Prenatal Kundalini Yoga and Meditation for Mothers to Be

I love love love this DVD. I can't even count the number of times I watched it during my pregnancy. I first read Gurmukh's book "Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful" and it changed my entire pregnancy. Instead of the conventional hospital birth, I decided to go with a midwife and birth in a pool at home. I didn't end up being able to have a home birth, but her book opened me to a whole other world of natural birthing.I even ended up joining Gurmukh's Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training in LA, which was one of the best decisions I've made. It was so beautiful to attend a workshop like that while pregnant! She doesn't teach prenatal yoga herself anymore, but her yoga studios in NY & LA still do - so do it live if you can (sadly, her beautiful yoga center in Hollywood recently shut down - it was such a beautiful building & community).This is Kundalini yoga, so will be a bit different for those who've only practiced Hatha etc, but I love Kundalini. I buy this and the book for my pregnant girlfriends, along with a copy of The Sacred Pregnancy Journal by Anni Daulter. Makes for such a beautiful pregnancy (I know I've used the word beautiful 3x in this post but don't feel like thinking that hard with a newborn).Here's a list of the exercises for mamas who want to do it without the DVD:Ong Namo Tune In - Eyes rolled up at third eye point, Spine Tall, Hands at ChestHead Rolls- jaw Open, Touching chestBody Circle- Enough room for babyIn front and back of Sitz BoneLift Alt Arms 8xLift Both Arms 8xInhale/Exhale PrayerLegs spread over mat; arms lift and fall to one side, then other side - Arms in circleArms back and fortho Heels off ground to each side before elbowElbow down stretcho Arm around, Opposite butt to floor, CircleArms in PrayerSunflower Up and Down (may not be able to do at end of pregnancy)o Jaw relaxedInhale, Exhale, Shake Legs OutCat Cowo Baby for ride, Like a cradle, Pressure off back, Spine stronger, Can’t go to higho Breathe through baby’s homeElbows, Head downo Right leg in and out 8 x heels stretching, whole leg stretchingo Oppositeo Pointed toe lifts 8x each sideChilds Pose (can have arms behind you)Mantra – repetitive thought – Sat Nam – “I am truth” Breathe up spine 3xRoll body upOne knee in, one leg spread and arm upo Arm up, scoop water, circle, under, danceo Imagine how baby swimming; 108 postures; if hurts use pillowSwitch sideso Arm behind back, bow, circleDance on fingertipsRock Pose, Sunflower, toes curled underWindmills 8xInhale, Exhale PrayerDownward Dog, pedalWalk hands to feetStanding Cat CowInhale Stretch Back – Reach around world. Prayer. RepeatHip Openings – good for sciatica.o Warrior, Arm knee, stretch arm over (look up)o Triangleo ReverseInhale, Exhale Arms to Ground and DanceRoll upInahle Exhale Prayer – Electromagnetic Field/ Aura Light of Protection – away disease, ill thoughts; light attracts lightSquats 15xKegelsClose eyes, Catch Breath, Inahle Sat, Exhale Nam, Shake It OutDance – everyday. Babies love to dance. During housework. Move hips. Let whole body go.o Palm trees, beach, close eyes, mountain top, play you love, honeymoon, go outdoors everyday and take a walk. Don’t let 1 part go unmoved. Last minute – dance of gratefulness. “I am so blessed” Say thank youInhale. Exhale. Clasp Hands behind you a couple times3 Min Keep Up – thumb stands for ego. Other fingers ruled by different planets. Thumbs away communicative to ourselves and babies within us.Sa Ta Na Ma – balance 4 corners of mind. Still mind can do anything. Peace and calming. Do with children. Smile - children can feel you smiling. Sends messages to brain. If smile a lot…Hands on Belly. Hug Soul. Never to early to hug baby. Send a blessing to them nowLie down. Side first or if comfy on backBody Scan. Rotate wrists/ankles. Open close fists. Stretch hands over head. Squeeze body. Wiggle. YawnLong Time Sun Closing Song. Head Roll. Easy Pose. Rock back and forth and sing to baby

I should start by explaining that I like to do yoga for its strengthening and flexibility benefits, I am not so much into the meditative aspect. This DVD is definitely not my style.1. It is too long at 68 minutes, and there isn't a short version if you're pressed for time2. I found Gurmukh to be really annoying and weird (she's really into the spiritual aspect of yoga)3. I thought it was very boring - there's a lot of meditation and not a lot of strengthening. I really hated the "free dance" section where she tells you to just dance to the music. It just felt strange to me.4. Gumurkh doesn't do a good job of explaining the moves and transitionsI thought this yoga DVD was really weird, boring and not a very good workout. It is very new-age and meditation focused. Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa seems like she's on another planet.It is hard enough to find an hour during the day to exercise- sitting around and chanting "OM" is not how I want to spend that rare free hour.

I just finished this dvd for the first time and it is so nice! The scenery is beautiful and peaceful, and Gurmukh is lovely. She safely and gently moves the moms through postures and explains so many things about the movements. She is encouraging and the set is fun too! I love the part with free-form dance and the meditations. Even more, I love how Gurmukh encourages women to trust their bodies and the life force within them, and helps guide you to let go of any fear which may get in the way of your dreamed birth experience. She also gives great daily exercises to practice to make you more strong and ready for labor. If you are looking for a simple yet challenging routine to help you be strong for labor but also would like the spiritual aspect to be a part of your practice, this is probably the dvd for you.I am going to recommend this to any of the yoga mommas I know! This one is definitely a must have.PS. I have no affiliation in any way with the makers of the dvd, I really just bought it because of the great reviews.

This prenatal yoga video may require pregnant mamas (particularly those new to yoga) to keep an open mind and open heart. I have purchased several of the prenatal dvds, including Shiva Rea's, the Perfect Pregnancy workout (vols. 1 and 2), the Divine Mother Prenatal Yoga series with Anna Getty, and Jennifer Wolfe's Prenatal vinyasa yoga. This is the least rehearsed of all of the videos. It really does feel like you're sitting in on one of Gumurkh's yoga classes. All of the women in the class are just regular ladies and the whole thing is quite relaxed. The pro to this video is that it kind of feels like having a gentle, reassuring guide to reconnect you to your inner strength and wisdom, and to fight off the scared or nervous feelings that many moms-to-be feel. It is the most "spiritual" of all the prenatal yoga videos I've tried, and includes singing, chanting, and a free form dance section. If you can keep an open mind through this and just embrace it and go with it you will be rewarded with a deep sense of calm and relaxation. It is a very gentle practice. And you can't help but love her clothes! She makes you feel like YOU CAN AND WILL get this baby out of you with strength and grace.One downside is that the camera spends too much time on Gumurkh, even when she is not doing a posture, rather than on the women practicing in order to demonstrate some varieties of the postures. She also gets wrapped up a bit in her own dialogue at times and loses track of the counts, but again this just makes it feel like a very regular yoga class that you are sitting in on.My favorite video for getting my blood flowing and for body toning and strengthening is definitely the Perfect Pregnancy workout vol. 1. Of the prenatal yoga videos so far I like Anna Getty's the best followed by perfect pregnancy workout vol. 2. It has been nice though having a variety of the videos to choose from depending on my energy level and how my body is feeling.