The "workout" consists of three segments--Water Core, Spontaneous Core and Fire Core--all filmed at White Sands National Park to achieve that ethereal look, I suppose. The moves themselves are fairly simple but knowing how to make them really target your abdominal muscles is a more advanced practice than they let on.

Skip this video in favor of something a little more (dare I say) normal. I fear this will scare a lot of people off.

Equipment Needed
All you need is a mat. Or, in Shiva's case... a mountain of sand and a drummer man. Whatever you have handy.

Effectiveness
I'm sure that this sequence would be effective in targeting the core if the person doing it knows exactly how to do that. Unfortunately, a lot of these moves (and the muscles they require) are probably new to most people who will have trouble getting it all to click. I've been practice yoga regularly for a year and I couldn't get these moves to connect to my core.

Safety
As with any yoga practice, it's important to listen to your body and not push through pain. I don't see this DVD causing a lot of injuries.

Cast/Instructor
The video is hosted by Shiva Rea, an internationally famous yoga teacher referred to as "the Madonna of yoga." She didn't speak during the taping of the practice and instead instructs via voice over. I couldn't decide if I preferred this style of instruction more than a teacher talking me through it while doing it. The voice over style is calmer and more relaxed.

Shiva is crazy flexible and very advanced in her yoga practice so don't be surprised to find you look nothing like her in most of these poses. So does offer some modifications, but I think the instruction is lacking in detail.

Music
Don't be fooled by the drummer man in the foreground of this video. I'm no musician but I'm pretty sure that bongo of his isn't making the sound of like five different instruments. It appears he was there just for show and a recording was added in later.

Set
The video was filmed in White Sands National Park in New Mexico. It looks beautiful but I feel it's a bit overly dramatic. Yoga is a simple and humble practice that can take place anywhere without the need for extravagance. This set is just excessive to me and gives the feeling that yoga is distant, exotic and unapproachable.

Video
The video was shot in HD by Sion Michel.

Negatives
As stated, I think this video makes yoga appear exotic and unapproachable. The actual moves feel entirely too easy unless you are an advanced practitioner and know how to engage the proper muscles. I can't think of anything I liked about it.

Conclusion
I can't speak for all Shiva Rea videos, but after doing this one I can certainly say, "Skip it." Unless you know what you're doing, you won't feel an effective workout on your core, which is supposed to be the goal. And if you find yoga to be a bit weird, this will most certainly turn you off entirely.

Katie