She's Baaaaack... Tracy Anderson Cardio Review

New Cardio!!!

So it's year two, months ten to twelve. In TAM world speak that means that Tracy Anderson has rejoined the troops to lead dance cardio once again in the home stretch of year two, Continuity 2.4.3. It's where I'd be if I'd been absolutely religious with the program. As it stands, I am still hanging around 2.3.2 but a girl can jump ahead for new dance routines can't she?

Last week I put out a white flag of sorts letting you know that I feel the tides turning and that the content of this space was going to start changing or was in danger of drying up. You have responded so warmly that I feel confident moving forward in my new 2013 skin as a girl who values herself and I hope I can inspire the same in you. 

In the mean time I had promised a review of that new cardio so here it is! It's good, people. I mean it. I hate dance cardio, don't like to sweat. My hair is a pain, it always comes out of its bun as I jump around. I have never liked the idea of shoes in the house. I have no coordination and on it goes.

I did find a couple of ways around my cardio aversion. I use my rebounder because  that's mostly fun. (Can hardly wait for my new Tracy Anderson Rebounder Total Body DVD to get here!!) And I run with my husbie and our dog. But... every now and then, I get a feeling like I should be sticking closer to the program so I'll drag my sorry ass back to one of the many DC DVD's that Tracy has furnished us with and I'll struggle through 15 or 20 minutes of it whining all the way.

But get this... I have done this latest video a couple of times now and have done it right through to the end! Can you even believe it? It actually kind of flies by. Don't get me wrong, I still watch the clock, but I don't hate it. That is saying a lot! 

It's fantastic to have our little Dance Sprite back. She is so springy and she just looks so happy to be back with us. That carries a lot of weight with me. I just can't workout with a sour-puss.

So what's it like? It's not like any other dance routine she's put together while at the same time being totally Tracy with all the best bits from her other DVD's.

When Stacey and Maria debuted with new Continuity dance cardio, it was a little bit exciting because it was new. I love them, so please don't take this the wrong way... the novelty wore off very quickly. I only did each one a couple of times before quickly abandoning them. The first one had an actual dance routine in it but only did one side, so my whole body just felt off balance. The next one was better but still it felt like it was the same routine (that I could not ever seem to get) over and over. I wish I could more accurately put a finger on it, all I can say is that while they're good DVD's I just don't like dance cardio enough to stay with something that's just okay.

Tracy has a philosophy when it comes to dance aerobics, in order to get the most benefit, you mustn't stop and start. So she doesn't give you step by step instructions to each routine. She wants you to dance continuously for 30 minutes. Makes sense. Nothing is more annoying than doing a DVD that breaks down the steps one at a time, then having to watch through that once you've learned it. On the other hand it can be pretty frustrating to hop along and never really get the routine too.

This DVD is not like that!

Here's the thing. Yes it has choreography, you have to learn three or maybe four little routines, but they are from her actual dance DVD's, so they feel familiar. If you don't own those or have never seen them, don't fret. The routines are repeated enough that you stand a good chance of getting them, but they are switched up enough that if you don't get one, you can move on and chances are you'll grab ahold of the others. But in between all of that there is some freestyle stuff (easy moves that a three-year-old or me can get) so you are never lost for too long if you do get lost.

If you didn't know, Tracy has three dance DVD's that came out long before Metamorphosis and she has a section on two of the DVD's that you can go to to learn the routines step by step, then you can choose dance options to follow her from behind or in front and she dances straight through. They're brilliant if you take the time to learn the routines. Some are just way beyond me, but I have picked up a handful, one or two of which make an appearance in this new DVD. Plus I even recognized a couple of moves from her original Meta Dance Cardio so I felt almost like a pro -- okay not a pro exactly. Let me put it another way. I felt less like an epileptic bee, flitting this way and that in awkward jerking and jumping motions.

The background is a total 80's throwback. It's the light-bright set that she uses for Teen Meta.

 
With bold streaks of primary color emanating from it. Apparently the 80's are well back in fashion. Have any of you seen the recent window display at American Eagle? I thought I was having a Wham acid flash back when I saw the ripped acid-wash jeans and neon colors! Eeeek. But I digress.

This was a dance cardio DVD worth waiting for. Tracy is in fine form. In fact she seems better than ever!

I guess I hadn't realized how much I missed her. I've got another six months with Stacey and Maria on the mat, but I don't mind. I think they are fantastic teachers and have been enjoying our workouts together.

Later this week I hope to touch on a couple of the topics suggested in your comments. In the mean time, chin up. Do the work, enjoy the process, and the results are yours.

xo
Shan