Search - Crunch - Candlelight Yoga on DVD

Relaxing Yoga for the Evening

Rebecca Johnson | Washington State | 01/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This workout is visually stunning. Fuchsia mats have been spread around a wood floor in a room filled with vanilla candles. The candles are on the floor, up on stands, simply everywhere!



The curtains flow gently between brick walls and in the background you can see an opaque glass window. Sara is wearing a beautiful blue top while everyone in the room is also wearing colors of equal beauty. Imagine violet, lime green, lemon yellow, orange and powdery blue.



This workout reminds me of yoga in a temple. There is a spirituality about the entire workout that is different than the outdoor workouts or more strenuous vinyasa type workouts. This video tends to encourage you to relax more and look inward to encourage your inner beauty.



The purpose of this workout is to teach you to relax at will. Halfway through the workout, I was ready to just climb into bed and sleep blissfully until morning. The music and candlelight allows the tension to drain from your body as you breathe deeply.



The instructor has been doing yoga for a long time and she says learning to relax at will allows you to be in control of your energy. With Sara Ivanhoe giving you gentle instruction, you can stretch your way into tranquility. I loved her instruction, it was calming and you can see her inner beauty, calm and love for yoga.



Some of the poses include: cat pose, arch curl, side stretch, downward dog, sitting twists, tree pose, butterfly stretch. You won't have to worry about doing the Chaturanga or anything that is stressful, fast or complicated. These poses melt the body into sleep and must have been chosen to release tension and improve balance and flexibility.



You will need a sticky mat, a towel and a cushion. A strap can be used to help you move further into some of the poses.



If you enjoy this workout, you might also want to take a look at MTV Yoga with Kristin Mc Gee, Ali MacGraw Yoga Mind and Body or Bed Top Yoga, which is a tape.



A Gentle Yoga Routine for the evening before drifting off to sleep. A definite "must-have" yoga video for your collection.

As a bonus, there is an energizing workout too.



~The Rebecca Review"

The most soothing stress relief ever

01/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This video is FANTASTIC. While I was doing it I truly had a sense of peace and well-being, in my mind AND in my body. The instructor is amazing. She does an excellent job of guiding the breathing, something I have trouble with because of my asthma. My breathing can get more hiccuppy than smooth, and her constant reminders helped a lot. The series of poses is flowing and exceptionally relaxing, and the instructor guides you through various modifications for all levels of flexibility and yoga experience. I don't know the names of every pose, but there are twists, forward bends, the famous downward facing dog(don't do it in front of your boyfriend!), and balance poses. She does an excellent job of guiding your form and constantly reminds you to relax, not to push yourself, and proper breath technique. I felt that this tape was accessible to anybody and I LOVE it. All the elements came together...lovely set, incredible instructor, soothing music, and constant encouragement and reminders to stay relaxed. To give you some idea of my fitness level, I work out 5 days a week, do cardio and weight training(for about 2 years), and consider myself definitely a novice at yoga, although I do have good natural flexibility. I'm telling you this because often with reviews when someone says something is too easy or hard, or just right, you have no idea how your fitness level would compare to theirs and it's not as helpful. That said, I truly believe anyone can use this tape and benefit, as there are excellent modifiers in both directions and she continuously emphasizes them, and the purpose of the video is purely stretching and tranquility. If you ever have stress, tension, or body soreness from a long day at work or an intense workout, GET THIS VIDEO. It will blow your mind. I also recommend Crunch Fat Burning Yoga, which is the same great instructor and a faster paced style of yoga."

One of the best yoga DVDs by the best yoga instructor - Sara

Barefoot Contessa | Massachusetts | 02/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have bought several yoga DVDs over the years - none I like as much as anything I own with Sara Ivanhoe. This one in particular... After a stressful day, (much like a lot of days), nothing relaxes me as much as this workout - well that and a glass of wine. :-)



It really is a lot of stretching, breathing and simple poses - great for beginners as well. I also suffer from some lower back pain and I find that this particular workout does not aggrevate the condition.



Sara is such a calm and patient instrctor, always providing modified poses and urging you to go at your own pace - not to force yourself ever.



I urge you to consider Sara Ivanhoe over all other yoga instructors on tape. In particular, pick this up if you are in need of incorporating a relaxing workout into your exercise regime - you will not regret it."

A Great Way To Relax

E. McClung | Seattle, WA United States | 05/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For about a month or so I was having trouble falling asleep. I decided that I needed to do something to relax my mind and body. I'd never done yoga before but thought that perhaps it could help me relax. After reading the reviews and description I decided to give Candlelight Yoga a try.I must say I'm very impressed with this DVD. From the first time I tried it I was very relaxed. From that night on I've fallen asleep within 10 minutes of getting into bed, which is a nice change from lying there for an hour or more trying to relax by breathing, counting backwards from 100, taking melatonin/over the counter sleeping medication. My mind is a lot more calm and I've got a greater sense of well-being.The workout itself is really nice. Sara Ivanhoe is a great instructor and her voice is very soothing. The poses aren't all that difficult and even though I'd never done yoga before or any other kind of exercise much I didn't have to the modifications.The only issue I have with this DVD is there's this one girl in it who I find rather annoying. She comes off seeming a bit pretentious to me. However, I know the DVD so well that I can keep my eyes closed throughout the whole thing and just follow along to Sara's voice.Also, the Morning Energizer routine is a great way to start the day and get some energy.I would definitely recommend this DVD to anyone who wants to give yoga a try, relax, become more flexable, reduce stress and/or eliminate sleeping problems."