Yogic Arts - Awakening Level

Duncan Wong
Year Released: 2006

Categories: Yoga


background about me - I consider myself at an advanced beginner level for yoga. I tend to like medium paced flow practices along with relaxation/restorative practices. Favorites include: Total Yoga the Original, Yoga Shakti, Pure Tranquility, and Yoga in the Garden of Serenity.

setting - The practice is filmed in black and white in what I assume is a yoga studio. The overall background has a buddhist theme.

The DVD includes one full length practice as well as two shorter practices. The DVD is well chaptered and is filmed in widescreen. Set up is similar to Yoga Shakti where each chapter is titled and makes up a separate part into itself. There is no yoga matrix however.

Chapters are:

Prana Prep
Bandha Basics
Energy Practice
Wrist Therapy
Shoulder Session
Warrior Salutation
Standing Set
Gluteal Ground Work
Hip Opening and Core Floor Flow Series
Backbends and Finishing Poses
Savasana

The practice begins with breathing exercises. Duncan does an excellent job with this, going through a number of different breathing techniques. Since he is not wearing a shirt you are really able to see what he is doing with his body to deepen his breath. From there he precedes into a variety of different poses.

The practice is a flowing routine, but not in the classical sense. There are no typical sun salutations, and Duncan seems to give a martial arts feel to the standard yoga poses. There are very few down dogs but many kneeling dogs to upward dogs (I'm not sure that is the correct term.)

The practice involves a lot of elements that I have not seen in other practices. The wrist therapy section was excellent and the Gluteal Ground Work reminded me of Billy Blanks meets iballet (I appreciated the uniqueness of it).

Truthfully I'm having a hard time describing the practice because the routine is very different from the norm. My overall impression is that I really enjoyed it. It is completely different from anything else I have and definitely fills a void. I've discovered a new favorite yoga move, the scorpion. =)

gripes - My one big quibble with the practice is that at times it feels like Duncan is trying to accomplish too much and doesn't give you time to enjoy this wonderful pose he has just shown. Also since the practice is geared towards beginners, intermediates, there are portions where you are just begging him to go into crow or a full down dog, but it just doesn't go there.

summary - This is a unique practice that I really enjoy. I really look forward to trying his more advanced routine.

Instructor Comments:
Duncan Wong appears very composed and has a very pleasant voice. I also think that because he has no shirt on it really helps you to understand what he is attempting to accomplish with the breathing exercises.

Talie

06/22/2006