Kundalini Yoga: The Body Electric All-In-One Workout with Ana Brett & Ravi Singh

This review will have a two-part format. In the first part, I'll describe the contents of the DVD as well as my thoughts on them. In the second part, I'll say some more general things about Ana and Ravi and kundalini yoga. It seems the negative reviews of their DVDs come mainly from people who didn't know what to expect when ordering kundalini yoga DVDs -- because they ARE a little bit different from what you're used to, if you've only practiced hatha yoga in the past. I am unabashedly an Ana and Ravi fan, but hopefully my evaluation will help you make the correct decision for yourself, even if your opinion happens not to be the same as mine.----------Part I----------Like most of Ana and Ravi's DVDs, The Body Electric has the matrix menu, which allows you to customize the length of your workout. All exercises in this DVD are done equally on both sides of the body, with the exception of one plank where you raise your left leg.Tune In (2:06): This segment is similar/the same in many of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs; you sit cross-legged, focus on your breathing, and chant "ong namo guru dev namo" three times.Warm-Ups (9:20): This segment consists of the following exercises.*While seated, grind your stomach in circles*Sit on your knees with your hands on your thighs and flex your spine back and forth*Mermaid stretch (move your hips/rear to the ground on one side and stretch that arm overhead)*Interlace fingers at the base of your skull (while seated) and twist left and right with the breath of fire*With legs and arms together, lean back; then lean forward with your legs wide and your arms crossed in front of you*With your legs apart, lean forward (static stretch)Note: for mermaid stretch, I had to use my hands to help in the transition from side to side. Also beware the possibility of rug burn in that one if you're not using a yoga mat.Nerves of Platinum Part 1 (11:00): This segment consists of the following exercises.*Standing, interlace your hands behind your back; inhale up eyes open; exhale down, eyes closed (hands stretched away from your back and over your head)*In horse stance, put your arms to the sides (parallel to the ground) with your palms flexed up; do long deep breathing*With your legs wide, put one palm to the floor and twist to stretch the other overhead; alternate sides*Wide-legged forward bend (several options for hand position)*Modification of locust pose (performed twice with a break in between)*Plank from elbows (or forearms) with your left leg in the air*Stretch pose (that is, lie on your back and raise your head and heels six inches)Nerves of Platinum Part 2 (10:00): This segment consists of the following exercises.*Plank from your hands with your toes not turned under*Back platform pose (feet flat, hands behind/under shoulders, head back, hips lifted)*Side plank (one on each side)*Sitting, with your hands in a mudra (hand position), hold your arms slightly higher than parallel with the floor*Relax on your backNote: I can't do the plank with my toes not turned under because of a foot/knee problem. I do have to modify this one. Don't be afraid to modify this or any other pose if you have pain or any joint issues.Body Bliss Workout (22:30): This segment consists of the following exercises.*Balance on your sacrum with your calves parallel to the floor; crunch side-to-side*V pose (boat pose); can modify to have your calves parallel to the floor*Double leg lifts with breath of fire*On all fours, raise alternate legs behind you while doing breath of fire through puckered lips (long duration)*Do the leg raises again but this time, also raise the opposite arm (long duration)*Squats with your arms in front, parallel to the ground*Sit on your heels; raise your arms to 90 degrees with your palms in and exhale to 60 degrees (to the sides) with your palms out (this is done for three minutes)Note: There aren't a lot of exercises in this segment, considering the length. Some of these may be challenging to complete without breaks. Also note that the parts done on all fours may bother you if you have wrist issues. If you do have wrist issues, don't do this segment every day, and/or take breaks as needed. This is actually a pretty serious core workout which includes some work for the back (leg and arm raises), which is nice.Deep Relaxation (4:00): This is similar in many of Ravi's and Ana's DVDs. Lie on your back, slow your breathing, and listen to Ravi. This segment includes the sound of a gong, but I like the gong more here than in some of the other DVDs where it appears.3 Minute Meditation (3:00): Sit cross-legged and simply do long deep breathing. The sound of the gong can be heard in this segment, as well.Mantra Chant (5:30): This is pretty simple, you just repeat the mantra (below) with your hands on your sternum, one on top of the other.Narayan Narayan Narayan HariClosing Prayer (1:10): This is similar to what appears in other Ravi/Ana DVDs.Breath Primer: Please note that this segment may not play if you just play the entire DVD through. It is accessible from the matrix menu and the chapter selection menu, however. If you are not familiar with kundalini yoga, you will definitely want to follow along here. It's actually a pretty good refresher for anyone who has practiced for awhile, as well. You learn how to do long deep breathing, a panting breath that serves as an introduction to breath of fire, and then a standard breath of fire technique. I think this is the exact same segment as was included with some of Ana's and Ravi's other "blonde Ana" DVDs.Renew YOU, Through and Through (5:25): Sit with your arms in front of you, parallel to the ground, hands clasped, and thumbs raised. Hold your breath out as long as you can, then inhale and exhale and repeat.For those of you familiar with Ravi's and Ana's DVDs, this is one of the newer ones with the concrete floor, white pillars, fake nature background, and blonde Ana. Both Ravi and Ana narrate and Ana demonstrates the poses and movements. The music in this one seems, to me, like a contemporary take on traditional Indian music (i.e., the words sound like mantras but the style of the music and the rhythms are newer-sounding). I like this music a lot more than what appears in some of the other "blonde Ana" DVDs.I don't care for the camera work in certain parts of this. It seems to jump around randomly, and sometimes there are fades in and out between camera angles that makes it hard to see what's going on. Ana's outfit does change periodically.I normally skip the introductions to these DVDs, but I would actually suggest watching it for this one. The intro explains the goals of this collection of exercises and meditations in a way that wasn't always clear to me from doing the exercises, themselves.As mentioned earlier, be careful in the Body Bliss Workout segment if you have wrist issues.I feel like this DVD will be best for intermediate to advanced people. Some of the exercises are going to be difficult for beginners, especially the ones that go on for a long time. I do wish some explanation had been provided as to the longer lengths of time for certain exercises (like the back leg lifts in Body Bliss Workout). Also, holding the breath OUT as in the Renew YOU, Through and Through segment may be challenging. Ana and Ravi do offer some suggestions for modifications of certain poses (e.g. boat or V pose with calves parallel to the ground instead of in line with the thighs). Finally, don't forget -- you don't have to keep up with Ana. Work at your own pace.----------Part II----------Now, on to a more general discussion of kundalini yoga in general, and Ana's and Ravi's DVDs in particular. (I intend to include a version of this in all my reviews of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs.)Most of the yoga that people are familiar with falls under the umbrella of hatha yoga. Perhaps you've done a series of static poses, or some vinyasa/flow yoga. Kundalini yoga is not exactly like either of these, although Ana's and Ravi's DVDs do incorporate elements of hatha yoga (e.g., this DVD has star pose in it). However, kundalini yoga is also what I would consider to be a very active form of yoga, consisting of some repeated movements and a lot more work with the breath than you may be used to. It can be difficult to keep up with at first, but can be very rewarding if you stick with it. If you are bored of holding static poses all the time, or if you want a bit more movement but hate vinyasa (sorry, but I am not a fan of flow yoga), kundalini might really work well for you. And, as I said earlier, use the modifications Ana and Ravi discuss if you need to use them. Yes, Ana is fit (and this makes her an excellent demonstrator for the poses), but this is not a competition. Don't strain yourself, and don't try to keep up with her. Just try to improve a little bit every time!Kundalini yoga also involves a lot of meditation. Sometimes this is quiet and involves breathing either in a sitting position or lying down, occasionally with your hands in a mudra (hand position). Sometimes it involves chanting a mantra. This DVD contains a fair amount of mantra chanting - there's a separate chanting segment, as well as the opening and closing segments. Whenever there are mantras, Ana and Ravi tell you what they mean. If you are uncomfortable with mantras for religious reasons, check out Ana's and Ravi's website (can't post links in reviews but they're easy to find through Google) for alternatives and use the matrix menu or your DVD remote to skip the chants. (I happen to like the chants, but that's just me.)With respect to calorie-burning, this DVD is probably somewhere in the middle when compared to Ana's and Ravi's other workouts. But kundalini yoga works on your inner self as well as your outer self, and so some parts are a little less "active" than others. For my own part, I still do plenty of pretty intense cardio at other times of the day.Ana's outfits are a bit skimpy, but certainly nothing less than you would see at the beach. And the reason she dresses like she does is so that you can really see her performing the movements and asanas. That way you know exactly how to position yourself for maximum benefit. (Most of the time, kundalini yoga is done with the eyes closed, anyway.) There is not a lot in the way of initial instruction in this DVD. If you are familiar with Ana's and Ravi's work, you can jump right in. But if you are new to kundalini yoga, watch it first. Observe Ana, listen to the cues, make sure you understand. You'll be glad for the lack of excessive instruction later -- you don't want to be told on the 20th time you do a DVD how to do a movement; you know it by this point!A few health claims are made in this DVD. Take those that do appear with a grain of salt. I do find that Ana and Ravi are quite accurate when it comes to muscular and skeletal issues (and, in particular, I like the core work in the Body Bliss Workout segment). At any rate, certainly don't use yoga as a substitute for seeing the doctor. But doing a routine like this isn't likely to hurt you or make your health condition worse (as long as you PACE YOURSELF).If you are struggling with a sequence, Ravi and Ana are very accessible and quite nice. They have contact information on their website (the URL is on the DVD case) and usually get back to you in a couple of days. They also have a monthly e-mail newsletter that I enjoy.

This review will have a two-part format. In the first part, I'll describe the contents of the DVD as well as my thoughts on them. In the second part, I'll say some more general things about Ana and Ravi and kundalini yoga. It seems the negative reviews of their DVDs come mainly from people who didn't know what to expect when ordering kundalini yoga DVDs -- because they ARE a little bit different from what you're used to, if you've only practiced hatha yoga in the past. I am unabashedly an Ana and Ravi fan, but hopefully my evaluation will help you make the correct decision for yourself, even if your opinion happens not to be the same as mine.----------Part I----------Like most of Ana and Ravi's DVDs, Kundalini Yoga Happy Hormones All-In-One Workout has the matrix menu, which allows you to customize the length of your workout.Introduction (1:13): Sometimes the introduction is necessary to understanding the goal of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs. I don't really think you need to bother with it this time, unless you want to.Tune In (3:00): This segment is similar/the same in many of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs; you sit cross-legged, focus on your breathing, and chant "ong namo guru dev namo" three times. The meditation part at the end is a bit longer than in some of their other DVDs.Warm-Up Part 1 (23:00): This is a the longest warm-up I've seen in one of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs - and it's only the first of two segments. This one is great for working out kinks in the back and legs (helpful early in the morning, especially). Many of these exercises appear in Ana's and Ravi's other DVDs but there are some I haven't seen before, as well. This segment consists of the following exercises.*While seated, grind your stomach in circles*Hold your shins and flex your spine back and forth*Sit on your heels with your hands on your thighs and do breath of fire*Sit on your heels and flex your spine to the rhythm of the breath of fire*With your hands in fists at collarbone level, twist left and right*Put one foot on the inside of the opposite thigh and stretch out over your extended leg (breath of fire)*Extend out over both legs (breath of fire)*Seated, with your feet flat and your knees bent, sit up straight and extend your arms overhead*Lie on your back and relax*Sat kriya (Google this if you don't know what it is - it's complicated to explain)*Lie on your back and relax againI hadn't seen sat kriya in a warm-up segment before. The move with your feet flat and knees bent and your arms overhead works the abs in surprising ways. I like this segment a lot, but I like most of Ana's and Ravi's warm-ups.Warm-Up Part 2 (10:00): This only includes a few moves but they are different from those in the first warm-up segment. I like having two warm-ups since I like to mix up my yoga workouts a little bit. Or, you could do them both if you have more time. I'd say the movements in this segment are a little more advanced than in the previous segment, but should be easily modifiable for anyone. *Lie on your stomach with your legs wide and do push-ups into cobra*Lie on your stomach, prop yourself up on your forearms, and kick your rear end with alternating heels*Lie on your back, put your feet together in a raised butterfly position, then extend your legs (right, left, middle); bring your legs back to the raised butterfly position between each extensionHappy Hormones Part 1 (10:00): This segment consists of the following exercises. Note: they say you can do the first two moves with 1-3 pound hand weights, although Ana demonstrates without weights.*Lie on your back with your left leg at 90 degrees; raise and lower your hands (bending your arms at the elbows) to your shoulders and back*Lie on your back with your right leg at 90 degrees; extend your arms up to 90 degrees; bring your elbows to the floor and then bring your arms back up*Alternate leg liftsHappy Hormones Part 2 (12:00): This segment consists of the following exercises.*In downward dog, pedal your feet (involve your hips and arms as desired)*In horse stance, with your index fingers and thumbtips meeting, dance up and down into a deeper plié*With your hands in the same position as the previous pose, lunge back, crossing the moving leg behind the stationary leg and your arms moving to the side of the stationary leg*Repeat the horse stance move*Repeat the crossover lunge move*Repeat the horse stance move again*Brief meditation while standing*Hold your opposite upper arms and do a tap forward/step/hopping combination with your feet (watch Ana a few times to get this one)*Kick with alternate heels (stay low) and say "har;" have your hands interlaced at the small of your back*Lie on your back, do stretch pose (i.e., head and heels raised six inches) with breath of fire*Stand with your legs wide and your hands overhead (palms pressed together); bend one knee and lean forward over that knee, touching your hands (still together) to the groundShake Dance (8:00): This is done standing. Essentially, you are moving through body parts one by one and shaking that part. The shaking is pretty vigorous late in the segment, although there is a slowing-down time near the end.Deep Relaxation (5:00): This is similar in many of Ravi's and Ana's DVDs. Lie on your back, slow your breathing, and listen. I find the music more relaxing here than in some of Ana's and Ravi's other recent DVDs.Magic Mantra Medley (7:00): This contains three mantras. You do the first for awhile, then the second, then the third. They're all sung to the same tune/rhythm, which is a little rushed for the last mantra (which is kind of long). One of them is in English, which is a little different. Here they are:1: You Are the Love in My Heart2: Ang Sang Wahay Guru3: Guru Guru Wahay Guru/Guru Ram Das GuruClosing Prayer (3:00): This is quite a bit different from the other Ana and Ravi DVDs that I have. But I think change can be good. This ends with a song, and the only thing I would change would be to put the words to the song on the screen so you can sing along with Ana (it's a little much to remember all at once). Here are the words (best I can tell):May the long time sun shine upon youAll love surround youAnd the pure light within youGuide your way onThe melody is nice and I found myself singing this after I was finished with the segment.Breath Primer (3:00): Please note that this segment may not play if you just play the entire DVD through. It is accessible from the matrix menu and the chapter selection menu, however. If you are not familiar with kundalini yoga, you will definitely want to follow along here. It's actually a pretty good refresher for anyone who has practiced for awhile, as well. You learn how to do long deep breathing, a panting breath that serves as an introduction to breath of fire, and then a standard breath of fire technique. This is the exact same content as was included with some of Ana's and Ravi's other "blonde Ana" DVDs but has been re-recorded with the new set.Alignment Tips & Benefits (11:00): One complaint that I've read in reviews of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs is that there's not a lot of instructional time built in (I don't mind this, but some people do). This segment addresses that criticism. It goes through each move in the warm-ups and happy hormones segments, gives you pointers on form, and tells you the purpose of the exercise. If you are new to Ana and Ravi DVDs, definitely watch this. This one, like the Breath Primer, will play after the credits if at all. But, you can always choose it from the chapter menu or add it to the Matrix Menu. (It may not be quite 11 minutes long, for what it's worth. But it is complete.)For those of you familiar with Ravi's and Ana's DVDs, this one combines the old and the new. The set is a throwback to, say, Fat Free Yoga, with the white background and Ana on a raised white platform. However, Ana is still blonde and her clothes are more similar to the later DVDs (i.e., Transformer, Solar Power, etc.). I like the change; for some reason, the fake nature background in Transformer, etc., was distracting to me, and I preferred the simplicity of the white background. Please note that the production value is higher than in the very early DVDs with the same/similar set. You never see the edge of the white space and the AV equipment, and I think the cameras and makeup have improved since the early days, as well. Ana's outfits (and hair) do change frequently in the middle of segments, but you're supposed to have your eyes closed most of the time - and she sticks to a blue/yellow/white color theme.I think the music is good in this one. For the most part, it's subtle, quiet, and light. There's a lot of instrumental music but there are vocals in a few places. During the tapping/stepping/hopping combo in Happy Hormones Part 2, there's some (old-style) traditional Indian music, but I've always liked this style of music. I felt the music was appropriately relaxing during the Deep Relaxation segment.Camera work was mostly good. There were a few fades in/out where you could see 2 or 3 of Ana on the screen at the same time. Maybe it's just me, but I'd prefer standard (boring) camera work where you can always see what Ana's doing, with no unnecessary visual effects.Ana appears to be very happy throughout this DVD. She's always smiling and it's kind of infectious. Don't forget the "Happy" part of the title! It has been my experience that Ana and Ravi don't choose titles at random, but that EVERY word has meaning and relevance.A few modifications are offered (e.g., alternating raised legs in stretch pose or sitting cross-legged instead of on your heels), but the moves are generally not difficult in this DVD and I do think it would be suitable for beginners. That's not to say that more advanced people won't get anything out of it - I've been doing Ana's and Ravi's DVDs for years, and I enjoyed this one. I didn't notice anything that I thought would cause problems, although be careful with standing moves where your knees are bent (watch the Alignment Tips & Benefits segment for more instruction here). Finally, don't forget -- you don't have to keep up with Ana, nor do you have to stretch as far forward as Ana in the forward-bending moves. Work at your own pace and do what YOU can.----------Part II----------Now, on to a more general discussion of kundalini yoga in general, and Ana's and Ravi's DVDs in particular. (I intend to include a version of this in all my reviews of Ana's and Ravi's DVDs.)Most of the yoga that people are familiar with falls under the umbrella of hatha yoga. Perhaps you've done a series of static poses, or some vinyasa/flow yoga. Kundalini yoga is not exactly like either of these, although Ana's and Ravi's DVDs do incorporate elements of hatha yoga (e.g., this DVD has downward dog in it). However, kundalini yoga is also what I would consider to be a very active form of yoga, consisting of some repeated movements and a lot more work with the breath than you may be used to. It can be difficult to keep up with at first, but can be very rewarding if you stick with it. If you are bored of holding static poses all the time, or if you want a bit more movement but hate vinyasa (sorry, but I am not a fan of flow yoga), kundalini might really work well for you. And, as I said earlier, use the modifications Ana and Ravi discuss if you need to use them. Yes, Ana is fit (and this makes her an excellent demonstrator for the poses), but this is not a competition. Don't strain yourself, and don't try to keep up with her. Just try to improve a little bit every time!Kundalini yoga also involves a lot of meditation. Sometimes this is quiet and involves breathing either in a sitting position or lying down, occasionally with your hands in a mudra (hand position). Sometimes it involves chanting a mantra. This DVD contains a mantra chanting segment. Whenever there are mantras that are not in English, Ana and Ravi tell you what they mean. If you are uncomfortable with mantras for religious reasons, check out Ana's and Ravi's website (can't post links in reviews but they're easy to find through Google) for alternatives and use the matrix menu or your DVD remote to skip the chants. (I happen to like the chants, but that's just me.)With respect to calorie-burning, this DVD is probably not going to do a ton (although the Shake Dance may get your heart rate up a bit). But kundalini yoga works on your inner self as well as your outer self, and so some parts are a little less "active" than others. For my own part, I still do plenty of pretty intense cardio at other times of the day. (I do about 30 minutes of yoga a day by combining segments using the matrix menu. Ana and Ravi are a part of my fitness routine, but they are not the whole of it.)Ana's outfits are a bit skimpy, but certainly nothing less than you would see at the beach (if anything, there's more coverage in her clothing here than in some of Ana's and Ravi's other DVDs). And the reason she dresses like she does is so that you can really see her performing the movements and asanas. That way you know exactly how to position yourself for maximum benefit. (Most of the time, kundalini yoga is done with the eyes closed, anyway.) There is not a lot in the way of instruction in this DVD in the main segments, but of course there's the Alignment Tips and Benefits segment if you need it. If you are familiar with Ana's and Ravi's work, you can jump right in. You'll be glad for the ability to omit the instructional segments later -- you don't want to be told on the 20th time you do a DVD how to do down dog; you know it by this point!A few health claims are made in this DVD, although not as many as I would expect based on the title. Take those that do appear with a grain of salt. I do find that Ana and Ravi are quite accurate when it comes to muscular and skeletal issues. At any rate, certainly don't use yoga as a substitute for seeing the doctor. But doing a routine like this isn't likely to hurt you or make your health condition worse (as long as you PACE YOURSELF and observe some common sense safety guidelines).If you are struggling with a sequence, Ravi and Ana are very accessible and quite nice. They have contact information on their website (the URL is on the DVD case) and usually get back to you in a couple of days. They also have a monthly e-mail newsletter that I enjoy.

I have recently discovered this DVD series and started with "fat-free yoga" which I find absolutely fantastic. So I was intrigued by the" happy hormones" DVD. As others have pointed out - Ana has changed physically. Compared to the older DVDs where she looks fantastic, healthy and fit she now sadly has managed to starve herself down to a size zero. To a point that she looks unhealthy, the veins on the arms and legs come out, and even her yoga suit is hanging down on her. Her breast size, on the contrary, seems to have miraculously increased. The strongly bleached hair isn't really doing her a favour and her constant change of costumes is distracting. She also does a lot of talking in this DVD and her voice is strained, robotic and uninspired (this wasn't the case in her earlier DVDs when she had more flesh on her bones). Personally, I believe the talking is better left to Ravi Singh... in short: I find it a bit disappointing that such a good yoga teacher like Ana feels pressurized to follow the cultural standards of being skinny and manicured. I assume in the US this is a MUST to sell DVDs and I believe it's a shame. On the other hand, this is still an excellent and very enjoyable workout. Doing it only a few times per month helped me immensely to navigate effortlessly through my cycle.

having discovered ana&ravi about 6 months ago, when i bought 'yoga beauty body' on a whim, i have become addicted & have about 10 of their dvd's (the only reason i dont have more is because they are £15 a go!!). it is like marmite...you'l either love it or hate it!! if your new to any kind of yoga &/or find it difficult/uncomfortable spending time sitting cross-legged (i use a block) that will put you off straight away! it is unlike any 'traditional' class especially those aimed at 'beginners' & some people will be put off by the mantras & meditations & kriyas (i was never a fan of chanting & i dont like the mantras in the earlier vids, but some of them are really catchy, V easy to follow & i actually find myself singing them whilst walking the dog!!) i would say to anyone new to yoga/exercise, to probably try their 'beginners & beyond' or 'kundalini for beginners' dvd before this one. as another reviewer said, this one does incorporate a lot of intense core work poses! i love the mix of stretching, strengthening, kriya & meditation in their dvd's, there seems to be a good balance so that i feel stretche, toned & energised mentally & spiritually

Absolutely fantastic DVD. I have every single Ravi & Ana DVD (along with tapes of Ravi's workouts from back in the day!). I still remember my intro to Kundalini with Ravi, in a NY loft on Lafayette!Anyway, be it that I am at the half century mark and my hormones really loved it, or be that in its apparent simplicity, this workout really does some deep work, it has now positioned itself at the top of my R&A repertoire.What surprised and amused me was the electrical tingling I experienced for almost 45 minutes post the session! I was so happy and uplifted. Thank you and keep up the good work. Thanks Ravi (for Ana!) - but thanks for doing this for so long.

Love this DVD absolutely, with no negative comments to it.Music is different compared to my other Kundalini Yoga DVDs by Ana and Ravi.. However it is equally enjoyable as highly professional.

I love this one (I also have the Green Energy and Ultimate Stretch DVD's which I still feel motivated to do regularly after almost a year). It gives you "fab abs" just like Ana says, and is a lot of fun to do. Great for your posture too.