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New Yoga Basics
Fitness guru Kathy Smith leads a gentle introduction to yoga, with plenty of adaptations for special needs. She starts with very simple postures for body awareness, proper breathing, and relaxation. Smith explains how to do each pose correctly, how to use your breath, how to modify if necessary, where to focus your concentration, how the body should be aligned, and what parts are working. Her instructions are clear and explicit. Modifications are offered for both more and less flexible exercisers, letting you adapt the yoga practice to your own level. Some of the poses seem like traditional stretches you're already used to, and Smith makes the transition to the more challenging poses easy to follow. If you've been intrigued by yoga, but are intimidated by the poses you've seen among experienced yoga practitioners, this is a terrific starting place. (Floor poses: 22 minutes; standing poses: 22 minutes; guided relaxation: 10 minutes.) --Joan Price

New Yoga
"New" yoga? Not really. The asanas (poses) in this 55-minute routine are essentially variations on the ones that have been around for millennia. But Kathy Smith and cocreator Rod Stryker for the most part avoid the pitfalls of many yoga videos, which tend to undervalue proper instruction in favor of displaying beautiful bodies in the kind of impossible positions usually seen at the Cirque du Soleil. Split into two sections--the first one concentrates on sun salutes (a series of poses to generate heat and build strength and balance) and various standing poses; the second, shorter one is devoted to sitting and prone asanas--New Yoga offers clear, concise instruction, emphasizing the use of the breath and proper form and alignment (although Smith fails to mention why the latter is important; it's to facilitate the flow of the breath and blood throughout the body). Some of the routine is quite demanding, but experienced yoga people will have few problems and newcomers should catch on quickly. Plenty of alternative and modified poses are offered to accommodate both intermediate and beginning levels. --Sam Graham

New Yoga Challenge
"Each of us has unlimited potential. How completely we realize it is the challenge," says fitness guru Kathy Smith. Smith has been enjoying yoga as part of her own program for more than 20 years. She finds yoga beneficial on its own, and complementary to her other fitness activities. Here she teams up with yoga master Rod Stryker for a rigorous, intermediate-to-advanced yoga routine. This workout is more vigorous than you would expect from yoga--you move from one challenging pose to another without stopping, building strength and stamina as well as flexibility. Stryker does almost all of the verbal direction, and he is a superb instructor: precise, personal, welcoming, and offering plenty of alignment cues. Both instructors demonstrate the poses beautifully with exquisite form--you may get distracted just wanting to stare at them. Occasionally they show modifications so you can do a pose in good form even if you're not as flexible as they are (and who is?). The production is polished and top quality. Running time is one hour, divided into deep breathing and warm-up (5 minutes), continuous standing poses (30 minutes), floor poses (20 minutes), and guided relaxation (5 minutes). If you're experienced in yoga and would like a new challenge, this program will delight you. --Joan Price ... Read more

Reviews (3)

What are you talking about???
Give her a break, guys! This is the first and only yoga program I have seen and while it is challenging it is by no means impossible or asking too much. I really appreciated her 'breaking it down' so much since I had never tried yoga before. If you can't follow her, and I couldn't at first, there are also a man and a woman behind her that are using simpler versions of the positions. The only problem I had was readying myself mentally, I was kind of self-conscious and giggly when I tried it with my friend, but when I tried it by myself something clicked. Now I am addicted, thanks to this set. And, the harder versions give me a goal to work toward! And, best of all the price is right!! Thanks Kathy, your fan, Susan

Way Too Hard For Beginners
I have taken 2 Beginner yoga classes and asked my sister to get me a tape or CD to work with at home. The first so-called 'Beginner' CD is much too difficult for the average beginner. It takes you through poses we never even touched on in the classes I've taken. Kathy Smith has you hold the poses too long and you have to use some props which means you have to stop and get things. The 'Intermediate' CD isn't much better but incorporates some poses that could have been on the beginner CD. At this rate, there's no way I'm ever going to get to the 'Advanced' CD. Wouldn't recommend this series unless you're at least at the 'Intermediate' yoga level.

Overall good program, but more Yoga and less Kathy, please!
I really enjoyed the yoga programs on this DVD, the advanced class is especially challenging and well explained, but the camera work is unfortunately a whole different story! FAR too much time is spent focusing on Kathy and not necessarily on the parts of her body which she is doing the yoga position with. The advanced program is actually led by a very knowledgeable man and is just wonderful, but part of the time he is explaining important positioning and proper alignment, what do we see but a close up of Kathy's face! What is UP with THAT? If one has a strong background in yoga, it may be best just to listen and not to watch the screen. Overall, this DVD provides a wonderful, well balanced workout and provides some of the best instructions of any of the Yoga DVDS I've used, but doesn't always provide the appropriate visuals to go along with the verbal instructions. ... Read more

Reviews (120)

This is a great workout that you can stick with...
I love Kathy Smith, and this is my favorite video so far. With the 2 minute intervals between intense workout & active recovery, it goes fast, and you can't get discouraged and quit. In the intense interval, you push yourself, and then you get to slow down for 2 minutes while you tone your lower body. The moves are fun and easy to do for beginners, and if you're more advanced, they are easily modified (she shows you how). If you're also wanting to tone your upper body, a great complement to this is the "Secrets of a Great Body: Upper Body Workout" by Kathy Smith. It's made to do only twice a week, and can be done on the same day as this video. (There's also a lower body workout, but you probably won't want to do it along with the Functionally Fit video.)

I lost ten pounds in 2 months, works for me!
Kathy Smith is the right amount of perky. She leads her troupe of excerise groupies with authority and is fun to watch. This is a great workout which alternates 2 minute sections of cardio/aerobic work with lesser impact moves designed to tone the lower body. She has done a good job of choosing excerises which use large muscle groups, so more calories are burned. Kathy and her crew have the required amount of enthusiasm, and are well coordinated, but you should buy this video just to see the guy in the back. I know he means well but it looks like he's having some sort of an attack. Do not try his unique style of aerobics at home, you might hurt yourself :)

No equipment is neccesary for this workout. You'll burn lots of calories but don't expect to get a very good upper body workout.

Kathy Smith does it again!
I have five Kathy Smith DVDs, and this is my most recent purchase. I really like this DVD because it gets the job done in a short amount of time--I get up early in the morning to exercise and I don't want an hour-long workout, because I have so many other things to do! I would call myself an advanced exerciser, and this workout still challenges me.

Kathy Smith has a great personality without a lot of fake perkiness, which can be really irritating. I rotate this DVD with her Timesaver Super Cardio workout and Step workout on my cardio days, and I couldn't be happier with the rotation. Her workouts and a sensible diet keep me in my size 4 clothes!! Thanks Kathy!!

Great interval training workout!
Functionally Fit Peak Fat Burning provides an excellent aerobic workout for advanced beginner to intermediate exercisers. It uses an interval training strategy, which involves alternating high intensity bursts with slower recovery periods; research has suggested that this method burns calories more effeciently than steady-state forms of cardio training.

The workout begins with a warm-up lasting approximately 6 1/2 minutes. I thought that some of the moves felt a bit awkward at first, but they were simple and easy-to-follow. This segment also included some basic stretching moves. The warmup flows smoothly into the interval workout, which starts with a few additional minutes of warming up. During this time, instructor Kathy Smith previews the upcoming moves, so that by the time you pick up the pace, you know exactly what is coming next. Each interval consists of two minutes at a higher intensity followed by two minutes of "active" recovery. Because the workout also is based on the principle of functional fitness, all of the exercises are designed to replicate "real life" movements--eg, leg raises, knee lifts, etc.--and thus the routine is extremely easy to learn. The recovery periods include a large number of squats, so you get in some excellent lower body toning in addition to the aerobic conditioning. Following the 28-minute intervals segment, there is a 5-minute stretching section, and the entire workout clocks in at approximately 42 minutes.

I tend to avoid most aerobic videos because they leave me feeling overworked and exhausted, so this routine was a pleasant surprise. Although Kathy does stress the importance of pushing yourself during the high intensity segments, repeatedly stating that you want to "make yourself breathless," the fact that each segment was only two minutes long made it easy for me to stay motivated. Furthermore, Kathy was very encouraging throughout the workout, reminding you of the time left in each segment (an on-screen clock showed the 1-minute and 30-seconds points) as well as how many intervals were left in the workout. Kathy works with four background exercisers, two of whom show lower impact modifications and two of whom kick it up a notch for those wanting to go even more intense.

I'm excited about discovering this video and hopeful that engaging in interval training will boost my fitness progress; highly recommended to anyone looking for a new and different type of aerobic workout.

Must have DVD for beginners
I have been overweight until i discovered this wonderful DVD. For beginners who don't know where to start, it's great! It really helps you lose weight, and not just water weight like some "miracle diets" out there, you actually burn FAT, and lots of it. I've noticed a huge change after doing this workout every morning. It's so simple to follow, it's perfectly possible (even if it takes a couple of tries to go through all 40 minutes since it is intense), and if you want to get in shape, it's just what you need to get motivated. Kathy keeps you going and makes the entire 40 minutes seem like 40 seconds and still manages to keep you drenched with sweat by the end. I really enjoy it!!! If you want to lose weight, this is a wonderful workout. ... Read more

Description

VISUALIZE A LONGER, LEANER LOOK and then make it yourreality with Pilates.Fitness expert Denise Austin has designed acomplete 45-minute program to strengthen, streamline and reshape yourbody from head to toe.An easy, non-impact program for every body shapeand every level of fitness, Pilates for Every Body incorporates Pilatesexercises focusing on the abdomen as the "core" around which allmovement flows.Through the use of correct form, proper breathing, andmental focus, you'll improve flexibility, strengthen the back musclesand tone and flatten the abs. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Focus on Pilates
While Denise Austin becomes completely absorbed in her routine, you start to feel she has left and gone off to workout planet. Ok, so this is about working out core muscle groups and has a focus on Pilates.

However, this is NOT a relaxing workout. I found Denise talks way too much and is overly interested in giving the viewer compliments when she should be maybe focusing on explanations and then giving the viewer a break to actually enjoy the move. From the minute she starts talking, she doesn't stop. It is like one of my very long reviews. So, I'm also guilty at times.

Still, I just felt overwhelmed with her verbosity. Then, I found her facial expressions and voice to be more attuned to a fast paced aerobic workout (widened eyes are not relaxing for me - they signal flight or fight) and I just could not relax into the moves.

Perhaps she is trying to be more expressive and I was looking for a more withdrawn approach. It is like she is playing for the camera instead of teaching the moves. Some of the exercises were just impossible or very uncomfortable. I really think there are a few moves you will dislike intensely. I skipped them.

Basically, this is an ok workout, but not at all a spiritual experience. If you are serious about Pilates, get the Winsor Pilates workout.

This has Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi moves. It is 45 minutes and requires a very long resistance band. It is for intermediate students who are already in good condition and who enjoy a fast paced routine. Unlike other Pilates exercises, many of these are done while standing, which I felt made them less enjoyable and less efficient.

Not recommended as the first Pilates workout you try. This has some creative moves, but I really did not feel I was getting the workout I wanted.

Ok for a Pilates tape
I bought this tape thinking that Denise Austin has a good rep and would like to try pilates. I started the tape and the begining was great. Then we got to mat work. Most of the main workout involved a exercise band, which I didn't have. It didn't say anything about a exercise band on the box or I would have been delighted to get. But overall,the workout was VERY hard, for me being a beginner. I would reccomend it for an advanced pilates person WITH a band.

for pilates-experienced only
Overall this a good workout, with a caveat: a beginner should start with a different instructor, such as Moira Stott, who gives a much more thorough explanation of what you're doing, why you're doing it, how to avoid strain and injury, and modifications for your particular situation. How can Denise talk so much and say so little? That said, it is a good head-to-toe exercise program. Just turn the volume down and listen to music instead.

Excellent, Easy, Fast Results
I had never even seen Pilates before I bought this video, so I really didn't know what to expect....except for Denise Austin. When I was pregnant, she had the only pregnancy video out; I did that every day for my entire pregnancy and always felt terrific. At 6 weeks after birth, with doctor approval, I was ready to lose the weight (20 LBS from size 7 back to 4). I did so in three months with another Denise Austin video, Sizzler. She is fantastic! Unlike other videos, she gives you motiviation, makes you believe YOU CAN DO IT. She looks great and is a great teacher, going slow enough to pick up the routine in about two to three viewings. I have been going to the gym for the last 6 years, faithfully, working out 90 minutes a day for 5 days a week (cardio and weights). I have better results with Denise Austin videos.
This is an easy to follow video, but a great workout. THANKS AGAIN DENISE!
Okay, if you need one critical comment...often she says "okay, last one" or "just two more" and she keeps going while she's talking, giving advice. But after doing the video workout a couple of times, you know she's going to do that and you just keep going.
HIGH RECOMMENDATION!

The Worst Pilates Workout Out There!!!!
I read some of the reviews on Amazon before I purchased this, and I thought some were kind of harsh.....turns out they were dead on! I wonder if Denise Austin really knows what she's doing at all! She's annoying as ever, and she has a creepy, psuedo "awake" and cheery stare.....ugh! You will have nightmares for days with images of her prancing around crooning 'nice, tall body!!!' Please someone make it stop!!! You're better off trying Crunch Fat Blasting Pilates, because Denise really screws up pilates for EVERYBODY in this one!!! ... Read more

Reviews (111)

A Terrific Workout with Terrific Results
I love this tape. I got it about six months ago and have been doing it about twice a week and I couldn't be happier with the results. This tape will get your arms and legs in terrific shape (the ab program is a little too short for me, frankly) if you do it faithfully, and the tape is so enjoyable, that it's easy to do faithfully. As she points out in the video, building muscle helps you lose weight, and this video will help you reach your goal. As other reviewers have stated, she offers two tracks, complete with guidance as to who should do what when, and recommends beginning weights. Her direction is terrific and the tape really flows. She's energetic, without being overly peppy (as I find her in some other videos). Unlike a lot of other tapes, you don't waste time listening to instruction, you are working out for the entire 40 minutes. Kathy Smith has split the tape into two 20 minute workouts (upper and lower body) which is really helpful when you've got limited time to workout.

Bottom line, Kathy Smith has designed a terrific workout tape that is easy to stick with and will give you the results you want.

Great for all over body toning
This is my favorite video. In the past I have used Kathy's Functionally Fit-Lower Body Firming tape and found that to be very effective, but had to do other tapes for arms, abs, etc. This tape combines 3 complete workouts: 1 for your upper body and arms, 1 for your lower body, and 1 for your abs. Each exercise is just long enough so that you feel the burn, but don't have to quit early. The entire tape (all 3 workouts) takes just under an hour, but you can split it up if you feel like only working certain parts. The upper and lower body workouts also have 2 tracks - using heavier weights, or lighter weights and more repetitions which makes for a nice change of pace. Kathy whoops and yells a little more than in her other videos, but the workout is good enough that I just ignore it!

Results!
This workout is great. I have been using it for over a year and I love the results. I have recommended it to friends and they love it too. I too was a lightweight- I began this workout using 2 and 3 lb weights. You have to gradually work up to heavier weights. I now use 8lbs for most of the exercises in the upper body workout. I love Kathy's style- I do not think she is annoying. She is just trying to keep you motivated! At least she is not fake like other instructors- she is herself. Take it or leave it. I would take it though- since she must be doing something right (just look at her). If you are a beginner, make sure you have your weights ready to go, because it will seem fast at the beginning. After a few times though, you will get the hang of it. Results don't come easily. It will hurt. Your arms will feel like wet noodles afterwards (will hurt to lift an apple), but that means it is working! Do not be intimidated if you are a beginner- trust me- I had never lifted a weight in my life until I began this video. I prefer using a weight bench (40 bucks for a decent one at walmart) because there are certain exercises that are difficult to get good form on without a bench. Remember progress takes time! I also LOVE her step aerobic workout tape called Fat Burning Breakthrough, which combines step aerobics with upper body weights. Whew! It will do a number on you!

Fast Paced, It Works; Go Easy If You're a Beginner!
I exercise regularly, mainly Body Electric, Yoga, & Pilates. I wanted to "rev" up my workouts by adding aerobics (I'm waiting for K.S.'s aerobic tapes) & fat burning weight routines. In other words, I needed to "mix up" & add variety to my workouts. This tape really does it. While yes, she does go a bit fast, & there's intro that one will eventually skip, if one has the patience to "work into" the routine, you'll catch on, adjust the levels, and end up doing a fantastic workout that will keep your workouts fresh & have your muscles thanking you! I agree that a "bench" in not really needed for some routines, but this is a slickly produced product that gets the job done. Again, this is fast-paced & there really is not "warm up" involved. I would suggest a bit of stretching before "jumping" into the routine, or "warm up" during her intro. Also, as one becomes familiar with the routines, one can (and should) have all the necessary equiptment ready, because this routine goes quickly. Beginners, go easy & split the routines; die hards, do both routines in one session unless time is a problem. If that's the case, alternate routines & work to the max!

Kathy smith- timesaver-lift weights to lose weight
I am in good shape but wanted a quick workout with weights to increase metabolism. I love this video. I use it daily. Upper one day and lower body the next. I am 34 and I use the exercise bike daily too. I have noticed firmer and more toned muscles and am excited about them finally showing up. I didn't enjoy Kathy's second volume. I went back to this one immeditately. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Love the results from this workout
After doing this workout for a short time, I was amazed to look in the mirror one morning while getting ready for church, and noticed I actually had defined abs! I was stunned and thrilled. I've worked out on a regular basis for years and this is the first time, I've ever actually seen abs on my body. I don't understand the reviews that say you won't sweat and do not work your abs. Those people should touch their abs while holding one of the standing Flex positions and feel for themselves the engaged muscles.
I recommend this workout to anyone. It is difficult if you are not used to the moves, but you will pick up on them soon enough. And that's part of the fun of finding a new workout.

great workout
This is my first teabo video and I have to say I got hooked right away, within the first two weeks I started to see the results especially in my saddle bag area and my upper stomach! The hardest part of this video is hopping around trying to keep my balance so I make sure the hubby isn't around to laugh at me while I workout but this is so much fun I am definately buying more teabo workout videos to mix up my weekly workout routine.

By far the most dissapointing Tae Bo Experience thus far
I own and love the original Tae Bo workout set. Although low budget, even for the 1990's, Billy Blanks managed to deliver a good cardio and muscle buidling workout. The Flex workout (2002) on the other hand is the most disorganized, erratic and poorly edited version to date. The music is virtually non-existant. The video starts and ends suddenly, there is no ab workout and the amount of stopping, misstarts and "flex" sequences ensures that you will NOT work up a good sweat. "Flexing" is simply a different way of stating that you will be standing still with your arm in the "punch" position or your leg in the "kick" position - which may have marginal coordination/balance benefits - -but no cardio or muscle building effect that I can feel.

It is not for the beginner as there is virtually no instruction, yet the pace is slower than instructional at times. And it is certainly not for the advanced as you will ultimately fast forward this DVD as I had to. I even popped in the VHS tape of the 1997 workout afterword just to get a good ab workout.

The entire Flex DVD is very repetitive and in the five years since his original VHS Tae-Bo beginner tape, the only thing that has changed is that his side kick Sherry has blond ringlets and a fake tan. Stick with the original Tae-Bo series if you are looking for a good workout.

Poor Production Quality
The Tae-Bo concept is wonderful, but "Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo Flex" is the worst sequel to come along since The Scorpion King. It's a major step down from the classic Tae-Bo VHS tapes I bought 4 years ago. First of all, I have to question if the "flex" aspect of the workout really does any good. I'm no expert, but just standing on one foot and holding a pose doesn't seem to be useful either from an aerobic or anaerobic perspective. But, whether or not the content is worthy, the presentation of it certainly leaves a lot to be desired. Billy Blanks' performance was pathetic. He kept screwing up his lines and had to be corrected by his assistant. This is clearly something that they whipped out in one take with few rehearsals, if any.

And then there's the brain dead formatting. This production of Goodtimes Entertainment (www.goodtimes.com) doesn't even take advantage of the fundamental features of a DVD! There is only one item on the menu: "Play." What's the point of that? It may as well just start playing. Better yet, how about a few more menu choices, like scene selection. Hello?! The 45 minute program isn't broken down into chapters at all, so the Skip Ahead button doesn't work. (You can't even use the Skip Back button to restart at the beginning.) This is supposed to be a DVD that we'll wear out watching over and over, yet they expect us to sit through the introduction every time. If it were up to me, I would have put in at least 4 chapter breaks: intro, warm-up, workout, cool-down, and credits. ( I don't need to be reminded how to warm up, and would rather do that while watching CNN, then skip straight to the workout.)

I bought "Flex" in a 3-pack with "Flex Express" and "Cardio." Cardio isn't as bad content-wise, but it's not compelling either, and it still suffers the same poor production quality.

A Great Workout
I bought this DVD with the plan to use it as I travel because I spend quite a bit of time in a hotel room for my job. This workout is great given the fact I have limited space. It is an intense workout without all the running around many fitness other exercise videos have you do. Like the other Taebo videos, this is also an excellent workout. The moves are easy to follow but are intense with the "flex" aspect to it. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Finally, Bryan Kest on DVD for some true Power Yoga
I am so happy to finally have a Bryan Kest routine on DVD, and a good one at that! He hasn't lost his touch for creating a routine where I can get my dose of authentic yoga alongside a physical workout. I really like his knowledge about both of these important things in my life: getting my head on straight, and working non-competitively on all the physical benefits of yoga like strength, toned muscles, stamina, etc. Thanks to Bryan for all his expert guidance!

Good Challenge for Beginners
This DVD is a good investment for a home collection. All of the poses are attainable, nothing too fancy, but the workout is great. It is an especially strong leg workout. I have been doing this DVD for a year now, and have not tired of it. It was my first DVD and has proved a good foundation to get into other types of yoga. I highly recommend it!

Totally disappointing
I have been practicing power yoga for two years and I found Brian Kert's dvd totally disappointing. Power yoga isn't a simple physical exercise- and this is the way Brian sees it, or at least this is what his video presents. It's not all about building muscles in every single part of our body; if this is what yoga is then why don't we all work out at our local gym instead. Yoga is all about physical and above all spiritual equininity. In order to get in touch with our inner part and feelings yoga should be practiced in a relaxing place with an instructor who can make his students relax and LET GO, not tense throughout the practice! Brian Kert isn't a professional yogee, he is instead a common trainer for body building and working out with the only difference that he uses some yoga poses instead!!!! So sorry Brian, but if you can't teach yoga stick to the things YOU are good at!

TRULY INTENSIVE, TRULY CHALLENGING!
Well I just did this Intensive Body Sculpting program for the first time and it was really tough! Tough in a good way but tough!

After almost 8 years of daily yoga practice, years of classes and with a collection over 70 yoga videos that I rotate day by day, it still amazes me how my body,mind and spirit, are continuously challenged in new ways.

Depending on the sequencing, rate of flow and length of time the asanas are held in a given practice it can feel like the first time one has practiced yoga..

This particular program is a power yoga flow that will challenge you especially in your lower body, particular the legs and hips. Don't worry though, you're whole body will be challenged, but those legs and hips should be REALLY burning. If not, I salute you and want to know what you're eating, supplements your taking and congratulate you on superman/superwoman genetics :).

Of course, to be truly doing yoga and not just exercise, there is much more than the physical practice involved, the mindset is crucially important. Bryan really goes into all this in his introduction. I personally like his introduction and feel it's helpful to listen through it before each practice to prepare you mentally for what is to come (that's just a personal viewpoint of course). All that being said, there is no doubt that if you do this program you'll be doing a VERY physical practice.

Anyway....., This program which is about 50 or so minutes (once the intro is over)is pure Kest. I have his older videos "Energize, Tone and Sweat" and this is definitely up there with those in terms of challenge. Those are EXCELLENT videos by the way and highly recommended.

The primary difference is that on this program you do a really long series on one side (primarily standing poses though not exclusively) before moving on to the next. I have to admit that I had to take breaks and go into child's pose on more than one occasion because I was getting so fatigued on each side before the sequence was over.

I will definitely try to do this program on a regular basis because it definitely brought to light many areas that could stand to be strengthened. Not only that but it is one heck of a practice to use to develop one's in the face of a physical challenge.

If you are looking for a full body workout which will push you to the max I highly recommend this. I don't think I would recommend this as a first video for a brand new beginner because I think that it's too intense, but if you buy Bryan Kests "Original Power Yoga Set" you should in time be able to work up to this one by using the other programs first.

Other good preparatory programs I would recommend are:

Rodney Yee's Power Yoga For Beginner Series (Flexibility, Stamina and Strength-3 tape set) which are challenging but not as long or as tough (though the Strength tape is actually very tough compared to the other two). These are also only about 25 or so minutes long so very easy to fit into one's schedule.

Baron Baptistes "Hot Yoga" three tape set are quite challenging along with his "Soul Of Strength Live", "Core Strength" and "Unlocking Athletic Power". "Power and Precision" is also an excellent program. The "Core" and "Athletic" programs are pretty short, around 25 or so minutes while the others are longer (45-60 minutes).

Sherri Baptiste Freeman n (Baron's sister) has a very different style of yoga that is still quite challenging with her program "Baptiste Power Of Yoga" which I highly recommend.

Rainbeau Mars "Sacred Yoga" set is a 4 tape set that really covers all bases, from a wonderful beginner tape thru to very challenging (but not as hard as the Kest Stuff). These are also reasonably short, around 30-35 minutes or so.

Total Yoga's Flow Series are another set that builds incrementally from it's "Earth" program (the easiest) to "Water" (more intermediate) to Fire (incredibly tough,).

Of course Bryan's earlier set that I mentioned is also fantastic, but even the first one is pretty tough (Energize) so you may want to check out one of the others to work up to it.

Namaste

Awesome Workout!
This routine is awesome! In under an hour, it worked my upper body, quads, and abs. It is a yoga routine and exercise video at its finest. You don't have to be an expert yogi to do the moves but the moves are challenging enough and the workout smooth enough for people at all levels to get something out of it.

Bryan Kest does talk for about 5 minutes in the beginning before he begins the routine but his words help you transition from whatever you were doing before into a mindset for yoga. Whether you're standing, like in the video, or in child's pose at the beginning of your yoga session, it is always important to calm and clear your mind before starting your practice. ... Read more

Description

Rev up your body's metabolism and melt away the fat! Whatever your level of fitness, THE ULTIMATE FAT BURNER is a one-stop,balanced workout that blends heart-strengthening cardio andmuscle-toning circuit training for a mega-calorie burn!DENISE AUSTINwill keep your body challenged with a variety of short all-out bursts offun excercises from basketball, skiing, skating, kickboxing and coretraining.And by changing your intensity levels, you'll keep your heartrate at its most efficient levels to create maximum results in a minimumof time.It's the perfect way to keep motivated, have fun, andrevitalize your life! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Fun and Effective Total Body Workout
SUPER FUN CARDIO FAT BURNER! I just don't understand the hostile reviews to this video. It's tough-going if you are not as advanced in aerobics as weights. Yet the moves are easy to follow and executed in three progressively harder levels, so who cares that she cues on the move rather than four counts before. Bottom line is that this workout is effective and it covers almost everything. Denise works biceps, triceps, lats, chest,and delts, does lunges and squaqts for the legs, includes lots of planks, pushups and a few yoga moves to work the core and then cool down, and ultimately, leads you through a variety of sports-conditioning circuits that really gets the heart rate up.
I don't mind that the strength intervals are rather weak because I consider this a cardio workout. The choreography is basic and athletic with some high impact moves. If you find them high impact, then you can just easily modify. I do this video along with strength training or pilates/yoga for a complete workout.

I know people think Denise Austin is cheesy but...........
her workouts are awesome. I got the DVD yesterday and used it last night. The workout was very intense. I was looking for something different to do besides the same old, same old. And this DVD definately took me to a new level. It's 45 minutes but the time flies because it's broken up into circuits. It has a mixture of kickboxing, plyometrics, basketball drills, weight training, etc with a cool down/stretch consisting of yoga moves. I felt very refreshed afterwards and feel pretty good today. As I said people do think Denise is cheesy but if you stick with her workouts you will see results. I also would recommend her Fat Burning Yoga DVD.

Excellent
I have tried MANY workout DVD's and found this to be one of the best. I really like Denise and she knows how to make you work. This DVD switches between cardio and weight lifting intervals. You will see the most results this way and you will definitely sweat during this video. It requires that you have a step and some hand weights for the workout. This is a top DVD, easy to follow and is effective. Everything you could want from a workout DVD.

Wow!
I have a few of Denise's DVDs, but this one is the toughest by far! It is fast-paced and challenging, but I watched it all the way through first and was able to keep up pretty well by staying at level 1 or 2 during some of the moves. Not for the beginner, but I felt great at the end of the workout! I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to try something new and fun.

Makes you Sweat
For those of you who are familiar with Denise Austin, you'll LOVE this workout! For those of you who are not familiar, I recommend watching the video first to familiarize yourself with Denise's style and fast pace. She gives a great workout, focusing on both cardio and strength training. I am in pretty good shape, but was huffing and puffing 1/3 of the way through! It's a great workout, easy to do in your home. All you need is a step and some 2-3 pound weights. It would STILL be a great workout without the step or weights though! Denise is fast and changes moves quickly without a lot of advance notice. But after a few workouts, you'll catch on. This is a fun, fast-paced workout guaranteed to make you sweat! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun and Easy to Follow
I just tried this DVD today. It was pretty easy to follow. Lots of hamstring and arm work. I had fun. The 32 minutes felt like 10. Highly recommend. ... Read more

Description

Seven-time World Martial Arts Champion Billy Blanks unleashes a fitness explosion, with his latest and greatest series of TAE BO workouts that will BLAST the fat away!Start shedding pounds immediately as he helps you punch, march, and kick it out of existence through intense sessions designed to demolish flab, working with or without the resistance band.

Total Body Fat Blaster

Banish flab from every part of your body by taking-and keeping-it off once and for all with these rapid-fire moves, high-energy music and Billy 's uniquely effective motivation.You won't find a better total-body workout anywhere else, because he brings together all the weapons in his powerful TAE BO arsenal to help say goodbye to unsightly fat for good! ... Read more

Reviews (109)

GREAT WORKOUT
I can't beleive some of the whinning on these reviews. This is a fun workout. It may take a couple of times to get the steps but this isn't difficult to do. After doing this video twice I had the steps down. I love the intensity of the workout, in fact, I do many of the moves at a more high impact level then Kathy does. Yes, this video has some very up-beat and at times cheesy people, like the guy at the beginning, but if that's your excuse to not workout, then you never will...you'll just keep coming up with excuse after excuse! The first 20 min workout is like a dance combination and I found the time flew by as I learned the steps. The second 20 min workout is a type of interval workout, which is a lot of fun. There is a streching segment at the end, which is good. Even though there isn't a stretch at the beginning, and if you don't have time to do one of your own, remember, stretching after a workout is more important, if you don't get the time to do both. The only thing I would change about this video is that the routines were at least 10 minutes longer and I could do without the backup people helping out Kathy, but they're really not that bad. I workout to this video before I go to work and I really enjoy it. I will say that this probably isn't a video for beginners. This is something you want to work up to, but if you're like me and have been working out for a while, you'll really enjoy it and the moves won't seem so hard. If you're a beginner, this is something to work towards and once you get through the video without having to stop, I promise you'll feel great! Kathy Smith really isn't a high impact instructor, at least not compared to what I'm used to, but she's a great instructor and I have many of her videos. Although, there are complaints in some reviews of her "cueing" on this video I think it's fine and not hard to catch on to. If you're looking for a good workout, which doesn't allow you to be lazy and actually forces you to work, this is for you!

Don't Let it Fool You!
I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL AT FIRST ABOUT THIS VIDEO BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE TOO EASY WITHOUT THE USE OF WEIGHTS AND A STEP. THE FIRST PART SEEMED TOO EASY UNTIL LIKE 10 MINUTES INTO IT AND AND I WAS LIKE O-KAY, NOW WHERE PUMPING,(AS KATHY WOULD SAY.) BY THE END OF THE FIRST HALF, I WAS SWEATING AS MUCH AS I USUALLY DO WHEN I DO AEROBICS,AND FELT LIKE I WAS READY FOR THE SECOND HALF. THE SECOND HALF IS HARDER BUT IF YOU DID THE FIRST PART, THEN YOUR READYTO DO IT. I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED AND FOUND TO CATCH ON TO THE MOVES VERY QUICKLY. IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH DANCY AEROBICS ROUTINES,(WHICH I LOVE,) THEN THIS IS THE TAPE FOR YOU! I FOUND THE ROUTINES TO BE VERY REPETATIVE TO THE POINT WHERE YOU GOT IT DOWN AFTER THE FIRST TIME. IF YOU LIKE BORING WORKOUTS, WITHOUT DANCY ROUTINES, THEN THIS ISN'T FOR YOU. THIS ONE IS LOUD, BUT THE YELLING IS FUN, MOTIVATING, AND THE WORKOUT IS QUITE MORE CHALLENGING THAN I EXPECTED. KATHY IS A GREAT INSTRUCTOR, AND LOVE THE WEIGHT LOSS WORKOUT, THATS DANCY, QUITE CHALLENGING, AND FUN!! I MAY SOUND LIKE A CHEESE BALL TO SOME OF YOU WHO HATE THE YELLING, BUT WHO WANTS A QUIET BORING WORKOUT, COME ON PEOPLE ITS AEROBICS AND ITS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN, UNLIKE OTHER WORKOUT VIDEOS. BY THE WAY THE YOUNG MAN WHO MESSES UP AT THE BEGINNING MAKES ME LAUGH EVERY TIME BECAUSE HE TAKES OVER AND CONDUCTS THE ROUTINE, AND CALLS OUT THE WRONG STEP RIGHT AFTER KATHY SAYS TO HIM, "YOUR SOOOO GOOD!" I MEAN RIGHT AFTER! AIN'T NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE HUMOR, PLUS IT MAKES IT MORE REALISTIC. AND FOR THE WARMUP, SHE STARTS OUT SLOW SO IF YOUR THAT CONCERNED, DO SOME STRETCHING.

Great heart-pumping, sweat-inducing workout!
I have been exercising to aerobic workout tapes for about 15 years now. I'm in good shape, but, after having a baby daughter, I don't have as much time to work out as I used to.

This tape is great. The workout is a challenge--not too easy for experienced exercisers, but not too hard for beginners.

The only drawback is that Kathy and her "helpers" are a little too perky and cheery, hence the 4-star review instead of 5. I always liked Kathy Smith because she never peppered her workouts with too many phony "you can do it!" and "who-hoos!" She was in a good mood but not overly cheerful like other aerobic instructors. But I can ignore this part of it in order to get a great workout.

Yes, there is no formal "warm-up," but the first few minutes of the workout are pretty slow and easy, so that's like a warm-up for me. To be honest, I have always skipped past the warm-up section of any workout and proceeded directly to the main program, and I have not injured myself, ever. So this was not a problem for me.

Warning
It is a great workout and beats many tapes that I own. After 8 years of aerobics at the gym, I switched to video and never looked back. Her tapes help me to stay in shape and work out more often.

Couple things that threw me off:
Kathy ignores the fact that many of us practice aerobics at home on the carpet. Some of her moves are hard to do on the carpet at high pace. I would appreciate a "carpet edition" of her video.

Second, for some strange reason, she does not always follow symmetrical approach so common for all the aerobics instructors. She would do series on one side, but not on the other side. I have to correct her routines as I go, otherwise my sciatica goes into full swing after aerobics.

Still, it is a great compressed workout and I would recommend it to others.

Too fast, not enough instruction
I have read great things about Kathy Smiths' workout videos and didn't think twice about ordering Timesaver Cardio Fat Burner DVD. However, I was surprised how fast she went through instruction. I am in pretty good physical shape and thought her cardio was sufficent. The issue I have is that she went so fast through the combos that I spent more time stopping the DVD then the actual workout. This DVD would be better off in the hands of the more coordinated. ... Read more

Description

Just wait till you see the results from this exceptional stability ball workout. You’ll tighten your butt, slim your legs, and flatten your tummy in less than 25 minutes. • Start with deep conditioning for your abdominals and back – the ball contours to your spine so you’ll get a better workout than you ever thought possible. • Scultp your legs so they get lean and strong, and shape your butt for a lifted, more rounded look. • Get a relaxing full-body stretch that includes yoga poses adapted for the ball. You’ll look forward to these stretches because they feel so good. • BLT is an incredible way to shape up and get limber with moves that are simple, fun, and easy on the joints. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Fun Workout!
I just bought this DVD and first used it today. The workout is pretty simple and easy to follow along with. Just make sure that the stability ball you buy is big! I made the mistake of assuming that it would not really matter what size ball I got, and the cover of the DVD did not specify. But It was very hard to do some of the steps with a small ball-almost impossible. Also I did not really like the butt and legs section of the workout, some of the moves were too complicated and I was doing them all wrong so I didnt feel anything in my legs. The Abs part was great though! I think I will just do the warm up and abs part of this video over and over and skip the rest.

Great for bad backs
I recently bought this video to use with my stability ball and am very happy with it. Normally, the exercise videos annoy me (don't forget to breathe....) but this one doesn't. It is very specific, which is great so that I don't accidentally hurt myself. It is also really good for bad backs...the exercises are tough but don't put stress on your back at all. I would highly recommend this video. The only thing that I wish was different about it is the length. I would rather have a longer workout than just 20 minutes.

Very Easy
I am in shape and have extensive experience w/ fitness...This is an easy routine on the ball. You can feel some results if you work it hard, otherwise, good to do if your sick.

Happy w/ my investment
I was lucky enough to go into Costco and buy a kit that had "BLT" and "Strong and Streamline" DVD's that included the body ball, the green genies and a workout matt for just over 20 bucks. Heck I was hoping to just find the ball at that price.

I also bought the book "PowerSculpt: The Women's Body Sculpting & Weight Training Workout Using the Exercise Ball" and I have gotten more use out of the ball with that book. I highly recommend that book.

With BLT I can do the stretch in the morning before I get on my Nordik Track Elliptical for 20-30 minutes and then either do an ab or just the stretch.

For me the lower opening squats are fun and burn, but I don't know if I walk away feeling like I got a good workout. It is more of a mini workout and a great way to get ur body moving arround before you sit in your car and then at work. The abs I feel in my upper abdominals only. I need the DVD in the morning to keep me on schedule... or I would never leave for work.

It is NOT an aerobic workout. Nor is it a serious workout.

All said, I love my body ball and I have just ordered another DVD "Quick Fix - Stability Ball Workout" and "Pilates on the Ball" in an effort to find the perfect body ball workout. I wish the author of "PowerSculpt: The Women's Body Sculpting & Weight Training Workout Using the Exercise Ball" would put out a video w/ the workouts. I have been into Pilates for over a year now and I am looking forward to my exercise ball to take me to new levels.

B.L.T. = boring, low energy, tiresome
I regret buying this. The workout is 25 minutes long, and doesn't come close to breaking a sweat. (The abs and legs routines are about 10 minutes each, followed by 5 minutes of stretching.) I'm reintroducing myself to exercise and thought this would be a fun way to start, but it's not, especially since i feel like i'm not accomplishing anything. (I suspect intermediate and advanced exercisers will feel even worse.)

Karen Voight is a better trainer than most. She doesn't suffer from hyper-perkiness that can irritate exercisers. However, her counts often feel "off" to me, which is either a result of bad editing or bad musical selections. All in all, this isn't worth the money I spent on it. Find yourself a better, longer and more challenging DVD - this is coming from a couch potato, which should tell you a lot. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Pretty good basic stuff
If you're looking for a how to belly dance this is not the DVD for you. If you expect these women to tell you how many "aerobic certifications" and "how many repititons" then this is not for you. That being said, if you've been to aerobic classes, you should remember proper body positioning so you don't hurt yourself. This is a basic assortment of issolated belly dance movements arranged in a traditional "aerobic class" style with the goal of getting you to move. The fact that it's belly dance makes it fun and does serve as a distraction from the muscles screaming "I can't move this way!" I particularly enjoyed the arm segment because it worked the muscles I need to sustain these moves in my dance (snake arms being the bain of my exsistance). As I continue to work with this DVD, my arms are grudgingly cooperating and I have found that my abs are starting to get with the program too. I also liked the hips segment for the same reasons.
I gave this 4 stars because the voice over track was off a little in my copy. Could be my DVD player but I loaned it to a friend who had the same problem. Also the instuctions weren't always accurate with the moves.

A really fun workout!
I've been working out for about 6 months now and lost a total of 35 lbs through diet and exercise. I've tried many different workouts - Richard Simmons, Tae Bo, Mari Winsor Pilates - and this is one of the funnest workouts yet! For a beginner this would be a great video to try because it's fun and goes by quick. I've found that videos like Tae Bo, while great, get boring after a while. This is a great way to mix it up a little bit! I have been using this and The Method Afro-Brazilian dance and really enjoy it! The voice over doesn't bother me - I can see how it might be difficult to talk while doing these moves. Neena and Veena's wonderful physiques make me want to do even better - and now I've developed an interest in Bellydance! Don't worry if you're more heavy set - it's still fun and no one's going to be watching! And - the only way to get those beautiful belly dancing bodies is to exercise - you gotta start somewhere! Try this video!

Really enjoy this one
My biggest problem was trying to find a work out that I liked. This is one of them. I do it everyday and I feel real good about myself. For a person that has not worked out in long time this is a good one to get toned. It is not really for cardio. So if you want something more fast paced you might want to check out different routine, but for toning it is pretty good and fun!

best workout tape I've tried
My aerobics videos experiences are by no means diverse, but after just a week this is already my favorite DVD, and has actually gotten me to stick to a routine of working out first thing in the morning because it's so enjoyable.

Gone are the obnoxious perky shrieks and whoops like I hear from Kathy Smith and crew; the voiceover doesn't bother me, and the music is soothing, not cheesy and thudding. The relaxed tone almost leads me to believe I'm not even doing much work--which I assure you is NOT the case. The first couple of rounds of these two workouts made me sore, sore, sore, in some places I didn't even realise I was sore until I did the exercises again. There are very few segments of the workouts that I truly "dread" (all who have done the leg lift in Arms & Abs will know exactly what I mean) but I've seen remarkable improvement in my muscle tone and flexibility in just a few weeks. I'm not as clumsy as I used to be, and just in day-to-day activities find myself with better posture and muscle usage.

And no, these workouts will not teach you HOW to bellydance, but the moves are nice and I'm confident that when I start taking actual bellydancing classes this fall I will not have nearly as much trouble with either moves or endurance. Some of the moves took me several exercise sessions to figure out, but they've all been worth it. I feel great and can't wait to try more routines with Neena and Veena, who are beautiful and talented.

FIVE STARS
Very good workout. First time my tummy & my thighs where burning the next day.
On the DVD there are several preformances by the twins at the end. Different style by both of the twins. I htink there are about 4 or 5 dances.
Its worth it to me just for the preformance footage.
AWESOME workout & not overly strenious. You will be sweating by the end. ... Read more

Description

You’ll sweat like you will never before with new explosive moves and sizzling new soundtrack.Be a part of the hottest fitness revolution of the millennium with TAEBO 2 Get Ripped. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Great Workout!
I have been cardio-kickboxing for years, so when I recently decided to buy some DVDs and weights for working out at home, I was eager to try out the much-hyped Tae Bo workout. I thought the Basics workouts would be too easy, and I do add a little more bounce to my workout than is in the tapes (when I have the energy, that is). I was wrong. With a solid effort, these "basic" workouts can kick your [behind! It is also good to have workouts divided into 25 minute (and one 8 minute) segments, if you don't have time for an hour's worth of exercise or if you want to reverse order for variety. Blanks has good form and uses all the basic stretches, punches, and kicks that my instructors over the years have used. He explains each move for those who are unfamiliar, and he starts slowly with each new move. (If this is too slow for me, I simply double-time it.) I also like Blanks' supportive, "let's have fun doing this" attitude and friendly encouragement. I am looking forward to getting the advanced DVDs for more combinations and greater variety of moves.

Video one is five stars, video two is three stars
Video one begins on the floor with an intense ab routine followed by glutes. After doing the original basic series for 3 months, five times a week, I decided to try something else. I have done this video for three weeks now and it's still very difficult to get through the glutes section. However, I don't feel right if I don't do this ab routine. Other ab routines from other videos just don't give me the same benefits.

Video two focuses more on the legs. One irritating thing is that he keeps saying in what I perceive as the hardest part of the workout that this is just the basic video. It's not very encouraging. I do like how Billy reminds you to focus and you'll get through it.

I have damaged cartilage in my right knee from years of dancing, so I look for videos that are entertaining, mentally stimulating, but provide as little impact as possible. Video two strains my knee, so I have only done it five times and prefer video one, given visible improvements in my abdominals and posture after just three weeks.

Boot Camp
This isn't a work out, it's boot camp. If you aren't in really good shape, or like to be able to move the next day, DO NOT DO THIS. Try Windsor Pilates instead, work your way up to this. Other wise you'll be in serious pain the next day! His counting is terrible and does too many reps on one side and not enough on the other....

Good basic kickboxing workouts
This 2-tape set consists of two basic Tae Bo routines. Basic Workout 1 includes floor work in addition to a standing kickboxing routine. This video begins with instructor Billy Blank's standard 5-minute stretch routine. Following the warmup comes the toning segment: 4 minutes of abs work and then 4 minutes of targeted glutes work performed on hands and knees. Then Billy leads one of his basic kickboxing routines consisting mainly of punches with some knee lifts and kicks thrown in; Billy also emphasizes the abs while in a standing position. The kickboxing segment lasts about 10 minutes, and a final 3 minutes of cool-down stretches complete this 26-minute workout. Basic Workout 2 is entirely a standing kickboxing routine. There is a similar warmup (about 4 minutes) followed by an approximately 18-minute cardio workout. Billy does a few more combinations here, and again, he always reminds you to work your abdominals from a standing position. This workout ends with a Tai Chi type cool-down segment.

As an instructor, Billy Blanks is very likeable and extremely enthusiastic. However, his counting is not always accurate, and he frequently completes an uneven number of sets from one side of the body to the other. These tapes would be good for those who like simple kickboxing routines focused mainly on punches and which include some toning in addition to cardio.

Fuerte!!!
Si necesitas bajar de peso y tonificar a la vez este es el DVD que necesitas. Tiene dos secciones de alrededor de 25 minutos y una de 8 minutos por si no tienes mucho tiempo. Es un ejercicio bastante fuerte, por lo cual a los que estamos un poco sobrepeso se nos puede hacer un poco dificil al principio, pero despues te diviertes muchisimo. No le di una puntuacion de 5 solo por que la segunda parte me parece un poco monotona. Pero por lo demás es excelente. EXITO!!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good Fun
This is a typical Richard Simmons workout program. The dance moves are easy and well choreographed. If you fully participate in the dance, you will be sweating at the end. The only critism I have is that you probably will not catch on to the moves on the first viewing, as he gives no warning about what is coming next. However, that being said, the second time around, all moves seem to come naturally and fall into place.

Worth every penny!
I use lots of exercise tapes, but find myself getting bored with the bland personality of the trainer and the background people after one or two sessions. I tried this video. I had the best time, so I'm getting the whole series! It was so much fun that I didn't even feel that I was working out, but boy did I feel it later one. I highly recommend this to anyone who gets bored with the traditional exercise videos out there. I love Richard's personality. Plus it's nice to see people having fun instead of the "robots" that you tend to see following along in other DVD's. I highly recommend it to anyone who has difficulty staying motivated with exercise videos.

pro and con
Pro: if you are just starting out i would recomend any of the richard simmons line for a couple of reasons. first of all he has real people in his videos! i personally dont want to see girls in the background that weigh 2.2 lbs and make everything seem so easy. in his videos their are people of all shapes and sizes, so in my mind if they can do it so can i. He also has high energy and the music is great. Con: there are no instuction on the moves before they happen, you will fumble around the first few times as you try and keep up, but you will end up getting it! and i expected a bit more because its a dvd, but there are no extras, just straight workout. if you are just starting out, this is a good one to get, just dont get too frustrated if you cant get the moves down right away.

Raven
This workout is really good, I was able to do it with ease. I tried it the first time and got lost, but the second and third time's were better. The moves are pretty easy once you know what your doing. It's a video that will keep you moving at all times. It made me sweat the first time, and it still does to this day!!! i enjoy it, I hope you do too. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Not as good as Madeline Lewis' "AM/PM Stretch"
This video is only good if all that you want is a 5 minute stretching routine for before/after working out. It only targets the major muscles. The standing, sitting, & floor routines are all repetitions of stretching the same muscles, just in different ways. And it really is for beginners only; most of the stretches are extremely basic. I would not recommend it if you are looking for a TOTAL stretch for your whole body.

If you are looking for a relaxing stretch program for your entire body, then instead of this DVD, I recommend "AM/PM Stretch" by Gaiam with Madeline Lewis. Madeline Lewis gives better instructions about proper form, and she helps you target your breathing better. Plus, the mood on "AM/PM Stretch" is much more soothing.

Both DVD's are suitable for beginners. If you can afford both, then the two DVD's actually work well together - I use the "AM/PM Stretch" when I want to stretch my entire body and feel relaxed, and I use this Tamilee Webb DVD when I'm preparing to do aerobic exercise. I bought both DVD's at the same time, and while I don't hate this one, it just isn't nearly as thorough as the "AM/PM Stretch". Even for the stretches that the two DVD's have in common, the "AM/PM Stretch" gives more thorough directions on how to properly do each of them.

Only get this Tamilee Webb DVD if you don't know any of the major body stretches AND only if all that you need is something very quick so that you can go work-out.

IMPRESSED AGAIN!
After having recently purchased Tamilee's "I Want That Body!" DVD, I decided to give her stretching DVD a try. For the second time, I was happy I spent my money on hers rather than another. The first section, "Total Body Stretch for Beginners", is broken up into 3 10-minute segments for those of us who don't have a lot of time in our schedule for stretching. You can choose to do the standing, sitting, or floor stretch seperately, or all 3 together. The second section, "Beginners Stretch for Flexibility", is 30 minutes long, and combines standing and floor stretches (some are repeated from the first section). There is also a wonderful relaxation portion at the end, which I wasn't expecting. If you have seen any of Tamilee's "I Want That Body!" series, you will recognize some of the stretches, but many of them are new. There is calming music and beautiful scenery to help you along with your relaxation. Everyone could benefit from this DVD...I highly recommend it!

Great, a must have!
I do this DVD everyday after my cardio workout and I love it. The Total Body Stretch section is basic stretches (some I didn't know of and some everyone knows) put in 3 fluid variations (standing, sitting, floor) my favorites are the standing and floor. The Biginners Stretch for Flexibility section is 30min stretching that is a little more hard than the 3 10min Total Body Stretches, so I would suggest doing the 10min ones for a week or two and then doing the 30min one for variation. I don't like Yoga and this DVD is a wonderful alternative. Stretching is an important part of any workout just as Cardio and Strength Training are.

Just like going to Hawaii for 10 minutes!
I am 41, and very out-of-shape. This is terrific for restoring flexibility so that I can do the things I want to do. The setting is restorative and inspiring. I really do feel more relaxed and peaceful after just 10 minutes. I love to do this as a cool-down after bellydancing.

Pleasant Stretches in a Natural Setting
Voice: Pleasant and Relaxing
Setting: Natural
Level: Beginner
Music: Hardly noticeable

If you are already very flexible, you might be disappointed because this video
is really for those who have just entered the realm of stretching.

If you are looking for a relaxing escape that has a nice flow and is artistically appealing, this might be for you.

Peace and Relaxation. ... Read more

Description

This safe and gentle approach to stretching is a necessary addition to your fitness regime. Your body will quickly respond with a leaner, longer appearance. Experience the simple pleasure of stretching and get a renewed sense of well-being every time you do it. ... Read more