Yoga dvd’s for home practice

A few months ago I was in a supermarket and I saw a “Caribbean-workout yoga dvd” set for home practice, 2-disc set for only $5. Even though I didn’t know anything about its quality, I decided to buy since it was so cheap and if I ever needed to practice at home I would need more than just a few classes. One dvd was called “Stretch into yoga” and the other one “Yoga for the core”. I tried the 2 full classes at home, it’s pretty basic (nothing outstanding) but very reasonable. The timing for the poses seemed ok to me. These dvd’s will serve as a home practice class once in a while. I thought “Well, if I can get this for $5, imagine what I can get for $20”.

I’m planning to go to Rio for a month and a half and I’m already worried about keeping my yoga practice in case I can’t find a good studio. About a month ago I went to Borders bookstore to look for a good yoga dvd. My yoga level at this point is beginner to intermediate, so I tried to pick one that is not so basic. I choose “Shiva Rea Fluid Power – Vinyasa Flow Yoga”. I was attracted by the words “vinyasa flow”, what for me means the pose sequences coordinated with breathing that are more challenging than a basic routine. I already tried to do a home practice with this dvd twice, but it just doesn’t work for me. The production is great, but I simply can’t stand the “dancing” factor that Shiva includes in her practice, a lot of circular motion movements with your shoulders and hands, or whatever… and for me that’s more than distraction: it’s annoying. I wish this was more clearly explained on the dvd cover, even though I have to admit it says “wave motion”, “rhythmic, circular, and spiraling movements”. I interpreted “rhythmic” as paced, since for my understanding “vinyasa flow” doesn’t have anything to do with sensual movements or dancing. I’ll definitely try it again sometime, maybe just doing the movements that work for me. I am actually very surprised that a lot of people in Amazon recommend it. Maybe it’s just me.

The other dvd I bought was “Yoga Advanced with Rodney Yee”. It has an arm-balance workout, a hip opening routine and advanced pranayama (that I didn’t try yet). I tried the first to parts, and it’s high quality. I’ll definitely use it more times in the future specially when I’m more able to try arm balances, even though for me it’s good to try some of the poses even if I can’t lift my body what is currently impossible for me, I can only do crane (quick note: I never try unassisted head or hand-stands, nor should anyone). Most of the poses are preparation for the arm balances, and make it an excellent class if you are just getting ready for the move advanced asanas in the future. But something bothered me: the sequences seem too fast, I’m currently used to hold the positions for longer time, even when on a power or vinyasa real class. For sure this is too advanced for my level - and he has other dvd’s which would probably work better for me.

If anyone reading this has a good suggestion of a good dvd for home-practice appropriate to someone like me (5 months of yoga, practicing every other day), I appreciate it! I’ll still try other dvd’s, and I’m sure there are many others out there. But I’m considering if it’s maybe better to prepare my own sequences for home practice, and put sometime in learning how to do that.

After my yoga fast… back to the routine

After my so many days (almost 3 weeks) without practicing yoga regularly, being back to Scottsdale was great, even with all the heat. I was concerned that I was going to lose part of the progress acquired before, and actually in the first class after my return my balance was horrible! Ugh…! But surprisingly I recovered very quickly, and in fact I feel like having a quick break made my body realign what I’ve learned before. One of my yoga instructors last week told me my practice has improved a lot - I understand she’s comparing with my shape 3 months ago and not just before I left on vacations. I think yoga brought me physical and emotional balance, and it doesn’t go away that quick.

Now that I’m back, I’m concerned on how it’s going to be when I’m not around. I use to spend long periods in Rio de Janeiro, where I’m originally from, and I’m already concerned on how my practice will be when I’m there. Of course I’m sure there are good yoga studios, but will I have the convenience of finding a good affordable one close to where I live there? (I’m sure yoga in Brazil is very expensive, like most physical activities when compared to US, at least AZ). So I’ve been researching solutions for home practice. I’ve looking at some yoga videos and books - but I still haven’t found a solution. I’ll write more about that on a next post.

My experience with Bikram yoga

I am currently visiting part of my family in Portland. A couple days ago a friend took me to a Bikram yoga class. She told me the class was going to be in a sauna. Getting there, a small nice studio, the room was heated, between 105 and 110F. I did reasonably well, but at a certain point I thought I could possibly pass out from being so hot! I found out they always do the same series of 26 asanas. The instructor was very talkative, and at the end of the poses there was an emphasis on the speech in terms of making you move “just a little more”… in a way that almost sounded like a religious cult to me. I don’t really know if it’s always like that. The overall experience was very different to me, I enjoyed it, but I think I still prefer my regular yoga classes. I don’t have a problem with always doing the same poses, but I think some of my favorites poses are not included in their series… that’s just a personal thought. Afterwards I read on Wikipedia website about the controversy that revolves around Bikram yoga. After class I felt very good, I had an incredible night of sleep! I would definitely practice in a sauna again, but not on a regular basis. Thank you Guia!

An addicted yogini in the absence of Yoga

As I mentioned on my last post, I’ve been spending some days out of Scottsdale. I came to Portland on July 11 to visit part of my family. And by the way, the summer is very nice here! I knew I would have to stop my Yoga classes for a while, but I thought I would be able to figure out something. So after a few days here, I got a 2-week membership at a local gym and they offer 2 yoga classes per week. I could not manage my agenda to go to the classes on the first week. So I finally tried one today. Even though I was so excited to try it, I have to admit that after class I got very disappointed. My 4 months experience with Yoga have been very intense, but in a single fitness club in AZ (Mountainside Fitness). They have about 10 different Yoga instructors, each one of them has their own style, but there are some similarities in their classes. The gym offer classes like: regular yoga, yoga flow, power yoga, heated power yoga, stretch yoga, gentle yoga, yoga 101. Usually the room is a little heated, and all the instructors use music. The indirect light helps getting concentrated and focused. I thought that with that variety of instructors and classes I could speak the same language as anyone else that practices Yoga. But after the class I attended today… I don’t think so. It was a weird experience. The room was very cold, with freezing air conditioner. The lights were so bright. No music at all. We only had a down-dog one time in the whole class, very quickly. No planks and chaturangas at all. One triangle. I don’t have an instructor’s eye to explain why the class was weird. I just thought that my grandma could be there doing the same class with me. I didn’t feel challenged at all, and I also didn’t feel like the class contributed to my apprenticeship. And I don’t see how people that only know this type of class would relate to my previous posts. It was a worth experience though, it’s always important to know what goes on out of our little world.

Anyways, after I came back home, I told my friend that lives here that I didn’t really enjoy the class. And she invited me to go with her to a Bikram Yoga class on this same night. And that experience was quite different! But I’ll write about it on a next post.

Warrior “C” at the Grand Canyon

Since it’s summer and it’s so hot in Phoenix/Scottsdale I’ve spending sometime away. On a short trip to Sedona I also visited the Grand Canyon. The view is breath-taking, it’s so beautiful it’s almost unbelievable. I felt like trying some yoga poses… Warrior “C” was one of them!

Warrior "C" at the Grand Canyon

I can do it way better than that… with arms extended and the “T” shape, but it’s so difficult when you just try a pose from nothing. Warming up and concentrating for a while is so important. I can’t post the picture of my Tree pose, or that would be very embarrassing!!!