Kundalini Yoga: Green Energy of the Heart

This review will have a two-part format. In the first part, I'll describe the contents of the DVD as well as my thoughts on them. In the second part, I'll say some more general things about Ana and Ravi and kundalini yoga. It seems the negative reviews of their DVDs come mainly from people who didn't know what to expect when ordering kundalini yoga DVDs -- because they ARE a little bit different from what you're used to, if you've only practiced hatha yoga in the past. I am unabashedly an Ana and Ravi fan, but hopefully my evaluation will help you make the correct decision for yourself, even if your opinion happens not to be the same as mine.----------Part I----------Like most of Ana and Ravi's DVDs, Green Energy of the Heart has the matrix menu, which allows you to customize the length of your workout.Introduction (1:03): Sometimes the introduction is necessary to understanding the goal of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs. I don't really think you need to bother with it this time, unless you want to.Tune In (2:07): This segment is similar/the same in many of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs; you sit cross-legged, focus on your breathing, and chant "ong namo guru dev namo" three times.Warm-Up Set 1 (16:37): This is the first of two segments. This one is great for working the back and legs (helpful early in the morning, especially). I like the trend of Ana and Ravi including two warm-up sets and hope this continues. This segment consists of the following exercises.*While seated, grind your stomach in circles*Chair pose while holding your ankles, breath of fire*Stand with your feet hip width and have both hands overhead; lean to one side and bring down the arm on that side, then back to center and repeat on the other side*Stand with your feet together; hook your thumbs; lean back, then do a forward bend and touch the floor*Stand with your feet together; hook your thumbs and lean back (static pose) with long deep breathing*Do a static forward bend; hold your breath in and pump your stomach, then hold it out and pump your stomach, then repeat*With your feet wider than hip width, hold your arms straight out to the sides; rotate left and rightI have seen some of these moves in warm-up segments before, but not in this same combination. This warm-up is a bit unusual because of the number of standing postures, but change is good!Warm-Up Set 2 (7:39): This includes fewer moves but they are different from those in the first warm-up segment. I like having two warm-ups since I like to mix up my yoga workouts a little bit. Or, you could do them both if you have more time. I'd say the movements in this segment are a little more advanced than in the previous segment.*Plank with long deep breathing*Sit on your heels, interlace your hands behind your back; rise up and arch back, then bend forward with your forehead to the floor and your arms (hands still clasped) above your head*Kneel with your knees wide and your forehead to the floor in a bowing pose; arms in front of you on the ground*On your back, start with your legs at 90 degrees and your hands in prayer position at your sternum; raise your head and, with your legs wide, reach one hand through your legs; go back to the start position and then do the head raise/reaching with your other hand*On your back, raise your left heel and head six inches and do breath of fire; then do with the right heel; then do with both legsGreen Energy Set 1 (20:16): This segment consists of the following exercises. Note: I find this set to be quite advanced (has many backbends). If you are a beginner, you might want to work your way up to this one.*From your stomach, do push-ups into cobra*Hold cobra on your forearms with your legs bent at 90 degrees; breath of fire*Cobra with your knees bent; alternate raising arms to shoulder level*Same as previous, but raise your arms all the way up*On your stomach, interlace your hands behind your back; lift your arms off your back and lift your upper body off the ground*Rock in bow pose*Roll over and hold your knees and rock on your spine (longer than the normal transition between moves)*Lie on your back with your legs at 90 degrees with long deep breathing*Wheel (or bridge) with breath of fire*Seated forward fold*Crow while scissoring your arms in front of you with breath of fire*Relax on your backSeveral modifications are offered during this section. I had to use them. I can’t do wheel very well, if at all, especially not first thing in the morning. Also, I can’t do a good enough bow pose to actually rock.Green Energy Set 2 (12:00): This segment consists of the following exercises.*Standing, raise one knee and the opposite arm (cross crawl)*Standing, do long deep breathing with your hands on your hips*Standing with your hands in prayer pose, do breath of fire*In horse stance, with your hands in fists, punch alternate arms forward with the breath of fire*Stand with your legs close together and make big circles with your arms*Interlace your hands in front of you with the palms down; raise and lower palms between about waist level and shoulder level (fast)*Sit with your legs crossed; play thumbs against each finger in turn (hands at shoulder level) while saying “Sa Ta Na Ma” as you get to each finger*Block your right nostril with your right index finger; inhale through your left nostril and exhale through your mouth*A visualization relating to the heart chakraDeep Relaxation (5:05): This is similar in many of Ravi's and Ana's DVDs. Lie on your back, slow your breathing, and listen.Love Saves the Day Chant (4:10): You sing a mantra (words below). This one is to the same tune in Ana’s and Ravi’s Happy Hormones DVD, if you’ve done that one. (If not, don’t worry. It’s easy to pick up.)Ek Ong KarSat NamSiri Wahay GuruClosing Prayer (2:15): This is quite a bit different from the other Ana and Ravi DVDs that I have. But I think change can be good. This ends with a song, and thankfully, the words are on the screen:May the long time sun shine upon youAll love surround youAnd the pure light within youGuide your way onThe melody is nice and I found myself singing this after I was finished with the segment.Breath Primer (4:00): This shows up after the credits but is not accessible from the matrix menu. It is accessible from the chapter menu, however. If you are not familiar with kundalini yoga, you will definitely want to follow along here. It's actually a pretty good refresher for anyone who has practiced for awhile, as well. You learn how to do long deep breathing, a panting breath that serves as an introduction to breath of fire, and then a standard breath of fire technique. This is the exact same content as was included with some of Ana's and Ravi's other "blonde Ana" DVDs but has been re-recorded with the new set.Cobra/Backbend Primer (2:12): One complaint that I've read in reviews of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs is that there's not a lot of instructional time built in (I don't mind this, but some people do). While this segment doesn’t cover all the moves, it does offer a LOT of important tips on doing backbends. Watch this if you need pointers. This one is also not on the matrix menu but will play at the end of the DVD or you can choose it from the chapter menu.Note: if you watch the credits and see Ana dancing, that is the “Shake Dance” segment from Happy Hormones. It’s pretty fun, but you would have to get the Happy Hormones DVD to do that segment.For those of you familiar with Ravi's and Ana's DVDs, this one combines the old and the new. The set is a throwback to, say, Fat Free Yoga, with the white background and Ana on a raised white platform. However, Ana is still blonde and her clothes are more similar to the later DVDs (i.e., Transformer, Solar Power, etc.). I like the change; for some reason, the fake nature background in Transformer, etc., was distracting to me, and I preferred the simplicity of the white background. If you’ve done Happy Hormones, you can tell this was recorded at the same time (some of Ana’s outfits are the same).Please note that the production value is higher than in the very early DVDs with the same/similar set. You never see the edge of the white space and the AV equipment, and I think the cameras and makeup have improved since the early days, as well.I think the music is good in this one. Some of it, you’ll recognize from Happy Hormones if you’ve done that one. There’s a little traditional-style music as well as some music with a female voice that I find to be pleasant and calming.Camera work was mostly good. There were fewer fades in and out than with some of Ana’s and Ravi’s other DVDs. I like simple camera work, personally. When the words to mantras, etc., were on the screen, sometimes these were involved in weird text effects (spiraling around Ana, for example). I’d sort of prefer static text, but it *was* still readable.One thing that I feel was done very well in this DVD was a discussion of safety. There was more of this in Green Energy of the Heart than in many of Ana’s and Ravi’s other DVDs, and this is a move I applaud. For example, in the first warm-up set, there are warnings about high blood pressure and pregnancy and how to modify moves. I thought the cobra/backbend primer was great for people new to those postures (or those of us who need a few reminders). A few times during actual yoga sets, you are reminded not to bend your back as far as Ana (unless you’re advanced), and several modifications are offered (for example, to substitute bridge for wheel if you can’t do wheel very well).Finally, don't forget -- you don't have to keep up with Ana, nor do you have to stretch as far forward as Ana in the forward-bending moves. Work at your own pace and do what YOU can.----------Part II----------Now, on to a more general discussion of kundalini yoga in general, and Ana's and Ravi's DVDs in particular. (I intend to include a version of this in all my reviews of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs.)Most of the yoga that people are familiar with falls under the umbrella of hatha yoga. Perhaps you've done a series of static poses, or some vinyasa/flow yoga. Kundalini yoga is not exactly like either of these, although Ana's and Ravi's DVDs do incorporate elements of hatha yoga (e.g., this DVD has cobra, plank, and bow in it). However, kundalini yoga is also what I would consider to be a very active form of yoga, consisting of some repeated movements and a lot more work with the breath than you may be used to. It can be difficult to keep up with at first, but can be very rewarding if you stick with it. If you are bored of holding static poses all the time, or if you want a bit more movement but hate vinyasa (sorry, but I am not a fan of flow yoga), kundalini might really work well for you. And, as I said earlier, use the modifications Ana and Ravi discuss if you need to use them. Yes, Ana is fit (and this makes her an excellent demonstrator for the poses), but this is not a competition. Don't strain yourself, and don't try to keep up with her. Just try to improve a little bit every time!Kundalini yoga also involves a lot of meditation. Sometimes this is quiet and involves breathing either in a sitting position or lying down, occasionally with your hands in a mudra (hand position). Sometimes it involves chanting a mantra. This DVD contains a mantra chanting segment and also has a mantra in the second yoga set. Whenever there are mantras, Ana and Ravi tell you what they mean. If you are uncomfortable with mantras for religious reasons, check out Ana's and Ravi's website (can't post links in reviews but they're easy to find through Google) for alternatives and use the matrix menu or your DVD remote to skip the chants. (I happen to like the chants, but that's just me.)With respect to calorie-burning, this DVD is probably not going to do a ton. But kundalini yoga works on your inner self as well as your outer self. For my own part, I still do plenty of pretty intense cardio at other times of the day. (I do about 30 minutes of yoga a day by combining segments using the matrix menu. Ana and Ravi are a part of my fitness routine, but they are not the whole of it.)Ana's outfits are a bit skimpy, but certainly nothing less than you would see at the beach (if anything, there's more coverage in her clothing here than in some of Ana's and Ravi's other DVDs). And the reason she dresses like she does is so that you can really see her performing the movements and asanas. That way you know exactly how to position yourself for maximum benefit. (Most of the time, kundalini yoga is done with the eyes closed, anyway.) If you are familiar with Ana's and Ravi's work, you can jump right in. If you’re new, check out the Breath Primer and the Cobra/Backbend Primer and watch the DVD first. You'll be glad for the ability to omit the instructional segments later -- you don't want to be told on the 20th time you do a DVD how to do cobra; you know it by this point!Very few health claims are made in this DVD. Take those that do appear with a grain of salt. I do find that Ana and Ravi are quite accurate when it comes to muscular and skeletal issues. At any rate, certainly don't use yoga as a substitute for seeing the doctor. But doing a routine like this isn't likely to hurt you or make your health condition worse (as long as you PACE YOURSELF and observe some common sense safety guidelines).If you are struggling with a sequence, Ravi and Ana are very accessible and quite nice. They have contact information on their website (the URL is on the DVD case) and usually get back to you in a couple of days. They also have a monthly e-mail newsletter that I enjoy.

I have written out a detailed break-down of each segment of this DVD below. Everyone I have talked to who's been doing Ana and Ravi's yoga over the years has said that this one is like their old DVDs; the plain, white background and the style of music and exercises. Ana and Ravi both do the narration.TUNE-IN: 2:07This is the traditional chant of Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo said 3xWARM-UP SET 1: 16:37Seated spinal grinds, chair pose with breath of fire(with your arms between your legs, hands on ankles), standing bending side to side, standing bending forward into forward bend and standing back up repeatedly, standing with your arms above you bending backward (holding with long deep breathing), standing forward bend while holding breath in pumping your stomach and holding your breath out pumping your stomach, standing arms out to side twisting back and forth.WARM-UP SET 2: 7:59Plank pose (top position of a push-up) held with long deep breathing, sitting on your heels raising up into camel and back down repeatedly, child's pose with knees wide and arms outstretched, lying on your back with legs up opening them wide and back together with one arm going forward when the legs open, lying on your back raise one leg just off the floor and your head and then the other leg with breath of fire, then raise both legs just off the floor and your head (stretch pose) with the breath of fire.GREEN ENERGY SET 1: 20:16Rising up and down into cobra, hold cobra moving your neck back and forward, sphynx pose (cobra with your forearms on the floor) with legs curled up behind you with breath of fire, cobra with legs curled up behind you (then you raise one arm in front of you at a time repeatedly), cobra with legs curled behind you raising one arm all the way up and then the other arm, lying on your stomach raise your upper body with hands interlaced behind you doing breath of fire, bow pose (lying on your stomach, legs curled behind you, arms behind you holding the ankles) rocking back and forth, lying on your back with legs raised 90 degrees simply doing long deep breathing, wheel pose with breath of fire (the modification is to raise your hips up only in bridge), seated forward bend holding your toes or legs with breath of fire, holding a squat while scissoring your arms up and down.GREEN ENERGY SET 2: 19:34Standing raising alternate arms and legs, simply standing with your hands in prayer pose doing the breath of fire, horse stance (standing legs wide with feet turned out) while punching the arms with breath of fire, standing while making large circles with your arms (hands in fists), standing with hands interlaced at sternum level palms facing down (move the arms up and down with breath of fire), seated with arms raised at throat level pressing the index, middle, ring, and little fingers to the sounds Sa Ta Na Ma (this is done silently to the sounds sung in background music on the DVD), seated inhaling through your left nostril (right nostril is blocked with your index finger) and exhaling through a rounded mouth.DEEP RELAXATION: 5:05Beautiful and restful relaxation lying on your back.LOVE SAVES THE DAY MANTRA CHANT: 4:10Seated chanting Ek Ong Kar Sat Nam Siri Wahay Guru. This is done to an all-new melody, not the ones used on their previous DVDs. This melody is very peaceful.CLOSING PRAYER: 2:15This is different from their other closing prayer segments in that instead of chanting a long Sat and a brief Nam, Ana sings May the Long Time Sun Shine Upon You (and you can sing along).BREATH PRIMER: 4:00All-new breath primer going over long deep breating and breath of fire.COBRA/BACKBEND PRIMER: 2:12This goes over proper alignment and positioning for cobra and backbends.Now for my personal experience with this DVD...I really really love it! The exercises feel very good and opening to the heart. Also, Ana and Ravi's comments about love and the heart are very inspiring and liberating. I have to admit because of negative relationships I have closed my heart emotionally quite a bit. At the end of the exercises of this DVD and during the Deep Relaxation I felt quite a release I wanted to cry (and I ain't no sissy! LOL. I do not like to cry). I held my tears back, but I think I should just let myself cry, but that is hard for me to do. I am going to do the DVD three times a week for awhile and I think that will help me overcome my hurt that has caused my closed heart. I could definitely feel it starting to happen.In summary, this is a wonderful DVD. Very well done and very "traditional" Ana and Ravi Kundalini Yoga.

I have most of the Raviana DVD's so I am speaking from the experience of at least four years of utilizing them. If you are into lots of cobra, back bends, and wheel, you will be ecstatic. However it is not a workout for someone who needs to stretch out their tired, aching back. In fact, you must be very careful with this video because it overtaxes the lower back if you are not paying attention to what your body is telling you. Believe me, I love their DVD's!! This one is a bit odd, though, especially the chant at the end which doesn't seem to flow well at all with the beat of the musical track. I also think Ana hit the make up truck a little hard, which detracts from the video. Still, am glad it's in my collection.

I like this video better than all the rest. You don't have to sit all through the whole workout. most of all the other videos you have to sit a lot with not much movement. I found that the others were very hard on my knees for a beginner.

It was okay. If you've done any other of there dvd's, then there really isn't anything new here.

Not as good as the others : I have about 10 DVD's from Ana and Ravi and I enjoy them a lot. I discovered them on AMAZON France and I found the French version which is easier for me, even though this one is challenging as I have to concentrate both on the exercices and on english!As I can compare with the previous ones that I own (Transformation, meditation, for begginners and beyond, cardio, solar energy, boot camp...) this one is disappointed:-first the image quality is very poor, sometimes it's too light, sometimes it's too out of focus(flou in french), and it looks like an amateru video, not a professional ones like the others. I don't understand why they did not offer a better image quality but they should have done it.-Second : I preferred the fake lake view on the previous one, which was peaceful and fun, here with only white it looks like sad and something is missing for me.Third :concerning the exercices : if I bought it as first DVD, I'm sure I wouldn't have bought the other ones, as it's too difficult, and more for very flexible people with a lot of pratice, and not for a non flexible woman who haven't done sport since a very long time, like me!!!They should have warned that you should have an experienced level to try it, because it's very frustrating not being able to do about 50% of this DVD. And I don't want to, as it could be dangerous for my body. So I'm giving up when I can't do an excercise.If you're flexible like a "chewing-gum', you'l like it as it must be very challenging but for me much more difficult.Sorry Ana and Ravi but I hope the in the future your new DVD's would be less difficult!

I have several of Ana Bretts Kundalini dvd's , all of which are different and unique , and this one has new postures and music which are a great addition to my yoga collection of dvd's. Some of the postures are not for beginners but can be adapted to suit those less flexible , so in all its a workout for all levels . The sequences are well presented and you can design your own workout options also, depending on your time and preferences ....

This is the latest offering from Ana and Ravi and it has taken everything to a new level. I have about 15 of Ana and Ravi's DVD's and I love them all but this one is .....Fantastic, you will feel great afterward and the feeling lasts all day