I remembered the Yellow Pages advert with James Nesbitt poo pooing yoga and this DVD reminded me of how he ate his words at the end. To answer the question, well very actually! This DVD is specifically orientated towards women and post-natal modifications are offered as alternatives to the final poses. Actually this reminds me of Ana Brett/Ravi Singhs "Navel Power" in that a lot of the kriyas are the same. However, for those who've not seen this, or are new to KY, then this is a brief synopsis.

The class is taken by Carolyn Cowan with 3 female students. They do the opening chant familiar to this practice, then physical kriyas that focus on stomach and back muscle strength, endurance and flexibility, a relaxation and a choice of 3 meditations which can be done individually or altogether. And the meditations are challenging too, especially Sitali Pranyam, which involves curling the tongue and sitting with your arms at right angles for 12 minutes - your tongue gets so dry and your arms ache like mad! But over time, the peace from anger issues such as road rage, difficult people and situations, etc.. is really good from this exercise. Carolyn also has little sections about how to practice, what to wear, and various guidelines. I like the fact that this practice is encouraged to do alongside being in the company of children, that's just awesome. Carolyn also has a little section on taking cold showers. Will take a rain check on that one.

This is presented very traditionally and is not particularly Westernised, so this may be hard to adapt to if you are used to a more "workout" style DVD. But please do not critique like James Nesbitt too flippantly, because it is a tough one that takes practice. And remember, Carolyn was taught by Yogi Bhajan, the founder of this type of yoga, so even though she hasn't got a body like a piece of string and comes over a little bossy, remember, she learned from the best!

I'd been meaning to read this for some time. However, having read quite a few memoirs from the bottom's perspective that simply had me yawning and/or doing a colossal eye roll, it had been put on hold! Well, to be proved wrong! This was a very honest and open autobiography of Niki Flynn, who has had dark fantasies from being a child and her gradual involvement in adult filmaking, meeting her ideal match in boyfriend Cameron, and being (as so often isn't the case with authors from this genre) a genuine team player within the scene. What was really good about this book is that she was comfortable in her own skin and didn't appear to want to come over to shock. Her dedication to suffer for her art was very impressive too, as she underwent a severe beating and had her hair sheared off for a film in Prague. Many models are too vain and self-absorbed to go to this level. It was a read I was unable to put down and certainly good if you've ever felt guilty or questioned disturbing fantasies (e.g. rape, humiliation, kidnapping) as Niki validates them well with her narration. Her relationship with her mother was also interesting.

Absolutely love these pants. So comfortable and quite warm now the weather is getting cold. Have a pair in white and a pair in pink. The pink is darker than the picture suggests however, more a raspberry colour but still lovely and due to having big thighs I don't resemble Vicky Pollard in them! Great for yoga/dance and for relaxing too. A bit expensive, granted, but the quality is well worth that bit extra, as I've bought cheaper yoga pants on here and they've bobbled, shrunk or worn quicker. Tribal Earth were excellent with their packaging and delivery also.

At last. A skirt that fits. I have terrible trouble with skirts due to having large hips and thighs, a tiny waist and being tall, with the height chiefly being in the leg. I've always been attracted to gothic clothing because I am naturally that kind of shape. But nothing has fit like this skirt has. It is quite tight in the lower thigh to knee section, so be aware of this. Yes, you will need heels if you are petite as it is quite long (however this is great for people who are over 5ft 10ins). The lace design down the back and the little ruffles at the bottom give it a lovely late Victorian feel. It really highlights an hourglass shape and looks good with a brocade jacket, frilly shirt or matching black top for a real Morticia Addams feel. Quite good value for the money too and the delivery was prompt.

This dress is simple in design but stylish in true 40s practicality with a delicious understated land girl feel to it. Yes, I love all things retro and this hits the spot. It's extremely comfortable, washes well and the sizing is accurate. It's a nice length (mid calf) and its loose skirt means you can wear stockings, bullet bras and girdles underneath without any fear of VPL and to really experience the era. The red is a little darker than the picture indicates (more brick red than pillar box) but is lovely, and it's available in black with white polka dots also. Have matching lipstick and victory rolls at the ready! Shame GIs aren't available on here as well... x

Maya Fiennes first 3 box set of kriyas and mantras are a true delight. The first, Ek Ong Kar, is a morning chant that brings about happiness and is best done between 4am and 7am as part of the morning chant (sadhana) but thankfully, can be done later too! This involves relaxing on the left side and holding the big toe to detoxify the liver alongside various other kriyas which build strength, stamina and flexibility.

The second DVD, Har, focuses on abundance and wishing yourself fulfilled. There is a quite challenging kriya in that you squat in crow pose with arms extended, which you certainly feel in your thighs, but the discomfort is dispelled by listening to a Kundalini variant of a Beatles classic! Kundalini Lotus also features, and again can be hard work to do initially in terms of balance, but you do get there if you persevere. The mantra focuses on having an intention and visualising its achievement whilst doing a circular hand movement and focusing on the tip of the nose through half closed eyes to strengthen the optic nerve. Honestly, this gets easier with practice!

The final DVD, Ram Das, is my favourite of the three. It focuses on healing (maybe because I am a nurse is why I like it so?). This one works on alleviating disease and has lots of breathing exercises via right and left nostrils (moon and sun energies respectively). This helps to boost immune system, prevent a cold coming on, keep body weight stable and boost energy levels. The more physical aspects of this practice include an excellent 3 minute hold of down dog to alleviate depression, plus the strangely comical "elephant walk", which had me banging my head into the door Buster Keaton style, so watch where you're treading!!! This walk prepares you for meditation and mantra, Ram Das, which I particularly enjoy because you can put your hands in prayer pose for balance or work with a mudra by touching the thumb (planet Earth) to the forefinger (planet Jupiter for knowledge), the middle finger (planet Saturn, for patience), the ring finger (the Sun, for energy) or the little finger (planet Mercury, for communication). Working with a few people who tend not to listen and be challenging, alongside keeping my own sanity, Mercury and Saturn play a special part in my mantra session, but you can work with what is pertinent in your life and build on it.

All 3 mantras take some getting used to as they are repeated for about 15-20 minutes. This is indeed a long time and concentration tends to wander at first, but over time you become more focused and feel the benefits of this repetition. You can also stop before they end if you find the full session difficult at first and build up the time.

Once again, Maya encourages patience and rests until ready to move on. I love this type of non-competitive work and certainly feel the benefits. I hope you all do too. xx

Looking through this book, the word "refreshing" certainly springs to mind. Style blogger Ari Seth Cohen seeks inspiration in glamourous grandmothers and has scoured the streets of New York to photograph these doyennes of elegance with centuries of style between them. It is certainly a representation of challenging the often heard "I can't wear that because of my age". Models feature Ruth, who is 100 and enjoys pilates and weightlifting, writer and artist Beatrix, who resembles Vivienne Westwood with her dyed purple hair, accessories queen Mary, who believes in sunglasses over facelifts and Joyce, an 80 year old who wears fabulous gloves wherever she goes. This is truly delightful and empowering to women of all ages, in that it challenges the stereotypical views on age and ageing. I work with people who are over 65 and am constantly trying to lobby the establishment for its dated representations on what older adults want. With this book in my arsenal, they'll be no stopping me...

This book is well written and indicates that for all Russell's bravado and liking to shock, there is an intelligent, well-read and insightful individual underneath. Starting and ending with rehab at a US clinic for Sex Addiction, Russell takes us through his disjointed and chaotic life with his great wit interspersed. I was left asking two questions - 1. How come you are still alive Russell? and 2. How did you keep getting the lucky breaks when all was (statistically) against you? We look at his over-indulgent and sickly mother, his part-time off-beat relationship with his father, his intense hatred of his mother's boyfriend, his mentors at drama school, his brushes with the law (quite a few!) and his addictive personality that frequently presses the self-destruct button. Yes, you could think what a vain, narcissistic, selfish and immature prick when the gut reaction is engaged. However, what seems to warm the reader is the fact that he has a tremendous self-awareness of these not so good qualities. Coupled with a certain style of charm that some people just have at their disposal (Chomsky would probably called it innate!), you just cannot help forgiving him his waywardness. Altogether an interesting if sometimes shocking read (but then, this is Russell Brand after all). Super wupa!

This is a collection of 5 short stories that are formulated into a casebook of Dr Martin Hesselius, a psychologist. The previous reviewers have done sterling synposes for each of these. The use of language in all 5 is haunting and beautiful. Indeed, it would be interesting, if it were possible, to travel back in time and read these through late Victorian eyes. Sadly, the downside of technology is that we are spoiled by special effects and all things visual. Le Fanu sets the scene subtly, whether it be a clergyman retaliating to an apparition of a monkey (Green Tea), persecuted Captain Barton from a late crew member (The Familiar) or a hanging judge getting his come uppance (Mr Justice Harbottle - alleged to be based loosely on Judge Jeffreys) to the naive Richard Beckett almost paying a hefty price via the femme fatale of a Countess (The Room in the Dragon Volant) and the classic and supposedly forerunner of Dracula (Carmilla)exploring the lure and danger of the vampire. All 5 have something to offer anyone who enjoys Gothic literature.

It was a refreshing read and change from more modern texts. In today's culture of blogging and tweeting (GR8 though these are!), it is a pleasure to indulge in the highly animated text of 2 centuries ago.

This is a good quick practice that focuses on abdominal area and is great for building stamina and strength. Yes, the music and setting is a little New Age-y, but this tends to be what floats Shiva's boat and is a key feature in her practice. Also, with most DVDs for yoga, you tend to watch it once to get the gist, then look up a couple of times for reassurance when you start doing the postures. After this, your focus is predominantly on what you are doing, so it doesn't matter if there's a man drumming or even an elephant cruising past!

The DVD is clear, the instruction is informative and the strength you build is phenomenal. I did this a while back when I saw it on Body in Balance channel, and it was tough. However, with regular practice this remains challenging and yet exhilarating at the same time. Modifications are given until you reach this stage, and please take them, it will be worth it.

Shiva is a wonderful yogini and all her DVDs have something special to offer. This is 37 minutes of good flow postures, including plank, crunches and abstract free-form flow. My only criticism is that there is no shivasana at the end, which was a surprise, but then you can do this yourself afterwards.