Dance The Chakras

Ana Brett, Ravi Singh
Year Released: 2006

Categories: Yoga


Wow! This is an awesome DVD! The video contains a complete kundalini session for the chakras followed by a guided dance session, which allows for plenty of free form expression. Breakdown is:

*Tune In
Chakra Yoga, consisting of:
*Stomach Grinds
*Ragdoll (which is janu sirsasana (head to knee pose) alternating quickly from one leg extended to the next with the breath - inhale switch legs, exhale head to knee)
*Crow with Breath of Fire (Ana & Ravi's version of crow, which is not the traditional yoga crow position, it's more of a squat with the hands on the ground)
*Butterfly with long, deep breathing
*Bridge with Breath of Fire
*Lying on back, legs up 60 degrees with inhale, knees to chest with exhale, legs up 60 degrees with inhale, legs down to the ground with exhale
*Relaxation
*Cross-legged position alternating hands at prayer position to extended straight to the sides with breath
*Arms up 60 degrees, palms flat with long, deep breathing
*Shoulderstand, legs out 30 degrees with Breath of Fire
*Plow (very brief)
*Head Rolls (slow)
*Cow/Cat (slow then quick)
*Baby Pose with fingers intertwined behind back, move arms up with three inhales, exhale arms back down)
Shake Your Chakra Dance Section consisting of:
*Tribal Dance (my favorite!)
*Hippy Shake (great hip opener)
*Funky Temple Dance
*Dance of Power
Rock Your Soul Dance Section consisting of:
*Heart
*Dance Trance (with sung mantra)
*Chakra Mudra Chant
*Deep Relaxation
*Closing Prayer

The yoga section was very thorough. Ana and Ravi explain for most exercises which chakra(s) you're working and the benefits. None are done for very long, and I didn't find any of them to be particularly difficult, just nice and enjoyable. As Ravi always encourages, I wanted to do more!

The dance section is so much fun! As background, although I usually enjoy Shiva Rea, I am not a fan of "Yoga Trance Dance." I like Ravi & Ana's dance much better. It is guided (and just a little funkier than "Yoga Trance Dance"), but Ana encourages you to use your own free form often. The dances vary from strong and powerful, to flowing and mellow. It is energizing, uplifting and very free-ing! I worked up a light sweat, although it is certainly not an intense cardio workout.

The Chakra Mudra Chant is beautiful, and in addition to the singing, you alternate hand positions. I usually struggle singing mantras, but on this one, the words are on the screen the entire time, making it easier and more quick to learn. I had both the words and the hand positions down less than halfway through, and I was able to close my eyes.

I usually do cardio in the morning because I find it is the best way for me to start my day. As much as I love kundalini, there are few that I feel "get me going" enough to do first thing in the morning - Gurmukh's session, Mantra Girl Advanced and Ravi & Ana's Total Tune Up and the revised Fat Free have been the only ones I've found that satisfy my need for "revving up" in the morning. This one, however, will fit that bill nicely! I feel energized, alive and blissfully happy having just completed it. I began the session with quite a stiff back and hips, and both areas feel great now!

The music (as is always the case with Ravi & Ana's videos) is awesome. It's upbeat and groovin'! There are some songs we've heard from other Ravi & Ana videos, but plenty of new ones.

As an added bonus, Ravi & Ana put pre-set practices on this one! There are four shorter versions of the entire session (which runs 60 min. in total). There is one 20-min. session, one 30-minute session and two 45-minute sessions. This will be great when time is short!

I think experienced kundalini practitioners will love this session, but it is very accessible for the beginner.

Try this one and have a ball!

Instructor Comments:
As usual, Ana and Ravi are excellent! Ana demonstrates beautifully, and both Ana and Ravi provide thorough, insightful verbal instruction.

ssgilby

10/06/2006