Exercise Music

After the poor experience with disc 1, I may or may not attempt disc 2. So, this is a review of disc 1 only...

The interface for the DVD itself is really bad. You cannot skip from one work-out section to the next (using previous/next). There is a glitch whereby you cannot return to the DVD menu without stopping the work-out entirely. At one point it becomes an endless loop where you can't exit a menu for the dancers' diaries (at no point had I actually navigated to the diaries). The scene selections on the main DVD menu are non-descriptive and do not have a visual preview. Plus, you can only play the single scene you've selected -- you can't begin the work-out from that scene. So, the only way to navigate the work-out is by way of fast-forward.

On top of this, every few minutes the work-out is interrupted by lengthy outros/intros that destroy the flow of the exercises. (And because of the navigation problems, you can't avoid them.) The voice-over is muffled, often lags behind the moves on screen, and is slightly creepy. The dancers are gorgeous and the work-out appears to be effective, but the bungled technical execution makes the DVD nearly unusable.

This video was nice and simple for someone with dance background. It wasn't challenging for me but still nice workout for anyone looking for the basics to ballet.

I have some ballet experience from when i took classes as a kid, but i still find this DVD somewhat hard to follow. It's also kind of slow. I would rather take classes live, as this was just too boring to last through the entire thing.

Great for my break from school.
Keeps me training in dance moves and keeps me flexible.

I danced for 16 years when I was younger; 10 of those years were devoted to ballet. I've long been trying to find a way to get back into dancing, without taking classes that would push me to the professional arena. So far, this workout video is the closest I've come to feeling like I'm back in a studio class.

A few observations for true beginners:
1. The introduction on DVD #2 should have been placed at the beginning of DVD #1. It gives basic terminology descriptions, as well as instruction on stance and carriage. This information is really important for not being in pain throughout the whole workout.

2. Despite the fact that they give you a warm-up, you should do some minor stretching before you start. Or, skip to the plie section and repeat it a couple of times before going back to the very first section or moving forward. This will help loosen your muscles so you don't cramp up along the way.

3. Make sure you have plenty of space. You don't really need a barre, as most of the stuff on both DVDs is open floor exercise. But, I found myself having to shift mid-step a few times because they do have you moving around quite a bit and I was bumping into things.

This is a great workout program and the ONLY video program I've done where I haven't been in horrible pain the next day. The abs exercises, especially, are WONDERFUL. After only two days I can already feel a difference and I definitely plan to keep at it until I see that difference as well!

ok , so I absolutely love this dvd but the only problem is that its sometimes hard to follow because there facing you . It would be much easier if they were facing a mirror . I love the format and the transitions . It is probaly my favorite work out . But some times I get mixed up and wish they were facing a mirror so I would n't have to stop and figure out which direction Im supposed to be going .

I agree with the reviewer who indicated the clothing/costume can make it difficult to see how to do the moves. With a basic understanding of bellydancing, or by doing the tutorials, you can learn the moves that are in this video (although it would be easier with a different costume choice on the part of the instructor). The instruction isn't great, but you can get an idea. However, the main problem I had with this video is the lack of cuing. There are move changes and direction changes with little to no cuing. It's difficult to follow, so I mainly just use the tutorials for practicing the basic moves. There are much better videos out there, so if you're a true beginner, spend your money on something else.

Well, the DVD is in good conditions and is excellent for fitness. I like this video a lot.

This is great for working out..I took a bellydance class and this DVD is very much like the class.

I really don't have that much to add, everyone that has reviewed has pretty well covered it. I would like to say, this is a great routine to practice with, especially if you are a beginner bellydancer. It gives ideas of how to put all the basic movements you have learned together, so you can dance. Plus, it's fun and has a "no pressure" approach. You can gradually build the combinations at your own pace and go back and review the break-downs of the movements if you need to. I would recomend this DVD, as a "must add" to your bellydance practice, especailly for the new bellydance student.

I got this for the physical education part of my homeschool. And so far it seems like it's pretty good! I gave it four stars.. because well nothing is perfect! :)
My kids really have a lot of fun doing the exercises.. I think it'll help them build some coordination! :D

Prudence

My kids take the initiative to exercise to this video without being told. I have exercised to some of this video with the kids and its fun!

My class of grade 1/2s loved it. Perfect on rainy days when they can't get outside to burn energy.

My son is almost 10 and overweight. I bought the DVD to have something in the house to get him MOVING. And Billy Blanks is great! My son actually likes the DVD and some of the exercises are familiar to him from P.E. class. For an overweight boy it does the job starting out. As you go along you can always double step or increase repetitions if you need more intensity. It's worth the purchase! Especially if you're trying to incorporate an exercise routine and healthy habits.

I'm very pleased with this video. I wanted to find a form of exercise that would be fun to do together with my sons.

This is a very easy to follow guide for beginners like me. Blanca is soothing and made me feel comfortable doing unfamiliar movements.

Let me say at the outset that I love this DVD. Blanca's style of dance is a welcome relief from the more athletic styles that seem to be in vogue at the moment and much more representative of my personal dance preferences. I really, REALLY wish that she would make more instructional videos. Long ones. Perhaps a set... [Blanca, this is a HINT!]
The only problem? I absolutely LOVE the song "Ifrit" to which Blanca performs the Venus choreography variation with floorwork. The song is credited to Tim Rayborn's album The Flame and the Shadow. I would love to put that piece on my iPod and practice to it for hours but I can't because the song on the DVD is completely different from the one on the album. I know because I GOT the album expecting the song to be there. There IS a song titled "Ifrit" on the album but it isn't the one that is on the DVD. I've searched high and low and I can't find this song anywhere but on the DVD so if you fall in love with it as I have and you want to dance to it, you're going to have to have a DVD player handy and if you want to make it part of a dance "suite" you are going to be out of luck. Other than that disappointment, this DVD is pure delight and I hope that at some point, the version of "Ifrit" on the DVD will be made available for fanatics like me to download.

The dancer in this video is very thorough in all details of her techniques, and brought a whole new dimension to my dancing, adding in many of her moves to enhance ones I already knew. Moderate level of difficulty I would say.

If you are wanting to learn how to bellydance this is a great video! She takes you through all the steps it takes to learn how to dance, as well as does an actual dance with you at the end of the video. This is a great video!

"Sensual Bellydance" provides a fun, low impact workout that makes you feel beautiful. It may be used for both beginner and intermediate skill levels. Blanca is very focused on "Progressions". This effective technique will enhance the quality and grace of your dance. Her easy -to-follow dance directions as well as the asthetic quality of her art make this an enjoyable form of exercise. As a dancer, I use this video to practice my technique and instructional abilities. It is an excellent product.

When I was growing up, I was exposed to mostly classical music including Chopin. I remember my parents having RCA recordings of Arthur Rubinstein playing the Waltzes, Mazurkas and Polonaises.

Out of the all Chopin performers, the greatest was Arthur Rubinstein followed (very closely) by Vladmir Horowitz. This being said, the CD set has transcribed well and remastered in digital format beautifully. I have listened a couple of the Polonaises and they are so beautiful that it is giving me "happy tears"...

The cons to this set is that due to the demise of the classical music and the remaining recordings are very few. That being said, not all Chopin's works are included such as all 17 Polonaises and 55 Mazurkas (I know that the most popular recordings are there but for such a box set I wish they were included - provided that they were recorded).

A must have for whom loves romantic classical music; by one of the great masters on piano!

Artur Rubinstein is widely considered to be one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century and rightly so. Although he was well known for his recordings of Brahms, Schumann and Spanish music, he will always be associated with Chopin. Many Chopinists are able to excel in certain works such as Francois with the Ballades, Arrau with the Preludes or Friedman with the Mazurkas, but to me there is no pianist that can play all of Chopin's works as well as Rubinstein. Aside from the Etudes, this collection contains most of Chopin's major works and is a must buy for any lover of Rubinstein, Chopin or anyone interested in getting into Chopin.

This is without question the best collection of Chopin interpretations that I have. Of course, I favor the more romantic piano players so keep that in mind

It's somewhat dismaying to read reviews that begin with something like "Obviously, Rubinstein was a great famous pianist, and this is one of the greatest Chopin recordings EVER!" Clearly, there's no argument with the opening - Rubinstein was one of the titans of the keyboard during the 20th century, and many of his recordings still provide tremendous enjoyment. But for this listener, these justly famous recordings of Chopin - far from complete - are neither the finest examples of this pianist's legacy nor the finest recordings of the works themselves.

I highly recommend this set for the casual listener, who wants to have some Chopin in his or her collection. You can pick it up on amazon currently for about $21 (for 11 discs!!) For that price, this set will sate your appetite, and provide hours - if not a lifetime - of listening pleasure.

For the student of music, or piano, or simply the more discerning listener/collector, this set should be - and needs to be - heard in context. Rubinstein was in his "early" senior years when the recordings were made. Gone is the flamboyance, and risk taking of his youth. In its place was a golden, burnished piano tone, and careful - oh so careful - playing. Careful is good. Careful is meticulous. Careful is boring.

There are those who will jump all over me for suggesting this (particularly those who end the first sentence of their review with the word "EVER!") but there is a monotony associated with this set of recordings - a beautiful monotony to be sure, but a monotony none the less. The playing works for the beautiful Nocturnes and Waltzes, but is far less successful for, say, the Mazurkas which sound like cocktail hour at a senior center.

After two or three discs all the playing begins to sound the same. By five discs it sounds like an interminable concert of notes written by Chopin. Halfway through, you may fall asleep. Beauty without drama has a tendency to become deadly. For fans of Rubinstein - and I count myself as one of his bigger ones out there, I strongly suggest you explore the recently re-issued remasters from the Rubinstein Collection. While sound quality of the earliest recordings in the series varies - the 1930s recordings of the Mazurkas for example - most of the discs sound very, very good. It's the playing, the musicianship, that is in a different league. You can practically see the townsfolk dance to these Mazurkas as you listen to Rubinstein's gleeful, swinging playing from his youth.

These justly famous recordings from the 1960s - Rubinstein's only stereo recordings of Chopin - do not represent this great artist in his prime - this is the playing of an elder stateman. For pop fans, it would be like gaining your inital exposure to Paul McCartney through a listen of Chaos and Confusion In The Backyard and wondering what all the fuss of Beatlemania was about. It's pretty, yet bland - and hardly memorable. This is true of Chopin's final recordings of Chopin.

(Although Rubinstein was capable of stupendous playing in his later years, he seldom attained such heights in the controlled legacy atmosphere of the studio. Check out his famous Carnegie Hall concert Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 42or the rarer, and God-like playing of his 1960s Moscow concert Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 62: Recital in Moscow. Better yet, WATCH Rubinstein in Moscow on this recently issued DVD of the performance Classic Archive: Artur Rubinstein - The Legendary Moscow Recital

In conclusion - this is a fine introductory purchase, or second set for the bookshelf. For lovers of the piano however, I strongly urge readers to heed the advice of another reviewer for this listing C. Pontis Tholin (as I did) and explore Garrick Ohlsson's magnificent traversal of Chopin music - all of it. Ohllson's recordings dust off this music and take it out of the salon. His performances sparkle, and provide each and every work with a distinquishing sparkle and personality, bringing Chopin to life as never before. Complete Works Truly revelatory. If you're interested, make sure you check out the pricing at amazon.com/uk.

For Rubinstein lovers, let me also recommend Harvey Sachs' great biography of the master, which you can currently pick up on amazon for a little over a dollar. A great read, Sachs' biography will further your appreciation of this great artist and his music.

I cannot say enough good things about this CD. I've reached an inner peace far beyond anything I have ever experienced. On several occasions,
Including this morning, I awoke feeling very sick. I put the earphones on and began this meditiaion. 1o minutes after I completed it- I felt incredible. No trace of being sick and a calm sense of peace that cannot be explained.

The most critical reviewer of this CD claimed that it was bad and that any of the positive reviews were of friends of the author. I am not a friend of the author or even know who he is. My feeling is this person didn't complete the whole hour or was in a bad mood to begin with.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Meditation!

An effective way to unwind and go into silence. Often listening to a guided meditation is the fastest way to shut off an overactive mind. The meditations can be done singly or combined into one long practice which is the ultimate goal of yoga nidra. I was pleasantly surprised and have enjoyed using this CD,

I didn't much care for the fact that there is no soft music in the background.

On the recommendation of a friend I ordered and began immediately using this CD. There are a number of reasons why I have recommended this CD to all my friends. The primary reason is that though I am still a fairly new practitioner of this particular kriya I'm already seeing numerous positive effects including a pervasive calmness post-listening which continues on into the next day (I listen to the CD every evening all the way through and then go to sleep). In addition, while I used to have occasional unpleasant vivid dreams...so far, those have stopped completely. The voice that guides you through to the yoga nidra state is one I find soothing and pleasant to listen to. The practice of bringing attention to various points of the body also appears to be assisting me in my daily meditative practice as well as helping me during the day keep bringing attention back to any changes of mood or mental states.

I highly recommend others try this CD for themselves and see how the practice and entering into Yoga Nidra assists the practitioner.

Bought it last week. I must say I am very impressed with this DVD. I am one who has great difficulty in taking time for myself and relaxing. I have a lot of stress which has caused much heartache. My counselor has suggested I try meditation so I got this DVD. That night I used it and was very impressed with the instuctors smooth clear voice. It is a very guided meditation that concentrates on body and breathing. When ever my mind started to wander, it helped a great deal in helping me to concentrate on me and breath. I was able be concious but be in a deep relaxed state. It helped me to release thoughts and stressers in a concious manner yet I was able to remain in deep relaxed state. I felt it also brought clairty to things that were causing the stress.

This DVD is a great alternative to passive TV watching. It exposes kids to a creative and active way of using their bodies. It develops self-awareness and body-awareness. The creator states that instead of telling kids to do something (like "calm down" "chill out" or "get some exercise"), it shows them how to do it, and the DVD suceeds.

This DVD is a nice concept, but isn't easy to follow. The routine is all over the place. Sit, stand, lay, stand then sit again...Not user friendly especially for children.

I got these for my daughter when she was two, and she was eager to watch them and do the poses a couple of times per week for months. She's still eager to watch these intermittently, and at five years old still loves them. There aren't really smooth transitions between poses, but I don't think small children necessarily need smooth transitions as long as the dialogue captures their interest- which it does. I even enjoyed the interview with Marsha Wenig about how children do many of these poses through play and pretending. It's perfect also for days when children have lots of energy but outside isn't an option.

My son is 4 and loves these videos - although his favorite of the 2 is the alphabet dvd. He loves watching other kids doing the poses too.

I bought some yoga Dvds for my sister to try with her kids. I would say that its a little more advanced for the younger ones but they still loved seeing the kids play and have a good time on the tv. Falling over doing poses so cute! FUN

This video is great, I've watched it over a thousand times and pick up something new each time. I was not a swimmer and now I can swim. However, I should have purchased another one for beginners because this does not discuss exhaling in water. As another reviewer stated, the book is needed with the video....they go hand in hand.

the cd is great in combination with the book it is a great tool , i am actually questioning a lot of my coach traing styles, the examples and clips made it very understandable for me , I hope I will improuve my swimming, ( I am allready doing)...
marc

I read the book first and felt like I needed to see the drills demonstrated in action. The video makes a good complement to the book. I feel that you need both to benefit from the system. I think that my swimming has become more effortless as a result of the system, and hope that my speed will pick up with practice. I am recommending the Total Immersion system to my friends that are also beginning triathletes.

I bought the book and the DVD. It actualy works. I am doing the drills for about a month now (4 times per week - 40 minutes each time) and I can see the difference. I'm still struggling with combining strokes and kicks and with breathing while swimming but it seems that the more I practice the better it gets.

If you are a novice swimmer, this is really helpful. I was fighting the water while swimming, windmilling my arms, and kicking like crazy. I could barely finish a 300 meter swim, even with rests. After a few weeks, I am swimming over 700 meters and improving my time and endurance each day I practice.

I am taking a beginning ballet class and I thought this dvd would help me practice during the week, I was wrong. Most of the exercises are only shown on one side(so you have to pause to practice the other leg) and they go very fast. I would not suggest buying this if you are a beginner and need real instruction, or are just trying to practice.

very basic in that every move is shown from proper head positions to complex moves. quick dvd also. i was looking for a ballet workout i could do at home.

This DVD, while it is a dated (nearly 30 years old) DVD, provides all the basic movements for Ballet. It is too fast to keep stopping, so it is advised that the user watch it several times and repeat key moves if necessary. It is a great reference DVD for ballet moves. The instructor explains every move, how to do it, and a ballerina demonstrates each move, but she does not in most exercises repeat for the other side. At least the user sees a visual example of each move. This DVD is best used with other Ballet Class DVDs or as a supplement to a live Ballet class the user may be taking.

Good basic ballet dvd. I enjoy this as a workout. and so does my young daughter.

The Product was bought for my daughter who is a beginner ballet dancer. She enjoyed the lessons but the tape only held her interest enough to watch and not participate. She rather just work with hands on and use this maybe as something she can refer to later so she does not forget these basics while in other dance classe. (Hip hop, tap, and jazz) So much to remember.

This was great! I have one other bellydance video and I haven't picked it up since I purchased this one. The moves are definitely not for beginners but i agree with a previous comment. You just pick what you like and master it. You will be unable to do all of her moves so don't try. But she really makes it fun and different. I am an old modern ballet dancer and I enjoy her style where she uses some modern ballet moves. Worth the buy if nothing but to see what great dancer she is!!!

I am so happy I ordered her second one. I'm looking for more that Jenna has done. She is a great teacher. This one is faster than the "beginner" DVD but it's great. I would highly recommend them both. I'll be buying more.

I was able to work really well with Jenna and follow her choreography. I liked the step by step breakdown and practice.

While I don't believe this is necessary for every belly dancers collection, it offers new perspective on how to layer moves. Some of the moves look alluring, while others are on the awkward side. This DVD can be very frustrating and hard in the beginning if you don't have the patience. Jenna has plenty to offer someone looking for more complex moves. I recommend taking what you want out of it, leave the rest.

Good learning tool. I like the different sections with very good explanations. You can take the different techniques and use them to polish your own dance.

very good