Sacred Yoga Practice with Rainbeau Mars: Vinyasa Flow - 4 Volume Gift Set (Beginners, Pure Tranquility, Pure Power, Pure Sweat)

Yoga can help reverse the aging process by improving flexibility, massigning the internal organs and glands, sending oxygen to all the body's tissues, and enhancing a state of serenity. Breathing deeply into certain postures affects the nervous and lymphatic systems. It increases circulation and promotes radiant skin. It helps relieve tight muscles, increases energy, and improves strength. On a deeper level, it's a tool for observation. It brings us into the present so that we may fully receive what each moment has to offer and teach.

Join Rainbeau Mars and experience yoga in paradise on the breathtaking beaches of Maui. This 4 Volume Gift Boxed Set includes: For Beginners, Pure Sweat, Pure Tranquility, and Pure Power.

This is truly the heart of yoga. Enjoy…

Maria


Especially recommended for those new to the practice of Yoga   April 8, 2003
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
17 out of 23 found this review helpful

Sacred Yoga Practice is a "viewer friendly" four volume series of instructional videos where yoga expert Rainbeau Mars celebrates special aspects of the popular form of Vinyasa Flow Yoga, a practice which emphasizes the energizing combinations of breath and movement, awareness and alignment, optimum strength and flexibility. Available individually for $$ each, the 30 minute programs comprising this outstanding Sacred Yoga Practice series include: Vinyasa Flow For Beginners; Vinyasa Flow Pure Power; Vinyasa Flow Pure Sweat; and Vinyasa Flow Pure Tranquility. Ideal for use in the home, this Sacred Yoga Practice series is especially recommended for those new to the practice of Yoga.


A series of yoga practices which allow for variety & growth   August 24, 2004
Beth Cholette (Upstate NY USA)
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

The four videos in this set provide a nice variety of yoga practices which are applicable to a wide range of yoga practitioners, from experienced beginners to more advanced yoga students. The videos are led by Rainbeau Mars, who offers voiceover instruction in a calm soothing voice. Her mirrored cueing is excellent (although sometimes slightly out-of-sync with her movements on screen), and she is obviously very knowledgeable about yogic principles and traditions as well as anatomical issues. In addition, the videos are filmed in Hawaii against beautiful backdrops.

The most basic practice in this series is Pure Tranquility, which is designed to prepare the body and mind for meditation. The entire practice is performed in a seated position, and Rainbeau guides you through gentle stretches to open the body and relax the muscles. The Beginners video actually offers a bit of a challenge and requires some pre-existing strength. In this practice, Rainbeau begins slowly with breathing exercises and warm-up stretches. She continues with several vinyasa flow series, still moving slowly but holding some poses (such as downward dog) for an extended period of time.

The remaining two videos in this set are significantly more challenging than the first two. In Pure Power, Rainbeau builds on a series of sun salutations by adding rigorous poses such as side plank, crescent lunges, chair, and 3-legged down dog. Pure Sweat further picks up the pace by adding additional lunges and twists as well as plenty of yogi push-ups (chatturangas). Although these two practices are definitely at an intermediate/advanced level, Rainbeau performs them at a leisurely pace and does not include inversions, thus making the practices extremely accessible.

One of the things I like best about this series is that each video is only 30 minutes long, which is especially rare for intermediate/advanced practices. However, the videos could be easily combined to form an hour long workout if desired: Beginners would make a perfect warm-up for Pure Sweat, and Pure Tranquility would work well for winding down after Pure Power.

As an intermediate yogi who has been practicing yoga for several years now, I would not recommend this set for those totally new to yoga: while Rainbeau's cueing is excellent, her instruction is not overly detailed, and she does not offer modifications for the poses. However, beginners who have had some prior experience with yoga can start with the first two videos and build up to the remaining two over time. Finally, this series is not for someone who is looking for a fast-paced, power yoga or ashtanga-type practice, as everything about Rainbeau is laid back and relaxed. Rather, this set is perfect for intermediates looking for softly flowing practices which will provide a gentle challenge to their home practice.