Ana Brett & Ravi Singh: Yoga Bliss Hips + STACEY

[Guest guest]

My friend Marina came over and we did the kundalini

practice, Yoga Bliss Hips, with Ana Brett and Ravi

Singh (he did most of the voice over on it, Ana was

the one doing the practice).

I told Marina, " okay, this is a very new agey and

'different' yoga, it might feel like we're married

after this because there's some chanting and a lot of

breath work " .

I lit some incense and we went through the different

mudras, meditations, breath work, and chanting

together. The exercises in this practice mostly

worked the shoulders - my only critique of this dvd is

that it's misleading, there were only a couple of

things that really targeted the hips and they didn't

last that long - runners' lunge and the one where you

sit in half lotus and fold over forward. There were

others that targeted the soaz muscles, and that felt

fantastic.

There was a part where you sit cross legged and punch

out your aggression, and after another section you lay

down and laugh to release all the energy.

Another example of an exercise typical of kundalini

-you sit in a cross legged position, hugging yourself

with your arms right around your ribcage and twist

right and left with the breath.

It sounds funny, I know, but we both felt fantastic

afterwards! I think all the breath of fire or

staccato breathing really does cleans and open up your

chakras. I have another Ana Brett/Ravi Singh dvd and

I look forward to doing it!

This would be a good kundalini practice for a beginner

because other than the shoulder work it isn't that

strenuous and you feel so relaxed and realigned

afterward. The hardest part for me was the breathing

- all the quick in and out breaths was difficult for

us because we're not used to it.

All in all, this practice was restorative in nature

and soothed the spirit. Singh mentions that these

movements massage and help heal the various glands in

our body.

If you are open minded and like to try new things and

cultural experiences, this is a super practice. If

new-agey ambiances make you uncomfortable you will not

like this at all.

I know Donna likes this one too - Donna, am I missing

anything?

Stacey - I am going to read about your Hudson River

Run! I saw that someone referred to it and somehow I

missed that post! Can't wait to read all about it!