This Kripalu Yoga Dynamic
DVD is a companion to the Kripalu Yoga Gentle DVD.  It is a longer program of yoga, at about 85
minutes, and it goes through more positions that are more challenging.  The style of the production is very similar
in the two DVDs, with 5 fit color-coordinated participants lit by variously
colored spotlights.  If anything, this
DVD is more atmospheric, and it looks like there might be some dry ice
providing fog in the background.  The
camera moves constantly, and we see the three women and two men from many
different angles.  Stephen Cope guides
you through the positions with a voice over, with a background of ambient
music.  His voice is reassuring and
calm, and he describes the positions well so even if you cannot see the screen,
you know what to do.  He uses Indian
phrases to describe some positions or breathing techniques occasionally, but if
it possible to follow him even if they are unfamiliar to you. 

The pace of the flow is remarkably
slow, and you may have difficulty going as slowly as directed, even for simple
positions.  When it comes to the many
deep stretches, you will undoubtedly notice how long you are asked to stay in
them as you feel your muscles start to tremble or ache.  There is added danger that you will strain a
muscle here, and if you are not a little sore the day after following this
program, then you were not really pushing yourself.  You should certainly be comfortable with a wide range of yoga
poses before you do this flow, and the Kripalu Yoga Gentle DVD is
probably a good introduction to this one. 
After you have done this Dynamic program several times, you
should find it very rewarding.  As with
the Gentle DVD, the flow ends with a "freestyle" section where
you just follow your body’s needs, allowing your body to direct you what to do
in any movement you wish.  This takes
some getting used to, but it becomes a welcome part of the exercise after a
while. 

The flow is split into different
sections on the DVD so you can easily select a particular part with the DVD
control, and there’s an extra promotional video for the Kripalu Center which
seems very new-age.  This is an
excellent yoga DVD for people looking for a demanding but accessible flow that
does not rush. 

Links:

·       
kripalu.org

·       
Review of Kripalu
Yoga Gentle DVD

© 2005 Christian Perring. All
rights reserved.

Christian Perring, Ph.D., is
Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dowling College, Long Island, and editor
of Metapsychology Online Review.  His main research is on
philosophical issues in medicine, psychiatry and psychology.

Categories: SelfHelp, Movies