Customer Reviews

Total Yoga: The Flow Series - Earth

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Total Yoga Earth is an escape into a peaceful landscape where the focus is on your practice and conscious breathing, not the interior decorating. This has the feeling of being taken to a peaceful outdoor world in another place and time where relaxation occurs due to the release of body tension. Instructors Tracey Rich and Ganga White explore the benefits of asanas and sun salutations for healing benefits.

Through a series of postures, your stress melts into oblivion as you relax into a supreme relaxation. I was literally amazed at the stress reducing elements of this particular routine. The practice begins with conscious breathing and a 3-part breath session. There is a short time when you need to have your feet up against a wall, but most of the routine focuses on a traditional Hatha Vinyasa theme.

The 45-minute Practice includes:

Breathing
A Series
C Series
Triangle
Hero
Twist
Lying Boat
Backbends
Forward Bends
Spiral Twist
Inversions
Deep Relaxation

Due to the pacing of the exercises, this feels like an intermediate yoga workout. A blanket, pillow and yoga mat will enhance your experience. The deep relaxation session at the end is blissful. Nature scenes melt in and out of the screen at the end and the music pulls you away from any daily concerns. All you may want to do after this routine is sink into the deepest of sleep.

As a bonus, the Water Workout is included on this DVD.

~The Rebecca Review

Also highly recommended: An excellent guide to yoga: ISBN 1592008682 - Maran Illustrated Yoga

I got this Yoga video as part of a set of the three Flow Series videos and the original Total Yoga video. This is the first one I've tried.
I was tired and frustrated and decided to try my new video to relax. And let me tell you, it put me in a great mood. It was quiet and relaxing, got my heart pumping a little, then stretched into relaxing poses for a great cool down. I feel refreshed and ready to get on with my day. It was a little lacking in variety of poses, so I'm glad I got a set of 4 different DVDs, but other than that it was great for me.
The workout starts out with breathing techniques that help relax you before starting. After the breathing, you start with a basic, easy sun salutation with only downward dog, then you go into a slightly more difficult sun salutation series with lunges. Then come standing poses including triangle and warrior 2, then relaxing stretching poses before savasna.
This is a great basic, relaxing video, but I wouldn't recommend this to someone who's never had a class with a live instructor before. Some of the poses are easier with modifications that they don't show, and some of the bends and stretches are better if you know your limits before going into them too hard. But if you've taken at least one class with an instructor and know the basic names and your limits, it's good for a relaxing work out.

Best for those with basic knowledge of yoga postures and terminology. Ample, thorough guidance throughout.

I'm trying to get back into a routine and this DVD is great for beginners or those that have not practiced for awhile. It's gentle enough to do everyday, and relaxing enough that it could even be practiced before bed to wind down. A great step to prepare yourself for the more intensive Total Yoga DVD, which I also highly recommend.

I basically agree with everything said in the other reviews, especially the comment about her use of Nameste.

The thing that really bugged me that I wanted to mention was the set. I must have misread one of other reviews. I was expecting a tranquil outdoor setting. Instead the two performers are on a wood floor with no mats in a sterile white room. The best way to describe it was something out of movie where you were trying to indicate someone died and went to heaven. I kept expecting Morgan Freeman to walk out. The floor has a circular section of a light colored hardwood floor that is surrounded by a grey border and it seems to be suspended against a background of clouds... very unreal. There are no walls until the end when they do the pose against the wall and then a white wall magically appears. At the very end when you are suppose to be relaxing with your eyes closed they show all the beautiful outdoor scenes.

My only other complaint was that it seemed a little to dry and serious. To put this comment into perspective, I'm a big fan of Sara Ivanhoe....she seems like she could be anyone's best friend and I like it when she says things like "klunk" your foot forward. If you're looking for something a little more clinical and haven't had much exposure to Yoga then you'll probably like this DVD.

I really enjoy this video! It's a nice balanced routine that is very accessible for all levels of yoga students. It's a nice way to experience yoga, especially as a beginner. I would recommend this video to everyone I know!

My Dvd is basically just another Sun Salutation DVD. Did I miss something?

I was very glad to find it and am happy with it.