Body Balance has been so good for so long my reviews make me sound like a stuck record.
The last release I wasn’t keen on was way back at number 39. That’s an epic run of cracking classes from 40 to 63.
But I have to admit I wasn’t immediately wowed by release 64! And that’s despite a master-class delivered to perfection by the UK Trainer Team in front of 2000 people at GFX2014 in Glasgow.
Perhaps the music, although good, doesn’t quite work with the moves for me.
Perhaps there are too many changes of direction (on your front, on your back, face right, face left etc.) and it feels bitty.
But the poses are starting to sink in and grow on me so it’ll be interesting to see what my classes think.
Here are my first impressions.
- Extreme Ways by Moby, the music for the Tai Chi Warm Up makes its third appearance in Body Balance. Why when Les Mills have access to a world of music do they bring songs back many times like this. And I have to pay for it again. Good job it’s such an uplifting and motivational track (and of course that’s why they brought it back again).
- For the Standing Strength we have a cover version of Wonderwall.
- Core abs is challenging again with an onslaught of hovers, side planks and the return of the “Firefly”. This will make you sweat as well as tone your core.
- A full back bend with a leg raise appears in the core back track. See the photo above. An advanced move this will be beyond most participants. Whilst Les Mills are always clear to offer options (the lower Bridge Pose in this case) I’m beginning to question including these advanced moves. Even for people who can do them there’s very little time to set them up safely. Do they become “show off” moves and end up intimidating the majority? I’d love to hear your views on this.
- I knew “Let Her Go” would turn up in Body Balance eventually. A great track with a lovely revisiting of the Tai Chi moves and some deep leg stretches.
Now it’s your turn: Have you tried Les Mills Body Balance release 64 yet? What do you think of the music? Do you think that there are too many transitions? Please post a comment and let me know whether you agree or disagree.
When I first played the Body Balance 64 DVD with Music and presenter voices I felt the music was quite intrusive, but then playing it music only a second time it became a whole new ball game. I feel the music lends itself to just melt into the postures and that it is the voices that are intrusive and not the music!! I think it’s a brilliant release and love the challenging poses in track 7.
I am a bit disappointed by Body Balance 64. To me it does not flow as well as the 63 release. And the fact that I have hurt my right hip doing it did not help either…
I agree this release doesn’t flow as well as past releases. The core track and back track in particular, the constant position changes are tiresome and too rushed.