Fat Free Yoga

Rating:
Summary: Fat Free Yoga with Catherine Quinn and Ravi Singh
Review: Catherine Quinn demonstrates kundalini yoga postures and movements, while Ravi Singh sits comfortably and provides commentary. Lots and lots of commentary. I found his incessant talking of weight loss geared to women somewhat condescending. Have you ever eaten dinner at a restaurant with other women who spoke of nothing but calories and the size of their thighs, etc. To the point where nothing else in the world exists to them... Well, I was similarly bored by listening to Ravi go on and on and on about fat loss. That in mind, it's not surprising he features a waif-like Kate Moss type on the cover who doesn't appear on camera. It seems Ravi figures women do nothing but obsess about wanting to be similarly thin and bony.

Kundalini yoga isn't my favourite type of yoga, but I wouldn't mind doing it occasionally as part of a rotation. Unfortunately, it's hard to do this one with the sound off. And Ravi's constant superficial chatter is rather off-putting. But if you're capable of tuning out annoying people, the yoga itself is typical kundalini yoga with the usual benefits and pitfalls. I suggest you take this out from the library first before deciding whether to purchase it. I'd prefer to spend my money on other DVDs.

Rating:
Summary: Strange
Review: Comments about Ana Brett (for or against) aren't appropriate for "Lose Weight and Feel Great". She doesn't do any of the exercises. She never even appears on camera. Anyone claiming to have done these routines while supposedly following her lead is pulling your leg (to put it nicely). Or else they're confused with other Ravi Singh products which do feature the two of them. It would be nice if more people who've actually seen this dvd/video would review it, instead of the person who keeps re-posting under various pseudonyms who clearly hasn't seen it, yet alone done the yoga. Some people have too much time on their hands.

As for the routines on "Lose Weight and Feel Great", you likely won't lose weight. Though they're all right if you like kundalini yoga. But Ravi spouts several weight loss myths which have been proven to be false. For instance, side to side bends will not get rid of love handles. And while it's true most yoga has been around for thousands of years as Ravi claims, that certainly isn't true of kundalini yoga. Ravi and other KY instructors were trained by Yogi Bhajan (or his students, none of whom studied in India where yoga originates). Bhajan made up the kundalini yoga moves when he moved to North America a few decades ago. Prior to immigrating to the U.S. Bhajan was a taxi driver. He's a controversial bloke and many argue he's more a cult leader/con artist than yoga master. If you want to know more about that there's plenty of info on the net written by his ex-devotees who feel sorely taken advantage of. I won't get into the specifics here. It just makes for an interesting story and is part of the real story behind kundalini yoga's origins.

The most beneficial part of kundalini yoga (and yes it's true, people often feel great afterwards) is the breathing. But then that's true of any type of yoga, including the more authentic types such as ashtanga and hatha yoga. As for the reviewer(s) who can't say enough wonderful things about Ana Brett, I suggest you review Ravi's other dvds or videos on which the woman actually makes an appearance. Watching them first (and actually trying them) would be a good idea, too.

Rating:
Summary: absolutely inspired!
Review: I am a dedicated practioner of many types of yoga(Ashtanga, Hatha, Iyengar, Power, etc..). I own several Kundalini yoga dvds but nothing has ever inspired my practice like these latest tapes with Ravi Singh & Ana Brett! These are easily the best tapes out there.

I just took an amazing week long workshop with the two of them at Omega which is what prompted me to buy these dvds.
The depth of their knowledge(Ravi has been teaching for 30 years and Anas been doing this since childhood) is incredible. They don't just give a class they give an experience!

I am thrilled to depth with these dvds since they do the same thing. It is a guarantee that you will feel like a new person everytime you do one of these workouts.

One more thing - they make yoga accesible to everyone and every dvd is totally different. Genious!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: I'm a kundalini leani!!!!
Review: I can't believe this somewhat unusual style of yoga called kundalini really does what it says it does! I got the whole Fat Free series and I really love the shorter segments that I can do when I don't have a whole hour which is often the case.
I haven't been trying to lose weight but I just am. My willpower is better. Normally when I have tried to lose weight I have wound up gaining more.
It is a pleasure to have something that I can actually do and not just wish I could do. This is not the kind of yoga that you have to twist up like a pretzel! Its fun and the exercises are truly invigorating. I love watching Ana Brett she is living proof of what yoga can do and I don't just mean her body but the joy that emanates from her.
I love Ravis soothing voice and his inspirational tidbits.
This is an excellent series for anyone who wants to explore new options and overall fitness and weightloss.

Rating:
Summary: Nice, short yoga routines
Review: I enjoy doing the routines on this DVD. I love how you can choose between four 17 minute workouts, so even when I'm short on time I can fit at least one in. I have other great kundalini yoga dvds/ videos by other KY instructors whom I prefer, yet the short routines on this one are convenient and complement the others.

On one hand, I was also very relieved when I got this DVD. Thankfully it's the original "Lose Weight and Feel Great", which was filmed some time ago. So Catherine Quinn still demonstrates the exercises, not Ana Brett, who's shown on the cover. Catherine Quinn looks fit, healthy and strong, and doesn't have the emaciated look of Ana Brett. It's nothing against Ana, but I spent many years around dancers in dance school, dancers who usually had the same painfully thin look bordering on anorexia (it was no accident many had eating disorders as we were pressured to keep our weight down). Catherine Quinn is a healthier role model and at least she looks like an adult woman and not an underdeveloped 11 year old. When my boyfriend saw Ana on this DVD cover he said "Someone give that girl something to eat!". It's too bad Ravi decided to call the series "Fat Free" AND feature Ana in them. Men wouldn't do a fat free DVD featuring a guy with an 11 year old's body and say "Gee, I want to look like that too". It's silly. But Catherine Quinn is great on this DVD, so kudos to her.

I also like Ravi's video "In Style Yoga" which features another demonstrator and my favourite female yogi from all of his videos and dvds. "In Style Yoga" has short routines too, so is every bit as convenient. It's strange how Ravi put Ana's name and picture on the "Lose Weight and Feel Great" cover, when in fact the credit is due to Catherine Quinn and Catherine does a beautiful job on this DVD. She even manages to get through the routines without making any faces, which wouldn't be easy considering how Ravi Singh talks nonstop. But after a while you learn to tune him out. Of all his Fat Free DVDs this is the best one and the only one I've hung onto from the series. Check out Ravi's "In Style Yoga", plus kundalini yoga DVDs by Erin Kamler and Donna Davidge... I give this 3 stars, will raise it to 4 stars if Ravi puts Catherine Quinn back on the cover instead of Ana.

Rating:
Summary: Yoga with a kick
Review: I got 3 kundalini dvds for christmas: Fat Free, Total Tune Up, and Yoga Cleanse. This is my introduction to kundalini yoga. Its really different from the yogas I have done. You are moving, flexing, and rotating, breathing all the while. I like to alternate my workouts so I can do another one everyday.
The first thing I noticed was that even if I started my day tired or with a headache I would end it elated and pain free and with a good sense of self. I think the secret is in the breathing not only for your body but for your psyche. I have always been a creative person but I was never able to just let myself be an artist. It may be a coincidence, but since I have been doing these tapes I have been making art like I never could before and have the confidence to call myself an artist.
The instructors in these tapes are quite good. Ravi Singh is like a fountain of wisdom and Ana Brett is like a nymph or a sprite. I get a kick out of watching her do yoga.
All the dvds can be broken into segments which I like.
I recommend these tapes very highly.

Rating:
Summary: This tape is an old favorite
Review: I love every Ravi Singh tape I own and I think I own them azll by now. I especially love the new tapes with Ana Brett. She is my inspiration! I hope they remake all the old videos now that they are a team.
This one is an old favorite(even though it does not have Ana)because it was my first introduction to Kundalini Yoga.
Even though I had not had too much yoga experience I was able to get through the whole thing(though it wasn't easy at first!!)I did it 5 times a week and within a year and a half I was to my college weight(I had put on alot of weight since those days) which isn't anorexic but perfect for me! And I felt great!
My new favorite is the Total Tune Up(with Ana!) which works everything too and I think is a bit more challenging.
But this tape will always have a special place of my video shelf and in my heart.
One more note In 8 1/2 years I have not gained back any wight and I still feel great!


Rating:
Summary: These DVDs are Wonderful!!!
Review: I love Kundalini Yoga and I absolutely love this new series of Kundalini DVDs and Videos by Ravi Singh and Ana Brett called Fat Free Yoga. I have been practicing this form of Yoga for years and have always found Ravi Singh an excellent teacher and dedicated Yoga master. I own many of Ravi's earlier instructional videos and have always found them the perfect way to enhance and sharpen my Kundalini study. Ravi's teaming up with Ana Brett has brought these DVDs and Videos to an even higher level. Her form is amazing and precise. She is strong without looking like she lifts weights. My girlfriend and I practice along to one of the DVDs every morning when we get up. We usually rotate our workouts going through each of the 3 DVDs (1 a day) and then starting them over again. After we finish we are always charged and ready to face the day. We have both taken off weight due to our daily practice along to Ravi and Ana's instruction. Both my girlfriend and I have more energy and are sleeping better also.

For those new to this form of Yoga, Kundalini is different from other forms. It is an all body workout and therapeutic practice helping your organs as well as your muscles, skeletal structure and mental well being. It will actually help to remove toxins from your body, from organs like your liver and kidneys. Following the instruction on these DVDs and Videos give my girlfriend and I a total body workout.

I recommend the complete Fat Free Yoga series by Ravi Singh and Anna Brett without hesitation.

Rating:
Summary: these are my favorite kundalini workouts
Review: I recently got all of the Ravi Singh/Ana Brett Fat Free series and I want to say thank you to them for creating such an amazing series! Kundalini is by far my favorite style of yoga. All the breathing is a revelation it makes you feel so energized and alive. And the workouts are kind of fun to do and often the highlight of my day.
To whoever is reading this if you want to change your life - just start! If you don't want to do the whole thing just do one of the four 17 minute sets. I promise you will create a new momentum for yourself!
I am actually coming on line to buy another fat free because I gave my first one to my mother to try and she doesn't want to give it back. If you knew my mother you would know just how amazing this is!!

Rating:
Summary: Yoga for energy - yes. Weight loss - no.
Review: I'd love to be able to rave about how this dvd made me lose weight. It didn't. My roommate used it regularly with me, and she didn't lose weight either. So maybe you will, maybe you won't. Kundalini yoga is energizing, but for me to lose weight I need to do regular aerobics or power yoga. This dvd didn't help at all, that way.

Which isn't to say it doesn't have other benefits. All yoga will make you feel more connected and good and this one isn't unusual that way. But weight loss? Not necessarily. If you lose weight to this (and it is possible) then you probably lose weight pretty easily. Or at least more easily than some people. Consider yourself lucky. Since going back to aerobics and power yoga I'm finally starting to reach my weight loss goal. The time I spent on this dvd before that was time lost (in that regard). Just my own experience.