Educational Media Reviews Online

Early in this film, H. H. Swami Chidanand Saraswati explains that the word “yoga” means to unite, or union. While we are here in this physical earth, we are united with our anger, our passions, our desires and through practicing yoga we can be more united with the divine within us. Filmmaker Jon Braeley uses this basic tenet of yoga as the foundation for The Yoga Gurus. Uniting the words of different yoga gurus and yoga students with images of people practicing the yogasanas and Indian singing and chanting, an introduction to yoga emerges by the end of this beautifully filmed piece.

To the untrained Westerner, yoga can be a confusing mix of different “exercise” styles—hatha, kundalini, bikram, vinyasa, iyengar—just to name a few; not to mention knowing the connection between the physical postures and the spiritual aspects. What comes across clearly in this film, and what is so welcome, is that yoga isn’t strictly just a physical exercise nor is it a religion. It is a process that helps one understand the body, the mind, and the spirit so they may become a better person at whatever they do or whatever they believe or whatever they worship. A variety of yoga masters and teachers from different backgrounds, countries, and experiences explain the basic differences in styles as well as the connections of the physical practice with meditation, chanting, and enlightenment. It is valuable to hear the different teachers explain their personal journeys and what they emphasize in their classes. This is illustrated particularly well by including Guru Hikaru Hashimoto from Japan and his form of Shinto Yoga. Equally as valuable are the student perspectives of why yoga has become the mainstay of their lives.

The Yoga Gurus is a gorgeous film—the colorful scenes along the Ganges River, Indian crowd scenes, and the yogasana demonstrations by the students of Parmarth Niketan are all outstanding. The music throughout the film is superb.The Yoga Gurus resonates with a feeling of being in the birthplace of yoga. All the gurus in the film are exceptional and the lights from H. H. Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa shine brilliantly. The DVD includes a Bonus Feature of more footage from the Parmarth Niketan students demonstrating asanas with spoken names.

The Yoga Gurus will find a home in library collections and audiences in the senior high through adult level. It is a bit long at 75 minutes for academic classroom use. Strictly as an overview or introduction to the essence of yoga, it is highly recommended for health sciences collections as well as public library collections.