By Christina | Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Comment on this Review 

For a long time, I did not do this flow because of the review ellie left about how much is downplays depression. Her point is ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON. The messaging of this flow is tone-deaf for folks who struggle with deep, true depression. There is sadness and doubt (which is what this flow, I think, truly addresses) and then there s soul-crushing, can t-get-out-of-bed, imbalance in brain chemicals, I-have-no-outside-reason-to-feel-this-sad depression.

I had/have the latter. I could not move outside of the bare minimum of activity before being treated for it (meds and therapy). In fact, I could not bring myself to start a yoga practice prior to therapy, and my medication (which came later) has helped me deepen my practice.

IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED, please talk to a doctor or therapist. They can help you find your way out of the absolute, crushing darkness. You deserve to see light again and you CAN see the light again. Do not give up hope, find the people who can help you. Ask for help.

But if you are experiencing doubt, low self-esteem, or sadness, this is a wonderful flow. In fact, I would retitle it "Yoga for Doubt: Flow into Confidence" and take out the message that depression is as easy to cure as not wanting to be depressed. Self-doubt can be helped with some postural changes. Taking up space, puffing out your chest... that feels good and makes us feel powerful.

This flow opens the heart, builds confidence, and encourages you to flow in a way that feels good. The only part of the flow that felt awkward was the sliding forward from puppy pose to cobra. The rest of it felt good, opened my heart, and stretched my hips (where emotion and stress are stored).

Also, this class is misclassified as a "You ll Feel It." It is, at most extreme, an "Everyday Namaste." I sweat a lot and quickly, but this flow did not make me sweat a drop (and it s 80 degrees in my attic as I practiced). It felt nice on my body, but it did not increase my heart rate or make me feel overly warm.

By kschlenz | Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Comment on this Review 

Although clearly well intended there is a worrisome implicit message that overcoming depression should be easy. Please do not add to the culture of blame and shame for those navigating mental health issues.

By Ramya | Friday, July 24, 2020
Comment on this Review 

What about lion in the wizard of oz

By Sam | Sunday, May 5, 2019
Comment on this Review 

I really enjoyed this class. It was not as challenging as I would have liked, but it certainly improved my state of mind, and I felt much better after doing it. I like the teacher s teaching style.

By Kerry | Saturday, April 7, 2018
Comment on this Review 

I loved this class. It lifted my depression. I really struggle with depression too, not just occasional sadness, so I intend to start doing this class daily. I disagree with some of the previous comments; I found the flow to feel natural. It did include some unfamiliar transitions, but I enjoyed it. xoxo Thank you!!

By ellie | Saturday, January 6, 2018
Comment on this Review 

I like the movement in this class--as others have noted, I had to adjust my breathing to have it make sense with the flow.

I found her comments around depression to be rather tone deaf. While it is true that yoga, exercise, and movement are important tools in supporting, coping with, and for some even treating depression, comments indicating that ridding oneself of depression as as "easy" as deciding not to be depressed are--well, they are a lot of things, but mostly come across as insensitive and uneducated.

By Gelateria100 | Sunday, December 17, 2017
Comment on this Review 

I agree with nessiecakes review. This is the first time doing the class, and I feel I have been more roughed up than relaxed. Some of the verbal concepts she shares are very nice, but I found myself having to be careful about my knees neck and shoulders and these poses. I am in my 40s and have been doing yoga for about a year. There are other hatha yoga classes that seem to open my heart more but be less strenuous on the rest of my body.

By nessiecakes | Sunday, November 12, 2017
Comment on this Review 

I found this class to be more frustrating than liberating. While in theory it is a nice flow, it was hard to follow with breathing as it was out of sync, or I was left holding my breath waiting for her to give us the move for the exhale.

By lainie | Friday, November 3, 2017
Comment on this Review 

Nice practice for moving from heaviness to lightness. Loved the beginning pranayama breathing.

By Rupal | Thursday, September 14, 2017
Comment on this Review 

Nice, unique practice. I threw in some pigeon poses in the end and did add some chaturangas at times. In this way, I did find the practice to be "You ll feel it" simply because of the sustained nature of the poses, especially the deep lunges into the knees.

By Lori | Friday, September 1, 2017
Comment on this Review 

I was feeling very fuzzy and heavy in my head. This class definitely made me feel lighter, brighter and made me smile. I would call it an "ahhh" class, not a "you ll feel it." Love Maria s voice and being.

By suzumaki | Monday, August 28, 2017
Comment on this Review 

Such a wonderful practice. Of course I felt a little funny doing some of the breath work but that s because my self esteem is so low and I m very self conscious. I hope with practice, I won t be so timid. I truly do feel brighter than when I began.