Level 1 – River Flow, Opening the Currents of a Yoga Practice

Tias Little
Year Released: 2005

Categories: Yoga


There are 2 DVD's, sold separately.

Level 1 – River Flow, Opening the currents of a yoga practice

Leve1 2 – Freeing the Bird of Prana, Opening the wings of a yoga practice

The DVD’s are beautifully and professionally produced, and chaptered--although the asanas (yoga poses) are all on one chapter. In its entirety, its what I think you would expect from his workshop, some yoga philosophy, chanting, Buddist teachings, and a well-sequenced asana practice with gentle but careful cueing for correct alignment, and very knowledgeable in anatomy. He is warm and funny in person, but more serious in the DVD. It is done with voice-over, and he sets the tone for a contemplative practice with images and poetry. He uses both Sanskrit and English. There is soft music playing in the background, hardly noticeable, but calming. He demonstrates on New Mexico’s stark, redish rock formations. Modifications are shown, example—using a block or a strap.

Level 1--Opening the currents of a yoga practice. 80 minutes total

Chapters are:
Poem by Takahashi
Prelude
Dharma Talk—Non clinging
Key points for the practice
Meditation—6 minutes
Asana—46 minutes
Closing meditation—5 minutes
Savasana 5 minute
Poem by Wendell Berry

The asana sequence moves slowly, with long holds, and good form pointers throughout, except for the Chaturanga (plank) to Upward Facing Dog, which surprisingly, had no form pointers. To prevent shoulder injuries, drop to your knees if you can’t do a regular pushup, and pull your shoulder blades back and down, and keep tailbone down, belly button pulled in.

Suitable for a experienced beginner. The poses are:

1. Viranasa (hero), sitting on a block, then Parvatasana (hands overhead)
2. Adho Mukha Svanasana (down dog), head on a block
3. Samastithi (standing/waiting)
4. Surya Namaskar--Iyengar version (sun salutations
5. Pada Uttanasana series: hold toes, then feet on palms, then feet on backs of hands
6. Trikonasana (triangle), block optional
7. Parsvakonasana (extended side angle), block optional
8. Virabhadrasana 2 (warrior 2)
9. Trikonasana to Ardha Chandrasana (triangle to half moon), block optional
10. Padottanasana series (wide leg): on fingertips, then palms and top of head on floor, then hands on outer heels
11. Parsvottanasana (side extended) series: hands to floor/block, then hands on waist, then namaste behind back
12. One Sun Salutation
13. Dandasana (staff) on blanket, then Supta Dandasana (supine) with legs up, strap optional
14. Triang Mukhaikapada Pascimottanasana—1 leg in Virasana, then extend and forward bend
15. Janu Sirsasana—a leg bent, then extend and forward bend
16. Adho Mukha Svanasana (down dog)
17. Half Lotus preparation—shin on forearms, then Ardha Badda Padma Pasimottanasana (half lotus stretch), strap optional
18. Maricyasana (twist), strap optional
19. Caturanga Dandasana, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana
(plank, lower down, up dog, down dog)
20. Konasana series: Baddha Konasana (bound angle), Upavista Konasana (wide leg forward extension), Urdhva Konasana (legs up), and rock back into Supta Konasana (wide leg plough), then legs together for Halasana (plough)
21. Salamba Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) series: 2-3 blankets and strap optional, Eka Pada Sarvangasana (1 leg down), then Halasana (plough) with arms on floor


Level 2—Freeing the Bird of Prana, Opening the wings of a yoga practice

Total 90 minutes. Intermediate level. The chaptering is similar, but this Asana practice is 59 minutes, and definitely more challenging, with full arm balance, headstand, camel, full backbend, lotus. I am going to modify, or skip the poses I can’t do yet.

1. Viranasa (hero), sitting on a block, then Parvatasana (hands overhead)
2. Adho Mukha Svanasana (down dog), head on a block
3. Samastithi (standing/waiting)
4. Surya Namaskar--Iyengar version (sun salutations)
5. Pada Uttanasana series: hold toes, then feet on palms, then feet on backs of hands
6. Adho Mukha Vrksana (full arm balance), option to do down dog, then walk
half way up the wall
7. Trikonasana (triangle), block optional, then Parivrtta Trikonasana (revolved triangle)
8. Parsvakonasana (extended side angle), block optional, then Parivrtta Parsvakonasana (revolved side angle)
9. Virabhadrasana 1 (warrior 1)
10.Padottanasana series (wide leg): with arms bent and palms on floor, then
interlocked fingers and arms overhead, then with arms in handstand position and top of head on floor
11. Trikonasana to Ardha Chandrasana (triangle to half moon), block optional,
then to Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (revolved half moon)
12. one Sun Salutation
13. Salamba Sirsasana (headstand), wall optional
14. rest in Virasana, then down dog
15. Supta Eka Pada Virasana (reclining 1-leg hero), bolster optional
16. Setu Bandha (bridge), block optional, then with legs extended
17. one Sun Salutation
18. Ustrasana (camel)
19. up dog, down dog
20. Urdhva Dhanurasana series: 3 variations, with rest in between, then Dvi Pada Viparita Dandasana (headstand backbend), then walk feet out for Inverted Staff, and back into backbend
21. Supta Padangusthasana (supine big toe), strap optional, then upper leg crosses midline
22. Padottanasana series (wide leg): side bend to 1 leg, then other, then fold forward with palms and head on floor
23. Sit in Padasma (lotus), option sit-cross legged, then twist, holding feet or strap
24. Bound Lotus, holding both feet or strap, then forward fold



Instructor Comments:
Here is a recent article on a workshop he conducted:

http://www.yogachicago.com/mar04/tias.shtml

And his website:
http://www.yogasource-santafe.com/boutique/dvdinfo.htm



Katie W

06/22/2006