Fitness DVD Review: the Bollywood Dance Workout

Bollywood dance is about "energy" and "joy" according to The Bollywood Dance Workout, and, after a forty-five minute "play" session with passionate Indian dancer Hemalayaa, you'll believe it! An overweight beginner to fitness DVDs, I purchased this DVD in order to find a replacement for my daily walks during the cold winter months, and it succeeded in warming me body and soul. If you'd like a workout that will provide you with sufficient cardio and muscle toning, while convincing you that you're simply moving your body to the beat, you'll enjoy this workout.

Workout Title:The Bollywood Dance Workout with Hemalayaa

Fitness Level: Beginner, All Fitness Levels

Price: Under $10

Warnings: Those with knee, shin, or ankle injuries will have to skip some of the jumping movements throughout the video. As with all workout regiments, you should consult your physician before beginning a new fitness plan.

Effectiveness: 4/5 stars

DVD Extras: One option allows you to turn off the instructional voice and just dance to the music. Also, a music segment of extra dances is provided in case you want a few more minutes of time to "boogey".

Positive Feedback: Sure, some of the moves might look a little silly upon first glance (especially while you're doing the facial stretches during the warm-up), but once you get into the movements, you realized that you're actually toning muscles and working up a sweat. I don't know if this workout would be considered cardio to all participants, especially those used to an advanced workout routine, but I know my heartbeat was high enough to count after the warm-up alone.

Another good aspect of this workout is that it doesn't require much space for movement. Even the four step movement leaves you going in a circle, so there is no need to clear out a large space if you live an small apartment or have a cluttered workout room. The floor work also requires very little space, as the movements require lifting your legs to the front of the body, not stretching them out to the sides.

Negative Feedback: Some of the jumping movements were probably not intended for very large or obese people. Also, the floor work might be more difficult than it appears to heavier set participants or those participants who haven't obtained the necessary arm strength for the movements. That being said, the movements can be easily adjusted or skipped, and the video will still be effective for those wanting to loss weight or simply workout. In fact, if I continue to do the video, I'll probably be able to perform those ground moves with more ease.

Aside from difficulty, the music of the video is very repetitive. While the Indian tunes kept me energetic, other participants might find the music annoying, especially if they choose to turn off the instructional commentary.

Overall: This video was fun and left me with a smile on my face. Hemalayaa is a positive, cheerful voice. For her, "play time" is not about working out and losing weight, it's about dancing and having fun. Her optimism makes the video feel less like a chore and more like a treat. This video is best done alone, so that you can "shimmy" down, Bollywood style, without feeling judged.

Links: Watch a clip from the workout on YouTube.

The DVD is produced by Acacia. For more info on this workout, as well as other fitness DVDs, visit www.acacialifestyle.com.

The Bollywood Dance Workout can be purchased on Acacialifestyle.com as well as sites such as Amazon.com, here.