Shiva Rea Surf Yoga Soul: DVD Review

I can count on one hand how many yoga workouts have truly delivered for me when it comes to the mind/body connection. Some give my muscles a great workout, but my mind continues to race well into Shavasana. Other forms of yoga help me breathe and chill out, but I find them lacking when it comes to building strength.

Shiva Rea Surf Yoga Soul delivers. The oceanside setting brings an instant sense of peace, and Rea's calm, clear voice gives both physical direction (when to exhale, where to step, etc.) and mental ("let your heart ride the breath wave"). A cynic could find the latter hokey, but if you've opened your mind and heart and are prepared to be led down a peaceful path, you'll dig it.

The video consists of seven workouts -- Wave Meditation, Mandala Namaskar, Agni Namaskar, Breath Wave, Balance Flow, Flexibility Flow and Shavasana. You can mix and match to do just a couple or all of them for a full 75-minute workout. I would suggest going through the whole DVD first to get a feel for each (there's no breakdown on the cover, so it would help to keep your own notes on how each workout felt to you).

Level of Difficulty
Intermediate, with some moves that were definitely advanced.

Next Day Soreness
Quite a bit. Granted, I haven't done a ton of yoga lately, but even if I had, I stretched and strengthened muscles that I don't think I normally use.

Who's It For?
Those who enjoy yoga will love the new twists and variations on standard poses. If you're "good" at yoga (yes, I know it's not a competition, but doing the poses properly is easier for some people than for others), you'll appreciate the challenging poses. If you're a newcomer to yoga, you'll have poses to which you can aspire. And obviously, if you're a surfer, this is going to be right up your alley -- some of the poses incorporate actual moves you would do on your board, and Rea gives suggestions for things you can do while waiting to catch a wave.

Likes
As I'm sure you've guessed, I really liked the DVD overall. Some of the segments were really physically challenging (there were poses I definitely couldn't do ... yet), while others were more mentally and spiritually stimulating, so whether you feel like sweating or want little more than guided meditation, you can have it. Also, the video has the option of just music and no instruction, so you can feel free to follow at your own pace.

Dislikes
The only drawback was that the voiceover didn't always go exactly with what was happening on the screen. Throughout the DVD, Rea makes a point to encourage you move at your pace and do what feels comfortable, but for someone who's not terribly confident in their yoga abilities, it's slightly disconcerting to hear instruction that doesn't go with what you're seeing.

Bottom Line
I wouldn't recommend this for someone who has no experience with yoga, but honestly, I think it would be great for just about anyone else. Especially if, like me, you're landlocked and dreaming of the beach!