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Shiva Rea's Fluid Power Vinyasa Flow Yoga |
 Perfect |
| This is my second Shiva Rea's video, and I'm totally in love. I started with Daily Energy DVD, which I find excellent, and Fluid Power is as good as Daily Energy. Fluid Power is tougher, in my opinion. I can get through most of the poses in the Daily Energy video quite easy, except some handstands. Fluid Power requires more effort, in my opinion, it demands more strength and more flexibility. I'm pretty sure I'll improve my fitness level with this video. I really enjoy quality of this DVD, I like the music, the white sand desert, cinematography, camera work, everything. DVD allows to customize my practice, which is so great, because I can vary my practice depending on my mood and schedule. I can practice every day without repeating a practice, so this DVD isn't going to get boring. And of course I LOVE Shiva's yoga flows. All of the yoga pieces in the matrix are really enjoyable. There are pieces when Shiva is alone in the desert, there are pieces when she is accompanied by few other yogis (nice idea!) and pieces when she is alone near a waterpool and ancient-looking columns. Shiva always shows at least two stages of a pose, so it's not a problem when I can't get into the advanced variation of a pose - I just stick to the less advanced variation, trying to get better. Some reviewers say Shiva's cuing is off - I personally don't agree with that. I find her cueing good, and I have never done any yoga before Shiva's DVDs! Shiva's yoga is the only yoga I'm motivated to do, because I don't like traditional yoga. I've never been any kind of "yoga person". Although Shiva herself is a real "yoga person", it's not necessary to be one for practicing yoga with her! I absolutely love both of my Shiva Rea videos! They are different, and both are great. - posted by Sandra on 10/14/2010 |
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| Wow |
| I had looked at this title a number of times before ordering. I am so glad I did. There is so much on this DVD it will keep me going for a long time. I am an experienced beginner in yoga, and this is the right balance. I can do the poses, yet there is lots of room to progress further into the advanced poses as my practice deepens. In the meantime, I stay in the first stage of the pose and relax into it as I listen to her describe the advanced level. No pressure or feeling like I'm missing out. This is my first Shiva Rea DVD, and I'll look at her others. I love her approach in this one - the flowing nature, circular movements, focus on flexibility. I'm recovering from surgery and having all sorts of hip/sacrum pain and tightness. I've been doing this DVD for a week and feel that it is already making a big difference. If you are not into the spiritual component of yoga, this DVD isn't for you. - posted by Rebecca on 8/19/2010 |
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| You have to be persitant and you will get stronger and more flexible |
| Shiva Rea has a different approach to yoga. She does not emphasize the breath so much as concentrating on becoming fluid and strong through her state of mind kind of approach I would say. She coaches you through it with her philosophy which to me encourages a meditative state because it encourages me to just relax into the practice. There are pre-chosen workouts which I never use and the yoga matrix which is the best way to get to know this DVD. For me, it pushed me past the plateau I was on with yoga. I have gotten better in yoga because of this DVD. It can be difficult to follow some of the segments at first. I needed to keep trying and sometimes stopping and watching since you are not always facing the screen or may have your head down. Shiva Rea is amazing to watch as she has incredible form. The set also includes a disc with a bio of her which is good to watch to understand where she is coming from. It also includes short "lectures" by other people in the field which I was not as interested in. One more thing, give the chanting segments a chance. I find they help calm and energize me at the same time. Good luck and namaste. - posted by Bernadette with arthritic knees on 7/19/2010 |
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| Solid int/adv - original variations! |
| The dvd comes with 6 preset workouts. 3 short (beginner flow, meditation, lunar flow for flexibility) and 3 longer more intense (backbend flow, creative flow, hip opening flow) This dvd is def int/adv. No beginner should be trying this. The beginner flow made me sweat, but didn't work my body as well as shiva usually does (just a lack of time) The flexibility flow is calming and slower paced as lunar flows usually are, but if you are very flexible to begin with, you would probably prefer the hip opening flow instead. If you are weary of her 'new age' style, it is limited to mostly the opening meditations. The first 5-7 min of each flow is like a meditation warm up. There is chanting and free form flow (like dancing - it is used to open up your joints - VERY effective) But because there is a chapter matrix you can make your own flow and just leave those out. You may also not like the meditation flow, and parts of the creative flow if you don't do 'new age'. In the 2 longer flows, there is monkey pose (a split. only dvd I have that uses this!) Shiva uses circular flows, to take you around the mat. Your back is to her and she warns you of this but gives you variations so you stay facing front. She also uses a circular wheel variation (only for those with strong, flexible backs or you will hurt yourself) She does start you off with a circular camel flow to build up your strength. The handstands only need a very slim spot to get your feet upon the wall. I do it right next to the tv and you can always use the matrix to skip that part which is only 5-7 min. Shiva offers several never (for me) before seen pigeon variations! I loved them. Overall a very original yet challenging dvd. And of course who doesn't love being able to pick what chapters you use and how long you make your own workout? As for Shiva's cueing, I am already familiar with it so I can trust her voice as she says, but after a couple of times you can follow her flow pattern and shouldn't need to look back at the tv. - posted by nicolef on 6/2/2010 |
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 keep it up... |
| I agree the cueing is a little off...for the first couple times you do the tape, but after you do it a couple times, it gets really easy & its nice because instead of listening to someone explain moves you already know how to do she just softly calls them out & you change pose...so just keep doing it till you memorize the poses. its worth it! - posted by Hannah on 5/28/2010 |
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| So beautiful and grounding |
| I looked at the clips for this DVD for about 2 years before I bought it. I think you have to be in a certain place in your life, receptive to new ways of moving and thinking. There are so many choices in type of movement in this DVD that you can select more recognizable yoga movements or more meditative free-form choices. The production quality and the many ways of navigating this multi-part program are remarkable. It has become an essential component of every workout now, sometimes just 5 minutes, for quieting and centering. I actually play the sound when I'm just working around the house to have these beautiful thoughts in the background. Shiva Rea's voice is soothing and intelligent and thoughtful. This is a brilliant program. - posted by Christine on 3/5/2010 |
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| Very unusual |
| I was not expecting this. This could be just about the most unusual appraoch to yoga I have ever experienced. So be prepared: this is different stuff and not for everyone. I get the concept, and I liked the idea of "flow" yoga and the that the poses were not static appealed to me, but I found it just so difficult to follow. After the warm up I started to feel like a complete idiot, and I don't consider myself to be a klutz, but I just couldn't follow what she was doing - or what I was supposed to be doing. Letting myself "go" I guess.....Her cueing was just not sufficient to follow this practice without looking up at the screen. As a result after the premixed beginner segment I didn't even feel like I'd done anything, but by then I'd lost interest. I will give this another try, but I think I'll have to just watch it a few times. - posted by Liz on 6/10/2009 |
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| the yoga dvd i've been looking for!!!! |
| This dvd inspired me to do yoga every day. I love the flowing style. With the matrix I can choose to do yoga for the amount of time I have and feel like I am getting a complete practice whether or not I have 20 minutes or an hour. I love that it is obvious she is a true yoga instructor with a lot of background knowledge about the spiritual aspects of yoga as well, not just somebody who made a yoga dvd because it's "trendy." I now have three of her dvd's and I literally have done yoga 5 days a week for over a month now. - posted by annie g on 6/10/2009 |
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| One of my favorites |
| I have practiced yoga at home regularly for a few years now, and I have several DVDs, but this one tops my list. Not only does it have an amazing, interesting and challening variety of yoga flows, the production itself is stunning, from the musical selections to the cinematography to the wardrobe of Shiva Rea and her students. But far more important than the visual and aural pleasures of this DVD is the yoga itself, and the instructor who leads it. Shiva Rea is nothing short of inspiring--a true yogini who is nonetheless approachable, reassuring and confidence-inspiring. Every time I do a series of her innovative yoga flows, I come away from the practice with my muscles tingling from the hard work, my mind open, calm and alert, and my "center" balanced and at ease. This is as close to a complete yoga practice as one could find on a DVD, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who has some experience with yoga and is looking to expand his or her yogic horizons. - posted by Nicole on 4/12/2009 |
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| I love this DVD |
| Shiva Rea's style is different from any style of yoga/class I've taken, fluid power describes it very well. The production value is very high and the scenery is beautiful, which can help to transform your living room/workout space to feel special like a nice yoga studio would. I love the mandala series - yes, it is challenging since you can't see the screen half the time, but it doesn't matter if you don't do it perfectly at first.
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to do the handstand section, but that is just one small bit of a huge amount of material to choose from, and kind of fun to imagine I'd be able to try it some day. Note about previous review: a free standing wall is not needed, just a small section of plain wall with a few feet of cleared floor is fine.
Best to have a plenty of yoga experience to feel comfortable doing this DVD. I have taken a variety of yoga classes (Hatha from gentle to intense, Ashtanga, Power, Bikrams (hot yoga), Kundalini), and would put myself at an intermediate level. I recommend this DVD 100%. I have other Shiva Rea DVDs, this one is my favorite. Yoga trance dance is also good, especially to contrast always exercising in a highly choreographed way. - posted by Zara on 12/29/2008 |
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