Total Yoga: Water arrived in my mailbox at just the right moment: I'd been looking for a new yoga program to try out, since the one that I'd been using wasn't as good as I'd hoped for. After trying this DVD, I'm pleased to report back that it's an excellent program, and certainly one that I'll be popping in the DVD player frequently.

Total Yoga: Water is part of a series of yoga DVDs created by experienced yoga instructors Tracey Rich and Ganga White. This disc is labeled as "Level 2" in the Flow Series (Level 1 being Total Yoga: Earth). The poses used here are a little more complex than truly beginner-level yoga, so if you've never tried yoga before at all, it's probably better to start with the more introductory volume. However, even though I'm still pretty much a neophyte at yoga, I found Total Yoga: Water to be a good workout for my level. I'm sure that more experienced yoga practitioners will do the poses with a lot more grace and fluidity between movements, but I didn't find it to be too much at all.

There's a lot to like about Total Yoga: Water. To begin with, all the poses are explained very well, so there's no confusion about where to put your feet or how to turn your body. Tracey Rich provides a voiceover to explain what to do, while on-screen she and Ganga White simply do the moves without speaking. This works very well, as Rich can always offer a clear and understandable explanation even if on-screen she's in the middle of a complex position. The camera work is handled very well, mostly staying far enough out that you can see exactly what to do, with appropriate close-ups showing how to place your feet or hands as needed.

The overall ambiance of the Total Yoga: Water program is relaxing and soothing. The studio background is minimal, with just some peaceful shades of white and blue, and only the two yoga instructors in the frame. (It's also nice to see both a man and a woman doing the yoga movements as well, rather than just a woman.) The background music is extremely muted, which helps provide a calm atmosphere for the workout.

Total Yoga: Water starts out with an explanation of ujjayi breathing before moving into the rest of the yoga workout, which is in the Vinyasa style. The program, which runs about 45 minutes total, goes through a variety of poses that emphasize stretching and flowing movements.

The only quibble I have with the program is that some of the poses are done once for a short while but not returned to. I'd rather have more time spent on fewer poses. I'd also have liked more explanation of the ujjayi breathing, but it's admittedly nice to get any instruction on that at all. Overall, Total Yoga: Water is a very solid yoga workout and one that I'll certainly return to.

The DVD

Video

Total Yoga: Water is presented in a widescreen 1.77:1 format, though it's not anamorphically enhanced. The image is clean, bright, and attractive.

Audio

The soundtrack for Total Yoga: Water is also handled very well. The voiceover explanation from instructor Tracey Rich is clear and always easy to understand, and the background music is soothing and muted, so it never gets in the way.

Extras

The main special feature is a 15-minute bonus yoga workout, taken from the next volume in the Total Yoga series, Fire. There's also a short video segment talking about the instructors and their experience in teaching yoga.

Final thoughts

Total Yoga: Water is a very nicely done yoga workout, offering classical poses in a relaxing program that emphasizes flexibility and grace. All the moves are explained clearly, which is a great benefit to beginning yoga practitioners, and Tracey Rich has a calm and relaxed manner in her voiceover, so you'll be able to play this DVD many times and not get tired of it. Highly recommended.