Customer Reviews

Yoga Journal: Seane Corn - Yoga from the Heart

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Yoga from the Heart" is part of Yoga Journal's Great Instructors series, a series of DVDs filmed at the annual Yoga Journal Conference in San Francisco. It features Seane Corn, a nationally known vinyasa yoga instructor whose teachings focus on both the physical and the spiritual aspects of the yoga practice. Here she presents a 90-minute vinyasa class which combines demanding vinyasa sequences, detailed alignment instruction, and frequent references to spirituality in the form of God, love for self, and love for others. As she guides her students through the practice, Seane frequently asks the participants to set an intent, constantly bringing an element of meaning to the practice. She sometimes performs the poses herself, sometimes walks around the class providing adjustments (along with an assistant); there is also a "yoga demonstrator" at the head of the class for reference.

This DVD is well-chaptered, and the introduction suggests that each chapter can stand alone as a shorter practice if necessary. The chapters are as listed below; I have added in approximate times as well as brief descriptive information.

Surya Namaskar A (11m)--Seane opens with a dedication and a discussion of the world around us; the sun salutation flow begins in down dog and includes some longer holds of this posture.
Surya Namaskar B (14m)--Seane stresses the importance of building postures "from the ground up"; the last round of each sun salutation segment are performed at your own pace.
Standing Poses (8m)--This segment has a strong shoulder emphasis and includes warrior 1, wide-legged forward bend with eagle arms, and finishes with a side stretch.
Shoulder Openers (4m)--Additional shoulder work with side plank and dolphin variations.
Spine Openers (10m)--This twisting segment includes wide legged standing forward bend with twist, intense side stretch, revolved triangle, and revolved crescent pose.
Hip Openers (9m)--Standing hip work includes warrior 2, side angle, and wide legged standing forward bend.
Back Openers (9m)--Starts with camel (3x) and then moves to the floor for either bridge or wheel (3x).
Final Relaxation (10m)--Poses include reclined twist, dead bug, dead pigeon (aka thread the needle), cobbler's pose (held for some time while Seane talks), and full seated forward bend.
Meditation (10m)--Here the class remains seated while Seane continues to discuss various spiritual-type issues; ends with a short (4m) savasana. Following this, the DVD moves right on to the Guided Medication described below, so you can seamlessly continue if desired.

The Main Menu on the DVD lists a Play All option, an Introduction, Chapters, and Special Features. The Special Features include the following: Introduction to Body Prayer (23m), Guided Meditation (9m), Interview with Seane (10m), and Yoga Journal advertisements. The Body Prayer segment consists of Seane further discussing the mind-body connection, offering a brief demonstration, and then finishing with a musician who provides a singing meditation; the Guided Meditation is similar but with the entire segment being a singing meditation. Finally, in the Interview, Seane talks about how she came to yoga in 1987 at the age of 17 and how her yoga practice gradually came to permeate every aspect of her life.

Overall, this is a challenging vinyasa practice that is probably best suited for experienced yoga students. Seane does show some modifications, and she frequently encourages the participants to modify as appropriate for their own needs. However, the class is quite vigorous, and it demands both strength and stamina. This DVD is likely to appeal to those who enjoy the vinyasa style and who prefer to practice with a deep emphasis on meaning and intention.

This is the 2nd dvd in the great teachers package that I did this morning. Seane describes this practice as "Body Prayer" . I want to say right off the top if you have never taken a Seane Corn class or used her dvds,(like me), you may be quite surprised by the paradox that is this young lady. She is not just another Southern Calif. yogini with a pretty face, but comes across as a very intelligent, compassionate and passionate person who trully believes that the purpose of yoga is to make us better people so that we can love ourselves and in turn love and serve the world. She also walks the talk as she works with YouthAIDS and has recieved an humanitarian award. I'm not her advocate, I thought I'd just share those thoughts with you because the entire class is centered around the themes of love, service and forgiveness. If the words prayer and God make you run screaming from a yoga class, then this is NOT the tape for you. Seane says that every pose and every breath is a prayer.The dvd has the following:

Special features: Intention setting lecture by Seane about social and personal responsibility. Mediatation with a young woman singing and playing the harmonium. She has an earthy, soulful voice.

The poses are if memory serves me:

*Sun salutes A & B with an intention set for each salute done on your own.
*warriors 1 with arms clasped behind back
*wide legged forward bend with hands clasped, arms in cow face, grabbing big toes, one arm up twisting. (not necessarily in this order)
*side angle
*side plank
*reverse triangle
*crescent lunge prayer twist.
*camel 3x
*upper facing bow 3x
*happy baby
*reclining pigeon
*butterfly pose held for a long time
*seated forward bend
*seated meditation.

In between some of the poses, Seane has you sit or stand in prayer. The other special feature is a closing mantra meditation with the harmonium singer again.

This slow flow vinyasa class is for everyone. It is basic with an emphasis on alignment. The hardest pose is upward facing bow. This is trully a yoga class with lots of spirituality infused throughout. Seane talks (preaches) alot and says God alot which does not bother me at all but may bother some. I felt refreshed after the class and look forward to doing it again. As a caveat, for those of you who practice kundalini yoga as your main sadhana (like me), this type of yoga is a perfect compliment as she emphasizes that we are all interconnected and it is our birth right to be bountiful, beautiful and blissful.

I, like one of the above reviewers, had not experienced a Seane Corn video or class prior to purchasing this one. I was surprised at how different her style is than I'd expected. I found her instruction helpful and the meaning she gives to each movement, each breath, inspiring. However, because I am accustomed to practicing in a very meditative way, I found her style of delivery and tone of voice to be somewhat intense, and therefore, distracting. I suppose I am better suited to a Kripalu-style class and instructor. (I did not, however, have the same reaction to the Baron Baptiste or the Shiva Rae classes in this series. I found their voices and delivery very conducive to my meditative practice, even where poses and sequences got relatively vigorous.) I am sure that my reaction to Ms. Corn's delivery is peculiar to me, and that most people will find her and this video inspiring and helpful.

This is a very well made dvd. Even though it was filmed at one of Seane's conferences, both the sound and visual quality are very good. There are chapters so that if you don't have time for the full session, you can just do a chapter or two. The instructions are clear as she walks around the room correcting people while a second person is on the stage demonstrating the moves.

This dvd differs from others because of the spiritual inspiration that Seane gives throughout the session. When I finish a session, I feel completely energized and inspired. A week after receiving this dvd, I had the pleasure of attending one of Seane's classes when she came to the yoga conference in Toronto. The energy she gives off in person is incredible. She truely seems to be a kind and compassionate person. And her hair is just as gorgeous in real life as it is on the dvd (shallow, I know, but I just had to throw that in there).

As a fan of Seane Corn I may be a bit bias, however, I think this is a great workout with detailed instruction. It is in a class setting and challenging. I would suggest mastering her 2 other DVD's before doing this one.

I have done Seane's beginning yoga dvd, and this one makes me strive! I am not like one of her beautiful California students in the video, but I work hard, do my best, and I never cease to find Seane's videos to be just as good as being in a class. I always feel happier and more at peace with myself and the world from working out with her and listening to her, and isn't that the purpose?

This is a taped vinyasa taught to other students in a hotel, Seane walks around with a mic...no music and barks at people to tell them whether pose is good or not. I was surprised...not what I expected

Seane at her best!! Live, relational and as genuine as can be. I have followed Seane's teaching and growth as a teacher and spiritual leader for years now. She 'walks the talk' and is what yoga is all about. Authenticity and compassion. Untrapped by her celebrity - she uses her platform to make a difference in the world by taking yoga "Off the Mat and Into the World". A truly gifted and extremely intelligent spirit. This DVD make for wonderful home practice. Integrates the beauty of the vinyasa practice with a wonderful sense of spirituality.

A must have! Out of 5 stars - I give it 10!!!!

I have been practicing yoga for over ten years. My favorite instructors include Bryan Kest, Rodney Yee, Sarah Ivanhoe and Seane Corne. I love this video so much because Seane really breaks down the proper technique for each pose--something even a veteran like me really loved. I also enjoy holding the poses for longer periods than usual and really focusing on form and breath. I also appreciated Seane's emphasis on the spiritual! I usually do 45 minutes of this video one morning and the second half the following morning. I find that I can still hear Seane's voice now even when I am practicing with other instructors. I would recommend this to all levels of yogis!

I've wanted to take Seane Corn class since I've heard her interview in iTunes.
She is amazing! The class is AMAZING!
It is very inspiring, and provides not only a good class with lots of alignment, but offers 'emotional' workout as well.
for example, Seane asks you to put a meaning, an intention to every movement. It is so much easier to move with the intention to make future of our children better than with the intention to forgive those who hurt us!
VERY mindful yoga class. Safe, with clear explanations, and REAL. You can feel Seane's energy, even though it's just a recorded class. So much for one DVD!