Customer Reviews

Yoga Prayer

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

 

 

This DVD is one of my favorite yoga workouts! It's a quick (32 minute, I think) workout that incorporates all the movements of the spine. The music is indeed "soul-stirring"! I usually do this workout in the mornings or when I want a shorter practice. It gets my body limber and ready for the day, and gets my heart in the right place, too--aware of God and His great goodness to me. I love the way Father Ryan has choreographed the poses to flow with the words and feel of the music. This meaningful and well-timed choreography makes the sequences easy to learn so that you don't have to keep eyeing the TV. (I've even bought all the songs and put a playlist on my ipod so that I can do this workout while traveling or away from the TV.) I love doing the warrior poses to the song, "The Peace Prayer," and kneeling poses to "Blest Are They,"--a song about the Beatitudes. The workout on this DVD offers a beautiful and holistic experience for a Christian practicing yoga. It also includes an excellent teaching from Father Ryan on why a Christ-centered yoga practice is a "good fit" for Christians.

I am an experienced yoga practitioner. As a Catholic myself, I thoroughly enjoyed Fr. Ryan's introduction and the pairing of his vinyasas with the wonderful liturgical music of my youth (i.e. St. Louis Jesuits from 1970's). The settings for each Yoga Prayer are quite serene, if not at times austere.

However, I honestly feel that music with lyrics can be distracting when I try to practice, plus his choreography is not for beginners as it moves rather quickly.

The intrinsic value in this dvd is to allow Christians (and other people of faith) to open their minds and hearts to the notion of using their bodies to glorify God each day through both fitness and relaxation. It is a beautiful, healthful, peaceful concept that I hope more people will come to experience in some way.

I was hoping he focus and center the postures more on breathing exactly how other yoga instructors emphasize on it while practicing other types of yoga. I however, find it fascinating that we now can practice yoga spiritually for our lord jesus christ, we can praise him in so many ways. You don't have to be an expert in yoga, he really does explain first how to do them without the music and than you have the option to play it with wonderful hymns. I love the excellent choice in the music as well. However, there isn't many yoga prayer dvd's out there, I'm hoping he upgrades it in the near future with many more intermediate postures as well. Amen.

I am 48 and a runner. The yoga taught in this DVD is excellent for both your body and spirit. Our bodies our temples of the Holy Spirit -- so that is an excellent way to tie in two very important aspects of life centered on our bodies: excercise and prayer. When I do long distance run, I do some of the routines both before and after my run -- and it is very beneficial. The routines are also very calming. If you are new to yoga, this is a great way to start.

This video was one of the answers to my search a yoga routine with a Christian perspective. I studied yoga before but my husband hadn't and he was very skeptical. But several of our tennis and ski buddies recommended daily yoga for health benefits. After playing this video once, husband was hooked and now sets up the mats in our exercise room each evening. Fr. Thomas' routines are well demonstrated and easy to learn but still challenging. The meditation isn't too 'in your face' if you are just interested in a workout. It's a calming way to end the day, even the dogs join us and stretch out in front of our mats! I suppose it would work fine for a day-starter, too, but our mornings are too hectic. I think beginners or more experienced users will find this a blessing physically and spiritually.

I still haven't done this whole DVD, because I just recently received it. But, I tell you, this is a beautiful and uplifting experience.

I love that Fr. Thomas Ryan is visible in the Catholic community, showing us that it is right and good to care for and pray with our bodies, so that we may be whole beings in communion with our Lord.

I also strongly recommend the book, Reclaiming the Body in Christian Spirituality.

I can't wait to read his other work and, hopefully, make it to a Paulist retreat!

The yoga practice consists of a series of seven very smooth flowing sequences set to sacred music and against a simple golden background with a series of candles set around.

Each sequence can be played with instructions and no music so that you learn the sequence properly. Father Ryan's instructions are very clear as he is certified as Kripalu yoga instructor. He often gives an alternative if the posture is too difficult.

The first two sequences are warm ups ensuring the spine is flexed in six directions.

Once you have learnt each sequence you can flow through it with Father Ryan to musical accompaniment - the music is devotional and the words coincide perfectly with the movements made. The music selection provides pieces such as a peace prayer, the Beatitudes and the prayer of St Francis of Assisi.

Yoga helps us to become more mindful of ourselves and relaxes tension so that our bodies can become a means for peace. It is embodied prayer. - 'Lord, make me a means of your peace' is one of the powerful pieces of music behind one of the sequences.

Father Ryan is an accomplished yogi and flows smoothly from one posture to the other with grace and control. The sequences are carefully structured providing the practitioner with all over tuning of the body making it a perfect 'temple of prayer' or 'instrument of peace'.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to discover how the body can become another pathway for spiritual growth. We can pray with the body. Father Ryan talks about our embodied natures in the light of the scriptures.

Father Ryan believes in a dialogue between Eastern and Western faith traditions. He says that yoga belongs to the world - there is no desire to christianize yoga but to show how it is a tool for any faith and how it can take prayer out of the mind and into the heart and the whole being. Even your feet can pray!

I wept as I watched Fr Ryan do the flowing sequences accompanied by sacred music - the sequences allow one to embrace the divine and offer oneself up so endearingly.

A powerful yet gentle spiritual practice. Highly recommended for men and women of all ages.

Gives a whole new meaning to quiet time.

I love the music.

I also love it without the music.

The music is not distracting, it is moving and lays on the aura or sets the tone for offering up all you have in a worshiping with your moves way.

Anyone who wants to grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ and loves yoga is sure to enjoy this. For ALL Christians!

I have enjoyed the serenity of the prayer guided yoga.Seems to be more meaningful for me personally.I can't wait to share it with other friends that are disciplined to yoga.The prayers and instructions are beautiful.

Love this! I will be taking time each day to do these exercises. The music is inspirational. Recommend for all ages.