Shiva Rea - Yoga Trance Dance

Those are the ways I'd describe my experiences with this DVD so far...I received this DVD last week and have fallen in love. It's trippy, it requires an ability to really let go, be free and not care about what you look like, but the rewards for that kind of child-like freedom are incredible.

Like Fluid Power, which I also enjoy, this has the wonderful matrix menu option so you can create your own yoga/dance sessions any way that you like, although I noticed you can only select each section once, so if I want to repeat a section I love, I have to start it all over again. I wish they would change that. With dance sections, since they aren't terribly long, it would be nice to be able to program it to play a section more than once. That's the only technical thing I've noticed that I would change.

The DVD itself is gorgeous; filmed on the White Sands desert, like "Fluid Power" and the classic "Yoga Mind & Body" with Ali McGraw and Eric Schiffman. The music is a wonderful symbiosis of tribal rhythms with contemporary twists, and while you do have the option of listening to music only, or music with Shiva's instructions, I found I missed her voice when I went without it. Her words, her steady calm voice, and her lovely comments really inspire me and keep me going, but it is nice to have the option for a different experience.

The options here are varied and really interesting; opening meditations that bring you into stillness and gentle movement simultaneously, a slightly more rousing intro that gets the blood really flowing, and of course some yoga sets with Shiva's unique style. They are very much akin to the yoga on Fluid Power, though they seem more approachable on here, like the yoga offered is a bit simplified and more accessible for beginners. You get a total of 15 segments to play with, to mix and match. I was having so much fun with them over the weekend, I think I ended up doing almost the entire DVD. I also enjoyed mixing these segments with some of the ones from "Fluid Power"...for example, I LOVE the Spiral Meditation segment from "Fluid Power" and find that to be a fabulous warmup before the trance dance segments.

I found myself smiling, moving in ways that felt incredible but that I just don't usually free myself to explore, and I was certainly sweating. This feels like cardio for the new age, something beyond just "working out" where my emotional heart and spirit benefit along with my physical body, simultaneously.
I do wish this disc was longer, I wanted more! But it's more than ample for enjoying a little tribal, fluid and thoroughly rousing free-style dance at home. You do not need to be coordinated, flexible or a natural dancer for this...it's just about letting your body express whatever feels right and good in that moment, often closing the eyes and just enjoying the nectar from within. Anyone can do this. I even found, while watching it through for the first time, that I felt benefits from doing it while seated.

It's definitely got the LA trippy vibe, but in the best possible way and with so much obvious love, joy and passion for what they're doing, I find it utterly contagious. I'll certainly be looking into her live Trance Dance workshops now.

**note** I also find that the trance dance sections are a PERFECT compliment to Kundalini yoga practice. I followed Kundalini sets with sections from this disc and it was pure heaven. ;)

I was very disappointed...as a dancer and yoga practitioner I was curious to see what this yoga trance dance I'd heard about was about and I must say some of the yoga directions were fine and that is why I gave it 2 stars...however, the dance part was I felt nothing but a series of lectures (as another reviewer noticed)on how to be in touch with your inner self as you move...which I guess if you have never danced in the past may be a bit helpful...but for those of us who have no trouble feeling the music, these directions were useless...the dancers in the dvd simply jumped around and the camera did not stay long on any one dancer to get any idea for any moves... just a bunch of people jumping and girating around...don't waste your money...for this you could go to any disco and watch people gyrate and since you can watch as long as you want (without a camera to take away your focus)you would have a better chance at catching some steps....I hope I can resell this to one of Shiva's fans who find this kind of dvd "inspiring" as some seem to do....I am hispanic....in my culture dance is a part of everything....reason I gave it a 2 was for the part were there is an actual Indian dancer doing authentic Hindu dancing and it was beautiful...however, one only sees bits of her dancing as the camera then switches to Shiva's very boring dancing....Sorry Shiva! Think you are a better yoga teacher than trance dance facilitator!!

This video is number one by far the best dvd for any type of exercise I have ever bought. The pre-set combinations are excellent. The build your own matrix is easy. All in all the program is excellent. If you are looking for a fun, inspirational, yoga exercise dvd, both physical and mental this is it! It inspires my creativity, makes me laugh and have fun and leaves me feeling energized, creative and in better shape than the day before every time I use it. Any of the pre-set combinations that I choose always leave me feeling greatful to have picked it. Beginners could use it as well as seasoned practioners. I recommend it with all my heart.

Fun practice, but a bit on the " hollywood" side. My personal taste is on the "down to earth" side. At any rate, I think this dvd will be enjoyed by most.

dancing the different styles of yogic dance really opens me up spiritually and energetically.
i love the joy and freedom all the movements generate. i think this program is ideal for anyone who loves yoga but who is looking for something more out of the box. the dances reminded me of Shamanic, mystical, sufi styled dancing....wonderful for the courageous at heart!