Fun dance fusion DVD
C. Daly | 07/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I really liked her Yoga Dance: Fire, so I decided to give this one a try. It's slightly different from fire, in that there is more of an emphasis on flowing, graceful movements. Much like fire, the DVD includes three 20 minute workouts. The 20 minutes includes warm up and cool down, so your heart rate will not be up for a sustained period. Unfortunately, the three water workouts are too similar to each other to be done together without getting bored (for me). One 20-minute segment makes a nice quickie workout for the time pressed, or can be combined with other workouts for something more thorough.
I enjoy the instructor, even though she is a bit new-age. However, I like that her motivating comments are about loving your body and being healthy instead of constantly focusing on how you're going to be so thin when you finish doing this workout (which is of course, NEVER true, anyway).
This is a fusion dance workout, not yoga. There is a bit of yoga-like stretching in the cool down, though. The rest of the workout is a mixture between different kinds of dance: Tai-chi, ballet, Polynesian, Latin, and Eastern dance moves are mixed together. The music is similarly eclectic (and beautiful). Even though I am not very coordinated, I felt it easy to catch the gist of Serina's movements. She doesn't put pressure on you to move a specific way, isolating specific body parts, unlike most dance DVDs. Instead, you're encouraged to be free with your movements and do what you can."
The Dance Workout I've Been Looking For
Shannon | Northeast, USA | 09/24/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow, I just did this workout DVD for the first time (all three workouts on the DVD) and I love it. Since I never had dance instruction as a child, but realized in adulthood how much dance would be just up my alley, I've looked for ways to learn to dance with fun and grace.
For me as a beginner, ballet has its value more as a workout, but not as free-flowing joyful movement (at least when starting out and learning the movements from scratch); belly dance is fun, but tires me mentally after a while, as though I'm longing for something a little more innocent and carefree.
However, this, which had components of ballet and belly dance in addition to many other kinds of dance, is pure fun! When I finished I found myself improvising my own dances around the house wherever I went. I felt more flexible and free. This style of dance captures what I have been looking for. A beginner can do it and by the end of the workout, immediately feel more graceful than she was when she started the DVD. I would love there to be more dance videos like this one.
For anyone who's a believer in Christ of the New Testament, as I am, well, when Condello gives thanks on the DVD to the "element of water," you can just direct that thanks to God who created the wonderful free-flowing movements of water, instead. At least, that's how I look at it. I truly love the visual imagery Condello evokes throughout the workout and the beautiful wave movements she uses.
My four year old also loved this video. She was running back and forth and joyfully dancing. "This is so fun, Mommy!," she said. She liked this much better than the Denise Austin "Fit Kids" and "Tae Bo Kicks" videos for children that I've tried."
Empowering!
DJ | USA | 08/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love Yoga Dance Water! Serena is very encouraging, not at all intimidating as she leads you through easy flowing dance steps to help develop flexibility in, and awareness of, your body. The music is very soothing, as are her comments about loving your body, loving yourself. The three 20-minute workouts are very similar in nature, so it's not often that I do all three at once -- but I sometimes do one from Yoga Dance Earth before doing Yoga Dance Water!"