Suit Up and Show Up

Yoga Emergency--Arms & Shoulders

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:43:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Yoga Emergency- The 12 Minute Workout with Kristen Eykel- Arms & Shoulders

WHO CAN DO THIS: You can.

THE BREAKDOWN: This is one of a series of 12-minute workout DVDs, each focused on a different area. There’s not too much to this DVD--it really is just one 12-minute stretch for the neck, arms, and shoulders. But if you hunch over a computer for hours like I do, it’s just what the yogi ordered.

Kristen Eykel is lean and pretty, she demonstrates the seated workout in front of a fountain while some kind of tubular bells play in the background. The stretches are basic, basic, basic—some head rolls, some twists, some eagle arms. Nothing you can’t do yourself, to be sure, but it’s nice to have someone coaxing you along. You could even keep this at your desk and use your DVD drive to run through it seated, just modifying the twist.

The bonus tracks here are a two-minute tip about reflexology; one about aromatherapy, with a tip for easing a stress headache; and some tips and stretches for easing the physical stress of flying. The five-minute interview with Eykel also is worth a listen, to get a handle on her philosophy.

The meditation segment is nice because once she stops talking, you get just the sound of birds. However, she doesn’t end the relaxation so you’re on your own. After lying quietly for what seemed like a longish time, I opened my eyes and peeked at the TV screen, which displayed directions for returning to the main menu.

Since the workouts are so short, this would be a good series to collect: Back, Full Leg Stretch, and Hips. There’s also Yoga Emergency- The 12 Minute Workout with Kristen Eykel- Pregnancy; Eykel specializes in yoga for pregnancy.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: No sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? Sure.

WHEN IT'S OVER: I was a little less tight, but it’s going to take more than one 12-minute session to loosen up these hunched-crunched shoulders.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Nothin’ in particular.

FINAL WORD: Easy and nice and I’ll probably pop it in now and then, during work breaks.

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Element: Yoga for Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:17:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Element: Yoga for Weight Loss

WHO CAN DO THIS: You’ll need yoga experience—at least an advanced beginner—and be prepared to work.

THE BREAKDOWN: If you need to lose weight, Los Angeles yogi Ashley Turner’s taut, flexible body will either inspire or discourage you--that’s up to you. Turner has taught “celebrities, famed musicians and hundreds of yoga students,” and she has a master’s in counseling psychology. She demonstrates in a pretty garden setting with a voiceover that includes affirmations about self acceptance, internal beauty and intentions. (Is it just me or does everyone try to inhale and exhale exactly with the voiceover instructions? That doesn’t work—the voiceover usually has a lot to say while I’m holding my breath and I end up getting dizzy. I really must stop trying to be teacher’s pet.)

The 45-minute(ish) workout flows at a steady, calorie-burning pace, starting with sun salutations with some pushups and chairs tossed in. Poses are focused more on strengthening than stretching, with, for example, a long, active series of warriors. (My arms begged for mercy during this—it’s a long time spent holding them up. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Some table poses, boats, legs scissors, plies, more pushups … you get the idea. There’s nothing fancy or tricky—it’s all pretty basic stuff—but there’s no pampering. You wanna lose weight? You gotta work for it.

The big motivational speech comes during savasana, although I found Turner's chattery voice something less than soothing.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I was, literally, dripping. But it was a humid day in Texas.

BUT IS IT FUN? More fun than lifting weights but not as much fun as chocolate cake. (Oops, that's not the right attitude, is it?)

WHEN IT'S OVER: I was pleased with myself and particularly felt my quadriceps and arms.

GEAR AND APPAREL: A mat and blocks, if you’re a block-user. Their use is suggested but not demonstrated.

FINAL WORD: Thumbs up. It will enter my rotation.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Element: Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:47:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Element: Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga

WHO CAN DO THIS: Intermediate or advanced yogis who are pregnant or who are at least six to eight weeks past giving birth.

THE BREAKDOWN: I’m not pregnant and never have been, so obviously my expertise here is limited, at best. But I have ignored so many DVDs for pregnant women and mommies, I decided to check this one out. I liked the other Element DVD I've done, and certainly can image the benefits yoga can provide for a hard-working pregnant and postnatal body.

These two 30-minute practices, one for pre- and one for postnatal, are designed by New York yogi Elena Brower, mother of a toddler, who demonstrates a postnatal workout. The prenatal workout is demonstrated by Lucy Bivins in her third trimester. Hm, I should be so strong and flexible even without toting another person around on my midsection.

Neither of these is appropriate for a yoga novice. The flow segments move fairly quickly and with chair poses, sundry warriors, planks, sun salutations, pigeon poses, triangles, down dogs and down dog splits, both workouts pack plenty of stretch and toning into 30 minutes. They appear to me to be less modified for pregnant and postnatal bodies than designed to provide helpful stretching and strengthening for those times. (And certainly the poses are chosen for their appropriateness.) The postnatal workout includes attention to strengthening the pelvic floor.

Affirmations include a moment of gratitude to anyone who has made it possible for mommy to eke out a 30-minute workout. Having witnessed the challenges friends have faced caring for infants, I know that any me-time is valuable indeed for new mommies. The postnatal workout includes a little reminder that (and I paraphrase) a calm and happy mommy makes for a calm and happy family.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Plenty of sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s pleasant.

WHEN IT'S OVER: I had been off my exercise program for about a week when I took this DVD on, doing one workout each on two consecutive days. On the third day, I was a little sore from butt to shoulders.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Nothin’ special.

FINAL WORD: A good one to keep you toned and bendy during pregnancy and beyond.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Fat Burning Fusion

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:11:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Fat Burning Fusion

WHO CAN DO THIS: At least advanced beginner in Pilates or yoga.

THE BREAKDOWN: Ellen Barrett is a Hollywood trainer. She’s trained a few stars (Christina Ricci and Justine Bateman); taught at CRUNCH, a famous studio that has produced one of my favorite lines of videos; has a studio called The Studio; and a DVD series. This DVD has been sitting around the house for a long time because I’ve never heard of Ellen Barrett and the one-off DVDs I get (I do get free review copies, in case you’re wondering) are often not so great. But every now and then, I find a good one, so I try to at least take a look at most of them.

This is one of the good ones. It’s a Pilates flow, very low-impact, done barefoot. It might look easy if you were to just sit on your couch and watch it. But just try it.

This workout form is entirely new to me. The entire 40-minute flow fits on an exercise mat, though most of it is done standing. The plie is a big player and many of the moves are done in a wide, bent-leg stance. Hello, inner thighs. The arms are held out at shoulder height through much of the workout as well, which is gently brutal. I had to rest mine frequently. Moves also involve lots of twists, back extensions and squats, and the goal is grace, good form and muscle extension. It’s almost like ballet, but more Pilates-y. It's strength, stretch and cardio all in one.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Buckets.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yeah, it kind of is. It’s hard work but without battering the body.

WHEN IT'S OVER: My legs were wobbly immediately after I did it the first time and my whole body, especially my core, was a little sore. I was still a little sore when I did the workout a second time three days later.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Nuthin’.

FINAL WORD: I might hunker down with this workout for a while and see what happens. Maybe alternate with the punching one.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Yoga to the Rescue for Neck & Shoulders

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:06:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Yoga to the Rescue for Neck & Shoulders

WHO CAN DO THIS: The box says “For beginners & beyond” but I think you would want to be at least a pretty advanced beginner to feel comfortable with this unusual series.

THE BREAKDOWN: I expected a series of stretches to release my computer-cramped neck and shoulder muscles, but this series of poses are designed to also build strength in the back, shoulders and neck.

The DVD is has a long tutorial that is a good workout on its own, or you can use it to learn the poses to bring into your own practice. A number of these poses are new to me. In one, long, strong and flexible Desiree Rumbaugh has you hold your bent arms up, “like a saguaro cactus,” bend your knees, bring your shoulder blades together and lift your heart to the sky. I tell you what... not that easy. She also has you lie on your back, bend your arms so your elbows are on the floor and, pressing on your elbows and head, lift your heart. It’s like an isometric push-up for your neck. There are familiar poses too, of course—cobra, bow, down dog and a particularly insane side-arm plank/backbend. “Enjoy your freedom,” she says. Oy, I say.

The DVD also has a 30-minute flow sequence that I mostly found annoying because the cueing is so haphazard. Sometimes poses change and she never mentions it, so I had to keep peering under my armpit or whatever to see if she’d moved on to another pose. Also, in the push-ups, there was an awful lot of exhaling going on, but not so much inhaling. That confused me.

I do like the bonus wrist stretch, since my hands and arms get more of a workout during the work week than any other part of me.

I've done a few Desiree Rumbaugh DVDs and my impression is that she's a great teacher who doesn't quite have a grip what makes a great DVD workout.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Yep, I did sweat. It’s kinda weirdly hard.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not so much fun. Kinda broccoli yoga. Good for you.

WHEN IT'S OVER: I definitely felt my neck and shoulders the next day. They were tired and a little sore. In a good way, I think.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Desiree uses blankets and blocks and suggests a strap here and there, although she doesn’t demonstrate its use.

FINAL WORD: I’m more likely to incorporate a couple of these poses into my practice than do the DVD again.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

10 Minute Solution KnockOut Body!

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:05:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: 10 Minute Solution: Knockout Body Workout Kit w/Weighted Gloves

WHO CAN DO THIS: Intermediate exercisers. If you’ve taken boxing or kickboxing fitness classes, even at the beginner level, you’ll be OK, but this is not for newbies to exercise. No instruction on form is provided and getting the most out of the workout requires knowing how to use your muscles safely and effectively. On the other hand, hardbodies are not likely to find this challenging enough.

THE BREAKDOWN: I promise that my next few reviews will be anything but 10 Minute Solutions. I know I review a lot of these, but this is a new favorite.

First of all, the weighted gloves are a fun new gizmo. They get a little sweaty, but it’s otherwise a pretty comfortable way to add a little extra effort to any activity. I wore them cleaning house the other day.

Also, I’m always looking for good upper-body workouts, since most DVDs tend to focus on the more commonly griped-about (by women) lower body. But I’m never wearing a miniskirt or short-shorts again, so I’d rather feel comfortable showing my arms. Though this DVD is designed to provide a whole-body workout, the arms get a little extra with all that punching in weighted gloves.

I’ve never taken any kind of boxing cardio class and didn’t think I would like it, but these little 10-minute routines—two aerobic segments, an upper-body segment, a kickboxing/cross-training segment and an interesting abs segment—are fun and a refreshing new style for me.

Jessica Smith’s hit-or-miss cuing is a little frustrating—some counts with the jab-cross-uppercut-hook combos would have been very useful, but you can supply your own. Fortunately, moves are easy enough to learn after a couple of times through the workout.

If, like me, you’re new to boxing, start with the first segment, Knockout Body Blast, which kinda sorta breaks things down.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I work up a sheen doing one, a sweat doing more. I can see that the real muscle workout is in learning to control the punches rather than just flinging those weighted gloves around. It’s a decent cardio workout, too, though some of the bobbing was hard on my knees.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yep, it is. And yes, I did imagine punching people. I’ll never tell who.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll be invigorated and probably feel your arms and back.

GEAR AND APPAREL: You don’t need tons of space, although the kickboxing segment has you kick side and front, so watch the bric-a-brac. The gloves are entirely optional, of course.

FINAL WORD: Today I did the upper body segment before my 40-minute-ish power walk (with hills). It was a perfect medium-exertion workout. I like it. A keeper and a doer.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

10 Minute Solution Dance Your Body Thin

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:35:00 +0000

10 Minute Solution: Dance Your Body Thin Kit w/Weighted Dance Belt

WHO CAN DO THIS: The coordinated and fluid hipped.

THE BREAKDOWN: The gimmick here is that the DVD comes with a two-pound weighted belt that rests around your hips to engage core muscles and give the workout extra oomph.

Dance Your Body Thin! is standard format for the series—five 10-minute segments than can be programmed to do individually or in any combination or sequence. Regular readers here know that 10 Minute Solutions is among my favorite workout series.

I’m spoiled from doing a lot of DVDs. If baby can’t nail the moves pretty quickly, baby gets sulky. With some DVDs, I feel like I’m dancing the first time through, even if I don’t have the steps exactly right. But the first time through this one (one or two segments at a time), I mostly felt awkward.

While tiny dancer Andrea Leigh Rogers’ arms were sinuous, mine just flailed. The footwork is simple, but moves rely heavily on hip action. That didn’t go well, either. Compounding my problem, Rogers’ cueing is a little off—some counts would have been helpful and she tends to announce changes just a speck late. Everything slows down for the ballet sculpt segment, which is interesting and definitely challenging, though tough on my hinky old knees.

The workout is designed to work well with the weighted belt (hence all the hip action) and that is a plus. The belt is not a finely crafted piece of workout equipment, but I like it and plan to use it with some of my other DVDs. And the dance workout is not bad, it’s just not me. Maybe it’s you.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I definitely worked up a sweat, but it was partly frustration.

BUT IS IT FUN? It could be for anyone who masters it. I probably won't put in the effort.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You may feel it in your abs if you wore the belt. Not a ton, but nice.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Enough space for about four steps forward and side to side. I wore aerobic shoes.

FINAL WORD: I might choose one of the chapters to master and use as a core workout. (That’s the great thing about these 10-minute workouts—you can mix and match.) It might not be able to compete with other dance DVDs I enjoy more, though. The belt’s a keeper.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Hemalayaa Bollywood Booty

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sat, 09 May 2009 15:59:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Hemalayaa: Bollywood Booty

WHO CAN DO THIS: All you need for this one is lowered inhibitions.

THE BREAKDOWN: I like that Hemalayaa. She’s pretty and sexy, she has a pretty voice, she’s happy, has fun, and her workouts are not too hard.

These four belly-dance-inspired workouts are so short and easy, doing one seems like a waste of time. Do ‘em all. They’re a wiggle-wiggle here, and a wiggle-wiggle there, some squats, some exotic hand movements, some vamping. Essentially the opposite of a boot-camp workout.

These are suppose to target the buns. Lunges and things might do that, but you won't develop buns of steel with this alone; the benefit here is probably aerobic.

The cuing is not great and I could swear I was hearing a different beat from Hemalayaa and her friends—it seems voiceover and music were done separately and things don’t quite match up. S’aright. Banish any Type A tendencies and go with the spirit of the workout. As long as you keep things wiggling, you’ll get your heart rate up.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I worked up a glow, though I wasn’t panting by the end.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yes, it is. Probably more fun than effective if you’re already fit, but a nice little cardio workout for days when you need fun for a motivator.

WHEN IT'S OVER: Your heart will be happy.

GEAR AND APPAREL: The workout is done barefoot, a carpeted floor is OK, and you don’t need a lot of space. A little something diaphanous is nice, but not necessary.

FINAL WORD: Fun, probably not tough enough to stay in my rotation.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Jeanette Jenkins Sexy Arms, Abs & Legs

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:16:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Jeanette Jenkins Sexy Arms, Abs & Legs

WHO CAN DO THIS: This isn’t suitable for beginners. It’s a taxing workout and requires good form and balance.

THE BREAKDOWN: The hour-long workout is sort of broken into eight chapters. You can do segments one at a time, although starts and endings are a little abrupt that way because they’re designed to do together. There’s a little bit of dance, lots and lots and lots of squats and lunges, some weights, some yoga, some pushups, some leg lifts. The resting segments, interspersed with sculpting segments, are an easy little anyone-can dance.

It’s a little bit of a lot of things that add up to a challenging workout.

"Sexy Sculpt Part 1” starts with a full body workout: weights for the arms and shoulders, lunges for the lower body, rotations for the midsection—all at once. Getting through the segment is a goal rather than a given for me. “Sexy Sculpt Part 2” starts with a leg kick/lift/twist move that combines cardio, strength and balance, then moves onto squats, rotations and shoulder presses. Even the yoga segment is unusually challenging. (“Why do you think Madonna’s so hot?” Jenkins asks.) The floor work includes 16 tough pushups (down to a two-count followed by two quick down ups, then reverse the pattern). And I can only dream of completing the abs workout someday.

If you’re experienced enough to do this workout, you also know that the high-speed stretch at the end is inadequate. Turn it off and take a leisurely stretch. You earned it.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I predict sweat even if you’re in moderately good shape.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s not fun-fun but it’s challenging without being grim. I like Jeanette Jenkins—she’s fun and giggly and personable. She’s helped out here by a typical crowd of cuties. The music…not so much. I thought the generic rock guitar was irritating, then they pull out the harmonica, which doesn’t improve matters.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You will limp and groan with pride.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Room to move about four steps side to side, mat and light weights

FINAL WORD: I’ll keep this around, along with Jenkins’ circuit-training workout, for days when I need my butt kicked.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Cardio for Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:47:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Cardio for Beginners ($13.49 at Amazon, release date March 10, 2009.)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Anyone—it’s fun and easy.

THE BREAKDOWN: Way back when Reebok was a fitness fashion statement, the company released a step video workout called Reebok Versa: Dance Step that remains one of my all-time favorite 30-minute workouts. I haven’t seen fitness pro Petra Kolber since—until now, in this equally fun (but not nearly as challenging) collection of four mix-and-match cardio workouts.

The DVD contains two 10-minute segments—one “athletic” and one dance—two 20-minute segments, also athletic and dance, and a five-minute stretch. The athletic segments are somewhat less dancey than the dance segments, although both use similar, very basic choreography—step-touch, grapevine, hamstring curls and the like. Not only that, but in deference to rank beginners, Kolber actually breaks these steps down so nobody gets lost. Well, you might get lost now and then, but not often and not for long and once you learn the choreography, the workouts are lots of fun—particularly the dance segments.

And except for her tendency to say “last time” when it’s not actually the last time, Kolber’s cuing is particularly good. She tells you what comes next just as you need to know and she cues through the entire workout, which means you can relax and just dance without worrying about whether you will remember the steps.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Doing all 60 minutes, I managed to work up a glow. Beginners should sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s so much fun that I’m kind of sorry I’m too fit for it. Even the music is very slightly better than much generic workout DVD music.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll look forward to next time.

GEAR AND APPAREL: I had to adapt some steps due to lack of space—the choreography uses a lot of floor. You’ll need good shoes and a mat or carpeted floor for the final stretch, although that’s the least interesting part of the workout and I usually skip it.

FINAL WORD: Love it. I might let myself get out of shape so I can justify doing it.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Kathy Smith Total Body Lift

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:32:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Kathy Smith: Total Body Lift

WHO CAN DO THIS: This isn’t suitable for rank beginners not only because it’s fairly strenuous, but also because a level of body awareness is required to do the moves effectively and avoid injury. (For example, when Kathy cautions against “taking it in the back,” you should know exactly what she’s talking about.)

THE BREAKDOWN: Well, Kathy Smith, as I live and breathe. Where you been, girlfriend? Long time no see.

Kathy is old school like Tamilee Webb, minus the cocky machisma. While Tamilee is boastful about her feats of lifting, Kathy acts like starting the arms segment with 20 slow pushups (done in sets of five) is no big deal. She’s pleasant and friendly but never perky or even chipper.

Even the dance-inspired warm-up gets warm real fast. Kathy doesn’t candy coat these five strength segments—warm-up, upper body, leg, butt and abs—which range from about 12 to 15 minutes each. There’s nothing flashy here, but keeping up requires concentration and discipline. You gotta want it. Kathy uses just two-pound weights for biceps, shoulders, pecs and triceps but the segment is long with few breaks and I felt the burn using just one-pounders. (The upper body segment is the only one that uses weights.) Butt and legs segments use lifts, lunges and isometrics. The abs segment includes crunches with Pilates-ish exercises. Your muscles will like the attention even if your fun buttons aren’t pushed.

Kathy’s patter is mostly instructional with just a little bit of motivation here and there. She makes her fitness chicks do much of the work while she stands by, explaining form.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: You will generate heat.

BUT IS IT FUN? Strength training is never terribly fun to me but it’s a necessary aspect of fitness. This is a broccoli sort of workout—I like it because it’s good for me.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You may feel proud of yourself.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Mat, chair, towel (optional).

FINAL WORD: A solid workout and a keeper, though I probably won't do it as often as I should.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Give a gift of fitness

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 04:03:00 +0000

I receive lots of fitness DVDs for review. Lots and lots. I do every DVD I review all the way through, unless it’s tragically awful, and I review as many as I can, considering this is a non-paying gig. I also do more DVDs than I review.

Believe me, there are lots of bad DVDs out there and even more mediocre ones. But a few make it into my regular rotation, staying interesting for the long-term and accommodating my fluctuating fitness needs. One fitness DVD is good but a library of them is even better.

Yoga: Element: AM & PM Yoga for Beginners are short and gentle workouts for when I want to tuck something small in the beginning or end of the day.

Do I have to tell you again that Livingroom Yoga is my favorite yoga DVD? The intermediate-level workout is compact, pleasant, effective and just challenging enough for an unhurried afternoon workout. Similarly, Stacey McCarthy’s Yoga Body Fat Burning Workout is a straightforward intermediate practice.

When I’m on the brink of buff, I pull out Crunch Yoga Body Sculpt, which has cute girls and enough challenge to keep it interesting.

Bootyshakers: DanceX Everybody’s Workout Total Body Cardio is dance fun for anyone, with super-simple moves and lots of room to increase or decrease the cardio challenge. This one might make a reappearance post-holidays, when I’m hauling extra junk in the trunk. Dance Workout for Dummies is just that and so gentle that I shouldn’t admit to doing it, ever. But sometimes I do. And then I feel guilty. But it’s fun.

My number one, never-get-sick-of-it, all-time favorite dance DVD (so far) is 10 Minute Solution Fat Blasting Dance Mix. I am so damn fly when I do this and it’s great for remotivating me after I’ve fallen off the program. After a couple of weeks of this, I can tackle the higher energy and trickier choreography of Crunch Cardio Go Go.

Strength: Strength training is my least favorite facet of fitness and the one I am most likely to neglect. If it’s been a while since I hoisted a weight, I start with 10 Minute Solutions Fitness Ball Workouts for a gentle re-introduction. When I’m feeling more confident, I graduate to The Best of Tamilee: Buns, Arms & Abs Workout. This can keep me busy for a long, long time. Tamilee doesn't mess around.

Finally, on my most ambitious days, I tackle Jeanette Jenkins: The Hollywood Trainer, 21 Day Total Body Circuit. It's a helluva challenging workout, but Jenkins is so cheerful, she almost makes it fun.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the links.

Crunch Yoga Body Sculpt

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:17:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Crunch: Yoga Body Sculpt ($12.99 at Amazon.)

WHO CAN DO THIS: You’ll need some yoga background to get it right and some strength to make it through.

THE BREAKDOWN: This is nice balanced combination of stretch and strengthen, with emphasis on the latter. Crunch DVDs are always great looking with good-looking instructors and classes (hey, is that Jennifer Galardi back there?) and I’ve yet to meet one I didn’t like. Here, instructor Bethany Lyons pleasantly walks a line between yogi tranquil and aerobics instructor upbeat.

The 40-ish minute workout take you through several vinyasas, starting slow and speeding up. This is the kind of workout where the down dogs are your moment to rest and catch your breath. You get lots of planks, lots of crescent lunges, warriors every which way, some side-arm planks, all done at a nice clip. Some boat and bridge poses finish it off.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I work up a good glow.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s fun because it hurts just enough to feel effective but not so much that I dread doing it.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll feel energized and that much more muscular.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Nothing special—a mat if you have one.

FINAL WORD: This is a new favorite, as I try to balance my need for strengthening and stretching workouts with the time demands of life.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Stacy McCarthy Yoga Body--Fat Burning Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:54:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Stacy McCarthy Yoga Body--Fat Burning Workout

WHO CAN DO THIS: This intermediate workout presumes you know your up dogs from your down dogs.

THE BREAKDOWN: Stacy McCarthy her very self was disappointed by my disappointed review of her beginner’s workout and sent me this DVD, thinking I might like it better. She was right.

This straightforward, vanilla yoga workout doesn’t try to get creative—which is a plus. Sometimes, I don’t want to learn anything new. I just want a workout and this one offers a nice balance of strength and flexibility. It’s not strenuous but it’s solid.

In 50 minutes (give or take) McCarthy gives us what we know how to do at a smooth pace, allowing time to breathe and get deep. She starts with a few vinyasas with forward bends, planks, up and down dogs. Then, on to a warrior and triangle series, some balance, and to the floor for pigeon, head-to-knee, twists, inversions and bridge. McCarthy says only as much as we need to know, reminding us what to straighten, what to twist, how to breathe, where to look.

I rarely looked at the TV through the workout because there’s little there I haven’t seen before. And again, that’s a good thing. I could drift along on McCarthy's instructions but focus on my own body instead of hers. And the whole series went down easy, like yogic comfort food.

My only quibble is that the abs section is tacked on after savasana as a special feature. It should have been part of the workout. Who wants to keep going after the relaxation? Or screw with the remote mid-workout?

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I worked up a glow during the warrior and triangles series.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s very pleasant.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll feel good like yoga can make you feel.

GEAR AND APPAREL: A strap and block if you’re a strap and block kind of person. I used a tape measure ‘cause it was handy.

FINAL WORD: Sometimes I don’t get to my workout until late afternoon. This DVD will be perfect for those days, to work out all my desk-job kinks and get my blood circulating again.

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Element: AM & PM Yoga for Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:50:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Element: Am and PM Yoga for Beginners

WHO CAN DO THIS: While this DVD is for beginners, it is a practice not a lesson. If you’ve never downed a dog, you might want a want a grounding in basics first, to get the most out of it.

THE BREAKDOWN: One 30-minute program is reasonably robust workout to charge you up in the morning, the other is a slow, gentle stretch to wind you down at night.

Demi Moore lookalike Elena Brower teaches Anusara yoga, which has to do with “heart opening.” OK. I assume that relates to the interesting physical motion of breathing in this practice; she has you round your spine slightly on inhales and move the heart forward (“fearlessly” in one instance, “radiantly” in another) on exhales. I like it. I also like the periodic instructions to smile slightly.

I don't recommend trying to keep up with Brower's specific instructions to inhale and exhale—I found myself holding my breathe or exhaling to dizziness to try to stay on pace. Next time, I’ll do my own breathing, thank you.

The AM program starts slowly and builds in intensity, with planks and down dogs, a few sun salutations (which could use a little more flow—they get a little choppy while she explains) sidearm planks, warriors and more. The program isn’t athletic, it moves slowly and deliberately, but builds in enough challenge to keep it interesting.

The PM program starts slowly and finishes slowly—it’s just a long pleasant series of gentle twists and folds, including pigeons, to ease out any kinks before bed.

The production is pretty and calming. Filmed outdoors in what looks like a resort, with lawn, flowers, palm trees and water as a background, Brower demonstrates silently along with her own soothing voiceover. Music is unobtrusive.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: You can get a glow from the AM program.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yes, it’s a good DVD that fulfills its promise.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll be either energized or relaxed. Depends.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Just a mat. Maybe a towel.

FINAL WORD: Very nice and a keeper.

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10 Minute Solution: Pilates Perfect Body

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:58:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: 10 Minute Solution Pilates Perfect Body ($12.99 at Amazon.)

WHO CAN DO THIS: A rank beginner to fitness might have a hard time with the concepts but anyone else should be able to make it work.

THE BREAKDOWN: Holy sadist, Batman. Who knew 10 minutes could feel like such a long time?

OK, just kidding about the sadist. But this workout is tough enough to make me feel OK about myself if I manage just one 10-minute workout in a day.

I’m a Pilates neophyte. I’ve done a DVD here and there but haven’t yet taken a class, so I can’t tell you how this measures up to a real class. However, I know enough to keep my muscles fully engaged through this DVD, which has five chapters: Arms, Belly, Buns & Thighs, Stretch and Silhouette, which is a full-body workout.

None of the chapters was a cakewalk for me (mmm, cake…). Even the arms segment using piss-ant one-pound weights had me gritting my teeth to finish up, since the weights are held shoulder height for a fairly long stretch without a break. There were a few “you must be kidding” moves, such as a reverse push-up with one leg held straight up in the air. Ha ha. No thanks. In some places, a demonstration of a reasonable modification for weaklings like me would have been appreciated.

I can’t come close to even approximating the exactness with which instructor Suzanne Bowen executes the moves but the exercise is in the trying, yes? Maybe someday. I also found her pacing a little annoying in spots—I’d want to keep going and she’d be going through a whole “ready, set, go” between sets. But that’s nitpicking. Generally, this is a solid 50 minutes of ouch.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I work up a nice glow even doing just one 10-minute chapter and I’m soggy after the full DVD.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not fun in the traditional sense of the word, but any program that can make me feel the burn in 10 minutes is happiness inducing.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You will be aware of your muscles.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Mat and light weights.

FINAL WORD: I keep this one handy for quickie workouts--usually at least two chapters--on busy days or as an adjunct to the day’s power walk or cardio.

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Stacy McCarthy's Yoga Body Lean & Defined Total Body Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:32:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Stacy McCarthy’s Yoga Body Lean & Defined Total Body Workout ($12.99 at Amazon).

WHO CAN DO THIS: A beginner with background in the basics should have no problem with most of this workout.

THE BREAKDOWN: Hm. Well. Yes.

There's something oddly muddled about this workout, which doesn’t present enough explanation for a rank beginner nor enough challenge for anyone beyond beginner—until you get to the bonus flow segment, which is full of challenge but not particularly fun.

The warmup has some nice stretches. The chapter of standing postures is least engaging, with a too-quick and too-brief triangle series and some tree poses. Seated postures are OK, but McCartney rarely permits enough time for those five full breaths she prescribes in poses. Or at least for my five full breaths—maybe I’m a particularly slow breather. She probably should have demonstrated with the strap, as well, if she’s aiming for beginners.

The “fire up flow” yoga sequence is tagged onto the end of the nonprogrammable DVD, which means if you want to include it within the workout you have to stop, return to the main menu, select that chapter, do it, go back to the main menu and continue the workout. Silly.

While the main body of the workout is beginner-friendly, this flow has a couple of particularly challenging pose—such as a down-dog done with one arm bent, one arm straight, and a leg in the air. Yikes, where did this come from? I thought we were just having fun here.

Stacy McCarthy is pleasant enough as a pro, though a little on the bland side. Which pretty much describes the whole workout. ~~Production is sloppy, too.~~ Early production glitches have been repaired, but although the set, a gigantic studio, is attractive and the guitar music is nice, the workout just didn't engage me. you can hear voices in the background in some spots, the introduction to the savasana is repeated and if you happen to peek at the screen during savasana, you’ll see Stacy sitting up instead of lying down. Huh? I was initially confused that Stacy was sitting instead of lying down during savasana, but she tells me, in response to this review, that this is not uncommon for teachers while students are lying like loxes o their mats. OK. My teachers, come to think of it, are usually walking around during that time.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Not so much.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not so much.

WHEN IT'S OVER: Depends on your fitness level. Beginners might feel a little something. I felt very little until I did the flow sequence and even then, it was too quick for much kick.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Yoga mat and, if you like, a block and strap.

FINAL WORD: I still prefer Livingroom Yoga.

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Dance Off the Inches: Hip Hop Party

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:06:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Dance Off the Inches: Hip Hop Party ($10.99 at Amazon.)

WHO CAN DO THIS: The steps are not terribly difficult and you don’t have to be in great shape but you’ll need the will to dance in order to get a real workout. A lot of the sweat is in the flava.

THE BREAKDOWN: Here she is again, Jennifer Galardi, reigning queen of the dance workout. (She’s also here and here.)

The Dance Off the Inches series includes a nice little Step Guide, which breaks down the 10 dance steps necessary to do the three 10-minute dance routines. The guide is a clever addition because it allows the workouts to keep moving at a good pace instead of slowing for teaching.

I’ve never needed the Step Guide on other DVDs from the series, but I did need help breaking down the Body Roll and a couple of other things in these routines. Some of these moves don’t come naturally to this very white girl. (OK—white middle-aged woman.) The guide definitely helped, now it’s just a matter of practice, practice, practice.

I’m a fan of Galardi and a fan of the series and this DVD is no exception. While I’m never going to give Beyonce any competition, I managed to hip and hop adequately. I did the first two workouts—Basic Hip Hop and Sexy Smooth Hip Hop—a few times before tackling World Hip Hop, which is the trickiest of the bunch. Galardi breaks everything down but she doesn’t baby you—you’ll have to catch on to some details yourself.

The dances use a lot of contractions and body rolls, which have a learning curve for me. Galardi looks like she’s dancing, I look like I’m convulsing. Still, as long as nobody’s watching, I have fun. A lot of the style is in the shoulders, too.

These moves allegedly work the abs, though I don’t feel like I’m getting all that much of a core workout. Maybe I’m not doing it right. I do feel my legs by putting a lot into lungy, squatty steps. Arms don’t get much of a workout, though they do help keep the heart rate up.

The set is decorated as a living room (a really big living room) and Galardi is assisted by your standard gang of girlies, none of whom is particularly hip-hop but whatever.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Dance like you mean it and you will sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yes it is. The dances are easy to learn but not so easy that they get boring quickly, and they really do feel like dancing. As always, better music would be nice but that’s just the way it is.

WHEN IT'S OVER: Depends on how many segments you do. Do one and you’ll have a nice sweat sheen. Do all three (plus warm-up and cool-down) and you can feel well worked out.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Workout shoes and a small amount of uncarpeted floor—the workout doesn’t cover a lot of ground.

FINAL WORD: A welcome new addition to my dance workout library.

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Dance the Chakras Yoga Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:15:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Dance the Chakras Yoga Workout ($12.99 at Amazon.)

WHO CAN DO THIS: A certain spirit and a fair level of fitness are required. You’ll also want flexibility, some familiarity with yoga and tolerance for affirmations. “Let you be you” and, “be a conduit for your soul’s expression.” Stuff like that.

THE BREAKDOWN: What a peculiar little DVD this is. A lot of it is watching a skinny hippy chick dancing in her underwear. If you like that sort of thing.

The skinny hippy is Ana Brett. She and Ravi Singh teach Kundalini Yoga. According to their website: A typical Kundalini Yoga class normally starts with a breathing exercise. Then we do some spinal warm-ups and stretching followed by a special set called a Kriya. A Kriya is a poetic progression of exercises which work in concert to create a synergistic, multi-dimensional, exponential effect. And who am I to argue? Ana and Ravi are the Disembodied Voices of Control in this workout. They speak, while hippy chick Ana yogas and dances worldlessly.

The DVD is pretty to look at, with Ana sitting on a purple shag bathmat and dancing in a stark white room.

I really like the first half of the workout, which is dynamic stretches interspersed with meditation. Poses are deep and long and often combined with rapid “Breath of Fire.” Each pose allegedly releases a chakra, which is great, I assume.

Strength moves including combining bridge and Breath of Fire, slow leg lifts and upper-body work in which discipline as well as strength are pushed. “What happens on your yoga mat becomes a metaphor for your life. In other words, keep going and keep growing” Disembodied Voice Ana admonishes while you kneel with your arms in the air, “holding a big silver platter up there with an offering to the infinite,” says Disembodied Voice Ravi.

A challenging shoulder stand with Breath of Fire transitions into full plow and even ordinarily gentle stretches like cat/cow are sped up and imbued with the Breath of Fire. Take care of your neck and back on these moves. Know your limits.

After two yoga series you move into a collection of short dances, the chakra dancing in the title. Here is where we really get into the mesmerizing dance of the hippy chick.

I enjoyed the Hippy, Hippy Shake and the Dance of Power but I didn’t like the spinning spinning Heart Dance. Some of the songs are for freeform dance—you get music and just dance with hippy chick. Of course, it looks different when you do it then when she does it.

Too bad about the disembodied voices, though. They’re annoying. They don’t shut up and sometimes you get two of them coming at you at once, with a little echo until you just want to press your hands to your ears and whimper.

The DVD concludes with a relaxation and chanting. The latter is ambitious—lots of words, a poppy little tune and arm movements. It's all very Hello Kitty.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I worked during the yoga segment but didn’t get engaged enough in the dancing to really shvitz. It wouldn’t be impossible, though.

BUT IS IT FUN? S’aright. I get it and I like the idea but I’m not entirely convinced.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You might have question marks floating around your head.

GEAR AND APPAREL: This is a barefoot workout. A mat is nice and as much room as you need to flail.

FINAL WORD: I’m repelled but strangely attracted. Or vice versa.

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Hemalayaa Beautiful Belly

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:41:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Hemalayaa Beautiful Belly ($10.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Anyone should be able to keep up, but beginners should take a moment to review good form for squats and learn about down and up dog, plank, boat pose and cobra, since they are referenced here without explanation. The Yoga Journal site is a good place to learn some basics.

Hardbodies won't be challenged by this program but might enjoy it nonetheless.

THE BREAKDOWN: Three 12-minute belly-dance inspired workouts are good for the core and the heart. Most of the movement is in the hips and abs, with a wiggle-wiggle here and a wiggle-wiggle there, though arms move, too. Choreography is simple but you’ll enjoy trying to put the elegance into the moves that Hemalayaa (is that her real name?) does. Some jumping is involved but those moves are easily adaptable to low-impact.

Each circuit moves from standing to floor and back again. Floor work includes some challenging leg lifts and crunches, boat postures (I couldn’t manage more than a couple of seconds in the spread-legged boat posture), and planks. For one, you hold a plank on your elbows, then alternate touching knees to the floor. Nice.

The squirmy blondes of the Crunch Bikini Body Workout have nothing on the sex appeal of long-legged Hemalayaa and her mane of dancing hair. Her belly isn’t a six-pack—it’s more soft and feminine and perhaps something to which we may all aspire. The workout studio is a den of dark red and Persian carpets, the music is Indian-esque and Bollywoodish.

Cuing was added as a soundtrack over the video and it’s a little off, but not troubling.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: You’ll work up a good sweat if you try, especially if you do all three segments.

BUT IS IT FUN? Much. No matter what my original intent, I always end up doing all three segments.

WHEN IT'S OVER: If you’re fit, you’ll definitely have energy enough to do more. If you’re a rank beginner, you might call it a day. Or not.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Hemalayaa does the workout barefoot but I’m more comfortable in jazz shoes. You’ll need some space and a carpeted floor; a mat is hard to coordinate into the choreography. She also uses a cushion in one segment.

FINAL WORD: A definite keeper and doer.

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10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:13:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: 10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix ($9.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: This is great for beginners as long as you’re not rhythm-impaired. Intermediate exercisers also can work up a nice sweat but hardbodies won't be sufficiently challenged.

THE BREAKDOWN: Five 10-minute workouts include three calorie burners as well as a chapter for abs and one for butt and thighs. This excellent series allows you to play all the chapters, choose one, or program your own mix.

This ranks high among my all-time favorite workout DVDs. I pop this in to do one ten minute segment and invariably do at least three, sometimes all five. It’s the potato chips of workouts—I can’t do just one.

The dances in the cardio chapters are built slowly with lots of repetition so if you have any rhythm at all, you will be dancing by the end of each one. Steps are simple but stylish, even after arms are added (often where I lose it). If you let yourself dance, you will feel fly or phat or solid or whatever.

The Butt & Thigh Blaster chapter also is dancey and fun, with a focus on moves incorporating squats and lunges. Because the dances require quick moves that don’t go deep, the chapter doesn’t burn like a traditional squats and lunges workout but it’s much more fun.

The Ab Attack is all done standing and includes isolations and standing crunches. You’ll have to concentrate because it would be entirely possible to dance through all 10 minutes without fully engaging the target muscles. As many times as I’ve done it and hard as I try, I’m still not sure I’m getting as much of an abs workout as I'd like. Tedious as they are, plain old on-the-mat crunches are more effective.

Jennifer Galardi is pleasant and low key, her little friends are cute. The music, while generic, has a good crunchy beat that makes me feel like dancing.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Dance like you mean it and you’ll work up a sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? Totally. Every time I do this, I build a workout of two or three chapters and end up doing more, just because it goes down so easily.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll feel energetic and happy.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Supportive shoes and enough floor space to move four steps up, back and side to side. (If you must do it on carpet, be very careful not to wrench a knee on twisty moves.)

FINAL WORD: I'll give this one up when you pry it out of my cold, dead (but otherwise healthy) hands.

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10 Minute Solution: Dance It Off & Tone It Up

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:14:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: 10 Minute Solution: Dance It Off & Tone It Up ($14.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Not me. The moves were just too fast and tricky. If you think you can dance, give it a try.

THE BREAKDOWN: I’m a big fan of the 10 Minute Solution series and the 10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix, also with Jennifer Galardi, who is featured on this workout, is among my favorite workout DVDs. It had me doing a reasonable facsimile of dancing the first time through.

This one …not so much.

The two toning segments using a toning band (included) are great. I really like fitness bands as an alternate to weights. The 10-minute upper body tone up and 10-minute buns and thighs sculpt segments here are fast, simple and feel effective.

But the other three segments…oy vey is mir.

I started with the High Energy Fat Burner because I was feeling high energy. Turned out my energy level was not a problem but my coordination (or lack thereof) was. The footwork wasn’t as tricky as the hips and abs wiggles were and when she added the arms, everything went completely to hell. Steps are broken down and change too quickly for me.

The Dancer’s Abs segment was no better. I did fine through the warm up but when the choreography kicked in, I was just flinging my stomach in all directions.

OK. So maybe I’d been ambitious by not starting with the Sexy Slim Down segment, which promises “easy-to-learn-moves.” If you just sit and watch the DVD, they do look simple, but just try to keep up…And I as much as I begged for a count to follow, Jennifer just ignored me and kept on dancing. Fact is, I gave up before this segment was done, feeling bad about myself.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I got sweaty but I didn’t have that happy post-cardio glow.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not for me—except the toning segments.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll either feel like a dancer or a klutz.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Supportive shoes, uncarpeted floor and rhythm.

FINAL WORD:I could get all determined and spend more time trying to master this DVD but probably won’t. Workout time is limited and I don’t like to squander it flailing and feeling frustrated. If, like the Dance Off the Inches series, this series included a tutorial on the steps, I might give that a shot. But as it is, this DVD will probably gather dust, unless I pop it in sometimes for the toning segments.

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Crunch Bikini Body

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:38:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Crunch Bikini Body ($12.99 at Amazon )

WHO CAN DO THIS: A confident beginner with some grounding in form (especially for squats and lunges) should be able to handle the physical demands of the fast-paced workouts. Anyone as fit as the babes demonstrating might find it too easy.

THE BREAKDOWN: I’m wearing an oversized Krispy Kreme t-shirt, baggy brown yoga pants and bright orange jazz shoes. Lena Pereira has a mane of blonde hair, a taut tummy, cleavage and painted-on clothes and wiggles provocatively through the intro. I hate her immediately, although she is less affected through the actual workout. The seven young women demonstrating all show impressive six-packs.

Maybe I’m not the target audience?

I’m well past my bikini years but I give this one a shot anyway because Crunch workouts are always solid and fun. This one is no exception, although I should have avoided the mirror. Things happened there I didn’t need to see. (The second time I did it, in shorts and tank top, the sight was no more reassuring.) Not everyone can pull off “sexy shoulders” and Beyonce steps. I did most of the sexy arm moves as instructed, but for some reason they didn’t look the same on me as on Lena and her friends. Go figure.

Three 10-minute workouts—belly, butt and thighs—are a little bit pole-dancey, with lots of rotating hips, but they are creative. The belly workout is my favorite. It starts with core-centric cardio then moves to the mat for uncommon crunchy things. For example, for the lower abs, she has you hold your legs up with knees bent at right angles then touch both toes to the floor on either side of the mat and lift and bring the knees together again. Crunches added to that feel great, in an “ouch” kind of way.

My knees hated the fast lunges in the butt segment. I need plenty of time to make sure everything is properly lined up before lunges feel comfortable. The fastest lunges were pretty much out of the question, and when she added shoulder wiggles (the aforementioned “sexy shoulders”), I lost it completely.

The thighs workout also didn’t work for me. Except for the standing leg lifts section, which I enjoyed, I never managed to get a handle on the steps enough to feel like I was actually working the target areas. In particular, my inner thighs barely felt the burn intended for them. I may have been too busy trying to channel my inner Britney or the moves might have gone too fast, but I ended up flailing instead of really working the muscles.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Surprisingly, I worked up only a light sheen.

BUT IS IT FUN? Sort of, but it would be more fun if I felt like I were getting a better workout.

WHEN IT'S OVER: If you’re me, you’re considering a one-piece bathing suit with a knee-length skirt. And possibly long sleeves.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Nothing special. A room, a mat, a great body or an iron-clad ego.

FINAL WORD: Not terrible but not for me.

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Denise Austin: Boot Camp-Total Body Blast

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:55:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Denise Austin: Boot Camp -- Total Body Blast ($9.99 at Amazon.)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Because Denise spends no time explaining form or technique here, this workout isn’t for beginners.

THE BREAKDOWN: I’ve mostly avoided the whole “boot camp” workout fad because the term brings to mind millions of push-ups, bellowing, sweating and grunting…ugh. I prefer workouts that have words like “cupcakes” and “pink daisies” and “lavender unicorns.” I’m just not boot campy. I’m Richard Simmons campy.

But, in the interest of hard-hitting journalism, I figured I should give some boot camp workouts a shot. Besides, I’ve always liked Denise Austin. She's been around forever doing her thing. She strikes me as very slightly, and delightfully, insane. She’s loud, she has a wild look in her eyes, she can’t count, she’s happy beyond all rationality. Plus, she knows her stuff. Her workouts work. What’s not to like?

This DVD includes two solid 20-minute interval workouts, one focusing on cardio, the other on strength. The workouts—which include some easily-eliminated high-impact moves—are similar except that one uses light hand weights and the other doesn’t. Moves include lots and lots of squats and lunges, jump rope-free rope jumping, jabs and uppercuts, some basketball jumps, karate kicks and just a few push-ups, all done in front of an exposed brick wall crisscrossed with pipes. Macho. Both workouts end with abdominal strengtheners, both unusual and classic. Denise loves her some crunches.

A 10-minute flexibility segment is unusual in that Denise uses “active isolated stretches” instead of static stretches—that is, instead of holding a stretch, she has you hold and release, hold and release. Interesting.

Denise chatters incessantly through the workout and her cuing, as usual, is haphazard. That’s just the way she rolls.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: You should sweat like a big smelly soldierman.

BUT IS IT FUN? Define “fun.”

WHEN IT'S OVER: Your heart and muscles will know you care.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Supportive shoes, mat, light hand weights (heavier than five pounds might be hard to control), a decent amount of space, preferably on an uncarpeted floor, and a mat.

FINAL WORD: Not bad, but I’ll stick with cupcakes and unicorns.

And, by the way, Denise was airbrushed to the point of unrecognizable on the DVD box. Heaven forbid she should look her age--an astonishing 51.

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Jeanette Jenkins: The Hollywood Trainer, 21 Day Total Body Circuit Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Sophie) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:19:00 +0000

THE WORKOUT: Jeanette Jenkins: The Hollywood Trainer, 21 Day Total Body Circuit ($14.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Minimal coordination is required, although balance is necessary. This DVD is simple but not "easy cheesy." (I got that from Ms. Jenkins. "I don't know where I got that easy cheesy from," she giggles after blurting it during warm-up.) Modifications for beginners are to primarily use lighter weights and do 15 reps instead of 25.

THE BREAKDOWN: Ms. Jenkins, who has trained Queen Latifah, Carmen Electra and Christina Applegate, among others, is bubbly and extremely likable. She laughs, she sings, she says cute things. "Yeah, I have a love-hate relationship with these tens," she says, picking up a pair of 10-pound weights for bicep curls.

The DVD contains two circuit workouts that alternate cardio and strength training, each ending with abs and a quick stretch. Basic, basic, basic stuff, but energetic and effective. The cardio segments are anyone-can moves such as marching in place, knee lifts, step-touch. You'll be able to keep up no matter how many left feet you're burdened with. Strength moves are similarly basic and effective: You've got your squats and lunges, your flies and rows and overhead presses. Easy cheesy. Some of the standing leg exercises are unusual and definitely challenge the balance, which is not a bad thing. Be extra careful on that single-leg reach, though, which requires standing on one leg, bending forward and touching the floor while lifting the free leg.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Looks easy, feels hard. Unless you're already buff, you will sweat, gasp and probably end up with some sore muscles the first few times. And that's a good thing, right?

THE ENERGY LEVEL: Though there's no jumping or dancing, you'll need plenty of energy to get through 30 minutes of nonstop movement. Consider this: Circuit A starts with 25 push-ups. Get the picture?

BUT IS IT FUN?: That depends on your definition of fun. Ms. Jenkins keeps the mood light and the workout goes by quickly, but it's not like being a dancing diva with Richard Simmons or anything.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You'll feel well worked-out.

GEAR AND APPAREL: 3-, 5, or 10-pound dumbbells, 1- to 5-pound ankle weights, a mat and any old workout wear and shoes

FINAL WORD: This is a keeper and Jenkins is one of my new fave fitness pros.

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