LifeForce Yoga to Beat the Blues Level One
75 minute video (DVD) practice, led by Amy Weintraub 12 Programmable Chapters shot in HD Original music by William Chapman + Music from Krishna Das, MJ Bindu Delekta Includes a Study Guide booklet Shot on-location in Tucson, AZ by Emmy-award winning Director of Photography, Dan Duncan. In the first video yoga practice to address depression, Amy Weintraub, MFA, E-RYT 500, author of the book Yoga for Depression (Broadway Books), offers a practice to lift and balance the mood. As the founder and director of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute, in Tucson, AZ, Amy has been bringing the healing practices of LifeForce Yoga to audiences internationally through her workshops for people who suffer from depression and anxiety and trainings to the professionals who serve them. For the first time, this unique DVD showcases the integrative practice of LifeForce Yoga. Viewers will be able to invite Amy into their homes as she leads them through comprehensive breathing techniques, toning, and postures to awaken physical energy and calm the busy mind. Shot on location in Tucson, Arizona, Amy invites practitioners into the loving embrace of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kwan Yin, she who hears the cries of the world. In the sacred space Amy creates, students begin to feel and safely experience their bodies and their emotions. The practice culminates with yoga nidra, or deep relaxation, in which participants integrate the experience and return to full wakefulness feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Mudra, chanting, stretching, kunalini, hatha yoga set outdoors
This is set in a beautiful park-like of wide open grass/trees, cacti & mountain in the back in Tucson, AZ. Amy Weintraub alone demonstrating & using voice over. The production quality is well done for all aspects. Amy has a very non self-conscious, new age style that demands you be open, silly (non one’s watching) & relax. Amy has great body awareness, great energy that you want to learn from.
Here is the breakdown of the dvd with poses/stretches she spends most on listed. This isn’t about working out or sweating, but about being more aware of your body & letting go. The pace is very relaxed & she gives modifications by words & also flashes in/out of video of her doing them.
Menu: play & chapter choices
Intro: 5 min
Joint warm-up - 5 min
opening up joints, kinda dancing
Centering Mediation - 5 min
seated breathing & chanting
Breathing Exercises - 8 min
seated breathing, easy kunalini movements, chanting & easy standing kunalini movements,
Warm-up Poses - 18 min
a few very modified standing fwd bed, chair, mountain pose & down dogs, relined leg stretches, knee to chest stretches, sphinx, shoulder stretch, more basic modified sun salutations, cat/cow & few other her own style linked stretches
Cultivating Will: Standing Postures - 13 min
standing fwd bend, lunge, warrior 1 very modified arms, pyramid
Will & Willingness: Back bend postures - 6 min
locust or she calls bow, full bow, child’s, & roll to lean on crown a little she calls rabbit.
Will & Surrender: Fwd Bend & Twist - 10 min
simple spine stretches, sitting fwd bend, reverse plank, reclined spinal twist, reclined butterfly, raise & lower legs slowly & hold for slight ab work
Yoga Nidra: Surrender - 10 min
Ends w/Amy in Savasana reclined guiding you in meditation & then just music.
More about her at her site yogafordepression com
3 Stars it’s okay
I enjoyed Amy Weintraub’s book and I love yoga, so I purchased this DVD. I really like the Joint Opening part, and the seated meditation. Once the yoga started with the chanting, I just couldn’t get into it. Chanting is not the style of yoga that I enjoy - although others may. It is a well quality made DVD. So if you don’t mind chanting throughout your yoga, it’s for you. If chanting is not your style, then I would not recommend it. It’s a nice gentle practice.
5 Stars This DVD was wonderful for me!
I loved this DVD. I was suffering from very severe depression/anxiety, and was put on medication. But, until the meds started to work, this DVD got me through. I still do it, as I feel that my mental health is important to maintain on as many levels as possible, and thus I don’t leave it up to the meds alone. Again, I can’t recommend this highly enough. Thank God for it!!!
5 Stars A Favorite Yoga DVD
Life Force Yoga to Beat the Blues is an all around fabulous yoga DVD whether you suffer from the blues or not. Amy Weintraub is a fabulous teacher and her instructions are clear and concise. The magnificent scenery and soothing music make it a feast for the senses. I own many yoga DVDs but this is an all time favorite!!
Trudy Haas
Yoga Teacher
3 Stars Not for bipolar
I was somewhat disappointed with this DVD. When I received it, I discovered that many of the exercises are not for people with bipolar disorder (or inflammatory conditions such as IBD)…which would have been good to know before I bought the DVD. Also, I found the Sanskrit music rather annoying. However, the yoga teacher does seem to know about yoga and depression.