Today is day 31 of my new yoga practice. I've done yoga in some form or another almost every day, and that to me is something of an accomplishment.

I jumped back into practice today with Shiva Rea's Yoga Shakti DVD set (Retails for $29.99). If you only ever buy one yoga DVD, this should be it. I love this DVD for two major reasons.

First, I like Rea's style of yoga and her style of instruction. She's a Vinyasa (flow) yoga instructor, and so her poses are active and flowing. This is not the kind of practice to do when you want to sink into poses for lengthy periods (although there is some of that with the more advanced asanas). But it will get your heart rate up and is a good choice for those who claim to be bored by yoga and who want a more active practice.

Rea is really into bringing together mind, body and spirit in the asanas. The music is meditative and beautiful, her voice is calm and soothing, and she leads you into poses carefully. My only critique is that sometimes the speed of the flow is inconsistent from side to side, and for beginners especially, it can be difficult to transition through surya namaskar (sun salutation) so quickly.

The second major reason I love this DVD set is that you have two options for practice. You can go with a preset routine, or you can use what they call the Yoga Matrix, and set up your own customized routine. That's right - there are so many possible combinations that you can make it different day by day or week by week. You can make it easier or harder depending on your mood and ability.

Okay, there is a third reason I like it, which is that it's all levels. It's a challenge for beginners, but it's also a challenge for intermediate and advanced practitioners. While it doesn't replace a real in-person yoga instructor (a good one, anyway), it does a pretty good job of keeping you on your toes and guiding you safely through some pretty difficult poses.

Oh, and a fourth reason - you can turn off the verbal instruction and just listen to the music once you get really into the practice. 

If you're a beginner (meaning total beginner or fairly new to yoga) then you might want to supplement this DVD with a more beginner-focused one that will help you learn the poses and their names. You will also want to watch the routines and familiarize yourself with the names and posture of the various poses. Don't be afraid to skip stuff that's too hard, or to pause and rewind to help yourself get it.

You'll also want two blocks, a strap, a thick blanket, a yoga mat and a glass of water. These will help you get through the practice. And again, it's good to watch the workouts before you do them, so you know what you'll need. I do this with one finger close to the fast-forward. :) 

Right now I'm baking butternut squash and yellow potatoes in Indian spices and olive oil. I'll have some black beans with it and it will be delicious. :)