In her new DVD, well known yoga teacher Claire Missingham promises dynamic vinyasa yoga to inspire and uplift. Journalist and trainee yoga teacher Cathryn Scott puts her claims to the test.
They say you should never judge a book by its cover and the same is true of yoga DVDs.
A beautiful, calming picture of Claire sits on the front cover, giving nothing away about the challenging nature of the content inside.
Despite tranquil Moroccan surroundings, and the relaxing chanting and music in the background, this is hard work.
Challenging
The vinyasa flow sequence will leave you sweaty, frustrated by the very
advanced postures that all but the most experienced yogis will struggle with (hanumansana - the splits; Sirsasana - headstand; and several tough arm balances) and confused by the speed at which the postures are whizzed through.
It is also slightly misleading. The cover promises a running time of 170 minutes, with options including a full-length vinyasa flow class, morning and evening sessions, and a beginners' sequence.
Yet these additional sections are made up of elements from the main sequence, meaning you're not quite getting the value for money you were hoping.
The beginners' section is really not suitable for novices, with little guidance on getting in and out of postures or safety pointers.
In contrast to a lot of yoga DVDs, we watch Claire conducting her practice with her explanatory voice-over dubbed on top.
Her voice may be relaxing and calm, yet because she is practicing, rather than teaching, it can become confusing to watch, and even frustrating.
There is an absence of easy-to-follow instruction, and a great deal of knowledge and experience is assumed.
Inspirational
On the upside, the DVD is beautifully shot, with atmospheric backdrops, traditional Moroccan music in the background, and a calming and grounding tone, despite the intensity of the practice.
Above all, it is incredibly inspiring. Claire moves through the postures with such grace, ease and enjoyment that it propels you to want to improve your own yoga practice.
Her flexibility and strength remind you that yoga is a lifelong practice and that we all have room for improvement.
For more information on Claire Missingham, visit www.claireyoga.com
Cathryn Scott is a freelance journalist based in Cardiff, writing on everything from music to homelessness, with a special interest in yoga. She has practiced yoga for eight years, and has recently started a British Wheel of Yoga teacher training diploma with Andrea Fox. She can be contacted at cathrynscott@hotmail.com
