There are many benefits to living at the bottom of the world.
The ability to attend workshops with big name, innovative Yoga instructors at large gatherings or conferences is sadly not one of them.
Which is what should put the Great Instructors Series from Yoga Journal on the top of your Yoga DVD Wish List if you are a dedicated practitioner or teacher.
I recently sat down with the Shiva Rea Free Flow Vinyasa offering from the series and gave it a critical eye.
What struck me was how relatable Shiva was as a teacher.
Now, I’ve got nearly all her various media offerings – practice CDs and DVDs, music compilations – Shiva’s a busy woman.
Yet watching and listening to the live workshop, recorded at a San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference, she also came through as a real, live person. Something that the more polished media creations can overwhelm with gorgeous sets, stunning locations, voiced over instructions, and perfectly timed soundtracks.
Better still, on this DVD she came through as a real, live teacher.
As teachers many of us struggle to demonstrate poses, move around assisting our students, talk to the whole class all the time and attempt to keep our breath as the leading cue for our students.
We get a bit breathy.
Turns out, so does Shiva sometimes!
I might have liked the DVD for that alone, but being a workshop class I was struck by how much easier a lot of Shiva’s sequences would be if this was a companion to a student’s home practice collection.
In her latest releases Shiva’s gotten really great at giving the at-home practitioner the choice of several 20 minute sequences to do separately or string together as time permits. The practices are steeped in Yoga tradition with sequencing that is 100% Shiva.
It’s Shiva’s creative Prana Flow practice that makes her, and the teachers she trains, distinct. But it’s certainly not a common approach in most classes you’ll find in New Zealand, and that can make for confusion as you practice along at home, trying to get the most our of your short time before rushing off into the day.
In the workshop setting, instead of her practicing beautifully and voicing over the instructions, Shiva instructs to bodies in front of her in real time.
You can see her watching a group and adjusting her teaching to elaborate where they are getting confused.
Seeing the people before her practice she highlights and emphasizes important subtle actions that support the larger, easier to understand directions.
In 11 chapters and 100 minutes of material, Shiva slows down and shares wonderful ways to bring your practice to life no matter what your Yoga lineage.
The main practice, Mandala Namaska, is a circular form of vinyasa. In it you let your feet move around and turn from the front to the back of your mat in circles.
Shiva really makes it available here – breaking it down, leading slowly, and then, once the class has the hang of it, letting them “enjoy”.
And for that, this DVD gets a 5 star rating for material, presentation, and inspiration.
Because wouldn’t we all like to enjoy practice more?
PRANA FLOW IN NEW ZEALAND
Join Shiva’s only New Zealand certified ambassador of Prana Flow, Kara-Leah Grant, for a workshop in lovely Nelson March 4th!
Register and pay before February 24th, and you’ll go in the draw to win a copy of this DVD. Plus, if you can’t make it to the workshop, see below for details on how any Yoga Lunchbox reader can win a copy of the DVD.
DVD GIVEAWAY DETAILS
We’ve got a copy of Shiva Rea Free Flow Vinyasa for you to win!
What you need to do:
1. Leave a comment below with your name and real email (the email address remains private).
2. In your comment tell us any tips, tricks, inspirations, or little additions you add to your practice to make sure it stays enjoyable.
3. For an extra entry head over and leave a comment on our Facebook link to the article as well, leaving the same information please.
4. We’ll count up all the comments received by 6pm February 24th, and use a Random Number Generator to pick a winner.
I always try to keep a class light hearted. Often this will be the first opportunity my clients would have had to laugh in their day, and to laugh at ourselves is one of lifes’ most wonderful gifts. That wonderful release of emotion can often lead to a break though that yoga and life hold in their essence.
I start each practice with the intention of keeping an Open Mind and having only Positive Expectations. I try to remain mindful and listen to my body, but above all else have fun and enjoy the practice!
I try to keep a mantra in my head going throughout my practice (sometimes it is a song lyric or a line from a billboard or poster). This helps me to shut-off my inner voice and self-critique and keeps me focused on my asanas.
I would love to win a copy of this DVD! I’m still trying to grow my practice past the physical so I’m always on the lookout for inspiration.
When I set up to practise at home I always tidy up first. My mat goes on my kitchen floor and I find that dishes in the sink and crumbs scattered around just do not put me into the state of mind for good focus. So I tidy my kitchen, then I tidy my mind and my heart with yoga and things stay that way for the rest of the day – bonus!
x
This isn’t an entry… since I own the website! But, I was so impressed with this review, I went and bought myself a copy of this DVD. Can’t wait for it to show up in the mail now!
I look forward to the end of my practice where I do supine spinal twists just before the finalSavasana; Ahhhh…….
A new teacher of mine reminds the class to smile – especially in the more challenging poses. A great way to fully relax into the pose. I also use the mantra of ‘calm’ on the in breath and ‘clear’ on the out breath to keep me mindful.
I have started to visualise my body “lovingly loosening” if I feel tension anywhere while I’m a challenging asana. It has had a tremendous effect on my body, and also my mindset. I feel more positive about those challenging poses now.
I sink into each practice by thanking the body for what it is capable of and by listening to it in return I do not push any further then what is allowed. For the past decade, I have been an on again off again yoga practioner. This year, I’ve committed myself to turning all of my energy into my yoga practice. At home, in nature, studios or gym, I am incorporating yoga into my lifestyle as more than an hour practice twice a week,
Fun and festive apparel!
I love to listen to some beautiful folk / pop kirtan music by the lovely Edo & Jo x
Thanks to everyone for the great responses! I’ve put an online random number generator to work and the winner is Stella! I’ll be getting in touch to get shipping details for her this round.
Be sure to keep reading The Yoga Lunchbox as we’ll be having more DVD giveaways in the future. Subscribe to our articles by email and ‘Like’ us on Facebook and never miss out on the fun!
During savasana, I enhance the yoga session with a few drop of lavender oil in each students palm. That blissful peaceful feeling sustains my students throughout their day.