Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond

I was searching for a Yoga practice suitable for an out-of-shape person (me)and the Kundalini Yoga for Beginners and Beyond with Ana Brett and Ravi Singh works very well for me, unlike many yoga DVDs I have tried.Much of the practice is done with Ana sitting crosslegged, but can be done seated on the edge of chair or couch for those who can't sit crosslegged. Since I can't sit crosslegged it is nice to be able to participate in every section of the practice with this simple modification.Kundalini Yoga is very different from other types of Yoga I have ever seen and I enjoy doing all the different sections. It starts off with a Breath Primer (4:28) which is very helpful to get the breathing started correctly. There is a short chant and meditation section (2:39) which I find very beneficial and relaxing. There are Warm Ups (6:11) and Set One (20:20)and Set Two (17:32)of exercises, followed by Deep Relaxation (8:36), meditation (5:18), and a short Closing Prayer (2:59). You can use the Matrix option to switch this around or delete a section although I like them all.Kundalini Yoga includes much flexing of the spine and CAUTION should be exercised. Ravi states one time that you should not feel you have to keep up with Ana and I think it would help if he said it more often or with more emphasis. I would highly recommend taking the spine flexing sections very slow and carefully. Ana is fast and she also "snaps" her spine, but she has probably been doing this practice for many years. Benefit is found in doing the same exercise slowly and smoothly without the "snap". Keep in mind at all times that you do not want to ever hurt your back or spine.If you have any spinal or back issues, this is probably not a good practice for you at all.I enjoy being able to do this practise, and I feel relaxed and positive when it is over.A few reviewers mentioned the distracting boy shorts so I learned my experience was not unique! Since you will want to move your body like Ana is moving hers, it is helpful to actually be able to see what she is doing. Personally I found her lack of muscle definition just as distracting as the shorts. She must be physically fit and strong to do this practice but you can't tell by looking at her. So these are just some of the thoughts that can distract you from your practice and at least they keep you focused on the DVD. After a few times doing the practice the shorts will be less distracting and in the meantime you might be glad that you can clearly see her body movements.I also enjoyed the setting (daisy flower) and music. Overall I like this DVD very much and use it frequently, unlike some others I have which remain in the closet waiting until I am in better shape.

Five years ago a back surgeon told me that my L1 disk was so herniated that it was not a question of `if' but rather `when' would I have to have back surgery. Since I started using this DVD a year ago, I do not think I will ever need the surgery.When ever my back starts hurting me, I throw in the DVD and do the warm-up and the basic spinal series. Sometimes I can feel my spine adjust back into place within the first couple of exercises. Of course the muscles might continue to be sore for another couple of hours, but usually I am fine after that.I have also noticed that if I practice it on a regular basis my back does not get out of whack in the first place - so I would also recommend as a preventive measure.I also have the Kundalini Yoga With Gurmukh DVD, but find that I like the more meditative disposition of Kundalini for Beginners and Beyond.Setting expectations:1. It's not a hard core yoga DVD, especially the first 25 minutes or so.2. It's a different kind of Yoga than main stream, focusing on energy development and mindfulness rather than powerful forms.3. There is a lot of time for meditating and breath practice.4. Some of the stuff seems a little weird at first, but the benefits are so incredible, I tend to overlook the weirdness of hit.5. Anna Brett could put on more clothes, but it's really not a big deal - just kind-of awkward when I recommend it my neighbors and people in my church.

I believe this is the #1 Kundalini DVD out there. I discovered this Kundalini Yoga Series by Ana Brett and Ravi Singh on Amazon about 2 years ago and it is incredible. I have been doing casual yoga of various sorts here and there via DVD and at the (Hatha, Kripalu, etc.) over the years but this series by Ana Brett and Ravi Singh fundamentally changed my approach to wellness, fitness, personal growth and outlook on life. I was totally new to Kundalini Yoga and, frankly, a but skeptical about it since it has some "unusual" moves and poses and chanting compared to other forms of exercise and Yoga I have done at the gym and via DVDs. Now I see the power of Kundalini via Ana and Ravi "technology" that integrates physicality, mindfulness, and spirit. It is not easy at first - but that is the point. You do what you can, dot judge yourself and you reap massive benefits. I progressed quite rapidly from things I felt were impossible but worth trying to not so hard to challenging to "not hard any more". I feel GREAT every single time I complete a DVD - -my mood, my body, my creativity, my stress, my mind clarity, my stamina, etc. Its truly amazing. The key to reaping these benefits is to not get caught up in saying "this is weird" but to say "just try it and see how you feel". Incredibly fit and wise people did this type of yoga and meditation hundreds and thousands of years ago as a regular regime but Western society has somehow made it non-traditional and inaccessible. Many other types of Yoga focus too much on the body and physicality and don't see the mind, body, spirit interconnection like Ravi and Ana. Ravi and Ana make it so accessible - combining direction on how to do the poses and breathwork and sounds (mantras) that vibrate your body to heal it, strengthen it and give new clarity. Ana demonstrates the poses (don't be intimidated by how easy she makes things look - just do your best is what I found) and Ravi and Ana explain the physiological basis of how each pose affects your glands, nervous system, muscular system. Brain and energy and spirit. Ravi has amazing poetry sprinkled in to make it just a beautiful relaxing experience (even though its quite physical!). The production is very professionally done -- different angles, alternatives if you have certain issues or challenges, music editing, pacing, etc. I totally recommend any of Ana Brett and Ravi Singh's DVD's to anyone whether you do Yoga already or not. It can truly take your fitness to another level along with your outlook on life. Good luck!

Unfortunately these are burned copies and certain DVD players won’t play burned discs maybe due to copyrights or other technology to inhibit scamming. I tried in three different players and none read this disc. Be warned!

I bought this dvd in 2010 and hadn’t written a review but as it has changed my life I feel compelled to do so now.I suffer from M.E and have done for 18 years now and have been quite ill in the past,I have tried lots of alternative ways to get better as normal medicine doesn’t seem to help.I was already doing Hatha yoga to help with my illness alongside diet changes amongst other things and I came across information about kundalini yoga about how it rebalances your system and raises your energy and decided to give it a goI found the exercises strange at first as they were not like any other yoga I had done,and the first month I did it I did feel a bit peculiar but I felt my energy levels changing for the betterI carried on and the crippling anxiety I had been suffering from for all those years started to recede and I started feeling more like my old self againI don’t know why it works as good as it does or indeed how but this dvd has been my saviour,I cant progress past the easy section and if I try I don’t feel as well so I stick to thatApart from a couple of years when I couldn’t do it because of a major relapse caused by an operation I had to have,I have continued to practise this dvd every day and whilst I do so I live a reasonably normal life with good energy levels and no anxietyI recommend this dvd to anyone especially if you are suffering with M.E. Or CFS,it won’t cure you or get rid of all your pain and symptoms but you will feel more like yourself again and be able to enjoy your life once moreKundalini yoga helps you be the best person you can be on that day and even if you are well you will feel the benefits of this yoga on your body and mind,I cannot recommend it enough but don’t do the breath of fire if you are ill as it could be too much,I don’t do it as it is not in the easy practice

Very good workout. I have many of their dvd's and I have taken some time to review this one. It consists of two 25 minute sets that can be done alone or together and then a mediation at the end. I really enjoy the first set. It really loosens up your spine and gets you flexible. The second set is the five tibetans and they are a great detox for your body. I found the first few times I did this I actually felt very sick while doing the 5 tibetans, but after researching found out that this gets better if you go slower than Ana and is a function of your internal organs detoxing. Because of this I don't do it as much, but I have found after doing Kundalini daily for 4 months that when I do this workout I am not feeling sick when I do it. I now do it at least once a week for this incredible detox effect. Powerful and transforming workout.

I had asked for and received this dvd for my birthday. I tried it today and it simply didn’t work. I tried all DVD players (5) in my home. I could hear it spinning but no video or sound. My husband ordered it over a month ago to be sure I would have it for my birthday. Unfortunately it’s too late to return. I may order another and try again after reading some of the reviews. But this first one was like throwing our money away. We expect so much better from Amazon endorsed products.

I wanted a DVD to do while my yoga class was broken up over Christmas. This has excellent reviews. It's not at all what I expected though. I wanted a DVD to take me though various poses and to stretch my very inflexible body. So I was a little surprised with this energetic yoga. I find the fast breathing a little difficult but I'm sure it will come with time. I have done the first of the two workouts and I feel my shoulders and chest are much looser. I did really enjoy it. I think I might get another DVD for the stretches I want, but I can see me doing this when I get up to liven me up for the day!

Love the gentle content and the kindness this was produced with,personally I just need to use it more. This will be good for beginners