Yummy Yoga

Christa Rypins
Year Released: 2000

Categories: Yoga


Yummy Yoga is not exactly yoga, nor is it traditional stretching; rather, it is based on a technique called Somatics, which involves increasing your neuromuscular awareness through contracting and releasing muscles throughout your entire body. This is an excellent method for targeting chronically tight areas of the body and retraining the muscles to relax.

Yummy Yoga is led by Christa Rypins, who instructs via voiceover with a small group of participants who are lying in a circle. The entire practice is performed on the floor, mostly lying, but with some seated segments as well. Although it is broken up into two 20-minute sessions, Lower Body and Upper Body, the segments flow into each other without interruption, and each includes full body stretches in addition to targeting the lower or upper body. Christa leads you slowly and gently through each movement, often having you move your body in opposition (eg, stretching your right arm and left leg, twisting your head in one direction while your torso moves in the other, etc.). I found some of the moves for the shoulders and upper back area to be particularly unique.

The upper body segment is a little shorter overall than the lower, as Christa spends the last 6.5 minutes leading you through a guided relaxation: she has you focus on and release each individual muscle of the body in turn. Although this was definitely relaxing, it also felt a bit repetitive, as Christa says the exact same thing each time; a brief final stretch follows the relaxation. After the practice ends, Christa spends a final 2 minutes reviewing some of the principles of Somatics. This video is probably best-suited to those who have chronically tight muscles and thus are unable to engage in traditional stretching. For those (like myself) who already are participating in regular activities to increase flexibility, such as yoga, this video might feel a bit too gentle and slow-moving, although it is still likely to foster relaxation.

Instructor Comments:
Christa has a soothing voice, and overall, her instruction was fine. However, it was sometimes a bit difficult to understand exactly what she was doing, and her voice tended to get a bit monotone at times.

Beth C (aka toaster)

06/02/2007