Element: Yoga for Beginners

Element: Yoga for Beginners is a comprehensive yoga training film, inviting every viewer into the soul-nourishing practice of yoga, whether they're beginners or experienced yoga enthusiasts. The main instructor, Elena Brower, with her master's touch, makes this film an essential starting place for any potential practitioner while serving as an opportunity for experienced yogis to refresh their skills and revisit the basics.

Produced by the reputed Element series, reputable for its high-quality instructional videos, this presentation is not just a movie but a progressively structured yoga course that paves the way to this ancient practice for individuals at all levels. Films under the Element series are inspired by the natural elements: earth, water, air, and fire, creating a unique synergy between the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga.

This DVD offers step-by-step instructions on the fundamental asanas (poses), teaching proper alignment, and breath control techniques that form the base of a sound practice. Elena Brower, who serves as both the narrator and the demonstrator, provides simple and clear instructions suitable even for those who have never been introduced to yoga before. She calmly and effectively takes viewers through the fundamentals of yoga in a logical and pragmatic manner, making it easy to comprehend and follow.

The film's set is an intimate, open-air structure, with a pure wooden floor and surrounded by calm water bodies and lush greenery for a peaceful environment that inspires tranquillity and relaxation. Filmed on picturesque locations, the calming visuals resonate with serene background music. No flashy costumes or anatomy-exposing tight gear disrupt the simplicity and novelty of this natural surrounding. Elena engages in her demonstration donned in simple, comfortable clothing, stressing that yoga is a practice of the internal self and doesn't affiliate with external aesthetics or show. The soothing background score and natural, ethereal settings make it a visually and audibly relaxing experience.

Elena's instruction echoes her decades of experience as a yoga guru and her deep understanding of the human body, mind, and spirit. She offers variations for different poses, allowing viewers to start at their own pace and gradually increase their flexibility and strength. Her serene narration encourages mindfulness and attentiveness, directing beginners not just to the poses but also the desk and mat practices that incorporate yoga into daily life.

Throughout the DVD, Elena drops pearls of yoga literature, bringing in excerpts from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and other ancient texts while also providing her own insights into the spiritual contemplative practice of yoga. These provide a deeper understanding and connection with the practice beyond the physical postures, attuning the practitioners to the philosophical aspects.

The film runs around one hour, neatly divided into sections, focusing on different aspects of yoga, such as breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation, and the core asanas. Every section is logically sequenced, with standing postures followed by seated ones, backbends, twists, and finally culminating in cooling poses and relaxation. Since the sections are standalone, viewers can choose to practice the whole sequence or focus on specific sections according to their timeframe or preference.

‘Element: Yoga for Beginners’ doesn't promise to make its learners a yogi in a day or a month. It invites them to a world where fitness isn't just about burning calories or sculpting muscles - it's about discovering inner peace, enhancing physical flexibility, and achieving mental strength. Elena's welcoming, nurturing guidance through the physical asanas and spiritual ideologies of yoga creates an awakening, harmonising the body, mind, and spirit.

Summing up, the film ‘Element: Yoga for Beginners’ featuring Elena Brower is not an average fitness DVD but is a warm introduction to a holistic lifestyle. Whether a total newbie or a seasoned yoga practitioner getting back to the roots, this instructional film offers guidance and tools to start or revise the basic fundamentals of yoga. The combination of Elena's gentle, insightful guidance and the unhurried, serene environment makes the learning experience enriching and enjoyable, welcoming the audience into the world of yoga at their own pace and comfort.