do the pose, to be aware of your body, other spiritual reminders, etc., never a feeling that reminds you of a toning or an aerobics class.
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balanced and enjoyable yoga routine
Added 3/15/2009
I appreciate this DVD for its well-balanced approach. It has sun saluttaions, twists, inversions, balance, back bends, forward bends, lunges and standing poses. It feels like a complete session to work on flexibility, balance and strength. On several poses each of the three - Sharon, David and Franti offer a different variation.
It should work well for those looking for just plain asana or those who want some jivamukti philosophy as they do their physical yoga. There is some talking during the yoga session by David and Sharon of their yoga inspired brand of activism, but it isnt excessive. The bulk of the "power to the peaceful" theme is in the special features which I appreciate as I wouldnt want to listen to it every time I do the routine.
The one thing I found odd on the first few occasions was the counting. I associate counting with strength traning reps. David/Sharon count breaths. Most poses are held for five breaths. This is typical of some schools of yoga to hold a pose for a specified number of slow in-out breaths and I suppose counting is a good way to pace yourself, but I still found it strange to hear conting during yoga in almost every pose. I am used to it now. It does not detract from the enjoyment I find from this yoga routine.
I typically like eastern-fusion / middle eastern music with my yoga, but Franti's music works well too. It definitely adds to the mood which is one of happiness. I like the light-heartedness and celebration of life that David and Sharon emanate when they do yoga.
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