The DVD is chaptered into two 30-minute sections: (1) Energy and (2) Relaxation. Both practices are filmed in the gorgeous Element setting that those familiar with Element workouts have come to expect: A beautiful flower garden complete with wisteria-covered gazebo next to sparkling reflecting pool, with the Pacific Ocean gleaming in the distance; the quietly melodic tune in the background added to the overall serenity of these practices.

RELAXATION begins in “easy pose” (basically seated with crossed legs) and we practice our breathing. I am sooo easily bored with breathing exercises, but tried to “relax” into this practice, LOL! Next we bring our hands to our shoulders and circle our elbows forward, then back. Then we stretch our neck. Now, at the six-minute mark, we do a short vinyasa: Starting in child’s pose, we transition into table top for cat/cow stretches, camel pose (a back bend done on your knees, child’s pose, rabbit pose (sort of like child’s pose, only crown of head touches floor and shins are on floor, thighs lifted, hands on backs of thighs), then back to child’s pose, from which we “thread the needle” for a nice arm/oblique stretch. Then we do another short vinyasa: Move from downward-facing dog to plank, then cobra. Throughout the moves, you can hear the sound of deep breathing which we are supposed to emulate. It helped. Next we move into crocodile, which is a pretty easy prone position. Then it’s back up to downward-facing dog, then a high split and stepping forward with one foot into a pyramid pose, which is like triangle pose only with your chest down and folded over your front shin. Then some more stretching before moving into pigeon pose – and then repeat the vinyasa with the other leg.

Floor work was next: single-leg forward bends, butterfly pose, and seated modified eagle pose (on one side, then the other), which Tamal says shuts down our flight or fight impulse to reduce stress and help us relax. Other floor work included forward seated stretch, rolling down into supine, bringing knees into chest and circling them one way then the other, bringing knees back into chest for leg pulls and spinal twists, then finally corpse pose. The audible breathing and gentle guidance via quiet voiceover throughout the practice was very relaxing indeed.

ENERGY begins with breathing exercises while standing in Mountain Pose. This is followed by a back bend and three sun salutations. Then things get even more “energetic” with a short vinyasa of plank pose, downward-facing dog, forearm plank, dolphin pose (like downward-facing dog, only on forearms), then child’s pose. From here we move into updog, then press back into downdog. Tamal constantly reminds you to work at your own level.

Next comes a series of asanas (poses) done on one side, then the other: Move from downward-facing dog to downdog split; step forward to crescent pose then reverse crescent pose; move into twisting side angle pose, then warrior 2, reverse warrior, and back to warrior 2; then down to the mat for seated hero pose with a breath of fire (my cat did not like BOF!) The next set of ananas include seated forward bend, leg stretches, back to forward bend, move into reverse plank, seated for butterfly pose, move into crab pose (a “plank like” pose), then supine spinal twist, and finally corpse pose.

I felt this was aptly described as the more energetic of the two practices, and there was a nice flow to the sequencing of the poses. Many of the poses are held for one minute or longer; I suppose they are held this long in “traditional” yoga, but I am easily bored.

I can't say enough about the setting and the music: both simply beautiful.

Instructor Comments:
Very calm and encouraging.

Debbie J