Yoga Sanctuary is a set of 2 CDs with yoga instruction and music. The instructions are excellent, the music is beautiful and relaxing, and the way the CDs are set up is ingenious! There are 13 separate tracks on the 2 CDs, and you can pick and choose which tracks you want to do on any given occasion. The set is advertised as being appropriate for experienced beginners or intermediate yoga students. I think that it would be useful to anyone from beginners through advanced yoga practitioners; the instructions are very thorough, and beginners could easily leave out the tracks with more advanced postures until they become more experienced. Also, for advanced yogis who want to add certain postures, it is suggested that you can pause the CD in the appropriate section (for example, inversions if you wanted to add headstand) and continue when you are ready.

Here is a detailed break-down of the tracks on the 2 CDs, with descriptions from the CD cover and the poster that comes with the set:

Disk One: Solar Practice ("an energizing, balanced sequence cultivating strength and flexibility, inner and outer alignment")

1. Sun Salutations (9:55)
2. Dancing Warrior (6:45)--"a more dynamic variation of the sun salutations (without the pause in downward dog) to develop graceful fluidity, inner stamina, and wisdom in action"
3. Standing Poses (15:05)--includes triangle pose, warrior 2, extended side angle pose, wide leg forward bend, intense side stretch
4. Standing Pose Flow (13:00)--flowing standing pose sequence that includes some more challenging poses, such as half moon and standing splits
5. Balance Poses (11:14)--includes tree pose, king dancer pose, boat pose, crow pose
6. Abdominal Strengthening (8:00)--includes leg raises and "yogic bicycle," which works the obliques
7. Backbends (9:44)--includes cobra, locust, bow, camel, bridge, and upward bow or wheel pose

Disk Two: Lunar Practice (a relaxing flow for deep release and relaxation)

1. Full-Body Warm-Up (11:34)--includes standing forward bend, half salutes, hip twists, and shoulder stretches
2. Forward Bends & Twists (8:00)--includes seated forward bend, a seated twisting pose with 1 leg bent, and reclined leg stretch
3. Hip Openers & Twists (13:04)--includes a reclined straddle pose, double pigeon, a seated twisting pose with both legs bent, wide leg seated forward bend, a wide leg twist/side stretch, and cobbler or butterfly pose
4. Inversions (8:30)--includes shoulderstand and variations, plow, knee to ear pose, fish pose, and a reclining twist
5. Meditation & Ujayi Pranayama (9:00)--a meditation focusing on ujayi breathing
6. Deep Relaxation (9:00)--shavasana, with a short guided relaxation, a poem, and soothing music

The CD lists suggested combinations of tracks to use for shorter practices and as pre- and post- workout practices. All of the tracks have a nice variety of poses, and it's nice how they are divided into distinct, logical categories so that you can choose different types of poses depending on what you want to focus on. I especially like to use the forward bends and twists and hip openers and twists (usually followed by shavasana) as a wonderful post-workout stretch and relaxation.

With the exception of the flow sequences, the poses are held for a nice length of time, allowing you to go deeply into the postures. The music is kind of new age-sounding; I find it very relaxing and it is not so loud or obtrusive that it drowns out the instructions or the sound of my breathing. The CD set comes with a large, 2-sided poster that has beautiful pictures of Shiva Rea performing the poses included on the CDs.

I can't say enough good things about this CD set! In the couple of months since I received it, I have used it at least several times each week and hardly have used any of my extensive collection of yoga videos. It's nice having so many options for different practice sequences, and I tend to prefer audio instruction rather than video instruction for yoga. I find that I can pay more attention to my breathing and my experience of the postures when I am listening to an audio tape or CD rather than using a video.

I would definitely give this CD set an A+. It has greatly enhanced my yoga practice. I purchased the set through Amazon; it also can be ordered from the Living Arts catalog or web site and from the Sounds True catalog or web site.

Instructor Comments:
Shiva Rea gives wonderful instructions, and her voice is very pleasant. She does sound kind of new agey at times; that doesn't bother me at all, but it may bother people who don't enjoy references to the spiritual component of yoga practice. She currently writes the beginner asana column for Yoga Journal, and there also was an interesting article in a recent Yoga Journal about combined yoga and rock-climbing outings that she leads through her company, Yogadventures.

Linda Arcuri