The Ultimate Yogi Program: An Early Review

In the past I’ve purchased two separate Groupons for a month of unlimited yoga at a local studio only to end up going just 3 times in each of those months.  It caused me to wonder if my commitment to yoga (or lack thereof) had to do with needing to find a class at the studio that worked with my schedule or if I just wasn’t as interested as I had thought I was.  After reading a lot of reviews of the program and watching a lot of the class clips, I decided to give the program a shot so that I could see how well I did sticking with it at home.

I can’t give it a full and fair review at this point because (1) I haven’t yet completed the 108 days yet and (2) I’m not really following it as it’s written.  I didn’t go into it wanting to lose weight or use it for “transformation”.  But there is a LOT about it that really impresses me so far so I wanted to share my early thoughts in case any of you have been looking for a solid yoga program to do at home.

It comes with a calendar showing which DVD you should do each day.  I followed it as written the first 9 days (minus the additional ab work) but have decided to select the style of DVD (or ‘class’) based on what my schedule will allow or what I have planned for that day.  And this is working better for me.  I started out thinking I would do 108 days straight but found that I was just adding more stress because if I hike one day, I may not also have time for 70 minutes of yoga AND a long dog walk.  So I’m doing what feels right for me and am really enjoying it this way.

What I Love:

• The classes are well rounded.  You have 12 DVDs with the program, included yoga sessions that cover days for Balance, Strength, Cardio, Crosstrain, Flexbility, Vitality, Gentle, etc.  I really like the variety.  For example, in Yin Yoga you hold poses/stretches for up to five minutes.  I’ve found it tough to still my mind and body for that long in a pose and love that I have identified an area to improve upon.  On CrossTrain day you hit a little bit of all of the elements:  cardio, balance, flexibilty, twists for detox. 

• Some reviews I read didn’t care for the instructors voice.  I disagree – I find his voice to be soothing and his cues are spot on.  I never need to look at the TV screen to see what they are doing – he tells me what I should be doing so well that I could listen to just the audio if needed to do it.  I also like a lot of the yogi-isms he shares in the classes that help keep you focused and give you something to think about.

• The meditation on gratitude is wonderful. I love spending a few minutes every day being reminded that I am blessed with a wonderfully abundant life and putting a few things in perspective.

• After 14 sessions, I notice an increase in the tightness of my arms and abs.  You get a lot of arm work in the form of planks/chaturanga moves.


What You Should Know if Considering the Program:

• It is time consuming if you follow it as written.  In addition to each yoga session which lasts a little over an hour, you are also asked to do daily meditation (provided) and three days a week you are supposed to do a core workout which can add another 20+ minutes.

• They market it as if they include a lot of documentation for their “Common Sense Diet”.  There’s not really much to it.  You can go to their blog for a few recipe ideas so far, but don’t look to this for nutrition ideas.  They tell you in general what to avoid (sugars, refined foods, bad fats, etc.).  Well not everyone knows what “bad fats” are – it’s really vague.   Fortunately I didn’t go into it looking for a food plan since I was just interested in the yoga.  But if someone were looking for a well-rounded program that includes that, she would be disappointed.

• You might need a few yoga sessions under your belt prior to this program.  It seems it would be hard to follow at first for beginners if not familiar with the names of different poses, especially in some of the faster paced flows.  While I don’t consider myself advanced in yoga by any means, I feel I would be a little lost if I hadn’t already been doing yoga off and on for a few years.  He does provide good instruction and modifications but sometimes it’s in a DVD later in the program schedule or after you’ve already completed the move on one side of the body.

I am happy that I purchased the program and feel it was money well spent.  Shop around as I found it a little cheaper through Amazon.  (Speaking of, I have no affiliation with this company/program and was not asked to write this review.  As with all of the reviews on FitFeat, it just happens to be something that I purchased on my own and love enough to want to tell others.)

It may take me all year to get to 108 days but I am thoroughly enjoying the journey!  As I get deeper into it, I’ll expand on the review.

Anyone out there heard of Travis Eliot, The Ultimate Yogi program?  If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Ultimate Yogi - Named Best Yoga DVD

A yoga class is basically just one big fat metaphor for life. It is not only a physical practice but the act of using breath and movement to tap into your subconscious to rewire the way you process relationships, situations, and emotions. Holding challenging, physically active positions is a way of hacking your brain and recalibrating the body’s reaction

The Ultimate Yogi is the most comprehensive yoga DVD set on the market. Renowned yoga instructor Travis Eliot will take you to your physical limits and beyond on this 108-Day Journey. Each of the 14 Thematic Yoga classes are comprised of creative sequences that will challenge the expert and encourage the beginner. The Ultimate Yogi is MORE than just a fitness program, it is a transformational experience guaranteed to improve your quality of life.

Take a journey of 108 days as you transform your life from the inside out. After three thirty-six day cycles we guarantee that your body will be leaner, your mind will be sharper, and you will have purified every facet of your being. You’ve come this far, you’ve seen the results, You ARE Ready!
Become an Ultimate Yogi today and we will guarantee your success.

 

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:

“This program never ceases to amaze me! ...I cannot believe how it is changing me in such a short time.”
- Karen O’Brien

"I'm so glad it's not a crime to feel so good."
- Michael Stebbins

"...one of the most powerful events in your life"
- LA-story.com, Stevie Wilson

"Best purchase of the decade! The most unique. comprehensive yoga system out there."
- Tiffany Coffman

“... something both universal and powerful that is accessible to everyone.”
- Yariv Lerner, Founder Udaya Entertainment

"... I am going to do all I can to promote it to others!"
- Brigitte Callister

"It's a program that can be followed for a lifetime. You folks absolutely nailed it!"
- Linda Pine

Manage hypertension through Transcendental Meditation

Among the many preventive actions that are often prescribed for hypertension, Transcendental Mediation (TM) has verified its worth in controlling hypertension, says Internal Medicine professional, Dr. Vinod Kumar Bhargava.

Several scientific studies started in the recent past have shown that meditation does have a positive influence in reducing blood pressure, he said.

While providing a talk on ‘Hypertension: New Guidelines for Management’, organised by Medically Aware and Responsible Citizens of Hyderabad (MARCH) on Sunday, Dr. Bhargava outlined that TM has additional benefits too. “It has also been proven that meditation assists avoid side-effects that could be caused to patients who are on regular anti-blood pressure medicines,” he said.

Any kind of meditative exercise is beneficial, the doctor explained. “Pranayama is another kind of respiration exercise that has a very positive impact in controlling blood pressure. I also noticed that patients who take up meditative exercise such as regular reading of religious scriptures have their hypertension under control,” Dr. Bhargava said. In his talk, the Dr. Bhargava pointed out that preferably consumption of salt among hypertensive patients in India should not surpass 5 grams per day. “It is difficult to maintain this level. But, I would advise the hypertensive to completely avoid consuming chutneys, pickles and papad. In turn, they can take more vegetables and fruits which includes potassium needed for blood pressure patients,” he said.

Potassium helps in getting rid of sodium (salt) from one's body. “More potassium means less sodium or salt but patients should only take naturally occurring potassium in vegetables and fruits. A dish of fruit per day is enough to replenish potassium levels,” he said. Ideally, young people above 18 years should check for their BP levels a minimum of once in three years and those above 30 years need to do the same once a year. “Those above 35 years should check their blood pressure levels at least once in six months. More than 60 per cent of hypertension patients do not have signs and symptoms and for this reason, persons above 35 years, should be vigilant,” he suggested.

World Peace by Meditation: The End of Poverty and Anger, Stress, Tension

One of the worlds greatest Meditators, says Governments can't eradicate poverty from the Earth. Neither can they bring peace. "To resolve problems through discussion is a very childish approach,"

A few hundred meditators on either side of a issue is all that's needed to create an aura of peace. "We make world consciousness and coherence. Therefore, fighting stop all over," "Don't fight darkness. Bring the light of Meditation, and the dark will disappear."

o Eliminate poverty? End war and create world peace? The unifying field that Albert Einstein desired has been within us all the time, in the "unbounded consciousness" of the mind. "There is one oneness, unified wholeness, total unified attention,"

o Tear down significant structures and cities -- the White House and the United Nations among them - Heal the energies and rebuild them according to energetic architectural plans that coordinate construction with nature.

o Send meditation teams to world hot spots as psychic shock troops whose combined positive energy will dispel negative thoughts, reduce crime, ease conflict and enhance world peace.

o Buy billions of acres in 100 developing countries for labor-intensive farming, offering employment and income for the world's poorest people by feeding the First-World market for organic food.

Meditation is a 20-minute twice daily schedule in which the meditator silently focuses on a sound, or mantra, to induce pleasure and "Dive Into A State Of Pure Consciousness And Tap Into The Deepest Resources Of The Brain And Intelligence."

With Meditation "Anger, Stress, Tension, Depression, Sorrow, Hate, Fear -- these things start to escape," said American movie director David Lynch of "Twin Peaks" renown, who has put to use Meditation for 32 years. And for a filmmaker, having this negative thoughts lift away is money in the bank. When you're suffering you can't generate.