Customer Reviews

Kundalini Yoga [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I have been a hatha yoga practioner for years. This is the first video I ever did of Kundalini yoga. I loved it. I felt so relaxed in mind and body. After I had finished with the video, I desired to go right into a meditation. It felt wonderful. I have never experienced this kind of yoga before. I love hatha yoga but this yoga... is different in a lovely way. In a subtle way, I just felt energetically different. I felt happier the rest of the day. It is strenuous and physically challenging yet at the same time very spiritual. Worth every penny. I can't wait to try other Kundalini videos and learn more about what Kundalini is all about.

Anyone who thinks this workout is disjointed clearly is not meditating while moving through this kriya. First, it's time to shed some light on what this type of kundalini sequence actually is. This is definately a Yogi Bhajan sequence. Bhajan created several kriyas with similar names - "Grace & Prosperity," "Flexibility & the Spine," for example. "Grace & Strength" is a fusion workout existing in an interzone between the original "Warrior Workout" and "Flexibility & the Spine." Like the "Warrior Workout," there is a running segment, frog pose, and several back bends like bow. Like the flexibilty or spinal kriyas, there are cobra, seated wide angle forward bends, wheel, crow squats, and standing back/forward bends. Carol is showing you exactly how this kriya would have been taught by Yogi Bhajan. Anyone who has ever done Ravi Singh's and Ana Brett's "Ultimate Stretch Workout" can see obvious similarities to this set. The difference is that it has a more rapid motion, contains an aerobic component, a segment designed for the heart chakra, and a rather complex abdominal sequence in the middle of the set. I personally think Carol magnificently explains breath of fire, what real strength is, and concludes her set with a beautifully inspired resting pose dialogue. As she says, this set is to improve your strength, not prove your strength. I have spent years doing power yoga, ashtanga, and kundalini. This segment, in a similar mode to Donna Davidge, works on the body and the mind throughout the day after performing it in the morning. Also, those hatha yoga critics who claim it is unsafe to begin in table top (truly one of the less difficult asanas) need to understand that before doing any intermediate kundalini sequence, one should already be warmed up. Before I do this or any kundalini set, I perform the Five Tibetan Rites. After doing any rigorous segment, Carol gives you more than ample time to consolidate your gains through a moment of still meditation. Realize, if you are doing yoga simply to de-stress through deep breathing, kundalini yoga is less appropriate than hatha, ashtanga, or power yoga variations. If you are doing this to actually raise kundalini, work the lymphatic, nervous systems, and increase the internal will linking the body and mind together, this is the type of yoga to do. Upon finishing this workout, even though it is made up of an anti-intuitive sequence, I feel active, strong, defined, and just as ready to take action in my day as I would if I did power yoga. Often, power yoga can make me feel too heavy or weighted down from too many held poses. I like how this unusual sequence jump starts my heart after running/skipping in place, making me feel extremely light on my feet. I also think her return to child's pose and her instructions on how to round up, using your abdominal muscles makes transitioning between meditating and action extremely fluid. Those who have criticized this DVD should take a look at a kundalini book and understand the wide variety of sequences Bhajan created before displaying their obvious lack of knowledge to the world. Carol Carlson didn't make this DVD for shock value, fame, or bedazzlement. It is clear that she expresses a true, deep felt love of kundalini and a true urge to give you, the viewer, a true kundalini experience.

I am a certified Prana Yoga Instructor (based on Kripalu Yoga) and I recently discovered Gurmukh's Kundalini Yoga tape, which I think is wonderful. In my quest to learn more about Kundalini Yoga I ordered this Carol Carlson video. After no more than 10 minutes into this tape I had to turn it off. What is she thinking to do a backbend with breath of fire as her first asana, with no options for modifications for beginners or people with shoulder, wrist or back issues....and even for advanced students no warm up??? I could not go on I was so annoyed at her. I found her tone condecending and annoying. Yoga students seeking an energizing, revitalizing, life changing experience should try Gurmukh or Ravi Singh, both instructors present the practice from a place of love and healing, yet the work outs are physically challenging.

I am not a certified Kundalini yoga instructor, but I do have classes with friends and co-workers. Occasionally we do our class with Gurmukh's video... a wonderful experience -- very uplifting -- she is such a gentle soul. One day, someone brought in Carol Carlson's video and we decided to give it a try. Not only did every one of us find her hard to follow... but we also felt she was very annoying and rather condescending. It did not feel like a Kundalini yoga class at all... not one that we are used to anyway. We have not watched the video since... no one even wants it. If you are looking for a great Kundalini yoga tape, buy Gurmukh's. If you already have Gurmukh's, then try one of the Kundalini yoga websites and try someone else's. Even buying a Kundalini yoga book and going through the sets on your own is better than doing it with this. Honestly.. don't waste your money.

I have been doing kundalini yoga for 9 months now. I am totally hooked. I have other yoga dvds/videos which I try to do, but always gravitate to my kundalini yoga dvds. I am no longer interested in becoming a human pretzel or a master of standing on my head. I just want to be the radiant person I was meant to be and kundalini yoga will get me there faster than other types of yoga. Having said all of that, after reading the reviews, I was hesitant to buy this video. I'm glad I did. It will be a staple in my kundalini DVD/video rotation. I'd like to point out a couple of things to people who complained that it does not start out with an adequate warm-up/bad sequencing and the attitude of the instructor. First, Kundalini yoga is NOT like other types of yoga. If you are coming to it from another type of yoga, you need to hold your criticism and let it work for you. It is not form precise like Iyengar or flowing like ashtanga. Yet it is powerful and can produce remarkable results. Second, Kundalini yoga consists of sets or kriyas. Every single pose is in a set for a reason, physically and spiritually. A good teacher will tell you what each pose does for you as the set progresses. The sets are documented in manuals and books that the teachers follow, usually to the letter including breathing instructions, mantras and meditations. Warm-ups and music can be added depending on the teacher. Some teachers are more creative than others and they may add extras to the class, such as warm-ups, music, words of wisdom, prayers, etc. Carol chose to just present the kriya, probably as taught by Yogi Bhajan. This doesn't make it bad, just 'simple and unadorned'. I personally loved the set. The back bends are wonderful; the crow squats with arms is amazing. As to her personality, it didn't bother me. If you love kundalini yoga, as I do, add this one to your collection. Don't be put off by petty comments about her personality. It's irrelevant to the set. And if you really need a warm-up, put on a Ravi Ana DVD and just do the warm-up and then enjoy Carol's set.

I may be shallow and judgmental, but I just could NOT get past the annoying voice of the instructor, and especially could not look at Carol Carlson as a professional, credible, literate instructor when she mispronounces "especially" as "ekspecially" (twice!) and misuses "radiance" for "radius." Something just happened to me inside when I heard those words, and I knew I never wanted to watch the video again. I'm with the people who criticized her voice as annoying and monotone, and the "Sat nam, sat nam, sat nam" really got on my nerves. I would not recommend this to anyone. ... I could have gotten a Kundalini instructor who knew how to speak English correctly! I guess I have just gotten very, very picky about what I spend my money on, and when I buy a professionally done instructional video, I expect to be instructed by someone who can speak properly.

I'VE DONE KRIPALU YOGA, BEEN TO THE KRIPALU CENTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND A SATTELITE CENTER IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND I'VE DONE GURUMUKH'S YOGA TAPE, WHICH I ENJOYED AND I'VE DONE CAROL CARLSON'S TAPE. THEY ARE BOTH EXCELLENT TAPES BUT THE RELAXATION FOLLOWING CAROL CARLSON'S "KUNDALINI YOGA: WITH GRACE AND STRENGTH" WAS MUCH MUCH DEEPER AND MORE PROFOUND. THE MOVEMENTS IN THIS VIDEO ARE NOT NEARLY AS BOUNCY AS GURUMUKH'S, BUT THE WORKOUT IS JUST AS INTENSE. I FIND GETTING WARMED UP WITH GURUMUKH'S TAPE AND THEN DOING CAROL CARLSON'S TAPE BRINGS ME HOME.

While this kundalini workout is somewhat challenging, the teacher gives off a weird Branch Davidian-like energy which makes following her instructions a little uncomfortable. She takes the workout SO seriously, never once cracks a smile or says anything remotely light hearted or humorous. She almost seems bitter. In short, this tape isn't nearly as much fun as the kundalini tape by Gurmukh, who emits warmth, strength and wisdom throughout.

I read these reviews and was initially turned off. However, my library had this available, so I thought I had nothing to lose and gave it a try. It's excellent. I taught vinyasa yoga for a few years, but I don't consider myself an expert- and certainly not on Kundalini. However, by the end of the practice I felt clear and happy, and the effect lasted well into the next day. The instructor is not, as others have pointed out, overflowing with effusive joy, but she is still inspirational and expert in guiding what I would consider to be a high beginner kundalini practice.

I've got to say, I think other reviewers overreacted to some of the kriyas used here. When I read "she starts with a full backbend", I was a little nervous. However, I don't think that's accurate. She starts with what others call "tabletop", not "wheel". I think your shoulders might complain more than your back, but I had no problems.

I also think that the concept of "flow" isn't appropriate for a Kundalini practice. This isn't vinyasa or in the lineage of Iyengar, Ashtanga or Viniyoga, for which that might be a more pertinent criticism. Kundalini, from what I have seen thus far, is aimed at releasing energy usually located at the base of the spine all the way up to the crown of the head and throughout the body. There is then perhaps a "flow" of energy, but not necessarily physical movement. Most of the practices I've seen usually start with movements aimed at opening up the chakras or energy centers from the base of the spine up to the crown of the head, perhaps starting first with spinal warmups. This practice was no exception, although she doesn't discuss the chakras at all.

This practice has quite a bit of abdominal work (though not of the "crunch" style), some of which may be too intense for absolute beginners, including the Kundalini staple Stretch pose, as well as a bicycle and inner thigh stretch/kriya. Even with a regular yoga and Pilates practice, my abs were still talking to me for the rest of the day- but I liked it. I also liked that even though there were several "stretchy" positions that utilized long holds, it wasn't as demanding of perfection as some other styles of yoga. Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed the relatively long rests between postures, as well as the guided meditations, relaxations and chants.

I think this practice can give physical "results" as far as weightloss and appearance, but if you're just here for the physical, you might find the other trappings off-putting.

I found the instructor incredibly annoying and kept wishing she would stop talking. I found her "affirmations" inane and repetitive, with not enough instruction on the techniques. She starts with a backbend pose, in the midst of which she stops and explains in detail how to do breath of fire! In all my classes we have started out with less strenuous stretching positions. I also didn't feel the workout flowed well from one position to the next.