Yoga is well known as an effective way to get energy flowing through the body and increase strength. Yoga Journal’s Yoga for Strength and Energy offers two separate practices on one DVD, Yoga Practice for Strength and Yoga Practice for Energy.
Yoga Practice for Energy is a unique practice that includes sessions that follow the cycle of the sun. You can use the entire practice or try a specific session. The sessions include Awakening, Centering, Creativity, Reflection and Surrender. Select the practice session that best fits your needs on a given day or at a given time of day. For example, use Awakening in the morning and Reflection at the end of the day to relax and unwind.
This practice is filmed on the beach in Maui in a tranquil atmosphere that is conducive to yoga. If you dislike excessive narration on many yoga DVDs, you may enjoy this practice. There is very little spoken instruction, which allows you to focus on the practice. However, in the absence of continuous direction, you may need to try the tape a few times to get used to the flow.
The other practice on this DVD is Yoga for Strength. This practice is designed to increase strength and is an intense and vigorous workout. Yoga for Strength is better suited to people with some experience with yoga, particularly the poses and the vinyasa flowing style in order to keep up with the sequences.
Yoga for Strength has two sequences. The first is a vinyasa flowing sequence of common poses that are familiar to people of all levels of practice, such as sun salutations, triangle and others. The second sequence is more challenging and includes more difficult poses, such as bridge, balancing poses, warrior and shoulder stand. The more difficult poses are found at the end of the set, so you can work up to it.