Customer Reviews

Yoga Sanctuary

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These are TRULY AMAZING CDs! Shiva Rea has created a challenging, soothing, enlightening practice. The whole package, from the choice of poses, her wonderful voice, the great music, the beautiful (and useful!) poster is fantastic. This is yoga for real! I am an age-group athlete and I am too busy to go to a yoga class. I have tried yoga videos, and they are fine, but they always seem to be too short, too superficial, or too distracting. Now I feel I have found the perfect solution. I have been practicing with Shiva Rea's CDs for some time, and every time I feel I am learning something new, finally focusing on breathing, or moving that limb just the way she recommends. It's so rich and intense it's never boring.

This is not a program for absolute beginners, but there is a solution for that too: pair the CDs up with "Runners' Yoga Book" by Jean Couch (the best yoga book I have found, and I have looked at them all, and bought quite a few! Get past the not-too-glamourous look, and you are left with a fabulous introduction to yoga). Read the crystal-clear descriptions of every pose, learn about posture and how to protect your knees, and you are set.

I've taken yoga classes off and on for years and consider myself beginning to intermediate level. I don't think this CD is appropriate if it's your first yoga experience. The CD guides you through the postures (you don't have to strain your neck as you would to see a video) while reminding you to watch your breathing and telling you where you should feel the stretch. Pitures that accompany the CD can also remind you how the posture looks, but i think Shiva Rea does an excellent job of describing body position. She has a very soothing voice; i also find the background music very relaxing.

When yoga classes got to expensive, i tried to continue my practice on my own. This did not work well for me. Having someone to guide me through the asanas really lets me relax since i don't have to worry about timing.

I do wish that she would hold some of the asanas for a while longer as i don't feel i can get deep enough into some of them. I just put the cd on pause (though i miss the music when i do that) and continue until i'm ready to stop, though.

This is a wonderful alternative or addition to classes for a beginner with a little experience or an intermediate level practicioner of yoga.

I love these CDs! First of all, the format is ideal for home yoga practice. Unlike video, you can customize your routine without burning up time on the fast forward button. More importantly, you can focus on what you are doing instead of constantly looking up to see what somebody else is doing. (Why are instructional yoga CDs so rare?)

I have owned Yoga Sanctuary for about three years now, and I still enjoy it tremendously. Shiva Rea's instruction is clear and detailed, her presentation is pleasant, and the practices are invigorating and well balanced. The exquisite accompaniment by Lisbeth Scott is perfect for yoga, enhancing the program without being distracting. Her music will transport you, even as you sweat through sun salutations, bobble through balance poses, and head rush through inversions.

Five up-dogs for Yoga Sanctuary -- Namaste!

This 2 CD set offers a strong and smartly divided series of asanas. I've found it extremely helpful in deepening my practice. Focusing on the instructor's voice (rather than craning my neck to see a video screen with an instructor striking a perfect pose) really allows me to take ownership of the pose and turn inward and focus on my breath and the sensations in my body. I was very pleasantly surprised that I could perform each pose without need for visual aid; the instructor directions are that clear. I have used this CD both in the morning and at night, for as few as 15 minutes to as long as 1 and a half hours. The ability to vary both the length and composition of my workout has enabled me to practice much more consistently than a video's or class's set routine did. I can't recommend this CD highly enough.

Occasionally, if you're very lucky will you stumble upon a creation that is this wonderful. Shiva Rea has a wonderful way of talking about yoga and assisting you with focusing during the postures. In addition, the music is perfectly balanced with the posture sequences. She also has created two distinct sequences of postures so that they could be performed every day, one routine per day. She also provides suggestions on shorter routines, as well as after exercise, etc.

If you like yoga and would like to begin a home practice or take your practice on the road, this is the way to do that.

This CD is truly fantastic! I've been doing yoga for a year at a studio in Cambridge, MA. I recently moved away and haven't been able to go to the studio as much as I'd like to. Being still a novice to yoga, I like having some direction during my practice. Shiva Rea does just that. She leads you through each posture and reminds you to be respectful of your body and the space that surrounds you. Her directions are clear and her voice is very soothing. The CD offers a 1.5 hour+ work out if you do the entire thing. However, the pamphlet that comes with the CD has different suggestions of shorter workouts. I was worried that the CD might not provide as intense of a practice as my studio provides me -- my worries were unfounded as far as this CD set is concerned. So, if you want to practice at the convinience of your own home but don't want to forgo the physical intensity and spiritual guidance of your studio workout, get this CD set!

I must say that this CD set isn't for beginners. You really have to know the yoga postures already to follow the CD.

I only wish I could find more CDs like this one. The accompanying poster is excellent and helpful. The instruction is clear. Rea's voice is soothing. I especially like the first CD, the solar practice. The dancing warrior is graceful and certainly helps develop endurance and balance. I repeat the track several times in a row. As a relative newcomer to yoga, this CD has really helped me expand my abilities. (I should note that I've always been in pretty good shape and I do have several years of dance experience.) There are several tracks that anyone can do, regardless of fitness and flexibility level, and the best part is that since it's on CD, you can program it in any order you like, unlike a video. I use this CD almost daily.

If you ever get tired of instructional yoga videos or if you need a practice to get into while traveling or don't have acces to a yoga class, this is an excellent choice. It's like having your own instructor right at your home. Don't be confuse, this is not a music CD, this is an oral instructed yoga class.
With a clear voice that gives easy to follow instructions (plus a spreadsheet to glance upon), Shiva Rea takes you thru two complete sessions in two CDs. Disk one has a more intense practice, actually quite so, since it is based on Ashtanga yoga, while disk two is more gentle. The good thing about the CD format is that you can arrange your practice by programming what tracks you want (each track is a series) or you can programm it at random, if your CD player does that. There is background music that accompanies Rea's voice making it very calming and soothing. The practice as a whole is very complete with a wide variety of poses that are maintained and repeated long enough and work every muscle and body part. The best thing for me was that I don't have to look at any TV screen so that I can focus on my respiration and aim at that union of mind and body which hatha yoga stands for, plus the convenience that I can take it with me while traveling since it is easier to have acces to a boom-box. How ever, if you're new to yoga you might find it hard to follow; this is an excellent choice for late begginners or intermediate students.

This is definitely a must have. Two CD set with warm-up, inversions, balances; basically everything you need for your own personal yoga class without having to put up with the throngs of trendy Madonna-wanna-bees flocking to sweaty studios in their $80 yoga pants. It even includes a cool fold-out chart with each pose pictured and explained. You can make your yoga session as long as you want and as challenging as you like. Great for beginners or experts. I bought this not expecting much and got tons.

To supplement my once-a-week yoga class, this CD is wonderful. I did find the morning session a bit confusing to follow (even when I am fully conscious!), and that the pictures didn't match the words. The evening routines are great. They stretch the back and legs to the point that you feel totally relaxed. The overall structure (asanas, guided mediation, relaxation) are great. The way she talks you through each pose is great, especially for those who have sight problems, or learn by hearing. I am so comfortable with being talked through the asanas that I am having trouble following in my live yoga class! Highly recommended for those who are more than beginners.