Suit Up and Show Up

Element Power Yoga

2011-10-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

WHO CAN DO THIS: Intermediate level yogis.

THE BREAKDOWN: One of a finecollection of yoga DVDs (here’s another I like and you'll find others on this site), this hour long workout is a workout indeed. Poses that other DVDs work upto—crescent pose, for example—are just the beginning here.

Ashley Turner, working out with a view of the Pacific Ocean (lucky dog), is pleasant and reassuring, telling us in the voiceover that “Inner power isknowing what we need and giving it to ourselves.” In this case, she’s referringto taking a break in child’s pose whenever necessary.

The pace is not frantic but it isbrisk, though one-leg down dogs, lots of planks, breath of fire, warrior three,pushups, an interesting balance challenge done crouching on your toes. There’sa long core segment, including situps into boat pose, and just when you thinkyou’re nearing the end (if you’re not a clock watcher), you’re back in downdog, then chair pose, sidearm planks, more pushups. Turner's instructions are clear and helpful and every now and then she reminds you to smile, which is a nice thought. This is a no-kidding workout. No kidding.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: It’s sweatyall right.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s not notfun. It’s hard work fun.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll feelit all over your body.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Mat and perseverance.

FINAL WORD: This one requiresdiscipline that I hope to find in myself.

Crunch Latin Rhythms Fat Blasting Dance

2011-07-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

by Sophie

THE WORKOUT: Crunch Latin Rhythms Fat Blasting Dance

WHO CAN DO THIS: Anyone who’s gotta dance and enjoys learning choreography.

THE BREAKDOWN: Jennifer Galardi (and you know I'm a fan of hers) leads three Latin-flavored routines with her usual skill and likeability. Choreography—with interesting footwork, lots of hip action, and upper body flava—is not dauntingly complicated, but does require enough practice to present a pleasant challenge.

Galardi builds the dances at a reasonable pace, her cuing is excellent. Repetition as you learn the steps is part of the workout, and Galardi lets you know what body parts should feel the burn, which is helpful. (And we can all aspire to the pancake-flat abs she shows off in hip rolls.)

The DVD is the usual good-looking Crunch scene: a loft-like room with exposed bricks, lots cute cool chicks (and a guy). They’re fun to watch, too.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: As much as you want to, it’s all about your energy.

BUT IS IT FUN? So much fun. This has been among my two go-to DVDs for the past couple of stressful months. What better way to blow off steam than a little cha-cha-cha? (My other go-to these days is Kristi Yamaguchi.)

WHEN IT'S OVER: I’m sweaty and cheerful.

GEAR AND APPAREL: You’ll need a decent amount of floor space.

FINAL WORD: Love, love, love.

10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Fat Burner

2011-07-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

by Kritter

THE WORKOUT: 10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Fat Burner

WHO CAN DO THIS: I consider myself an advanced beginner. There's lots of jumping around and I didn't have a heart attack, so kudos to me.

THE BREAKDOWN: My nemesis---the endlessly-added-onto combination---is all over this DVD. But the segment that sounded like it would be the easiest for a newbie like me, Low Impact Fat Blaster, wound up to be the most frustrating and disappointing. Mostly easy "classic" aerobic moves but it's the most dance-y and she kept adding onto the combinations 'til I basically gave up---you can only jog in place for so long killing time trying to figure out a way back in. I dread hearing the phrase "take it from the top" ever again.

Even the ominously named Power Sports Drills and Extreme Intervals were more fun, and Rapid Results Kickboxing has the potential to be my favorite. All three were more intense than I'm up for (yet) but they didn't make me frustrated to the point of tears or hostility---I just did the best I could. By the time I got to the last segment, Cardio Max, my body didn't really want any more, but it was my poor befuddled brain that finally said stop---it refused to consider learning even one more combination.

She wears different outfits in each segment---do they usually do that? It did help define each workout, and with all those combinations I needed all the help I could get. The cool downs were pretty puny, but I guess what more can they squeeze into ten minutes?

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I sweated plenty.

BUT IS IT FUN? I didn't preview the DVD, just jumped on in, and lemme tell ya---I really need to get better at learning fast-paced combinations.

FINAL WORD: I don't know if someone more fit would find it enough of a challenge, but ten-minute bursts of cardio are probably a good thing for anyone.

A New Voice, A New Perspective on Ageless With Kathy Smith

2011-07-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

My friend Kritter and I have a gold-star system working. I got the idea from my friends Nancy and Sarah. The deal is this: every day that we exercise at least 30 minutes, we get a gold star on our shared online calendar. (We live in different cities.)

That’s all. Just a gold star. No prize at the end, no goal other than seeing the calendar fill up with gold stars. This, oddly enough, is motivation enough.

Consequently, Krit and I talk about exercising a lot. I’ve been working out for decades, she’s just a couple of on-and-off years into having a fitness program. But she has embraced the life. She’s also the Queen of Google and so she’s always feeding me interesting health and fitness related tidbits. She’s one of my fitness buddies, and she knows her way around fitness DVDs.

I give Kritter DVDs I think she’d like, after I review them or if I think I won’t. I wasn’t impressed with the Ageless With Kathy Smith DVD, but Kritter said it sounded like she might like it. And, it turns out, she did. She begged to differ with my review and her emailed explanation makes so much sense, I asked to post it here. And, better yet, she has also agreed to write reviews for Suit Up and Show Up, freshening things up around here with a new perspective. Yay!

Counterpoint: Ageless With Kathy Smith

I got out the Kathy Smith Ageless DVD. You would have thought I hadn't exercised in years. I had no balance. I had no ab/core tone. I had no nothing. I kept having to backtrack. Things I could at least sorta do a couple weeks ago were out of my grasp. And yet, I persevered. And for that reason alone I get a gold star.

I'm still mulling why I like the DVD (particularly after today's poor performance). I really think I'm the target audience. Older, basically out of shape—but no, you couldn't do much with it having not exercised in 20 years and being 40 pounds overweight. You're the right age, but you've consistently kept up the exercising, frequently with DVDs, so for you she's just preaching to the choir, same old same old. But there are lots of women like me out there.

You know she has to keep that body at her age. When she tells you to lift the weights and do the stretching, you realize she's telling herself the same thing EVERY FUCKING DAY. Yeah, she likes the sweating and the physicality of working out more than I do and yeah, I know she's fit way beyond anything I'll ever achieve, but I don't think she's pushing unreasonably, nor is she threatening (a la Jillian). She doesn't go too fast, so even if you're struggling with a move, you stand a chance to get enough repetitions in without starting the segment over.

Basically, I can do some of it fairly well and the rest gives me something to work towards.

An Interview With a Big Loser: Abby Rike

2011-06-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

I watch The Biggest Loser intermittently--I enjoy it when I stumble upon it but I'm not dedicated to it. But during a couple of sleepless nights this week, I watched several episodes on On Demand and for the first time, found it particularly motivating.

Here's a post on a site I blog for that discusses some interesting research on envy and motivation. It applies. You'll see.

I recently had the opportunity to interview a Big Loser (not the Biggest, but she's good with that), Abby Rike, a motivational speaker who was in Dallas promoting her new book, Working It Out: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Hope.

Abby is 100 pounds lighter than she was before her stint on Season 8 of The Biggest Loser, but that was the least of her losses—before the show, she lost her husband and two children in a car crash.

At the risk of sounding overly Oprah, I have to say that Abby's positive energy practically beamed through the phone. Step away from your cynical side for this one.

Q: How’s the tour going?

A: So far the tour has been great. Very fast paced and hectic, but getting out and meeting so many great people, that’s really what it’s all about for me.

Q: Are you meeting a lot of people who are grieving?

A: I definitely hear a ton of grief stories. I hear weight-loss stories. I hear “I hug my children more and my husband more.” I get the whole gamut.

Q: Is it doing something for you to meet these people?

A: Absolutely! I was always such a social person and so connected. That’s why I do what I do now. You always want to feel like your life matters and that you’re serving and making a difference. I get this immediate and incredible feedback that blesses me beyond measure.

Q: Is it difficult to keep reliving this really awful moment in your life?

A: At times it is daunting, I’m not going to pretend. But for the most part interviewers have been considerate. I obviously have to tell what happened, but that is not where I stay. And that is what the message truly is, that other people can know joy despite hideous circumstances. Whatever devastation or whatever loss people have experienced--and it comes in so many different forms--there comes a point where you have to look at where you are right now, today, and count the blessings that you have. For me, that’s what had to happen. I had to shift my focus from what I’d lost to what I have now and make the most of this life.

Q: What are the blessings you’re counting these days?

A: Oh my goodness, they’re so great. Everywhere I go I seem to find one person that I just uber connect with. That is always such a blessing simply because I was so lonely for so long.

And then, just the opportunities that God has provided me. One of the biggest blessings is that this is certainly not a life I ever imagined for myself by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just so grateful for all the cool things that I get to do, that I never dreamt possible. I sit back and scratch my head and think “This is such a surreal life right now.” As someone who never desired to be on TV, that was never my bag. I didn’t want to be on TV. Then I was on TV so that kinda sounds like an oxymoron… but that is was the path that I think I was supposed to go on and it’s been quite a journey.

Q: A lot of people, after a tragedy of such enormous proportions, wouldn’t think “reality TV.” Why The Biggest Loser?

A: Oh, it’s insane right? Who in their right mind does that? I mean, seriously—somebody who has a masters degree nonetheless!

I was very overweight and decided I would join the gym because maybe I could just feel better. I went one time and ran into Brady and Vicky Vilkin, who had been on Season 6 of The Biggest Loser. I subscribed to her blog, and right about the time I thought “This is the hardest life, I don’t know how I’m going to do this,” I get this information about Biggest Loser open auditions. The timing of it all culminated together and I felt like maybe if I could physically feel better, then emotionally I could heal.

Then I auditioned, and I’d make it to the next round, and the next round, and then at the very end I thought “Oh my gosh, I think they’re really going to pick me. Oh no, uh-uh, I’m not doing this. I came so, so very close to saying “I’m not doing this.”

Q: What changed your mind?

A: I do not say this in a trite way at all…but you want to talk about some serious praying! “Do you really want me to do this, because I don’t want to go.” I did not want to go. but then I truly felt at peace about it. It was just one of those things.

Q: What was the hardest part of The Biggest Loser?

A: The production schedule and the lack of communication from home. We never knew what was going to happen, everything was hurry up and wait. That whole production schedule is insane to me.

And then the fact that we couldn’t call home. We couldn’t even get letters from home. I know people say “Why are people always crying on the Biggest Loser?” But that is because you are truly isolated in this bubble, and that was very difficult. I think that’s why the bonds that develop on the show are so strong so quickly.

Q: Are you still close to people from the show?

I am extremely close to Shay Sorrells. She actually wrote the forward to my book and I wouldn’t have made it without her. She was my roommate and she became my family.

Q: Did you ever want to give up?

Oh, absolutely. The irony of it is, I could have gone home any other week prior to when I actually went home and I would probably have been a little grateful because I thought this is just too much, I can’t take this. The week I ended up going home was the week I was ready to stay. The ironies, the ironies of life. That was the week I said OK, I can do this. I got this now. I’m getting my footing here.

Q: Is it tough maintaining your weight?

A: Yes. It’s a daily choice to maintain. I’m certainly not a skinny girl and I am perfectly OK with that, but being fit and feeding myself nutritious foods and exercising have become my new truth. That’s who I am now and it allows me to live a full life. I’ve been on the other end, where it was an effort to get out of bed. I don’t pretend that there aren’t hard days, but it’s a lot easier to deal with the daily grind when you physically feel better.

Q: What’s next?

I love that question because the fact is, I have no idea. I’m a public speaker, I travel all around the country, I have a website where people can book me and so I feel like my classroom has expanded. And then, of course, with the book coming out, that’s a whole new entity in and of itself.

I never envisioned this life so I can’t begin to fathom what the next five years looks like. But I will be prepared and ready. And hopefully I’ll be ready to take that leap of faith when needed.

Xtend Barre Lean & Chiseled

2011-05-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

I reviewed Xtend Barre: Lean & Chiseled for The Dallas Morning News...you can read the review here if you have an account with the paper. Short answer: It's a challenging, unusual workout and I like it.

Ageless With Kathy Smith: Staying Strong

2011-05-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Ageless With Kathy Smith: Staying Strong

WHO CAN DO THIS: Note that it’s staying strong, not getting strong. Not for beginners.

THE BREAKDOWN: Holy cow, Kathy Smith is 60 years old?! She’s looking so good, I’ll forgive the Botox. Certainly her body looks better than mine does—or even did when I was half that age. And oh boy, she did stay strong…this is not a workout for weaklings.

I like Kathy Smith so I feel kinda bad that I don’t like this DVD.

Four 15 minute segments work arms, legs, glutes and core--hard. Weights, squats, lunges, leg lifts, some balance, some jumps. It’s mostly pretty standard stuff with lots of reps; even 15 little minutes get a little tedious. The 12-minute "Bonus Stretch" is so lackluster I turned it off and freestyled.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Sweat and lots of it.

BUT IS IT FUN? Do you find broccoli fun? Then you’ll have fun.

WHEN IT'S OVER: Your muscles will tell you that it did the job, no doubt about it.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Light weights.

FINAL WORD: Not bad, just dull. Doubt I’ll do it again.

Kristi Yamaguchi Power Workout

2011-04-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

I reviewed this for The Dallas Morning News. Short answer: thumbs up. You'll need subscriber or member access to read the whole thing here.

10 Minute Solution Hip Hop Dance Mix

2011-04-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

I started out writing these reviews for The Dallas Morning News, and now I'm back in there. What goes around comes around or something like that.

Read the review of 10 Minute Solution Hip Hop Dance Mix here.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through to Amazon from here.

Product Review: Deo-Go

2011-02-16T07:59:00.000-08:00

Not that I want everyone thinking about my armpits, but these are the sacrifices I make to serve you better.

I received a press release for a product called Deo-Go, which is supposed to remove deodorant stains from clothes. My husband and I refer to this as a T-shirt getting “pitted out.”

I requested a sample of Deo-Go to see if it could extend the life of my T-shirts/fitness wear. I can tolerate only so much pitting out, even if I’m just working out.

The challenge I presented this product was mighty-- two very old, very beloved souvenir shmattes—a white T-shirt from Cowgirl University that's about six years old, and an eight-year-old gold T-shirt from Skagway, Alaska. Both have been worn to death.

I used Deo-Go on one pit of each shirt, first spraying, then washing in OxiClean, then drying, and repeating.

Deo-Go works.

The results are more obvious on white T-shirt than the gold one, and I strongly recommend (as the directions specify) first testing Deo-Go in an inconspicuous spot on the garment. It did appear to very slightly lighten the color of the gold shirt. But considering the general disgusting factor of an eight-year-old pitted-out T-shirt, that’s no big deal.

I plan to start using Deo-Go on favorite T-shirts before they reach the revolting stage and set records for world’s oldest T-shirts still in frequent rotation.

Pretty obvious which side got the Deo-Go.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs and other products by clicking through to Amazon from here. For more information on Deo-Go, click here.

The Self-Compassion Diet

2011-01-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

I did something radically different (for me) this morning.

Instead of wolfing a bowl of cereal while hunched over my computer—I’m busy, who has time to eat?--I closed my laptop, gazed out the window, and ate my shredded oats in yogurt one square at a time. I tasted it, enjoyed its crunch, and imagined its course from mouth to stomach.

Every time I felt myself tensing up (tick-tock, tick-tock, work is waiting!) I glanced at the clock. My little breakfast took all of six minutes. Which means I must finish off my breakfast cereal in two or three minutes, eating at my usual pace. Wow. Do I even chew?

I’m trying to learn mindful eating, and it’s not easy. But I have come to believe that really paying attention to our body’s hunger and satiation cues, to our food, and to our own cravings is key to having a healthy relationship with food. And that (along with exercise, of course) leads to a better body without a lot of deprivation.

That’s why I’m going off-script today to talk about a book called The Self-Compassion Diet: A Step-by-Step Program to Lose Weight With Loving Kindness, written by a colleague and Facebook friend, psychotherapist Jean Fain, LICSW, MSW.

Fain’s program is not a diet, but techniques to change your relationship with food and yourself. It has four components: mindful eating, self-compassion, social support, and hypnosis. (Fain, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a certified hypnotherapist. “No, I can’t make you act like a chicken,” she assures us in her YouTube Mindful Eating Trance video.)

The book, written in a friendly and reassuring tone, alternates theory and practice and is full of quizzes, case studies, guided meditations, “Thinspiration” sidebars, and, rather than an FAQ, NSQs: No Stupid Questions.

As the title indicates, self-compassion is an important player here--that is, not beating yourself up about food, or anything else for that matter. (In describing my usual breakfast pace, above, I first ended the paragraph by writing “And that’s gross.” But that’s not a nice thing to say about myself, and it’s counterproductive. If I’m so gross, will I bother taking care of myself? So I changed it. Self-compassion at work.)

I'm cherry picking through the book, finding ideas and inspiration that speaks to me. For a couple of days I kept a food diary of what I ate, when, my mood, and how hungry I was at the time. From that, I realized (to my surprise) how out of touch I am with my body’s hunger cues. One reason I eat fast is because I ignore my hunger until it hurts. Now, I’m trying to note when I’m hungry and take care of it with "delicious, nutritious food" before my stomach yells at me. (Next learning curve is stopping when I’m full.)

I’m also trying to eat mindfully. The operative word is “trying”--I’m not entirely successful yet, but that’s OK. Self-compassion again. I’m dabbling in the hypnosis part of the program, but I’m still a little tightly wound for that. I’m intrigued, though.

Mindful eating is something you could learn and practice on your own. But like any skill, professional advice and guidance is always useful because you don’t know what you don’t know. I like this book, and it’s already given me food for thought.

Jean Fain’s Video About Mindfully Eating a Twinkie

Give a Gift of Fitness 2010

2010-12-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

Standard disclaimer: If you’re shopping for a gift, make sure the recipient wants a fitness DVD. Otherwise, it’s like saying, “Happy Holidays, Lardass.”

OK, now that we have that out of the way, here are some suggestions from my 2010 favorites. You can also check my suggestions for 2009 and 2008. Some of my oldest DVDs remain in frequent rotation. And you can never have too many, since staving off boredom is key to staying on the program.

Of course, you’ll want to package this gift with my fabulous Suit Up and Show Up T-shirt.

Cardio

I’m all about Dance Off the Inches: Country Line Dance Party these days. It’s just fun and if I really throw myself into it, I feel reasonably worked out by the end.

I should have known all about Billy Blanks, Jr.—inventor of Tae Bo. But I never did Tae Bo and I didn’t know about Blanks until this year, when his Dance With Me Cardio Fit and his Dance With Me: Groove & Burn crossed my desk. Much fun.

Strength

Though it’s aimed at beginners, done with gusto, intermediates will also benefit from Step-by-Step Strength Training with Petra Kolber. One of the many pluses of this DVD is that also provides sensible balance challenges.

Core Fusion Energy Flow Yoga is not for novices in fitness or yoga. It’s athletic, energetic, challenging and effective. Who knew a ten-minute workout could be so hard? (I also recommend Core Fusion Pure Abs and Arms because good upper body workouts are harder to find than lower.)

If you’re already a hardbody, or close enough to aspire to being one Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training is 30 challenging minutes of combined strength and cardio.

Dance Off the Inches: Country Line Dance Party

2010-11-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

THE WORKOUT: Dance Off the Inches: Country Line Dance Party

WHO CAN DO THIS: Beginner friendly—not too taxing, not too tricky.

THE BREAKDOWN: Dressed in Daisy Dukes, cowboy shirt tied to reveal her midriff, straw cowboy hat, and braids, instructor Amy Blackburn looks a little like a refugee from a girly mag. She’s also very low key, at one point emitting what has to be history’s most laconic “Yee-haw.”

No matter, this is a fun little workout: three easy 10-minute dances (plus warm-up and cool-down) with kicks and shuffles and sneaker scoots that feel more dancey than exercise-y. If you can’t pick up the steps right away (and I found most of them pretty easy to get), this series includes a step guide that breaks everything down. Blackburn’s cueing is excellent. This works primarily lower body and core, since most moves are done with thumbs hooked in your waistband, country-style.

The music, as always, is a bland approximation of the theme, which is a pity, as always.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: You sweat out what you put in and I’ve managed to work up a sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yep.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Daisy Dukes and cowboy hat are optional and yes, it’s done in sneakers, not boots. You’ll need enough uncarpeted floor space to go about four steps in every direction.

FINAL WORD: Fun and different enough from other cardio dance routines to make it a great addition to a fitness DVD library.

Don't forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through to Amazon from here.

Billy Blanks Jr.: Dance With Me Groove & Burn

2010-11-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

THE WORKOUT: Billy Blanks Jr: Dance With Me Groove & Burn

WHO CAN DO THIS: Easy enough for beginners, fun enough for intermediates. I found a couple of steps a little bit tricky to master, but not terribly.

THE BREAKDOWN: Three 10-minute dances—disco, African, and Latin—with warm-up and cool down. Each dance ends with a short toning “blast.” The DVD is customizable, so you can program the segments you want to do, and the order. You can also turn off Billy Blanks’ instruction if you want and just listen to the music. Not that the music is so great, but options are always nice.

I’ve been enjoying this DVD tremendously—well, most of it, at least. I can do the disco and African segments but things go horribly wrong every time I try the Latin segment, so I’ve been programming that one out. (This is an ongoing problem for me. I just don't have the Latin beat in my blood.) I also stick mostly with the low-impact alternative, to save both my knees and the bric-a-brac, since I can shake the floor with too much leaping around.

The routines are built slowly enough but energetically and the steps are fun. The dancers are much less distracting than they are in the last Billy Blanks workout I reviewed. Blanks has a likeable, happy vibe and his cuing is good. The cardio toning segments are a good touch—arm toning after the disco segment (ouch), lotsa squats after the African segment, thigh toning after the Latin segment.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I can work up a good sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? Absolutely.

WHEN IT'S OVER: I’m not in peak condition at the moment, so two segments (done energetically) plus warm-up and cool down leave me pleasantly wobbly.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Most of the workout can be done on a fairly small area of uncarpeted floor, although parts of the Latin segment takes more floor space than I have to go forward and back.

FINAL WORD: I’ve been doing this one lots and probably will do it lots more.

Suit Up and Walk: Good Greasy Music Mix

2010-11-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

Dipping into my collection of favorite walking mixes, I give you one of my all-time favorites--I've used it for years and have yet to tire of it. I call it Good Greasy Walk. Honestly, I don't know what that means. I don't know what I mean by "greasy" or why I consider these songs "greasy" but there it is. I just write this stuff, I'm not responsible for it.

In any case, this is paced for a brisk hour-long walk. So suit up, plug in, and take it outside.

There's Something Going On -- Frida

New Kid in Town -- The Eagles

Steady As She Goes -- The Raconteurs

More Than a Woman -= Bee Gees

Daniel -- Elton John

Shame -- Evelyn "Champagne" King

I've Got to use My Imagination -- Gladys Knight and the Pips

This Will Be -- Natalie Cole

I Wanna Get Next To You -- Rose Royce

Stuck In the Middle With You -- Stealers Wheel

Bang a Gong -- T Rex

Young Pilgrams -- The Shins

Smells Like Teen Spirit -- Nirvana

Carpetbaggers -- Jenny Lewis

Everybody's Talkin' -- Harry Nilsson

Beautiful -- Christina Aguilera

Suit Up and Walk: The Country Music Mix

2010-10-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Now for something a little different. Sure, I'm a huge fan of the workout DVD, especially since I live in Texas where it's roughly eight million degrees for seven months out of the year. But right now, we are (finally!) starting to feel that delicious fresh autumn air and it's time to get out, get out, get OUT of the house! So instead of working out in front of the TV, I'm plugging into my iPod and taking my workout to the streets.

I've been fitness walking for many years now. (I don't like the term "power walking." It sounds goofy to me.) I started making walking mixes way back when the only available technology for such things was cassette tape. One mix could take an entire weekend of taping and retaping to perfect. I'm glad those days are gone

So in celebration of autumn, I thought I'd toss out a few fun mixes of some of my favorite walking songs. I aim for songs of a pace you can walk along with, bookended with warm-up and cool down songs.

And because I'm That Kind Of Girl, I'm going to start with a country mix. Some cool country, some dorky country, a little classic country. It's all good. (Well, I like it anyway.) You can click through to buy the songs from Amazon if you are so inclined. More mixes to come.

Amazon.com Widgets

Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training

2010-10-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training

WHO CAN DO THIS: You'll need to know proper form for using light weights.

THE BREAKDOWN: I am not generally Xtreme anything, except maybe hungry, and I tend to be shy about trying DVDs with a seriously ripped trainer on the cover. But despite the Xtremity and Jackie Warner’s intimidating six-pack, I decided that 30 tough minutes might be just the jolt my increasingly complacent workout needed.

Compound moves work the upper and lower body and core simultaneously, which also elevates the heart rate to the fat-burning zone. Each move is done for one minute, and when I say “is done” I mean Warner and her oh-so-fit cohorts Madison and Jericho do it for one minute. I manage 30 seconds before pausing to gasp for a while before gamely trying to rejoin--with varying success.

I used three-pound weights the first time I tried this and had to put them down halfway through each exercise and finish the reps with no weights (as Jericho demonstrates in the modifications). The next time, I used the one-pound weight gloves from 10 Minute Solution Knockout Body! and those worked great. Love those gloves.

Warner is the kind of trainer who exults in making you hate her, which is fine. I prefer that to a trainer who pretends everyone is having fun. The workout is just the right level of tough, for when you want to kick your own ass a little. I particularly like that although it includes lots (and lots and lots and lots) of the dreaded lunges, everything is done at a moderate pace. This gives me time to set up my lunges properly (protecting my wonky knees), and allows me to control my weights rather than flailing.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Very sweaty.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not fun, exactly, but quick and satisfying.

WHEN IT'S OVER: Endorphins, a sense of accomplishment, and wobbly legs.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Light weights, some floor space, and a mat. Warner wears silly, baggy, low-slung shorts, but I don’t think those are necessary.

FINAL WORD: Very nice; a keeper.

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

Dance and Be Fit: Lower Body Burn

2010-09-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Dance and Be Fit: Lower Body Burn

WHO CAN DO THIS: Some dance training would help, but at the very least you should know how not to pull muscles. And bring all your self confidence.

THE BREAKDOWN: I love the dance style of this DVD—it’s like a mix between modern dance and Dean Martin’s Golddiggers. There’s nothing hip-hoppy about it at all and the challenges are grace and long lines more than attitude and flava.

You know right from the warm-up that you’re not in for a run-of-the-mill workout. The warm up is done seated on the floor and manages to be a dance anyway, with straddles, torso contractions, twists with legs swinging side to side. It’s interesting, challenging and uses muscles in a different way from most workouts. Same with the two 20-minute workouts. Although targeting the lower body, choreography includes head, arms, and hands.

I enjoyed the “Heavenly Hips” segment. I’m not sure it will do much to minimize my maximums, but it’s fun and a decent cardio workout. Things kinda fell apart for me in the “Lovely Legs” segment, though, because it has quite possibly the worst cueing ever. The voiceover of fitness pro Kimberly Miguel Mullen says “get ready to…,” while on screen, she and her crew are already doing whatever you’re supposed to prepare for. Steps change quickly with nothing to hang onto so you can prepare (i.e. “Do this eight more times”). Sometimes the cues are just plain wrong, telling you to change when it’s not yet time. Even the music seems off. It seems the voiceover was simply recorded while Mullen was watching the video—it’s more like play-by-play than cueing.

I’ve done Heavenly Hips a couple of times, but didn't make it through Lovely Legs once. The cool down is cool, if a little tricky to keep up with.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Not killer, but you’ll sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? Most of it, yes.

WHEN IT'S OVER: If you’ve done just Heavenly Hips, you might want to pop another DVD in the machine to continue the workout.

GEAR AND APPAREL: The workout is done barefoot. You'll need a fairly large floor space.

FINAL WORD: I like it but wish it were better.

t forget, you can help support this site if you buy your DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Open Sky: The Clutter Code Six Step Organizing System™

2010-09-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

Clutter—particularly paper clutter—is an ongoing struggle for me. Thus my addiction to Hoarders and Clean House—they make me feel like I have no problem at all.

So I got my hands on a review copy of these four 15-minute programs (each also includes a book and worksheet), which cover kitchen, “mud room” (or entrance foyer), bedroom, and paper. Each program customizes the same basic six-step system;

The Dream: Take stock of the problems and decide what you want the area to look like, how should it function.
The Plan: Figure out how and when you’ll do the work, who will help, what your priorities are.
The Sort: List categories and sort everything.
The Purge: Get rid of crap (my word, not theirs).
The Re-Org: Set up a system to follow.
Maintenance: Figure out how to keep things organized.

These programs focus on families with kids, and Mom bears the burden of trying to get things organized. (So what else is new?) You’re there in the house when likable host Laura Earl Middleton turns up to help Hapless Mom, who has who just spilled a jar of spaghetti sauce on all her paperwork. There’s lots of shtick—the paper program is called Paper Trails and has a cowboy theme. Although a lot of it is just filler, I found it entertaining and pretty funny. (i.e. Your refrigerator “Food goes in and other life forms come out.”) Maybe I'm just easily amused.

Like many people with organizing issues, I read a lot about organizing but do only a fraction of what I’ve learned. Still, I’ve picked up lots of good tips here and there and put them to use, making incremental improvements in my life.

I like the whole paper sorting process provided here, particularly the no-brainer (except I never thought of it) tip of securing sorted piles with rubber bands so that a random event doesn’t put you back to square one. (Especially useful if halfway through the sort you get distracted by a shiny object and wander off, as I tend to do.)

I also appreciate the tip I actually picked up elsewhere and use often: Photograph (or scan) items you’re keeping for just sentimental reasons, and toss the item itself. Here, it’s a suggestion for dealing with kids’ artwork—-that, or send it to the grandparents, which is just kinda passing the buck, if you ask me. (And guess what? Send it to the grandparents and you’ll be dealing with it again someday.)

And I like the idea of keeping all your BBQ necessities together in a plastic bin in the fridge so you can easily pull them out. And it’s going to be a long time before I get the Closet Pokey out of my head. You put the new shirt in, you take the old shirts out, you put them in a basket and donate them all about, you do the Closet Pokey and you keep the clutter out, that’s what it’s all about.

The books that come with the program include other tips-—for example, before you buy that new kitchen gizmo, ask yourself how often you’ll use it once the novelty has worn off.

So, generally a fun program with good tips. Implementing them is another issue, of course. For motivation, I recommend Hoarders and Clean House. You don’t want to be like those people, do you?

The Clutter Code Six Step Organizing System costs $30. Buy Now

Core Fusion Energy Flow Yoga

2010-09-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Exhale Core Fusion: Energy Flow Yoga

WHO CAN DO THIS: You need plenty of yoga experience.

THE BREAKDOWN: Though not specifically aimed at people in their 40s and up, Core Fusion workouts are a great example of techniques that are challenging—for those of us who have been working out for a long time—but harder on muscles than joints, which is a good thing. Joints get temperamental as we age.

This is pumped-up yoga for energy and strength, not tranquility. (Except the tranquility that follows a good workout.) Five 10-minute workouts include two athletic sun salutation series, a core and glutes segment, some qui dong and hip openers. You'll do push ups, standing splits, warriors, balances, twists, and more. Even the bonus closing stretch and Savasana segment is energetic. Everything moves along at a steady but not frantic pace, and if you manage to fit in just one 10-minute segment you can still feel like you’ve accomplished something because these people don't mess around. I like doing three plus the Savasana, but I don't know that I've managed to do all of any single 10-minute segment yet without taking a rest now and then. That's OK, gives me something to work towards.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Yes indeedy.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not party hat fun, but very satisfying.

WHEN IT'S OVER: My legs are a little wobbly, no kidding.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Mat, blocks, strap.

FINAL WORD: I’m a fan.

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

Keeping Fit 3 Pack

2010-09-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Keeping Fit 3 Pack

WHO CAN DO THIS: Intermediate and advanced exercisers who don't need to enjoy their workout.

THE BREAKDOWN: Three DVDs—Strength, Cardio, Pilates—with 10 five-minute workouts each. The series is designed, according to the package, to help you stay fit through your 40s, 50s, and 60s. Being one of those types of people, I’m interested in workouts targeting our Very Special Needs. And fitness pro Andrea Metcalf is cut and not 20 years old, which is cool. I was rooting for these workouts.

But I hated them so much, I assumed I’d missed the point. Although I don't always watch intro segments, which often are just blah-blah, I watched one of these specifically hoping Metcalf would express a philosophy that would explain why these workouts were better than I thought. But it was just blah-blah, and she lost me entirely when she said each five-minute workouts provides “simple motions that incorporate both upper and lower body and target the midsection” while demonstrating a move combining rows, lateral lifts, and deep curtsies. All at once. Nothing simple about that. Every limb is going in a different direction. With hand weights.

Each five-minute segment tries to pack a full workout into a frenetic pace. I flailed around, missing my nose with my three-pound weights, twisting knees, tripping on my own feet. I’m usually pretty good at picking up workouts quickly but I'm getting to the age where I worry about hurting myself. This program seems like an injury waiting to happen.

And when you think about it (I grumbled to myself as I bumbled and shvitzed), why would anyone want to do a five-minute workout, anyway? If you’ve bothered to suit up and show up, you’re gonna wanna put in more than five minutes. But the workouts are so frenetic, doing more than one five-minute segment isn’t much fun. I suppose you could mix and match from the three DVDs, but that’s a lot of changing DVDs.

FWIW, the Pilates DVD is OK, ~~but you can't buy just that one.~~ and will be sold separately, though there are better ones out there.

With all due respect to good intentions…fail.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Yeah.

BUT IS IT FUN? No.

WHEN IT'S OVER: My knees hurt.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Light weights, mat, floor. Whatever.

FINAL WORD: Feh.

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

Dance With me Cardio Fit

2010-09-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Dance With Me Cardio Fit

WHO CAN DO THIS: You don’t have to be fit but you do need rhythm.

THE BREAKDOWN: Billy Blanks, Jr., has an abundance of happy, as does his wife, Sharon, who dances next to him in these three fast-paced 10-minute dance workouts—hip-hop, country, and Bollywood—interspersed with two minute faster-paced cardio blasts of jumping jacks, ponies, and such.

The first time I did this DVD, much profanity and hate occurred. The problem is busyness. An overly busy background makes it hard to see what’s happening; overly flava-full dancers confuse the choreography; the sometimes haphazard cueing is hard to hear over the music.

So I tripped over my own feet while I fought to focus on choreography that moves pretty fast, uses feet, arms, head, and chest with flava, and even adds a little vocalizing here and there—a huh in the hip-hop, a yee-haw in the country. I was distracted by the dancers, and then there was Sharon getting all up in my face. I wanted everything and everyone to ratchet back a notch or two.

Often I’ll drop a DVD that frustrates me on the first go-around. But something about this one appealed to me so I gave it another shot, focusing on Billy and the basic steps and ignoring the other dancers. And that time, I got the choreography right and had lots of fun. The steps are fresh and dancey and once I’d mastered them, I got overly flava-ful myself. Well with the hip-hop and country, anyway. My first experience with Bollywood was so humiliatingly awful, I didn’t have the heart to try again yet. Maybe another day. Maybe.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Pretty sweaty if you do the two-minute cardio blasts. Otherwise, just slightly sweaty.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yep, if you give it a chance.

WHEN IT'S OVER: I felt good, though I probably should work a little longer.

GEAR AND APPAREL: You’ll need enough uncarpeted floor space to go four steps forward, eight grapevines side to side.

FINAL WORD: Thumbs up. And, by the way, if your cable TV offers Video On Demand (Comcast, Time Warner and others) you can try before you buy this workout.

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

Element: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners

2010-08-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Element: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners

WHO CAN DO THIS: Beginners to Pilates, not beginners to exercising.

THE BREAKDOWN: About 20 minutes of Pilates-based cardio and 20 minutes of mat work add up to a just-hard-enough workout by Brooke Siler, who owns the AB Pilates Studio in New York City and has trained Kristen Dunst, Lauren Hutton, Madonna, blablabla.

Pilates is like being beaten bloody with soft pillows. It looks so easy, hurts so bad…good...bad. The cardio workout is done standing, with big but highly controlled twists, bends, squats and lunges. Although I have done only a smattering of Pilates, the mat work seems straightforward and traditional—the hundred, roll ups, leg circles and stretches, sawing and rocking, a few push-ups. It’s relatively painless, in an exhausting way—it goes quickly and, best of all, feels effective.

Siler’s movements (done silently with voiceover and mildly irritating music) are mercilessly precise, but the high bar she sets is motivating. Her instructions are clear and expressive; at various times you draw circles on the ceiling, crash like wave, and brush crumbs from your thigh.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Plenty of exertion, plenty of sweat. Surprisingly. But then again, I live in Dallas and it’s summer. I’d be sweating anyway.

BUT IS IT FUN? Sure, why not.

WHEN IT'S OVER: Your muscles will be talkin' to you.

GEAR AND APPAREL: A mat or carpeted floor.

FINAL WORD: Like it a lot.

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

Aligned and Well: From the Shoulders Up

2010-08-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Aligned and Well: From the Shoulders Up

WHO CAN DO THIS: Anyone can, and it's good for everyone.

THE BREAKDOWN: This isn’t exactly a workout; it’s an educational product. Watch it, learn how to do the stretches and alignments, and then make them part of your life.

This is one of a series of Aligned and Well DVDs by Katy Bowman, M.S., a kinesiologist and biomedical scientist—she studies the engineering of our bodies and how we move. These prescriptive programs target various problems, including diabetes, foot pain, pelvic exercises for men and women, painful hands, balance, and more. (You can see samples of all the DVDs at the Aligned and Well website.)

“From the Shoulders Up” is help for headaches, eye strain, “foggy brain,” and a lot of other things suffered by those of us who hunch over a computer all day. (Or a steering wheel. Or a school desk. Or...?)

Bowman is straightforward and informative, explaining what good alignment looks like, why it helps, and how to get there. She demonstrates the exercises in an exercise studio in heaven: a square of wood floor enclosed by filmy white curtains. Pretty.

The moves are simple, feel good, and seem smart. I like making floor angels, and think everyone needs to learn “head ramping,” to set your head properly atop your neck and shoulders.

Once you view and learn the information and simple exercises you may not need the DVD anymore, but then you can do someone a gooder and pass it on.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: N/A.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s pleasant and informative.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll be more aware of how your body works.

GEAR AND APPAREL: A bolster or pillow(s).

FINAL WORD: I may check out others in the series, perhaps for feet or hands.

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

The Official Suit Up and Show Up T-Shirt

2010-08-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

Suit Up and Show Up T-shirt by nyctexan
Browse T shirt T-Shirts

This zaftig Victorian babe isn't skipping her workout, even though she seems to have forgotten her sports bra. Wear this to the gym and motivate everyone who sees you!

You know you want one.

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

Step-by-Step Strength Training with Petra Kolber

2010-05-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT:Step By Step Strength Training with Petra Kolber

WHO CAN DO THIS: Beginners can do it but, with the right weights and attitude, intermediates will find it useful too.

THE BREAKDOWN: So much going for this DVD. It has four strength and toning workouts: two 20-minute full-body workouts; a ten-minute upper body; a ten-minute lower body, and a bonus five minutes for abs. It's just enough to be effective but short enough to not be as incredibly boring as strength training can be. Plus, I always like Petra Kolber’s workouts. Every one I've tried has been snappy, efficient, and creative.

One full-body workout combines upper and lower body moves—your basic lifts and squats. The other adds balance challenges, which is a useful novelty. Balance is increasingly important as we age, and it can be improved with practice. Here, Kolber has you stand on one and foot and then the other as you lift and squat, and adds some diagonal moves that further challenge balance. Very smart.

The 10-minute segments are nothing earth shaking, but Petra is chipper and helpful and it all goes by quickly and pleasantly. Five-minutes for abs is not a lot, but at least you can feel good about yourself if you tack it on to whatever else you do. Sort of.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: The more segments you do, the more you sweat, of course, But one 20-minute segment, if you really try, can give you a good glow.

BUT IS IT FUN? Fun enough. It’s not not fun.

WHEN IT'S OVER: If you’re hit-or-miss about strength training, as I tend to be, you might feel your muscles for the rest of the day.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Light weights (I used five pounds), a chair, and a mat. And you don’t even really need the chair if your balance is good. Or the mat, actually, if your floor is carpeted.

FINAL WORD: Yay.

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

Keeping Fit in Your 50s

2010-01-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

THE WORKOUT: Keeping Fit in Your 50s - Aerobics, Keeping Fit in Your 50s - Strength, Keeping Fit in Your 50s - Flexibility

WHO CAN DO THIS: Anyone

THE BREAKDOWN: I was excited to hear about this three-DVD collection. Like many people in their 50s, I've been working out since the 1980s, when Ken Cooper coined the term “aerobics” and Jane Fonda first put on legwarmers. But, also like many of my peers, I find that programs aimed at people half my age can be rough on some parts of my anatomy--in my case, my knees, which have been doing their job for a long time and are wearing out. So I thought this program would factor in our changing bodies to help us keep active ("Keeping Fit...") while not hurting ourselves.

Well, no. The name for this series should be “Getting Fit in Your 50s,” since it is basic, basic, basic, presented in a Romper Room voice by exercise physiologist Robyn Stuhr. Model Cindy Joseph also demonstrates, but she looks awfully fit. She probably isn't starting from scratch, either.

The workouts, backed by throbbing porn-movie music, are repetitive and tedious. I managed to go into a Zen state during the strength training with weights, but I had to push myself through the aerobics and the flexibility program was so drab, I gave up. If they're trying to inspire couch potatoes, who might benefit from this basic training, shouldn't they have made the workouts a little bit fun? Shouting “Woo!” and “Yeehaw!” doesn't help. And for me, advanced add-ons weren't enough to salvage the workouts.

And perhaps most misguided are all those lunges. Lunges! Even Jane Fonda in her legwarmer days hated those, and here they go on and on and on and on … oy, my aging knees. Of all the standard exercises, that's the one for which I most need a substitute. Besides, after all these years working out, haven’t we earned something less odious?

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Yes, I got sweaty.

BUT IS IT FUN? No, I didn't have fun.

WHEN IT'S OVER: I was pretty sore for a couple of days after all those lunges, lunges, lunges. I have no doubt these workouts would do their job if I ever did them again.

GEAR AND APPAREL: The strength workout requires weights, a strap or towel, a chair.

FINAL WORD: I still think a series tailored to people in their 50s is a great idea.

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

Fighting Workout Boredom

2009-12-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

Here's why I love having a library of DVDs, and why I love 10-minute formats.

My workout this week is a little cha-cha warm-up with Dance off the Inches: Dance It off Ballroom. Then I get some upper body with a chapter from 10 Minute Solution: Knockout Body. Then 10 minutes of lower body with 10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix. That's 30 varied and somewhat vigorous minutes.

It's a beautiful day so I look forward to walking the dog later. (He insists.) That will add another 30 minutes to an hour, depending on my mood and schedule. And if I need to get the kinks out later, I'll try to squeeze in a few yoga poses.

Variety works for me.

For my full reviews of the DVDs:

Dance it Off Ballroom
Knockout Body
Fat Burning Dance Mix

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 '09

2009-12-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

First, my standing disclaimer when it comes to buying fitness videos as gifts: Be sure the recipient actually, actively wants a fitness DVD. Otherwise, it’s just an ugly hint.

That said, here’s a gift list of DVDs that I’ve tried this year (or that I tried too late to put on last year’s list) and would recommend. And since a good workout never goes out of style (not so the fashions), check out last year’s list as well.

Just starting out

Nobody cues better than Petra Colber which makes Cardio for Beginners that much better for beginners. Broken into two ten-minute segments (one dance, one “athletic”) and two 20-minute segments (ditto), the workout is fun and useful.

Hemalayaa is one of the more appealing fitness pros out there and her Bollywood Booty is just a silly fun way to get the heart going.

Dance Off the Inches Dance it off Ballroom also makes the workout more frolic than work for the dance-friendly.

Needs new motivation

I love Ten Minute Solution Knockout Body. You get to punch out some aggression, the weighted gloves are a fun gizmo, and it’s a good upper body workout. Because the gloves are included, this is a gift with a little extra flash.

Fat Burning Fusion is an interesting Pilates flow that melds strength, stretch and cardio. Familiarity with Pilates and yoga are a plus.

I don’t know about you but, for me, lifting weights is tedious. But brisk and efficient Kathy Smith: Total Body Lift makes the job less onerous.

Only the strong survive

Jeanette Jenkins will charm the pants off you while kicking your butt. Jeanette Jenkins Sexy Arms, Abs & Legs is a full hour of smiling through the pain. “How do you think Madonna got so hot?” Jeanette taunts amiably.

I can’t finish all the reps of anything in the excruciatingly subtle Core Fusion Pure Abs and Arms, but I keep trying. This is not only a tough workout, but you need to know how your muscles work to do it justice.

Element: Yoga for Weight Loss is not my favorite-ever yoga DVD, but it’s a sensible, brisk flow that would surely live up to its promise if you stick to the program.

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

Dance Off the Inches: Dance it off Ballroom

2009-12-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

THE WORKOUT: Dance Off the Inches: Dance it off Ballroom

WHO CAN DO THIS: This low-impact cardio workout is suitable for beginners who enjoy mastering footwork.

THE BREAKDOWN: Ballroom dancer Kristina Milova starts the workout with a fairly slow cha-cha, moves into a moderately paced salsa and culminates with a brisk jive segment, each about ten minutes long. She builds each routine slowly and if you have experience with dance aerobics you’ll probably be able to master the steps fairly easily. A step guide can help with any steps that give you trouble—which for me was the entire salsa segment. The cooldown ends with a flourish: the ballroom dancer bow. I plan to master that for use in a variety of situations.

My only quibble is with the cueing—it’s always a beat too late and sometimes unclear. Which beginning are we taking it from--the beginning of the entire routine or of the segment she’s teaching? And if we’re going back to the very beginning, a little reminder of where we start would help. I suppose if you do this DVD regularly you’d learn and this would no longer matter.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: If you’re not a rank beginner you’ll want to give it your all and do all three segments to work up a sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? It is.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll have a glow.

GEAR AND APPAREL: You need enough uncarpeted floor to go about four steps forward and side to side. But you can fudge it in a smaller space.

FINAL WORD: A pleasant little workout for anyone who doesn’t really like working out.

Remember, you can help support this site if you buy DVDs by clicking through the link above.

Exhale: Core Fusion - Pure Abs & Arms

2009-12-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

THE WORKOUT: Exhale: Core Fusion - Pure Abs & Arms

WHO CAN DO THIS: Not a rank beginner. An aspiring intermediate, certainly. An insane hardbody, yes, you too.

THE BREAKDOWN: This is all so low-key and quiet; no jumping around, no flailing, just voiceover instructions and lots of little bitty intense moves that … oh my, they hurt. I have yet to complete all the reps in any one of the ten-minute segments. That’s right. I can’t complete ten minutes. Core Fusion creators Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp very gently and genteely kick my ass.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m always in the market for upper-body workouts and the chapters in this one are Upper Body Weights; Upper Body; Abdominals; Abdominal Curl with Leg Variations (that even sounds hard); Upper Body, Back, and Hip Stretches. The workout is done barefoot (they’re wearing socks—maybe the studio is cold) with light hand weights and a resistance band, which comes with the DVD.

I’m a big fan of the band. For some reason, I find it much less tedious than hand weights. Still, I can hang with their weight segment—even if I don’t agree that moves working more than one set of muscles are “double the fun,” as Fred claims. For him, maybe; I just keep my eye on the prize and push through.

The second upper body segment uses the resistance band. As with the first segment, there’s nothing tricky to most of the moves; you gotcher hammer curls, yer rows, yer flies, yer triceps (“one of the defining moments of the section,” Fred says).

Exercises in the abdominals segments, which also use the resistance band, are more unusual. Some of the moves barely move—they’re about “strength and stillness.” The second abs section ups the exertion. Even Fred admits to “burning.” Reminders about form are helpful, as are variations for the weaker or stronger. The final stretch is nothing fancy, just pleasant.

Sit and watch this DVD and it looks like these two aren’t doing much. Try it and you realize that every little bit hurts.The presentation is pretty but I could live without the tedious porn-soundtrack music.

By the way, Core Fusion is a proprietary class of the Exhale Spa, so if you have one near you, you can try these moves in a class setting.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Who would think moving so little could make you sweat? It’s the sweat of exertion.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not fun like dance aerobics but not tedious.

WHEN IT'S OVER: Ooh. Ouch. Eek. Can’t wait to do it again.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Light hand weights; resistance band (included); mat (optional); towel or yoga block.

FINAL WORD: A big YES for this one.

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

Yoga Emergency--Arms & Shoulders

2009-10-26T13:43:00.000-07:00

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.

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

Element: Yoga for Weight Loss

2009-10-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

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.

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Element: Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga

2009-09-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

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.

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Fat Burning Fusion

2009-08-10T16:11:00.000-07:00

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.

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Yoga to the Rescue for Neck & Shoulders

2009-08-09T10:06:00.000-07:00

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.

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10 Minute Solution KnockOut Body!

2009-07-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

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.

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Hemalayaa Bollywood Booty

2009-05-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

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.

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Jeanette Jenkins Sexy Arms, Abs & Legs

2009-02-24T08:16:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-29T09:47:00.000-08:00

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.

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Kathy Smith Total Body Lift

2008-12-19T12:32:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-13T20:03:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

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

2008-09-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

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.

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

Element: AM & PM Yoga for Beginners

2008-09-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

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.

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

10 Minute Solution: Pilates Perfect Body

2008-09-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-04T16:15:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-23T15:13:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

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 alternative 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

2008-06-15T11:38:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

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.

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

Dance Off the Inches: Sizzling Salsa

2008-06-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Dance Off the Inches Sizzling Salsa ($10.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Suitable for moderately coordinated beginners.

THE BREAKDOWN: The low-impact cardio workout is three eight-ish, 10-ish minute Latin-flavor dances—the Spicy Salsa Mix, the Latin Lime Twist and the Mucho Mambo Combo, plus warm-up and cool-down. Let your hips get loose for the very basic choreography that gets no more complicated than a little cha-cha-cha here and mambo there. I had to delay adding arms to a few steps for a while, until I could get my feet to cooperate, but I got all the steps the first time through without consulting the Step Guide.

However, the 17-minute Step Guide is one of my favorite features of this series, since it means the workouts can move briskly without long breakdowns of steps.

The setting for the workout is a fitness studio. Instructor Stella Sandoval is assisted by a chorus line of four toned missies who dance with varying levels of sizzle—which is nice for those of us who are only fair-to-middlin’ sizzlin’. I didn’t feel too terribly inadequate, sizzle-wise, comparing myself to a couple of the girls. (Toned tummy-wise is a different story.)

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I danced as hard as I could and still worked up only a light sweat.

THE ENERGY LEVEL: This workout—as with too many dance workouts—would benefit from better, louder, livelier music. The low murmur with a drab beat is disappointing and sorely lacking in sizzle. Everyone knows music is motivating--why don't these companies invest in this key component?

BUT IS IT FUN? The dances are a great deal of fun because they’re simple and leave plenty of room for tapping your inner hoochie mama. But alas—the drab music is a liability.

WHEN IT'S OVER: If you’re new to exercising, you should feel energized. If you’re moderately fit, you’ll want to keep going. I recommend a little one-on-one with Tamilee.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Fitness shoes and an uncarpeted space with room to move four to six steps forward and back.

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

DanceX Everybody's Workout Total Body Cardio

2008-05-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: DanceX "Everybody's Workout" Total Body Cardio ($24.95 at DanceX Fitness)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Think you can't dance? Here's a dance aerobics workout for the dance-impaired. Songs are short and moves are simple with room to personalize and increase or decrease the cardio challenge.

THE BREAKDOWN: Fitness pro and former street dancer Kenn Kihiu is adorable, with a blinding smile and a happy motivational style. The workout is a series of short dance segments, a mishmash that includes Zulu, Irish, disco, salsa, the twist and more done to music that could be louder in spots but is appealing enough to help inject a little dance into the simple moves. Mr. Kihiu's accent (he grew up in Kenya) makes cues a little difficult to understand at times, but if you miss a cue, catching up is a cinch.

Segments are 1 to 3 ½ minutes long, adding up to 45 minutes of high-energy, low-impact cardio that works the heart and other muscles. Mr. Kihiu's creative approach injects strength training. For example, he'll work your shoulders by having you hold your arms perpendicular to the floor while shaking your booty to the music.
Sound easy? At first, maybe. A bouncy pony step to work the calves also is easy at first but goes on and on until the burn sets in.

A bonus 8-minute abs segment is creative, too. Also included on the DVD is a motivational talk from Mr. Kihiu and basic nutrition tips.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Beginners can keep energy low; fitter exercisers can push themselves harder. Both will get sweaty.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yes, it is. Minimal concentration is necessary to follow the steps, so you can let yourself go and work that body.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You'll have a nice post-aerobics glow.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Aerobics shoes and a small amount of space because moves don't cover much ground. It may be wise to scope out a sliver of uncarpeted floor for the twist segment so you don't wrench a knee.

LAST WORD: I like it have done it many times since reviewing it.

The Best of Tamilee: Buns, Abs & Arms Workout

2008-05-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: The Best of Tamilee Buns, Abs & Arms Workout. $19.95 at Amazon

WHO CAN DO THIS: The question is: who can do all of this? Anyone can try, but when you can keep up with Tamilee, you can feel yourself fit.

THE BREAKDOWN: Tamilee “Buns of Steel” Webb is old school—I’ve been working out with her videos since the early 1990s. “Buns of Steel” has worked its way into our pop culture lexicon. Giggle if you must, but while fads and fitness cupcakes come and go, ageless Tamilee can still crank out a solid workout.

This compilation of exercises from Buns of Steel, Abs of Steel and Arms of Steel videos are quickie workouts that actually burn. Using a step and three-pound weights, I didn’t manage to make it through the 15 minutes of buns exercises without a couple of breaks and some gasping. Same with the abs, which is a variety of crunches that go on and on and on. I did make it straight through the arms segment but it hurt. It hurt so good.

Even better, the arms workout includes butt, legs and core strengthening and the butt workout uses some arms, which means that each 15 minutes goes a long way. I also appreciate that Tamilee points out the contribution genes play in her six-pack abs—she won’t promise that if you do the deliciously sadistic segment you’ll have abs of steel like hers, only that you’ll get stronger. Tamilee, the truth-teller.

Along with a brief warm-up and stretch, Tamilee plugs a yoga DVD by including a 15-minute strengthening yoga workout with Stacy McCarthy. Sundry up and down dogs, warriors and triangles require familiarity with yoga, but the sample is a nice little quickie workout and provides a promising glimpse of the full DVD, Stacey McCarthy: Yoga Body - Lean and Strong. (Learn more at Stacy McCarthy’s website, yoganamastacy.com – wacka wacka.)

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Lots of sweating and gasping and even some cussing as I tried to keep up with Tamilee.

THE ENERGY LEVEL: Lots of energy required even with no jumping or dancing.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s fun knowing that you are getting a proper workout in such a short time.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You might be wobbly and sore. You might also look forward to the next time.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Hand weights (you decide how strong you’re feeling), optional step and mat.

FINAL WORD: I have lots of DVDs I could be talked out of. This one is a keeper and a do-er. I love it. Right on, right on Tamilee. (P.S. I just sneezed and felt it in my abs.)

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Abs Diet for Women Workout

2008-05-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: The Abs Diet for Women Workout
$12.99 at Amazon

WHO CAN DO THIS: You’ll want workout experience since no time is spent on proper form-—an oversight especially noticeable in the pilates and yoga chapters.

THE BREAKDOWN: This peculiar but likable DVD does a little bit of a lot of things—it may be just a teaser lure you into the online interactive Abs Diet program, which presumably is more in-depth.

Exquisitely taut-bodied Jessica, Kat and Madison lead us through the quick menu of workouts. Jessica leads the workout, blond ponytail a-bobbing, and she's low key and pleasant.

The first of two five-minute abs segments is traditional crunches, the second is more challenging and creative, using weights and balance. Both wisely include back strengthening.

The 20-minute cardio interval segment is straightforward almost to a fault, with intervals of easy jogging alternating with intervals of increasing (up to 90 seconds) and then decreasing durations of jumping jacks, high-knee runs, jumping jack squats and other no-brainer but heart-pumping moves. (Bring on the cast-iron sports bra for this one.) It’s not a gripping workout but it’s definitely effective, with no learning curve.

The 16-minute strength segment is my favorite. I find weight lifting tedious and am always happy to find a quick, efficient program. The combo moves here work all body parts in a short time.

The four-and-a-half minute pilates segment is hard work for the core, although because I don’t practice pilates I can’t judge whether I’m doing the moves effectively. The yoga segment is a big honkin' waste of four minutes. If you practice yoga, it’s unsatisfying and if you don’t, you won’t know what to do. Skip it.

The final segment touches on the "diet" part of the abs diet, and any diet that recommends peanut butter is OK by me.

A quibble: Why did they tag the warm-up on to several segments? If you do more than one segment, you only need the warm-up once. You can skip it with the push of a button, but it’s annoying.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: The cardio interval and strength segments should get you glowing, at the very least. The others, not so much, although the abs workouts definitely burned.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not exactly fun. But not grueling, either. Let’s call it “benign.”

WHEN IT'S OVER: Depending on what and how many segments you’ve done, you’ll either be sore and sweaty or ready to move on to another DVD to complete your workout. Or kidding yourself. Five minutes doth not a workout make.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Mat, aerobic shoes and hand weights.

FINAL WORD: I’ll probably never do the cardio interval, pilates or yoga segments again, but the others will enter my rotation.

Prevention Fitness Systems Drop It with Dance

2008-04-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Prevention Fitness Systems Drop It with Dance ($12.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: The women on the DVD can do it. I’m not convinced anyone else can.

THE BREAKDOWN: I do every DVD I review here all the way through and sometimes that’s a sacrifice. This was one of those times.

I’m not sure which of the three 10-minute dance workouts was most frustrating, the Jazz-Funk, the Hip-Hop (using the term loosely) or the ‘90s Jam. I even got confused during the cool down. Maybe a dancer could pick these steps up but dancers don't need DVD dance workouts.

I enjoy dance workouts and I’m reasonably good at picking up the choreography quickly, but Tabitha D’umo goes too fast, some of the arm movements can be confusing for non-dancers and even the steps I mastered never felt fun—they mostly felt awkward. The view in the mirror confirmed this. The horror, the horror.

On top of that, cuing is not good and the camera doesn’t always show what you need to see to follow the steps. AND the music is a low drone that didn’t even inspire me to freeform dance when I got hopelessly muddled over the steps I was supposed to be doing.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I worked up a slight sheen but I think it was more frustration than exertion. My heart was barely pumping.

BUT IS IT FUN? No. Or did you already figure that out?

WHEN IT'S OVER: Hurl the disk across the room.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Basic aerobics apparel and a few years of dance training.

FINAL WORD: Anyone want this DVD? I’d much rather do 10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix or Dance Workout for Dummies, both of which are five times the fun of this bare-knuckle beating. Now, I'd better go work out...

3-in-1 Total Body Fitness

2008-04-23T12:36:00.001-07:00

THE WORKOUT: 3-in-1 Total Body Fitness with Desi Bartlett($12.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: This isn’t for beginners. The workout moves fast, cueing is sloppy--which can make for flustered, frustrated moments—and no time is wasted on discussion of form or safe handling of weights.

On the other hand, the audio track is in English, Spanish and Spanglish, so it is a multicultural workout.

THE BREAKDOWN: My first thought after pressing play: Wow, that’s colorful. The workout is done on bright fuchsia, purple and blue cubes set on a beach decorated with potted cacti and against an unnaturally blue sky.

My second thought was: My goodness, that music is fast. There’s no slow build here—the workout starts full speed ahead.

My third thought was: Holy cow, that’s some major boobage! Desi Bartlett is stacked.

But that’s neither here nor there.

The DVD has three 20-minute chapters: cardio, strength and flexibility. Choreography is very simple but everything moves fast and off-screen cuing is kind of a mess—by the time the voiceover tells you to prepare for a change, the three women on screen have already changed moves. Catching up isn’t difficult with such easy moves but if you’re easily frustrated, you will get frustrated. The workout is mostly low-impact with lots of emphasis on squats, lunges and plies. There are a few small jumps here and there but they’re easily left out if you choose. It’s not exactly a gripping workout, but the 20 minutes goes by surprisingly fast, which is a plus.

The strength section also is fast-paced. I’m not a big fan of fast lifting because maintaining good form is difficult and if you’re inexperienced, conking yourself with the weights is a risk. Still, this workout packs a lot into 20 minutes, combining squats, lunges and balances with curls, lifts and rows. There’s no time to change weights between moves, which was also a little frustrating. I found five-pounders a tad heavy for some moves (I have trouble with lateral lifts) but three-pounders would be too light for all the others. Mention is made at one point of modifying a move but no mention as to whether it’s modified to be harder or easier, who is demonstrating, and what the modification is. (Possibly lighter weights, since I noticed one demo chick holding weights of a different color.)

The flexibility chapter requires a certain level of flexibility already—what little mention is made of modifications just make the ultra-stretchy moves very stretchy instead. Still, a 20 minute stretch is always good to have around the house.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Much sweating occurred, but I didn’t have the a/c on in my garage/gym. Still, the fast pace will probably bring at least a glow to even people more fit than I.

BUT IS IT FUN? So-so, no matter how many times Desi tells us that it’s FUN! and we should SMILE! It’s not a misery, but it’s no party.

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

GEAR AND APPAREL: Supportive shoes, little bit of room, light hand weights, a towel for the flexibility chapter.

FINAL WORD: I’m conflicted. While I’m not terribly impressed, any cardio workout that ends before I realize 20 minutes have passed must have something going for it. I may have to do it one more time to decide if it’s a keeper.

Pick Your Level: Fat to Firm Fast

2008-04-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Pick Your Level: Fat to Firm Fast $12.99 at Amazon

WHO CAN DO THIS:With three levels of difficulty to choose from, this workout is for anybody. Really.

THE BREAKDOWN: This DVD gets a special gold star because the woman who demonstrates Level 1 actually looks like a level one. She carries a few extra pounds and wears a loose t-shirt and full-length loose workout pants. Level 2 is demonstrated by instructor Michelle Dozois, who wears tighter Capri-length pants, and Level 3 is demonstrated by a taut, gorgeous Amazon in tight shorts.

The full-body workout consists of warm-up, four circuits combining strength and cardio, and a short stretch. Each circuit has a little of this and a little of that—some weights, some mat work, some cardio. The workout really does go quickly, with creative combined weight and cardio moves, short, simple and pain-free cardio blips and no fancy footwork. Level 1 stays low impact and easy, Level 2 uses more arms, more or heavier weights and occasional high-impact, Level 3 uses the heaviest weights and includes lots of high impact and balancing.

Switching among levels is easy. So far, I’m sticking mostly to Level 2—hinky knees preclude much jumping around—but manage a few Level 3s here and there, especially in the mat work.

Of course squats and lunges play a part here—nothing beats ‘em for the butt—but they are done slowly, which makes them easier on aforementioned hinky old knees than the quick-switch lunges many workouts require. Those make me hurt.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: If you don’t cheat and goof around with too low a level, you can work up a sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? It’s not a rollicking workout but it goes quickly and feels effective and that's a good substitute for fun. Dozois, with her early Florence Henderson hair, is pleasant enough. Music is a repetitive drone and almost unnecessary except for the beat it provides.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll feel worked out but not worn out.

GEAR AND APPAREL: This can be done in a small space--the demo chicks are on round raised platforms. You’ll need two sets of hand weights.

LAST WORD: This has entered my rotation as I work myself back into shape.

Fight Cellulite Fast!

2008-04-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Prevention Fitness Systems Fight Cellulite Fast! $12.99 at Amazon

WHO CAN DO THIS: You need no special skills for this one, but you do need time and a no-pain, no-gain attitude.

THE BREAKDOWN: Fight Cellulite Fast? A bit of a misnomer. Not the cellulite part, it may do that, but the “fast” part. This is one of the longer cardio workouts I’ve done in a while. After a year of yoga, walking and quick ‘n’ dancey cardio workouts, I’d forgotten how much work a full length workout can be.

Actually, I felt a little blindsided because nowhere on the DVD or packaging is revealed the actual length of this workout (the total DVD is 62 minutes). The cardio section is in intervals but not broken down into DVD chapters so you can’t pick your workout length. Once you start, it goes on and on and on—six intervals of cardio. You can then go on to a lower body segment involving many squats and lunges, and a cool-down. There’s also a demo of run-of-the-mill moves for arm jiggle and a discussion of cellulite.

Cardio steps are very basic and anyone-can, demonstrated for beginners to hardbodies, the latter entailing much jumping and requiring good balance. Each segment starts slowly and ends with a fast blasting minute or two of hard, fast jumping, kicking and flailing. You got your grapevines, you got your knee lifts, you got your jumping jacks. Very serviceable and unexciting.

Music is a slightly irritating beat in the background, loud enough to keep you in step but not enough to add any joy to the workout.

Chris Freytag, a contributing editor to Prevention Magazine, is a cheerful drill sergeant--inoffensive but cutting no slack.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Oy, did I shvitz.

BUT IS IT FUN? Not to my taste—it’s very much an old school workout a la vintage Jane Fonda, without the crazy ‘80s outfits. At best, you can enjoy being assured of its effectiveness.

WHEN IT'S OVER: Oy, was I sore.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Good shoes, a mat, hand weights and enough room to be able to take four to eight steps in every direction.

FINAL WORD: I want to say I’ll do it again, because it would doubtless get me back into fighting trim after my long slacker streak. But it’s time consuming and not terribly fun, so no promises.

Livingroom Yoga--Strengthen & Lengthen

2008-04-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Livingroom Yoga ($12.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: If you know your way around a yoga mat, you’ll enjoy this easygoing but effective intermediate workout.

THE BREAKDOWN: Eva Barash has a pixie haircut, an appealing naturalness in front of the camera and lots of useful things to say. Her goal, she says in an interview segment, was to create a DVD workout for the “everyday person” so they can “feel like they had me to practice with in their living room.”

That’s exactly what it feels like.

Filmed on an airy living room set, the 50-minute workout is simple and sensible. It sticks with the familiar: triangles, up and down dogs, warriors and sun salutations with no fancy stuff.

Barash has a talent for explaining the fine points of a pose, negotiating perfectly the line between pragmatic and airy-fairy. “Look down the length of your own glorious right arm,” she instructs during warrior pose.

The DVD is packed with other useful bits as well. The 30-minute “Library” segment is a mini-workshop. Barash has two students demonstrate while she provides slow, careful breakdowns of mountain, downward-facing dog, full wheel, several vinyasas--even savasana.

In “Getting the Most Out of Your Living Room,” Barash wears jeans and a T-shirt and kicks off her heels for 12 minutes of no-fuss stretches using her couch and coffee table.

Finally, in a six-minute interview, Barash articulates, with that same easy charm, the good feelings yoga can elicit.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: You should work up a healthy glow during the sun salutations and series of warrior, triangle and balance poses.

THE ENERGY LEVEL: Barash is chipper, but her energy is calm and focused.

BUT IS IT FUN?: It is.

GEAR: A mat and a few feet of space surrounding it. Barash uses blocks and a blanket, but they’re not absolutely necessary.

WHEN IT’S OVER: You’ll have that sweet yoga glow. And you’ll probably be glad Barash has several more DVDs in the works.

FINAL WORD: I do this one frequently.

10 Minute Solutions Fitness Ball Workouts

2008-04-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: 10 Minute Solution Fitness Ball Workout ($9.99 at Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Anyone with a fitness ball and a modicum of fitness. And if you’re not fit, you’ll get fit doing it and isn’t that the point?

THE BREAKDOWN: The DVD is the best thing to happen to the home workout since the VCR and the 10-minute workout is the best thing to happen to the DVD workout because it allows so much programming flexibility. Do one, two, or all five 10-minute segments or mix segments up with workouts from other favorite DVDs.

The program features the fitness ball in segments targeting upper body, lower body, abs, cardio and flexibility.

The arms and shoulders workout is perfectly good but least creative; for much of it you sit on the ball and lift light weights—curls, rows, presses. You’ve done it all before, although likable instructor Kimberly Spreen points out that balancing on the ball engages core muscles while you lift, making it a value-added upper body workout.

Other workouts use the ball in more interesting ways. The lower body workout some challenging leg lifts for the glutes, done face-down with the ball under your hips, and the flexibility segment uses the ball as balance to help deepen your lunges. Coordination does come into play here, especially in the cardio sections. Dancing with a giant rubber ball is not as easy as you might think or as Ms. Spreen makes it appear—even keeping it still when you need to can be frustrating. A few safety tips wouldn’t have been out of place.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: This DVD manages to fit plenty of muscle burn into each 10-minute workout.

THE ENERGY LEVEL: The mood is fairly mellow. Ms. Spreen loves her workout but she’s low-key about it. The music, such as it is, won’t compel anyone to get up and boogie.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yes, in that if you enjoy exercising it’s fun and if you don’t enjoy exercising, it’s quick. Except for the ho-hum upper body section, moves are interesting enough to keep you engaged.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll feel it. Today and possibly in days to come.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Light hand weights, a fitness ball and enough space to wave it around--which is a lot of space. Keep in mind, too, that if the ball gets away from you, things can happen.

FINAL WORD: This one made it into frequent rotation.

Dance Workout for Dummies

2008-04-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Dance Workout for Dummies ($12.99 from Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Dummies, obviously. Bring the will to try and leave your inhibitions elsewhere and the simple steps, no-brainer beats and careful instructions should have you dancing eventually. If you’re fit but no hardbody, the nifty little dances make a nice little busy-day workout or a fun cardio segment of a longer workout.

THE BREAKDOWN: The Dummies format that created an empire in books translates well to the DVD workout format. The DVD includes two 20-minute routines taught by the pleasantly straightforward Michelle LeMay. Dressed in black and belly button against a simple background, Ms. LeMay looks like text on a page.

The choreography is low-impact and un-intimidating with lots of room for flavor. The music is uninteresting but the sledge-hammer beat is obviously (and successfully) designed to be helpful to dummies.

From time to time, the main screen shrinks for sidebars against a black screen--a woman dressed in the books’ trademark black and yellow demonstrates higher- or lower-energy options; the familiar little triangle-head Dummies guy gives us Jargon Alerts (tempo, quads, flavor, grapevine…), written tips and reminders (“Let go of all self-judgment and have fun!”). A separate Tutorial section breaks down steps slowly, so you can go directly to tutorials on any choreography that that give you fits.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Not grueling, but crank up the flavor and you’ll crank up the sweat.

BUT IS IT FUN? Yup, it’s easy enough and routines are built slowly enough to let you have fun with what you’re doing instead of watching what Ms. LeMay is doing.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You'll be energized but not worn out.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Good shoes and uncarpeted floor. If you’re self-conscious, skip the mirror and forget about how you look. Pretend you look just like LeMay.

FINAL WORD: It went directly into regular rotation.

Tummy Tone Party Zone

2008-04-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Dance Off the Inches--Tummy Tone Party Zone! ($12.99 from Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: Anyone. Trust me.

THE BREAKDOWN: Hooray for the Dance Off the Inches series, which includes a separate chapter breaking down each of the steps used in the workout. With this, the workout can stay high-energy and skip slow breakdowns, but you still have someplace to turn for step-by-step instruction as necessary. Very smart.

You probably won’t need to consult the instructional chapter for this simple-to-follow 39-minute workout, which includes a funk section that’s only very slightly funky, a Latin section that is marginally more Latin, and a plain old (but pleasant and effective) mat workout.

All the moves in this low-impact workout—hip rolls, torso twists and more--are designed to engage the midsection. However, while you will burn calories, you can do the dances without working the abs terribly hard. You’ll have to concentrate on getting your abs involved to ensure they’re not just going along for the ride and instructor Marie Forleo does provide frequent reminders of this. The moves are fun—much more like dancing than exercising—and there’s lots of room to vamp. If you’re new to exercising, this is a great place to start. Don’t skip the mat work, though, to add a little burn to the endeavor.

Forleo has abs to envy even without an intimidating six-pack, a pleasant manner and her cuing is fine. Music has the requisite beat-beat-beat; it’s not terribly exciting but at least it’s not irritating.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: A smattering of sweat can be accomplished.

THE ENERGY LEVEL: You don’t have to push too hard for this one but you can dance if you want to.

BUT IS IT FUN? With a name like Tummy Tone Party Zone!, how could it not be fun? It’s not a wild party, but it’s a good time.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll feel happy and will probably have energy left to keep the workout going.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Aerobic shoes, enough room to walk four steps in all directions and a mat.

LAST WORD: A keeper for days I want to move but not work too terribly hard.

Crunch Cardio Go-Go

2008-04-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Crunch Cardio Go-Go Dance ($12.99 from Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: This beginner/intermediate workout is low-impact but high energy. If you have two left feet you might end up more frustrated than fit.

THE BREAKDOWN: Crunch is a reliable brand for workout programs and this cardio dance program is solid and fun You wouldn’t want to take anything you learn here to a club but they moves are dancier than the old step-touch reliables. Even the six-and-a-half-minute warm up is fairly zippy and has some shoulder-shaking pizzazz that could leave the uncoordinated behind.

Along with warm-up and cool-down segments, the DVD has five cardio dances, about six minutes each and increasingly fast-paced. Hips, shoulders, core and arms join the dancing, along with feet and glutes. Music is quiet and undistinguished—odd for a dance workout that should compel you to shake your things. However, it does provide enough beat to keep you going.

Unfortunately, in the Latin-flavored third segment, dancers are out of synch with the music so you’ll have to ignore one or the other.

Instructor Gypsy Clark, who has a mass of hair held back with a headband, and a tattoo around her belly-button, is happy and pleasant and cues well enough. The hot-colored outfits on hot girls might give you flashbacks to the 1980s (are those really leg warmers?) if you happen to be that old.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: Much sweating should occur.

THE ENERGY LEVEL: This is a high-energy workout and while you can slow it down if you get winded, few breaks are choreographed in.

BUT IS IT FUN? It is fun and becomes more fun as you master the steps.

WHEN IT'S OVER: You’ll be sweaty and perhaps even pleasantly wobbly, depending on your fitness level and how hard you dance.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Aerobic shoes and space to move, primarily forward and back.

FINAL WORD: It's a keeper, I'll do it again.

Fat-burning Belly Dance

2008-04-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

THE WORKOUT: Dance Off the Inches Fat Burning Belly Dance ($13.49 from Amazon)

WHO CAN DO THIS: "Belly dance" is a bit of a misnomer for this Bollywoodish, Egyptian-esque fusion of hip twitches 'n' things. The workout might raise the blood pressure of dance dabblers, and not always in a good way. It’s fast and tricky in parts, even with the Step Guide. But if you are willing to take the time to master it, it has potential as a fresh and potentially sexy (once you get past klutzy) cardio dance workout.

THE BREAKDOWN: The Dance Off the Inches series always includes a Step Guide, which breaks down moves slowly. Much as I appreciate that, I’m usually pretty cocky about skipping those and getting right into the workout. But just watching the snippets of the workout in the intro was enough to convince me to start with the Step Guide, which breaks down the 10 basic moves of the dances. The footwork is easy but those of us unaccustomed to moving our hips, arms and torso with the fluidity required might feel awkward. Dancer Kili Marti urges us to “Dance like no one’s looking,” to which I say, “amen.” I was glad not to even have a mirror for this one. Some things are better left unseen.

Five chapters add up to a 45-minute workout and include Belly Moves Groove, Cleopatra Cardio Combo, Hip Roll Hindi Cardio and a warm-up and cool-down. It's all about the cardio, not much workout for the muscles. Marti cheerfully breaks down steps briefly during the routines but doesn’t pamper you through them. Her cueing is adequate, not great; some counts and cueing on right-left would help. The introduction of the arms to steps always set me a-flailing so I sometimes I gave up on those to focus on the feet and hips. Each routine is pretty short, so if you struggle with one just hang on, another one follows soon.

THE SWEAT FACTOR: I’m in OK but not peak condition right now and worked up a sweat. Most exhausted were my arms, which are kept raised and moving through the dances.

THE ENERGY LEVEL: Mostly low-impact, fairly high-energy.

BUT IS IT FUN? After one time through, the frustration somewhat outweighed the fun. However, although I mastered no complete routine well enough to really dance, I’m probably just a few more run-throughs from getting the hang of most of it. Except for one hip swiveling turn that had me bumfuzzled...

WHEN IT'S OVER: If you're not a hardbody you'll probably be sweaty. I also was left with a Middle Eastern music earworm.

GEAR AND APPAREL: Aerobic shoes and enough space for some forward and back and side-to-side grapevines.

FINAL SAY: I have other workouts I prefer, this one will probably sit on the shelf.