The Belly Dance Chronicles Jan/Feb/Mar 2020 Volume 18, Issue 1 | Page 52

~ DVD REVIEW ~ Building Better Balance DVD Series by Vanessa “Samra” Kettler By Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan Photo by Owen Shirwo As a dance professional and teacher – you’ve probably experienced many of those days and nights where you have booked too many shows and classes – and you feel the burn from your muscles and stress on joints. And you may have thought as I have, “If only, I could take a private class that would help me relieve muscle pain and help me with chronic inflammation and pain and make my life better.” This instructional DVD series is the solution because you get private instruction in gentle pain-relieving movements and exercises, along with positive coaching by a professional dancer that will change your life. Although this instructional series was created, developed and designed for elder people – I can attest to the fact that these gentle but thorough workouts will improve your life. Nothing better than to have your own personal exercise coach available whenever you need her. As dancers and dance teachers, how many of us feel the pain in our joints, or knees? Or, developed chronic pain from stress in our lower back, shoulder, or neck from 52 The Belly Dance Chronicles  January 2020 chronically inflamed areas that can happen as a result of “teaching through the pain – from teaching while injured or ill”. Do you have stiff joints in the morning? Do your knees hurt so much that it begins to impact your performance or teaching? Does your lower back ache after taking dance classes? If the answer is yes to any of these common stressors, I know you will appreciate these DVDs. Most DVDs focus on creating strength and give you power exercises for your body. This is the first instructional series that promotes gentle exercise that actually makes your life better – by improving posture and providing gentle guided movement to increase fitness and core strength; while reducing pain from chronic inflammation. Vanessa is an experienced teacher of elder exercise as well as being a professional belly dancer at age 76 who loves to do splits and high kicks. As a professional dancer she brings a unique perspective to teaching balance and has a thorough understanding of how to get stronger and more agile safely and effectively. Her Building Better Balance instructional