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Shiva Rea's luid Power : Vinyasa Flow Yoga / 2DVD
Lecturer: Shiva Rea
Run Time: 243 minutes
Special Features
Program options: Yoga Matrix menu with 20 guided sequences (213 min.) to choose from for a custom practice and 6 different pre-set practices (26-108 min. each)
Audio options: Instruction and music or music only
Fluid vinyasa techniques
Alignment details for 10 flued asanas
24-page program guide
Y Yoga mini documentary with Shiva Rea
Comments by experts Sally Kempton, Daniel Odier, Stuart Sovatsky, and Fred Alan Wolf
It's more of the same from Shiva Rea with Fluid Power: Vinyasa Flow Yoga, and considering the quality of her previous DVD releases, that's a very good thing. With six pre-set practices (three intermediate "long flows" and three "short flows"), ranging from less than 30 minutes to nearly two hours, Fluid Power--described by Rea as a means to explore "the wave movement that is the reality of our fluid, quantum body" in order to "enhance circulation, longevity, and creativity and to satisfy amphibious longings," whatever that means--this is Rea's longest and most detailed presentation to date. Those familiar with her Yoga Shakti and Yoga Trance Dance will recognize certain elements from those programs here; Fluid Power generally combines Shakti's somewhat more traditional approach (e.g., poses that are held for several breaths) with the kind of creative expression fostered by Trance Dance, which favors constant, flowing movements (in the familiar downward facing dog, for instance, Rea encourages steady undulations of the spine, referred to as "circular wave patterns," as opposed to keeping the back long and straight). While there are many asanas that will certainly be recognizable to most anyone who practices hatha yoga (the cobra, bow, upward dog, chaturanga, handstand, and pigeon are just a few of them), Rea also brings her distinctive style to the practice; her "Dancing Warrior 1008," featured in the longest and most challenging pre-set sequence ("Backbend Flow"), uniquely combines backbends, twists, lunges, and more. All of this will take some getting used to. Rea notes that these practices are designed for "experienced beginners and intermediate practitioners," and everyone is advised to view the sequences before attempting them. Meanwhile, the "Yoga Matrix," with which users can customize their practice by combining elements from all six pre-set sequences in any order they choose, is one of the most appealing features of this and all Shiva Rea DVDs. Also as before, the cinematography is gorgeous (filming again took place at New Mexico's White Sands National Park), and the music is evocative but relatively unobtrusive. A second disc includes alignment tips for some poses, information about fluid vinyasa techniques, and comments by various experts about yoga and, yes, even quantum physics. --Sam Graham |