This is a wonderful video! Beautiful outdoor, woodsy setting with Gurmukh on a platform and the class participants on colorful blankets on the ground. The total session runs about 50 minutes and is divided into four sections.

Awake energizes the body and prepares it for the work. Exercises include seated grinding in a circle, spinal flexing, seated twisting, opposite hand to foot while lying on back, seated with hands sweeping up overhead and then down and breath of fire with arms extended out and up.

The Energize section gets the breath flowing the blood pumping! Exercises are done standing and include standing twisting, side bending, bending up and down with hands at chest level, straight leg kicking crossing the midline, "squats" (for lack of a better term) on toes (which is very difficult) and arms at side moving up 15 degrees and down 15 degrees.

The Strengthen section continues with some aerobic type exercises: grabbing (kind of like Taekwondo punches), punching with legs moving back and forth (kind of like a scissor motion), arms extended above head with hands flapping (for the nervous system), standing backbend with slow, deep breathing, standing forward bend with stomach pumping, and then arms extended at sides moving back (into like a backbend) and then forward so torso and extended arms are parallel with floor.

The Relaxation section consists of a Sa Ta Na Ma seated meditation (sa ta na ma is repeated four times with the breath held out) followed by savasana with the gong.

I found this tape to be totally exhilirating and wonderful. I love twisting and dynamic movements and Gurmukh's session is full of them. It will definitely raise your energy and spirits high! Gurmukh encourages you to go faster and faster, but of course, you can work at your own pace.

Unlike Ravi & Ana's sessions, there are very few traditional yoga poses and the exercises aren't broken up with meditations or breathing exercises (other than the ones done in conjunction with the exercises).

I didn't find Gurmukh to be any farther "out there" than Ravi & Ana. Yes, there is talk of "raising the kundalini," "opening the heart," "calming the nervous system," "balancing the right and left sides of the brain," but really nothing I felt to be really weird. If you've done any kundalini at all, nothing will seem strange here. Even if you haven't done a lot of kundalini, I don't think Gurmukh is too "woo woo," but I guess it depends on how much you open your mind to it. Some people may be turned off.

The only word of caution I would have is to those with back or neck issues. Be sure to take it slow and modify or omit any exercises that cause pain or discomfort. I think with common sense, this session is do-able and has something for everyone.

It is a wonderful, wonderful session that leaves me feeling refreshed, revitalized, alive and open! I only wish Gurmukh would give us more of her wonderful kundalini yoga on more DVDs! Thank you, Gurmukh!

Instructor Comments:
Gurmukh is a Sikh, and a lovely youthful-looking woman with a soft voice. She is encouraging throughout the session, urging you on. She explains the purpose of each exercise.

ssgilby