Search - YOGA DANCE: FIRE on DVD

Enjoyable light cardio

C. Daly | 06/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I usually have trouble with dance steps (I am pretty uncoordinated), but I got most of Yoga Dance: Fire on the first try. I thought it was really fun to do. The instructor is a bit goofy and new age and some of the moves feel goofy also. There is one when you are moving in circles with airplane arms that made me feel a bit self-conscious. What I really like is the instructor encourages you to just get into the music and add your own personal interpretation, which I did, and it seemed to come naturally. Overall the dance made me feel graceful and sexy, unlike most dance videos when I am tripping all over myself trying to get the steps right. There is very little actual "yoga" except for the cool down. The dance is more of a fusion of different types of dance. I absolutely loved the music--some had a Latin flair, other parts sounded more Eastern. It's easy to dance when you have great music.

I only gave the workout four stars because I feel it should have longer, more varied cardio sections. Let me explain: there are three separate sections, each one supposedly more difficult. Each section is 20 minutes, including a warm up and a cool down. So there is very little actual cardio in each section. It got my heart rate up, but I'm a beginning exerciser. An advanced exerciser probably wouldn't be affected. Now you could combine the sections for an hour workout, but they are almost identical to one another. I really don't see much of a difference, and it would seem boring to me to do virtually the same workout three times in a row. So I just do one section at a time for a nice light cardio routine for time-pressed days. Or I combine it with some other kind of exercise--toning, walking, etc."

Well done overall

Cydni Perkins | cedar city, utah United States | 03/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this dvd consists of three seperate workouts entitled "work up", "work in", and "work out", getting progressively harder with each one. Sarina is a nice instructor and she breaks down the movements very well. choreography is fun, consisting of mainly flamenco/gypsy/brazilian dance moves during the cardio part, followed by yoga for the cool-down. The focus in this workout is playfulness and fun, so Sarina stresses that everyone must perform the dance with their own unique flair - that's something I like. No pressure to be perfect, but encouragement to be self-expressive instead. Overall, a good video, especially if you're pressed for time.

A word of warning: unless you are an absolute beginner, meaning someone who has sat around for years without exercising, "work up" will not challenge you at all. On the other hand, if you are a beginner, this will be excellent for you. It's very easy and short - I did it on a "light day" and played it twice just to feel like I had done something. And I'm not buff, folks. I've been working out for all of 2 months.

The only reason I don't give this 5 stars is because the workouts are so brief. But then, I'm not getting rid of it either, I'm saving it for days when I don't have much time.

But one thing I really like about it is that all of the short workouts are on one dvd, instead of making lots of dvds with one short routine on each one. That's something that bothers me about fitness dvds. I feel like it's just an excuse to charge more money, and I'm glad this one is more sensible."

I've been searching for something like this for years!

Charlie Chaplin | NE USA | 10/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've done yoga for almost 30 years. I've done tai chi for almost 10. Aerobic dance for just about 20 years, and belly dance for probably 5 years. I have exercise tapes of all kinds, even country line dancing. To keep a variety going, I cycle through them, but have always yearned for one tape that combines my main loves -- yoga, tai chi, aerobics, belly dancing, and exotic dance. This is it! I've finally found it! And, when they talk about global dances, they mean it. On this tape, you learn and practice African, Latino, Brazilian, Indian, Spanish, and even a bit of Irish dance techniques. Sarina blends them beautifully with the yoga, tai chi, aerobics and belly dance while really inspiring you by sharing her childlike joy in the music & body movement. Nicely chosen music that neither drowns out her instructions nor is so quiet in the background that you can barely hear it. It is just right, as is her voice and sweet way of instructing you. There are warm-ups, workouts, and cool downs (3 of each) on the DVD. Really, this is something for those at most levels of fitness and dance ability. Start slow, make your movements not so big....then as you get used to the movements and get practiced, get as enthusiastic as she is. I'm addicted to this one and the Earth one. I have yet to try the Water one, but it is my next purchase. :)

I do agree that it is bothersome that each of the three segments contains a short warm-up, some work-out, and a brief cool down. I usually hit the "Play All" and just go through the whole DVD. I wish there was a way to slap all the work-outs together right in the middle, but I'm waiting for technology to get there so you can custom-create your own set-up."

Modern dance workout

Lena, LMT | Nassau, NY | 01/06/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with the prevoius reviewers for the most part.
It's just her alone in a leotard with a hipscarf & barefoot on a stage with hardwood floors with a sweet voice. The music is great, different styles such as eastern, western, Celtic, etc. all with strong beats & some lyrics.
The workout themselves are not complicated, they are very watered down, very basic version of popular dances, etc., that I barely recognized them. Some of the dances seemed a little silly like just doing an airplane like a little kid does, but she encourages you to dance how you want to, just feel the beat & go free.
I didn't get much of a workout at all, even at the 3rd style workout (I didn't do all 3 at once.) The third one was only a little different from the first one so I was disapointed by that, but not really suprised. I like the idea of combining dances & more of a freedom, but I, unfortunately, really didn't get into it."