I did my first yoga DVD. I have been practicing yoga for 9 years, and have never once done a yoga DVD. Is that normal?
I’m starting with John Friend. Yoga Journal made a 3-Disc DVD package of Friend during a Yoga Journal Conference in Estes Park, CO. One thing is for sure, there is a lot of content included in this package. It took me awhile to get through it all. Maybe beginners’ nerves. Anyways, allow me to share my experience…
1st class: The practice he leads is slow and thoughtful. The slower sequencing is very different than what I?m used to and I find myself getting frustrated. That of course only makes things worse and I have to press pause and take few deep breaths. Ah! The forgotten magic of the ?pause? button! This new discovery excites me and I?m back in forward fold listening to Friend?s reminders to breathe in the energy around me. The practice is loaded with long Uttanasanas, high lunges and deep hip openers, in what reminds me of a yin practice from my experience. Some poses are repeated two or three times to get deeper into the asana.
The 2nd and 3rd classes still involved long holds of each pose, but my patience increased I think and I began to appreciate every little movement. Friend talked about technique vs. playing and encouraged the students not to get too serious about the practice, an opinion I share wholly. He uses the analogy of music to talk about chanting and practicing in a group setting.
So, my first Yoga DVD is under my belt and I’m still trying to decide how I feel about having a teacher on my TV screen. All in all, I came away with a sense of accomplishment and a new awareness of my home practice. What more could I ask for?
What was your first DVD experience? Please share!
-m