Yoga Foundations

Yoga Foundations is a Level 1 or beginner yoga DVD featuring self-dubbed "Ultimate Yogi" Travis Eliot. On this DVD, Eliot offers three live yoga classes designed to provide a foundation yoga practice for beginners. To further assist those new to yoga, he has included a video tutorial breaking down many of the postures. In addition, the DVD case includes a 36-page "Training Guide." This insert provides the sequencing of poses for each of the three routines as well as offers additional form and alignment guidelines for some of the postures. Finally, there is a brief bio on Eliot--describing him as a "rising star" in today's yoga community and noting that he is on the faculty at Kripalu yoga center--as well as a review of Eliot's 108 day The Ultimate Yogi program.

The breakdowns I have give below are taken directly from the DVD insert (times added by me). However, I should note that many poses from each class are actually NOT included on the insert breakdown--for examples, Class 2 has several more floor poses, including bridge, reclining pigeon, and shoulderstand.

CLASS 1 SEQUENCING (46 minutes)

Cross Legged Seated

Side Stretch (L/R)

Seated Twist (L/R)

Table Top Pose

Cat Cow Tilt

Child's Pose

Downward Facing Dog

Mountain Pose

Triangle (L/R)

Plank

Sphinx

Cobra

Butterfly

Bridge

Reclining Pigeon

Reclining Twist (L/R)

Corpse Pose

CLASS 2 SEQUENCING (54 minutes)

Child's Pose

Table Top

Cat Cow

Sunbird

Downward Facing Dog

Forward Fold

Flat Back

1 Arm Standing Twist (L/R)

Standing Shoulder Roll

1/2 Squat

Warrior 1

Warrior 2

Reverse Warrior

Side Angle

Triangle

Extended Triangle

Yoga Squat

Plank

Cobra

Corpse Pose

CLASS 3 SEQUENCING (53 minutes)

Child's Pose

Table Top

Sun Bird Pose

Downward Facing Dog

Forward Fold

Mountain Pose

Half Sun Salutations

Plank Pose

Crocodile Pose

Sphinx Pose

Floating Cobra Flow

Downward Facing Dog

Forward Fold

Cobra

Downward Facing Dog

Sun Salutation A

Sun Salutation B

Spread Legs Forward Fold Shoulder Stretch

Tree Pose

Chair Twist

Camel Pose

Cobbler

Reclining Pigeon

Reverse Cobra

Shoulder Stand

Reclining Twist

Corpse Pose

Eliot teaches live to a small class of background exercisers. Sometimes he briefly moves through a few postures, but in general, he is walking amongst the group. One thing I found confusing was that he seemed to alternate between sometimes mirror cuing to the viewer and sometimes NOT doing so; even the class members appeared uncertain at times as to which side they were supposed to be on. Similarly, I thought Eliot came off as somewhat inexperienced, both as a video instructor (in addition to the cuing issue, he would also sometimes have you faced AWAY from the TV, which was awkward) and also in his general yoga instruction. Regarding the latter, I just noticed that he didn't provide much detail on alignment, nor did he give cues such as to change the crossing of your hands in postures.

Eliot did have a nice, easy-going manner, and I am sure many people would find him soothing as well as enjoy the relaxed vibe of these practices. I don't believe that Eliot provides quite enough instruction for those brand-new to yoga, so I would suggest that this DVD would be best suited to those at an experienced beginner level. This video wasn't a good fit for me personally, however, and I wound up trading it.

I received this DVD to review, and I am so glad I did! Yoga Foundations has three practices. The first practice is 45 minutes long, and the next two are about 55 minutes each. The first practice begins with a brief seated meditation, then moves quickly into a side stretch and spinal twist. Next we move to out hands and legs for cat/cow, then child's pose. The standing poses are next, and these include downward-facing dog, flat back stretch, forward fold, then rolling up to standing into mountain pose. Here we do a brief standing meditation and some relaxing shoulder stretches before moving into sun salutations, wide leg forward fold, triangle, and back to wide leg forward fold. It's down to the floor for plank, sphinx, and cobra; then seated butterfly, bridge, supine pigeon, spinal twist, and final shavasana. The music is very calm "white noise" with an occasional flute in the background. I greatly enjoyed this very gentle practice.