Tag Archives: yoga

What already? The Track List for Les Mills Body Balance release 69.

Fitness and Yoga, , , , , , , , ,

Yes seriously! It’s out already.

I haven’t posted my review of the current Body Balance release yet. And here is the track list for Les Mills Body Balance release 69. We’ll get to see this in June.

If you don’t want spoiling DON’T READ any further. Otherwise have a look.

The Track List for Les Mills Body Balance release 69.

Great to see Stanton Lanier again. His piano music makes for a beautiful relaxation.

Now it’s your turn:

What do you think of the Les Mills Body Balance release 69 tracklist? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Listen on Amazon:

If you want more spoilers you can click on the links above to see the music on Amazon. They won’t be exactly the same mixes because Les Mills often edit the tracks, and some are Les Mills cover versions and not available commercially. But it will give you a good feel for what’s on its way.

First Impressions of Les Mills Body Balance release 68 after Glasgow One Live Event.

Fitness and Yoga, , , , , , , ,

After a long day in a giant tram shed with crowds of sweaty fitness fanatics Body Balance ended One Live in Glasgow on a beautiful high.

One Live showcased the new Les Mills releases to a combined audience of instructors and participants of thousands.

The atmosphere was electric as always and the new classes delivered by the UK Training Team with Rock Concert style PA systems. Exhaustion threatened to triumph as the Body Balance team took to the stage.

They simultaneously relaxed us and challenged us all over again.

So what’s Les Mills Body Balance release 68 like?

Les Mills Body Balance release 68

  • One of the best line ups of current chart hits I’ve seen in Body Balance. Artists like Maroon 5, Sia, Ella Henderson, Beyoncé and Chris Brown.
  • We start with double song Tai Chi Warm Up. Two gorgeous flowing sequences to warm us up for the challenges ahead.
  • On Masterchef you’ve seen deconstructed cheese cakes. Well here we have a deconstructed Sun Salutations.
  • A double song Standing Strength. Sia returns to Body Balance for the first time since release 35 and Ella Henderson’s Glow describes how we look by the end of the poses.
  • I remember Diver’s Pose from the Balance track.
  • In the last release the Core Abs was the shortest ever. I expected a long abs work out this time. It’s actually still quite short. But it works.
  • A double song Core Back track with many Bridge Poses and Side Planks.

One thing I noticed was that some moves reappeared a few times during the class. Tai Chi moves in the Standing Strength and the Tiger, practiced in the Sun Salutations and performed for real in the Core Back track.

After a fairly average number 67, Les Mills Body Balance 68 is a stunner. Great artists and songs combined with achievable but challenging moves. This is going to be a pleasure to teach.

Since One Live I’ve watched the training DVD. What an absolute pleasure to see Doctor David MacKenzie back on stage. More Doctor Dave in future please.

And now the learning begins.

What do you think?

Were you at One Live? What did you think of Les Mills Body Balance release 68? Why not share your thoughts by leaving a comment or a link to your own blog?

First Impressions of Les Mills Body Balance release 67

Fitness and Yoga, , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s nearly 2015.

After the excesses of Hogmanay, fitness classes will soon be packed with people trying to work off “holiday bloat”.

What better way to get started than to see the New Year in with the latest Les Mills releases.

Are you ready for Les Mills Body Balance release 67? I’ve been learning the moves and listening to the music for a few weeks now. Here are my first impressions.

First Impressions of Les Mills Body Balance release 67
Tai Chi Warm Up
  • Diana Mills, one of the programme choreographers, was pregnant during the shoot. You can be sure that this release is perfect for expectant mothers. Plenty of options. Though I did cringe slightly when I saw Diana deep in Swan Pose with her heel pressing deeply into her tummy.
  • “Back to basics” is the theme of this release. Perfect for a New Year with many first timers coming to class.
  • Our warm up consists of a lovely simple Tai Chi sequence and a traditional sun salutation flow. No complexity allows you to master the basic moves quickly.
  • We hear two completely different songs for the Standing Strength routine. A departure from the usual, “play the song twice, once on the right and once on the left”. You’ll see a new version of Warrior 2 pose here. The Joyous Warrior. And although they don’t mention it by name that looks like a Humble Warrior to me.
  • At 8 minutes, the hips track delivers intensity. Glorious stretches and we spend a long time in Swan Pose. The song is a lovely one but becomes weird during those swan poses. What do you think of that long Outro?
  • At only 2 minutes 30 odd seconds it’s the shortest Core Abs track ever. And it’s not a trick like last time. There’s no second, longer one to surprise you.

Looks like another solid class. Can’t say I’ve been blown away by it and I’m struggling to decide what’s the stand out moment. Probably the hips track.

Now it’s your turn:

Did you go to the Quarterly Workshops? What do you think of Les Mills Body Balance release 67? Are you a participant? Have you been to the new class? Please leave a comment below or a link to your review.

5 Reasons to Start Yoga Before the Holidays

Fitness and Yoga, , , , , , , , ,

It’s a great time of year to consider taking up yoga.

I’m serious.

I know you’re thinking the opposite. With wind howling and rain lashing against the windows the last thing you want is to go to a yoga class, right? Plus you have Christmas presents to buy, parties to go to, and Christmas dinner to plan.

Although it’s fun, Christmas brings stress into your life. Yoga helps you relax. If you’re busy with work you might have stopped exercising. Yoga helps you strengthen and tone your body.

5 Reasons to Start Yoga

Yoga is exercise for your mind and your body.

Here are 5 benefits of yoga. 5 Reasons to start yoga before the holidays.

Less stressed

You combine the physical exercises you do in yoga with relaxation and breathing techniques creating calmness and a lower heart rate.

Enhanced mindfulness and mental calm can leave you feeling less stressed.

Re-energised

Apart from the more cardio-based forms of yoga, such as Power Yoga, you won’t find that your energy fade during a yoga class. Indeed you will find yourself re-energised and feeling quite vigorous after class.

Better flexibility

You don’t need much flexiblility to start doing yoga, but every class you attend will make you more flexible. Yoga moves stretch your body and over time will increase your range of motion.

Better muscle tone

Yoga tones your muscles. Most of the poses involve either strengthening or stretching. You can develop long lean muscles with yoga. In fact you can work pretty much every muscle in the body.

And the flow of exercises mean you’ll get a cardiovascular work out as well and getting stronger.

Better posture

Improved flexibility and increased strength improves your posture. You will find that your balance will get better too.

And finally everyone benefits. Don’t listen to the clichés. You don’t have to be a bendy girl to do yoga. No matter what your age, size, shape or level of fitness you do it and see results.

Now it’s Your Turn:

So even though it’s nearly Christmas and you’re busy. Even though you have a hundred things to do. Get yourself along to a Yoga class.

Or at least book yourself a block of classes for the New Year. Make Yoga your Christmas present to yourself.