Relaxation and Breathing for Meditation [VHS]
There's nothing more important in yoga than the breath. Regardless of how strong or flexible you might be, breathing deeply, fully, and with awareness and control is the key to a fulfilling practice--one that, in instructor Rodney Yee's words, can "eliminate stress and increase inner peace." This tape is divided into two sections, "Conscious Relaxation" and "Conscious Breathing." The first consists of five postures, none of them taxing and all of them employing one or more props (chair, bolster and/or pillow, strap, blankets). The second is devoted to deliberately using the breath to soften, relax, and create body awareness; it includes some instruction inpranayama(essentially the art of yoga breathing) and is practiced primarily on the back, in thesavasanaor final resting position. All in all,The Art of Breath and Relaxationcan be used as either a prelude to or conclusion of a more vigorous yoga practice, or as a practice in itself. And while the props are helpful, it's possible to follow along without them--only the chair is essential.--Kelly Welldon