Transform Yourself with Jivamukti Yoga

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DVD details

Actor: David Life, Sharon Gannon
Brand: ACORN MEDIA
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 60 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-09-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Acacia

DVD Reviews of Transform Yourself with Jivamukti Yoga

DVD Review: Yoga session for Advanced Beginners (no instruction)
Summary: 4 Stars

Professionally recorded, this yoga session is very soothing with emphasis on seamlessly integrating the breath with movement. This is not for novices due to the lack of instruction, but those who know how to do the asanas/poses correctly w/o any direction, and being able to know the poses by their Sanskrit name & not just English is better since the English name is never given.
The music is a live band, and you have the option of voice overs from either David Life who will always tell you when to inhale/exhale, the pose name, and generally is quiet, or Sharon Gannon who tells you always when to inhale/exhale, the pose name, as well as more mind/body awareness, and occasionally the benefits of poses (especially inverted).
The session is made for advanced beginners as the hardest poses are full wheel, and a headstand w/forearms done with David while Sharon stays in a high downward dog. The pace is almost yin yoga, you will be holding the pose for several/many breaths to really feel the stretch and to relax into the pose.
Grounding/chanting - (3 min) standing, just sometimes chanting OM
Sun Salutations - (6 min) mostly mountain, standing back bend, standing fwd bend, downward dog, plank, chaturanga, cobra, and adding lunges
Standing Poses - (13 min) warrior 1, triangle, warrior 2, side angle, pyramid, twisted prayer lunge, seated twist, fwd bend over simple seated cross legged pose, plank, chaturanga, cobra, downward dog. Repeat with the other foot fwd. This requires more lower body strength as you are doing all those poses on the same leg before allowed to switch. Next wide legged seated fwd bend, chaturanga, rest in downward dog.
Balancing - (2 min) Intro about balancing while resting in downward dog, side plank on both sides, chaturanga, rest in cobra
Back Bending - (6 min) locust, bow, bridge, wheel, rest, knees to chest, reclined spinal twist knees to side, downward dog.
Forward Bending - (4 min) intro while in staff/seated legs straight, single straight leg fwd bends both sides, butterfly, star seat (looser butterfly stretch), both straight leg fwd bend.
Inverted Poses - (13 min) shoulder stand straight legs up, plow & knees to floor, fish, child's pose, down dog w/head cradled between forearms in 1/2 headstand then full headstand if ready, child's pose.
Meditation/Savasana - 5 min seated & 5 min reclined

This was a very soothing session with great yogis, the only issue I had was when holding the pose, though I enjoyed the constant inhale/exhale overall, a few more benefits of the pose in between would have been good inbetween, and the counting of the breath (inhale/exhale 1, inhale/exhale 2, inhale/exhale 3 .... inhale/exhale 24...) was very annoying, like a very slow aerobics session.

Bonus:
Bios of both yogis
Over one minute freestyle yoga - demonstration of them doing harder poses
Almost 9 min. facial massage - voiced over by Sharon which includes a couple yoga facial poses, massage of the face/ears, and stimulating acupressure points of the face w/calming music.

Video Clips:
Trailer at: acaciacatalog
Sequence at: youtube under "Jivamukti Yoga Sequence"

DVD Review: Very nice
Summary: 4 Stars

I love the live indian music and that you can have with Shannon's or Davids voice giving the instructions. You can also have just the music. Nice! Good balanced workout.

DVD Review: Exotic Advanced Practice
Summary: 5 Stars

If you are new to yoga, this is not a good place to start. This is definitely an advanced practice with quite a few challenges. The cueing is good but you have to know the poses beforehand so you can follow along quickly. Also, the headstand and shoulder stands are held for an extended time. Some of the poses are held for 10 to 26 breaths. You need to develop some endurance or you just have to try to hold the poses for as long as possible.

The set is gorgeous with flowing curtains, candles, pillows and carpets. David Life and Sharon Gannon sit and exercise on orange yoga mats. The music is beautiful with violin, drums, a sitar and flute performed exclusively for this workout.

The practice begins with sun salutations and works into standing poses like triangle, and warrior II. You might recognize plank, fish, downward facing dog, upward facing dog, cobra, backbends and forward bends. All the poses flow together well so you are getting a good cardiovascular workout.

What I liked most about this workout is the atmosphere (sunlight streaming into the room) and the fact that they include a meditation session and extended relaxation. What I didn't like was the music they played during the final relaxation and the comment about worshiping mother nature. Other than those two things I think this is a perfect workout with great appeal to anyone looking for the full yoga experience.

Something you might want to try is putting sandalwood, patchouli and ylang ylang in an oil burner. That helped me to relax and made the practice feel more authentic and healing.

~The Rebecca Review

DVD Review: A wonderfully complete routine
Summary: 4 Stars

For me this is a nearly perfect routine (full disclosure- I typically do kundalini yoga, but among the other yoga styles jivamukti is my favorite.) It has great pacing and isn't as predictable as most yoga DVDs. Even the sun salutations are slightly different- a typical "surya namaskar a" is followed by a variation on surya b.

I found myself feeling invigorated throughout rather than tired. I suppose this routine doesn't push me overly hard (I am approximately intermediate level), but it offers a great variety of poses. I like that the disc was willing to take a risk and include both shoulderstand and headstand (which I do against a wall for support). I also loved the bonus 10 minute facial massage, which is lovely to do with the facial serum / oil of your choice.

Regarding the music- I adored the background music throughout except for, as most everyone else has mentioned, during savasana. It didn't drive me to distraction as it did most reviewers, but I did roll my eyes the first time I heard it.

I had done some of the jivamukti CDs before this (I nabbed them when I visited the main studio on a trip to NYC), and found the DVD true to my prior experiences. Anyway, the Ana Brett/Ravi Singh DVDs will remain my favorites discs, but this is a great addition to my collection.

DVD Review: Challenging, but definitely worth it.
Summary: 5 Stars

This was my first experience with any kind of yoga. Not really knowing where to begin, I searched the web for information on all forms, and was really impressed with the videos I saw for Jivamukti. My daily exercise routine included running, push-ups, and sit-ups, but I really wanted something that would help 'center' me better. I have to admit, Jivamukti was very challenging at first, and I was wondering what good all my other exercise was doing for me, because I felt very 'weak' trying to follow David and Sharon through the exercises. But, as David says at the beginning, in time you will be amazed how your body and mind will benefit by keeping with the routines. I am still not totally one with Jivamukti, but I'm not giving up, because it really helps me physically, but more importantly, mentally.

Description of Transform Yourself with Jivamukti Yoga

"David and Sharon have inspired and encouraged us to think of yoga not just as a system of exercises, but as a door to the infinite."-- Sting

"Not merely a workout, it's a way of life" -- InStyle

When David and Sharon opened their New York yoga school in 1989, they chose to call it Jivamukti to reflect yoga's true goal: enlightenment. Literally, Jivamukti means liberation while living, and as taught by these two gifted yogis, this physically vigorous and intellectually stimulating style of yoga has transformed the lives of thousands of students. Now one of the nine internationally recognized styles of Hatha Yoga, Jivamukti can show you the way to optimum health, fitness, and joy.

In just an hour a day, this Jivamukti Yoga practice will help you create a new foundation for a happier, healthier life. The practice is fast and flowing, set to music played on traditional instruments. The instruction is thorough and inspirational. Once you make Jivamukti Yoga part of your life, you will look different to the world and the world will look different to you.

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE audio track options, one by David and one by Sharon; 9-minute facial massage instruction; and freestyle yoga demonstration.

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