The last release of BB - 39 - was good, but having been preceded by such fabulous releases for me it did feel a bit disappointing - especially as the music from the first 3 tracks was a bit dull. I never nailed the timing to the Sun Sal track either!!
Number 40 however is a strong return to awesome form and is simple but very challenging. It doesn't contain any of what my wife calls "Jackie's taking the p1ss moves" - like splits, leg behind head or ankle cross lift - ha ha!
1 The music is lovely and I am pleased to see the return of a really flowing Thai Chi warm up. I'm a big fan of sweeping arms and circles (favourite warm ups of the past being Centre of the Sun (22), Just a Dream (26) and Conversations Over (27). This also has the pushing palms to the ceiling, onto tips toes and fall forward move that was also in 26 - so this gets a big thumbs up for me.Best Thai Chi since 34.
2 Music is much better than the last one - but still tricky to get the 8 beats in the first section (education material even says you're best winging it until the first down dog). The lunge with wide arms is simple but lovely. I like this - but I do prefer Sun Sals to be set to songs with definite verse chorus structures - again Tears from The Moon 22 is a great example.
3 Very hard standing strength if you really go down deep into the moves. I love the way the triangle pose it set up in this track and you can experience a really deep stretch as you follow it through. Picky thing that bugs me is this new method of having a stop start gap between the sides and therefore the music seems disjointed and obviously the same song twice. I would prefer some form os seamless edit like they did with God's Top Ten in 34 which again was obviously the same song twice but they merged the outro with the intro to make it feel like one track. This is not a real problem - I'm just a Virgo and get very picky about things like that!
4 Good simple balance track. I love dancer's pose. The twisted star is interesting as well.
5 Great catchy music that you can't help sing to long after the class has finished. Not sure about the elbow on the floor and palms together bit in the swan though - most people will not have their mat in the right position for this and therefore their elbow will be on a wooden floor - not very comfortable. The second moves - one leg lunged forward and down on the elbows - I can't get down on my elbows (the guys in the DVD don't either) - but I wondered about this. In BB33 there was a similar move but you laid your foot on it's side and dropped the knee a little - I could get my elbows down in that - it was not given as an option though.
6 Suddenly I See is a great track and the moves (everyone on the QW messed up the scissor section) - are quite tough. Second track is deceptive - real killer in the abs.
7 What perfect music for the song - Lift Me Up. Again deceptively difficult.
8 Love the modification in the standing twisting lunge to come up to full height. And in the second half lots more cow face poses that us blokes love so much!!
9 Great calming hamstrings track with restful music. A great way to calm down for the relaxation.
10 Was quite annoyed that the trainer didn't do the meditation at the QW (because she had to change for Vive) - not the best music but does the job
So overall - 9 out of 10 from me.
I'm damned, I'm hot and I just can't stop