I feel like I am beginning to sound like a stuck record. There have been so many excellent Body Balance releases in the 40s that I approach each now one with a little trepidation. There has got to be a dud before too long hasn’t there?

Well you will see from my review of Body Balance release 49 that it isn’t this one. In fact for my this is almost perfect. There isn’t really a track I don’t like musically. There isn’t a track where the moves don’t fit.

Tai Chi (Extraordinary Way): One of the few Conjure One tracks from their (his?) first two albums that has yet to appear in Balance this is a beautiful song. The choreography starts with the slow arm circles and justmbuilds and builds as the song progresses. But as upbeat and enlightening as the music is, the flow is just so gentle and smooth. The return of the archer arms sequence is welcome and adds icing on the cake to what is for me one of the best Tai Chi tracks ever. Conjure One are rumoured to have a third album ready for imminent release. Can’t wait.

Sun Salutations (Send Me An Angel): Already responsible for the spine-chillingly beautiful track Eurydice – that was track 2 in BB42 – Sleepthief is a musical project on a par with Conjure One and once again provides superlative music for a sun salutations track. It has an epic yet gentle feel and the slightly longer sequence to accomodate the song structure means that we can enjoy the lunge twist early in this release.

Standing Strength (Live Like We’re Dying): Watching the sheer joy that Jackie shows teaching this track on the DVD, and the infectious enthusiasm that floods out of the screen means you love this track before you have even tried it. Teaching it with similar gusto and cheer ellicits a similar reaction from the particpants. They love it too and they love you teaching it. I particularly like the bit early on when you squeeze your arms apart and sink deep into the squat. It’s quirky, the transitions are actually quite fast. You don’t realise how tough this one is because you are enjoying it so much. Until the music fades and reality sets in – and your legs are shaking. A big highlight this one.

Balances (To Love Again): Musically my least favourite track of the release but actually that’s being picky. Eagle Pose, Dancer’s (always a favourite) and the final star/halfmoon mix are lovely.

Hips (Fireflies): Never heard this song before. The notes say that it has been very successful in many markets and in many chart rundowns. Again a perfect Balance piece of music. Quirky start, perhaps a little too quick with its transitions before a lengthy stint in the bloke-unfriendly tackle crushing cow-faced pose. But the variety and progression works even for the guys, and the final twist version is bordering on painful. Can’t do the turtle pose justice – but plenty of my participants achieve the turtle washed up on a beach in Hawaii look. Thanks for that cue Doctor Dave.

Abs (Doesn’t Mean Anything): The longest ever abs track. Yes it is repetitive (though only the legs arms raised, open legs, hands to feet sequence) – I think the side planks are just perfect – with the side-plank table top arms bit a particular highlight. I have slipped almost over the edge into my Combat instructor persona in this track and I think a little Body Balance Bootcamp is the encouragement people need to really blitz themselves here. And just when you think it is over you have those cycle knee to elbow moves at the end to completely finish you off.

Back (Just Say Yes): Effectlively one huge build up to the full back bend. Lots of variety. Nice to see an up-dog in a track other than the sun salutations. Full back bend is perhaps one of the hardest moves in Balance – I have managed to master the other tricky ones with practice (ankle cross lift, Bird etc) – but this one eludes my as yet. Still bridge is an ample option.

Twists (Happy): Lovely to start on the floor with the easy gravity defined twist. Fits well with the Leona Lewis music and the title of the song sums up how we are all feeling by the end of it.

Forward bends hamstrings (White Flag): Starting with a gentle return to the Tai Chi arm circles from track one – this track seduces the heart rate down, settles the mind and slows down the breath. Pyramid is one of those stretches that balances precariously on the threshold between pleasure and pain – and you can’t help wanting to go just a little further. Then we are down on the floor with an extended sequence of seated stretches that finishes us off nicely so that we need to relaxation.

Relaxation/Meditation (Gift of Light): Lovely music and a very calm period following a fun but tough Balance release.

I really should go back over my reviews of BB to check that I haven’t said this before (I think I have and if I have then what I am about to say over-rides the first time I said it. I struggle to find any fault musically or choreographically. This release is as near perfection as I think we can get.

Over to You: Are you a Body Balance Instructor? What did you think of release 49? Are you a participant? Have you enjoyed number 49?