Customer Reviews

Kundalini Yoga for Energy & Super Radiance! ALL LEVELS - with Ana Brett and Ravi Singh

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kundalini Yoga for Energy and Super Radiance

This is a gorgeous, energizing, challenging and fun class. The new background, featuring a lovely beach scene, blue skies and lush tropical foliage is a nice transition from the simple sets of the past. The music is almost entirely new and is the perfect accompaniment to the exercises.

All of the usual Ravi/Ana magic is here but with new energy, a new look and Ana has never seemed stronger or in better shape, inside and out. I found myself enjoying the music and mantras on this one so much I do hope a CD is forthcoming, which I believe Ana said is on the horizon.

The warm up series is terrific and offers a combination of my old favorites with new twists, such as adding the dolphin-like dive motion to the cat/cow series.

The Radiance Stretching section is delightful and would make a great morning transition segment to wake up and get things moving, or a fabulous post cardio stretch as well. The new ankle circles while squatting on the balls of the feet is really wonderful. That's an area that is most often missed or ignored.

The Radiance Super Set is very dynamic and really gets energy moving without overdoing it or seeming like too much kinetic motion. Low impact variations are offered for all of the jumping jack moves and scissors, and this includes some nice stretching, standing meditation breaks (which you will need!) and some new moves. I think this is a really fun section and I kept feeling like a kid at recess on the playground for some reason!

The Radiance Salutation set is intense...I've always been both annoyed and delighted by the Kundalini exercises that repeat for lengths of time that challenge me like this. On the one hand, there's a phase where it seems almost torturous as my ego gets involved, I react and want to stop. But then if I endure while listening to my body, it becomes invigorating and a wave of energy comes in to carry me through, and at the end of it all I feel so purged of anxiety or excess energy it's this blissful surrender and deep relaxation ensues. Really deep!

I don't think a Deep Relaxation ever felt better, honestly, because the Radiance set really got me going. And this is nice and long so I could really continue to release layer upon layer of stress and tension remaining...and personally, I LOVE what Ravi and Ana have to say during these sections, and all throughout the classes. I just melt.

The two meditations/mantras on here are among my favorites, and while the Solar Power meditation does, I believe, appear on an earlier DVD, I liked the timing and rhythm of this one much more...it was very smooth, very easy to let go and flow.

The Adi Shakti mantra is a great way to center and direct loving, healing energy within you, and I love to use this during my cycle; it's great for helping me with pms symptoms or just to honor that feminine aspect of myself.

The DVD closes, as always, with three breaths and directed intentions along with the long Sat Nam.

They include the Breath Primer, which makes this a great DVD for all levels and even when you've been doing Kundalini and its many breaths for years, it's nice to use this as a refresher and it's great for getting grounded and centered anytime.

I really love this one, this will become as much a staple of practice for me as Yoga Beauty Body has been because I feel it really covers all the bases and I loved the way I felt afterwards. I know for me, the tendency might be to skip the more challenging Radiance Salutation but after charging through and feeling like a true spiritual warrior I urge you not to miss out on that experience.

There are so many ways to use and play with this DVD, I really love it.

Here's the breakdown:

Tune In (1:52)
Done to a new tune, 3x as always

Yoga Radiance Warm Up: (7:12)
Sufi grinds
Spinal flexes w/arms at right angles (dynamic and energizing!)
Spiral reaches, right and left, arm extends on each side
Cat/cow, tucking toes under on cow, point toes flat on ground on cat
Cat/cow variation w/dive pose, like a wave motion
Piston with arms extended, hands clasped, up and down (only to chest level)

Yoga Radiance Stretching Plus: (8:42)
Life nerve stretch, sitting, legs out, reach forward & back (like a rowboat, old move)
Rag doll (like the last series)
Seated side tilts, rolling on the hips side to side, feet on floor, knees bent, hands behind
Continue but add arm reaches on each side to deepen the move
Legs wide apart/seated, deep side stretches, forearms against legs to deepen stretch
Same position, come forward onto forearms, flex feet, maintain static stretch & breathe!
Squatting, on balls of feet, circles with the ankles, slow and gentle, both directions

Energy & Radiance Super Set: (17:53)
Standing, legs hips width or so, arms parallel, sit in a chair and come up (squats)
Standing alternating lunges, arms parallel to the sides, alternating with legs
Continue with impact if possible, roman scissor jacks, 30 seconds, w/BOF
Low-impact alternating side steps w/arms (prep for jacks)
Jumping Jacks, same arms, w/BOF, 30 seconds
Star pose (legs apart, arms extended), deep breaths
Move into windmill, stretching/twisting arm down to opposite foot/leg
Standing meditation for a moment
Standing, hands on hips, alt extend foot in a flexion while chanting Har
Repeat 1st squatting exercise
Standing, step out side to side, arms rising front up/down, then side up/down
Transition into jumping jack w/BOF, same arms
Star pose again, deep breaths
Repeat the alt foot flexion with Har chant
Lie on your back, alt leg lifts, inhaling 8 sniffs up, 8 sniffs down for each leg

Radiance Salutation: a real test of endurance, fortitude and focus (9:30)
Sit on heels (modification is sitting cross legged), fingers interlaced at small of back, inhale up, exhale down (use of pillow is ok), as you raise the arms behind the back at a good pace - this is done for about 7 minutes
Tiger claws: sitting cross legged, arms raise and lower from parallel to crossing at the forearms in front of the forehead with tiger claw hands, in rhythm to the BOF, at 6 minutes extend the tongue, then shift into tongue back in, mouth closed, inhale, continue with breath held in for a few seconds, exhale, feel radiant!

Deep Relaxation: (6:22)
Lie on your back, deeply relax, enjoy where you are, where the work delivered you to
This is a nice, lengthy relaxation, so you can really let go and allow the work you did to work for you (as Ravi and Ana often say)
Rock and roll out of it.

1st Meditation/Mantra: Solar Power (11:41)
Sitting cross legged
As you chant Har 4 times, hands come towards one another @ navel, like a silent clap
As you chant Gobinday, Mukunday, Udaray, Uparay, Hariang, Kariang, near Namay, Akamay hands are in prayer pose at the heart center.
This is done by alternating 4 Har chants in between each word above: Har Har Har Har Gobinday, Har Har Har Har Mukunday, with the clapping motion on the Har, prayer pose on the other chants/words.

2nd Meditation/Mantra: Adi Shakti (5:25)
Sitting cross legged
A fabulous mantra! Wonderful music and it draws on really powerful divine feminine energy, compassion and protection from the divine mother.
Hands resting on the sternum as you chant along...words are given onscreen.
5 minutes

Closing Prayer: (1:12)
As always, three breaths to visualize yourself as healthy, happy and fulfilled, then to send healing to someone you know who needs it, then to visualize earth as a place of peace before you chant a long Sat and a brief Nam.

Breath Primer is included as well (5:26)

I've done all Ravi and Ana's DVD's and each one does something special for body and mind. After doing this one, I felt, just as the title says...full of energy and radiance. The exercises leave you feeling that way. It works your whole body and there are modifications for beginners. Ravi and Ana seek to help others have a better quality of life and this DVD succeeds in helping you radiate inside and out. It's definitely a bright spot in the world being so dark and uncertain these days. It gives you the power to find strength inside yourself and radiate beyond the state of things around you and in your life and rise above.

The DVD starts with the TUNING-IN as usual, followed by WARM-UP, which has a few spinal warm-ups, cat-cow warm-ups, then an exercise going from sitting on your heels to kneeling position. Then comes STRETCHING PLUS which has seated forward bend stretches, a couple hip openers and ankle circles while in a squatting position. Next, SUPERSET: squats, a lunge-type walk that works into Roman scissor jacks w/ breath of fire, stepping to the side working into jumping jacks with breath of fire, standing and bending touching opposite ankle, doing small kicks with the sound Har, alternate leg lifts in 8 breaths and movements lying on your back. Then, RADIANCE SALUTATIONS: an exercise of moving from sitting on your heels to putting your forehead on the floor with your arms behind you. Then TIGER CLAWS: raising and lowering your arms from the side to above you while sitting(done with a couple different ways of breathing.)(These last two exercise you do for several minutes...by doing them for so long, the exercise really gets inside of you and does it's work and the repetition of it put my mind in a trance-like state.) Going straight through, all this to this point was about 52 mins. It's followed by DEEP RELAXATION, a SOLAR POWER MANTRA chant, then ADI SHAKTI, which is singing a song. Last of all CLOSING PRAYER of course. It comes with the MATRIX option, so you can prgramme it any way you want for whatever time you want. Also, there are three pre-set workouts: QUICK TIME WORKOUT(29:00), A PRETTY TOUGH WORKOUT(63:00), and TOTAL ENERGY BLAST: 1 hr 4o min.). There is also a BREATH PRIMER.

The music is feel-good and radiates with a hip feel to it. All the exercises are new...there's only a couple that you'll have done before in the warm-ups if you're familiar with their other DVD's. I'm certain you will find it very beneficial and uplifting...not to mention great for your body! I've been doing Ravi and Ana's yoga for sometime now, and I'm in the best shape I've ever been and the smallest size. Their yoga really works wonders and it just happens naturally from doing their yoga...I've talked to others who do Raviana yoga regularly and they say the same thing...that they've trimmed down even if they weren't really trying! Not only that, but it's great for your internal health. And that's just it...it works from the inside out, which is why I think it brings such great results. It heals inside, so of course you are going to feel it and see it outside!(sorry this review is kind of long...I hope it's helpful...I thought since there aren't many reviews yet, I'd be more detailed.) :)

Lunges and squats - two things that absolutely kill my knees. I was very disappointed that the "meat" of this workout included 17 minutes of exercises that I will have to skip because it had my knees aching for days afterwards. This dvd reminds me of everything I hate about typical gym class workouts and traditional workout videos. I absoutely adore the Fat Free, Warrior, Ultimate Stretch, and Yoga Body Beauty workouts from Ravi and Ana. The new scenery, repetitive music, and assessory changes throughout the video were also very distracting to me. I'm afraid this one will be gathering dust on my shelf. Very disappointed after waiting over a month for it to arrive.

This DVD is like a deep-tissue massage for the entire body. My belly tingles during some of the exercises!

Two years ago I discovered Kundalini Yoga here on Amazon by reading the reviews, and I am profoundly grateful that I did; it's helped me change my life and my body in myriad ways. This afternoon while doing one of Ana and Ravi's DVDs, I found myself thinking "my life is at its most peaceful ever. I'm content, yet ambitious and confident. I love my life, and I love this yoga!" Yeah, I really have thoughts like that!

I am calmer, more focused, more able to dissect any adversity that comes close to me and sort of neutralize it. My body is more limber and graceful, and I feel a glow that comes from deep within. I wake tired some days, but still happy! Your body knows how good this is for you...and rewards you.

I started with Fat Free Yoga for Beginners and Beyond, and now own several that I rotate. I crave this new DVD; it truly operates on mind/body/spirit levels, enriching them all. Pretty amazing stuff... awakening me in new, and sometimes pleasantly surprising, ways. I can feel my whole Universe expanding.

I love it. And you will too.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I am so struck by so many things about Ana and Ravi's DVDs.....they differ from so many fitness approaches because they are just so much FUN while offering an excellent workout for the body and mind. Actually, I used to almost think of them as a guilty pleasure -" can it really be this much fun to get fit and take care of my body and mind?", but now I see the results in how great I feel, physically and mentally - they are so much fun and also so effective!

Many folks have done a great job of outlining the great features of this workout: so many options to choose something that works for the time you have available or the specific goal you're working with each day, fun, challenging movements, and fabulous chanting that lights me up, to name just a few, so I won't go into detail on those.

I did want to address some of the folks who had concerns - someone asked if the cardio work is actually Kundalini yoga. Ana and Ravi have said that Yogi Bhajan, the amazing man who brought Kundalini Yoga to the United States from India, loved the idea of dance and cardio as part of a physical yoga practice. In fact, he often said when done correctly it is a powerful form of Kundalini Yoga unto itself. Sweating in this way everyday optimizes the glandular system and blood chemistry and energy flows. So, yes, it's absolutely Kundalini yoga, even if it feels a little "out of the box".

Another reviewer was concerned about Ana's blonde hair. I, too, was surprised by it at first, but wanted to pass on that she shared in a recent newsletter that she is actually a natural blonde. After finding out that there are some harmful chemicals contained in hair dyes, she decided to stop dyeing her hair to the darker color she had liked before. I thought this was really great to know - she's human, like the rest of us, and just found out some information that made her decide to choose something different. So she's not trying to pull a Barbie! In fact, I think Ana and Ravi offer something so unique in their DVDs - they are authentically who they are, and show us that it's possible to be fabulous and great and filled with fun in life! This DVD really wakes me up out of the low-grade "ugh" kind of feeling I have sometimes - you know how sometimes we all go around complaining about things and forgetting about the amazing blessings in front of us? Well, I really do feel radiant, great, and filled with the fun authentic "me" to offer in the world after I do their DVDs. I remember how many blessings I have and how I want to be great and fun and kind with others. When I did this fabulous DVD, I was reminded of this well-known quote, from Marianne Williamson: "Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

As many other reviewers have said, especially as I hang in there and prove that I'm stronger than I thought I was through the Radiance Salutation/Tiger Claw movements (or rest if I need and then continue), and with this whole DVD, I truly feel that I can cultivate and let my own light shine when I do this great practice. My husband thinks I should add (although this is already so long!:-)) that he loves to hear me laughing and singing as I'm doing the DVD, and that's proof for him of how great it is. I can't recommend it enough! Enjoy!

First of all, I'm going to highlight my gripes about this dvd, because all the good points have been pointed out enough in other reviews. I bought all 3 of the new dvds a few months ago. The music of Yoga for Beginner's and Beyond annoyed me so much I didn't make it through 15 minutes of it. Someone described the music as a techno/hip hop/yoga music twist, which I think sums it up pretty well. It's annoying enough to detract from the actual yoga routine.
I'm a huge Ravi & Ana fan - I love their DVDs, I feel SO much better when I do them. I have been disappointed with the new dvds, though, mostly because of the production. My general feeling is that they have tried to go for a more mainstream crowd with these ones, trying to generate users that usually would normally find yoga "slow" or "boring". The routines themselves are more athletic than the older ones, and would be enjoyable if they weren't so atrociously overproduced. When you have nonstop weird techno yoga chants, and even accordion music, much of the yoga "feel" is lost. These are overstimulating. There is a spiritual aspect of yoga. Part of what made their older dvds so wonderful was their elegant simplicity, the chance to unwind, to get away from the general "noise" of modern fast-paced life. Don't expect that here; go to their older dvds for that.
Now, as for this DVD, it's a lot of fun, challenging, and fast-paced. Out of the 3 new ones, this is my favorite. I was eventually able to somewhat tune out the music, which is more than I can say for the other dvds. It's a great, energizing workout; if it had been in the older production style, it would be one of my favorites. I would say, if you are considering buying the new dvds, buy this one first, and see what you think. If you are considering buying ANY of Ana and Ravi's dvds, buy one where Ana has black hair; those are Ana & Ravi at there best. These ones are Ana & Ravi selling out.

I've been taking Kundalini Yoga classes on and off for the past couple of years and I have to congratulate Ana & Ravi on this excellent production. This is the best of the "old school" Kundalini workouts combined with Ana & Ravi's genius innovations which make it even better and cutting edge. The exercises felt like balm for my hips and joints. I worked up a sweat and I have to say, the way they present the workout imbues it with a high fun factor. Like someone else said, I felt that this one made me feel expansive and great, filled with star power! I feel like trying out for something, and I'm not even an actor! The upper body work is killer. My arms and chest and shoulders feel it in a good way. This dynamic duo has really outdone themselves with this great workout!

I bought this about a month ago, and have been doing it about three times a week (I switch it up with hiking and Raviana's other great DVD's). I have had a really fun, enlightening experience with this one. I really love the Pre-set selections that it has as an option. I use the 60 minute one so that way I KNOW that I am getting a good workout.
My favorite part of this DVD in particular is the 'Radiance Salutation' where they have you on your knees with your arms behind you, hands grasping another and you bow continuously for eight minutes to this really inspirational, upbeat music. At first I thought that they were crazy for making it so long, but the benefits are astounding, and it became my favorite part quickly! Afterwards you meditate, and "go deep." I love it so much I have done it most everyday since, even if I am using another DVD or hiking I will put it on to this selection. There are many other great postures on this DVD. The music is great! And as everyone has said, Ana looks amazing and the new set is beautiful.

This workout is both fun and challenging. It got my heart rate up, had me sweating, and stretched and strengthened my body from head to toe. The music is upbeat and kept me motivated. There is only about three exercises that have been in previous workouts otherwise it is all new material, and very excellent material I might add. I like that there are more standing poses in this one and I really love the addition of the squats 2x. This workout is pretty much non-stop and the time just flies by.

The Radiance Salutation and Tiger Claws are very challenging. I cannot finish them both yet as they are quite long and my arms get so tired they feel like they are going to fall off. But I will keep at it and hopefully one day be able to finish. :) After doing this workout only a couple of times my arms already feel much stronger and that motivates me to continue to challenge myself on my yoga mat and in my daily life.

This DVD is an excellent addition to my collection. I really love the music on the previous DVDs but the music on this is a nice change and just adds to the variety. The deep relaxation also seems to be a little longer than in some of the previous workouts and who wouldn't like that? ;)

The Adi Shakti mantra at the end was so uplifting. I was singing and smiling and I couldn't help but sway a little with the music because it just felt so good!

I did this dvd this morning and I must say that it reminds me of as someone here said "old school kundalini yoga" One reviewer said that this dvd is not what he/she is used to. I say that this dvd is like what you see in the kundalini yoga manuals and I think that RaviAna toned it down a bit so as not to overwhelm viewers. For example, in most kriyas, squats are done sitting all the way down on your heels and coming up. Rarely are squats done half way, usually that is a modification. To do them the traditional ky way, you can put a rolled yoga mat under your heels and make sure that your feet are forward and not out to the side. Also the Har kicks are usually shuffle bounces. I modified these exercises and you can too depending on your abilities. Also with the har kicks, RaviAna didn't mention that Har is pronounced "hud". If you say it quickly it sounds like "hudda" with the tongue striking the top of the mouth.

I loved, loved the Radiance salutations. This is actually an intermediate meditation. The music for the salutation is the Jap Sahib which is one of the Sikh morning prayers. It is a Bani (prayer)that describes the many characteristics of God (nameless, formless). When doing this kriya, try to keep the rhythm by bowing (third eye on the floor or pillow)on the Namastang or the namo words. I have bad knees so I put a blanket between my bum and thighs. I also have tight shoulders so I use a strap to pull my arms up. Loved it.

The tiger claws exercise was the hardest thing I have done in awhile. I wanted to stop but I kept say to myself "victory, victory" This gave my brain something to do to block out the pain. What happens in long exercises like this is that your soul takes over and after awhile you don't feel your arms and your mind stops complaining, but you can't stop not even for a second. This is the beauty of kundalini yoga to push you further than you thought you could. I once had to do Sat Kriya for 31 minutes, never thought I could do it, but I did!!

To the disappointed reviewers who say that this is not kundalini yoga, I suggest that if your complete exposure to this yoga is through RaviAna dvds, then go the 3HO web site and find a ky teacher in your area. Get out of the house and experience Kundalini yoga live!

My only minuses on the dvd were the mantra music. I didn't like them so I downloaded Snatam Kaur's version of Har Gobinday. It's free at spiritvoyage/mp3 downloads. Also there is an Adi Shakti song is by Sada Sat Kaur. You can download it at omstream. My new favorite Adi Shakti song is by Sat Purkh Kaur called "Jai Ma". It ends with the Adi Shakti mantra. You can download it at kriteachings. There is also a video that shows the celestial communication (arm/hand movements) that go with this mantra. Simply beautiful. Otherwise great dvd. Get it you will love it!