An Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga (Yoga with Richard Freeman)

Rating:
Summary: introduction to a healing path
Review: I have been fighting to control my mental disorders through meditation and Tai-chi all these years. However, they both failed to certain degree since my mind is often too hyperactive. Last winter, I decided to go on medication to negotiate some time to establish a long-term practice that is both meditative and physically engaging. Through some coincidence I found Richard Freeman's Introduction to Ashtanga yoga. Before this DVD, I have owned several other yoga video tapes, including the one featuring Erich Schiffmann. I respect Erich Schiffmann and enjoy reading his book. But, Richard Freeman's immaculate scholarly presence in this DVD sheds light on the path to the knowledge of oneself, which, to me, is the path of healing.

I am a novice to yoga. It took me about a month of almost daily practice to be able to follow the pace of the program without holding my breath and to get into the poses in my stiff manner. So far I am still skipping some of the optional vinyasa. This may sound like a lot of efforts, but beginners out there please don't be discouraged, knowing that I am at the same time dealing with the side effects of my medication, which include dizziness and incoordination. The practice carries me through these side effects and makes me feel stronger each day. Now, looking back on myself before I started the practice, I can sense that my mental and physical states have been elevated so much that I'd never expect.

I take the DVD with me whenever I need to leave town. I play it with my laptop PC so I can continue practicing even away from home. Everytime I hear the singing bowls at the end of the program, supposely performed by Mr. Freeman himself, I am assured that I am again taken care of. I recommend this DVD to whoever wanting to explore the biggest mystery in the world (that would be ourselves), with yoga practice.