Steffanie Lyons' Ultimate Resistance Band Workout -Pilates based Review

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(More customer reviews)A friend recommended this workout video and I was a little hesitant at first as a man following women thinking it would not be enough for me, but I was WRONG!!! I was looking for a cardio routine that would increase my flexibility and this program does the trick using the bands. After just a week and a half I notice an increase in movement in my arms, shoulders and legs. I am really pleased with using the program in such a short period of time, and would recommend it.

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Here is a DVD that not only increases strength and flexibility - is fun to watch - great music - but also is created to work with people from 20 to 90!The introduction of working with two resistance bands and gloves enhance the quality of your workout.You will feel and see the results quickly!This video has two workouts.The first has explanations and directions for the exercises to help you maintain correct Pilates form.After you have mastered the correct Pilates form with the exercises - you are ready to move on to the second workout.It's a smooth and flowing workout from start to finish!The music is motivating.The video's special effects enhance viewing.The movements are a new and unique twist on many of Pilates basic exercises.As an introduction to the principles of Pilates or as an addition to traditional Pilates techniques -- you will have a refreshing and invigorating allover workout!Stretch and strengthen your body in a safe, gentle manner -- become even stronger and more flexible; great for dancers.Runners, spinners, athletes, also anyone with short hamstrings, back pain or poor posture will benefit from consistent use of this DVD.May be used as an adjunct in physical rehabilitation!Get ready for a challenging yet enjoyable workout!!Steffanie Lyons is fully certified inpilates by Balanced Body. She is also licensed in massage therapy and shares her passion for pilates, wellbeing, and movement in this fresh, excitingfun to do workout."Ibelieve in the many benefits of this DVD and can guarantee results within 30 days or your money back."(Bands and gloves sold separately-please check under Steffanie Lyons for the full kit-complete with gloves, bands and travel bag!)
This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

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Karen Voight - Pure & Simple Stretch Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of the best stretching videos out there, it is very calming and will stretch you from head to toe.
This is one of Karen's earlier videos from 1991, you will see a much more serious Karen than in her more recent videos. I don't think she smiles once in the video, but for me it doesn't take away from a great stretching routine. The entire routine is 40 minutes, starting out with a 10 minute standing routine, then 30 minutes of floor stretching. All the stretches are held for 20-30 seconds, and Karen offers a lot of details and helpful tips for each stretch and also giving options to for deeper stretches. A towel is used to aid stretching for those less flexible. Karen has 3 exercisers with her, one of them is a man who is good to
watch for those with limited flexibility. Those looking for yoga should look elsewhere as this is athletic type stretching. But if you are looking for a relaxing stretch video, this is a good one. The music is new agey/jazz type music which suits the atmosphere well.
The DVD also offers some of Karen's walking tips, you will see a more recent Karen in this segment. There are also clips of some of her other videos featured as well.

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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.

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Keeping Fit in Your 50s 3-Pack (Aerobics / Strength / Flexibility) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are three DVDs in this set: Flexibility; Strength; and Aerobics. All of the exercises are taught by exercise physiologist Robyn Stuhr, and model Cindy Joseph joins in and provides occasional commentary on the exercises, e.g. "This feels really good," or "I can really feel this stretch." Cindy also demonstrates a yoga routine near the end of the Flexibility DVD, although it is a bit hard to follow because there is little narration, just directions printed on the screen as the two women go through the routine. I couldn't help but notice that when I'm in the 'down dog' position, it's difficult to read the directions on the screen. Someday soon, I'll just have to memorize the yoga segment.
I've been going through these DVDs for about a month now, one per morning, along with a couple of other exercise videos (a Pilates workout and a Tai Chi video) to round out the week, plus walking in the afternoon, and I've already begun to notice some improvements in my posture and flexibility. There are some deep bend knee exercises on the Strength and Aerobics DVDs that I can't do--when I was going through physical therapy for my knees, my therapist recommended against them--but Robyn Stuhr usually supplies an alternate exercise for those of us who have experienced problems with various joints. Keeping fit in my 50s is definitely different than it was in my twenties--no more jogging, for instance, and these DVDs take our changing bodies into account. Robyn even gives a brief introduction to Kegels during one of the strength routines.
Each DVD begins with an introduction, body basics, workout tips, and a section on 'know your muscles' before it gets into the core routines. Once you've watched these sections a few times, you will probably want to skip directly to the core routines via the menu. Each DVD closes with some upbeat, feel-good advice from Lisa Callahan, M.D., author of "The Fitness Factor," and Lillie Shockney, R.N., author of "Breast Cancer Survivors' Club."
Equipment needed: a stretchy Pilates body band; straight-backed chair; hand weights; and a thick book or step to stand on for two of the strength exercises. The exercises don't take up too much floor space, and I only have to move one easy chair out of the room in order to do all of the routines without banging into anything.
The "Flexibility" DVD runs for 81 minutes, with about 65% of the time spent in exercise.
The "Strength" DVD runs for 74 minutes, and the "Aerobics" DVD runs for 65 minutes with about the same percentage of exercise time versus the 'talking heads' segments.
The background music is soothing, in contrast to the whumpa-whumpa stuff found on many exercise tapes. The one minor annoyance other than the silent yoga routine was the occasional tricky camera angle. It's sometimes hard enough to position myself correctly for a particular exercise without having the camera cocking sideways for a shot of the beautiful Cindy, who didn't even start modeling until she was forty-nine. More power to her, but this is not a modeling session, so next time, keep the camera steady. Then the rest of us can figure out what she's doing without having to mentally rotate her position through a couple of dimensions!

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All you need to get fit, stay fit and feel better than ever Your 50s are a decade of change and opportunity. This total body workout system is designed to address your changing body’s unique needs. You’ll find effective and easy-to-follow workout routines, expert advice, and inspiring examples. Join top model Cindy Joseph and noted exercise physiologist Robyn Stuhr, whose enthusiasm and expertise will pave the way for you to make this your happiest, healthiest decade yet.
Program Features: -Insights into the major physical changes of the 50s -Exercise tips for achieving maximum results -30- to 40-minute core routines -Advanced/alternate routines -Keeping Fit Fundamentals, Q&A sessions with medical experts Lisa Callahan, M.D., author of The Fitness Factor, and Lillie Shockney, R.N., author of Breast Cancer Survivor’s Club
DVD BONUS FEATURES: include tips for creating a personal fitness plan, more Keeping Fit Fundamentals, suggestions for beginners, participant biographies and glossary of terms.
Cindy Joseph, one of today’s most popular print and television models, began her modeling career at age 49. She shares her enthusiasm for exercise and for the amazing potential of life in your 50s. Robyn Stuhr, administrative director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery, is a certified exercise physiologist with 20 yars of experience in sports medicine.

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Workout: Starring Jane Fonda Review

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(More customer reviews)Before Jane Fonda got America to its feet with exercise-in-your- home videotape series, the only serious participants were dancers, athletes or the very experienced exercisers.
In this video, her core exercise group seems to be those very fit and trim people who had exercised to sustain their body for their profession.
It is very clear to say that Jane Fonda's early videos, like this one, Complete Workout, Easy Workout, Prime Time Fitness, Workout With Weights, and the tough Jane Fonda Challenge Workout are all very good workouts. These were done prior to the massive surge of competition that flooded the market, where everybody sold an exercise video.
Hence, Fonda's later videos suffered in quality! Those being: Lean Routine, Step Workout, Lower Body Solution, etc.
The Baby of 'em All
This 1982 classic video is the baby of 'em all. The video comes in two sections, Beginners - 30 minutes and Advanced - 60 minutes.
In her warm-up, she even does jumping jacks also with great stretching routines, and you will see movements that today's exercise gurus don't do anymore. If you are new to exercising, you will feel the pain.
The basis of this workout is certain repetitive movements that focus on single muscle groups against the resistence of your own body weight.
Fonda works with every part of the body, from deep stretching to great waist work, grueling crunches, tendon stretches and serious deep lunges. She uses repetitive counts for each segment. At times, her voice overdubs the program to give advice and offer proper techniques while working out.
This is a tough workout, and if you are serious for strenuous workouts, and if you desire to improving your fitness regime, do this workout. And get the companion book "Jane Fonda Workout Book"
Then, try the Jane Fonda Challenge Workout, it has a very challenging aerobic section that is even tougher. .....Rizzo

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New York City Ballet Workout, Vol. 2 (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)Workout Description: about 30 minutes of toning (17 minutes floor work, 12 minutes standing; primarily focuses on lower body with some ab and minimal upper body work) with 11 minute warm-up, 6 minute stretch, and 17 minute "cool-down" which includes dance routine for a total of 63 minutes
Workout Level: mid-intermediate to low advanced
Instructor: Peter Martins (NYC Ballet Master in Chief) in a voice-over with his British accent. He is encouraging and helpful (and less snobbish than NYC Ballet Workout 1). You will need to watch the dancers closely and even watch the video glossary at the end; the tips given are sufficient but just barely. (This is another area improved from NYC Ballet Workout 1). Both sides are worked evenly, and you are expected to mirror the dancers' movements.
Class: 1-4 dancers from the NYC Ballet (2 women, 2 men)
Music / Set: You can choose between a gorgeous classical music soundtrack or a more modern jazz-inspired vocal soundtrack, both with or without narration. The interior set is minimal, as the focus is on the dancers.
Equipment Needed: optional mat for floor segment. The workout can be done barefoot, with ballet slippers, or you can use the special split sneakers (from Bloch or Capezio) the dancers use in some segments.
Caveats: Familiarity with ballet is extremely helpful; familiarity with Pilates or similar methods is also helpful. You don't have to be a dancer, though.
Additional Comments: You'll need some space for this workout, particularly for the movement combination. However, at 5'8" I'm able to fit it in my 6' by 8' space without getting too cramped or having to be too creative.
This, along with NYC Ballet Workout 1, is one of the few exercise videos in letterbox. The choreography and production are beautiful. Sarah Jessica Parker appears on the back cover but nowhere else.
This program consists of 16 exercises divided between a moving warm-up, floor exercises (including a stretch, ab series, and "floor barre"), standing center, reverence, and a movement combination. (There are fewer pauses in between exercises, as in NYC Ballet Workout 1.) There is no cool-down after the movement combination, so you may want to delay the reverence until after you've completed it. The movement combination isn't enough to count as good cardio, but it's fun to see if you can complete it even half as gracefully or effortlessly as the dancers.
In comparison to the New York City Ballet Workout 1, this is more like Jessica Sherwood's Ballet Boot Camp (1 or 2). NYC Ballet Workout 2 has more explanation and more routines. It feels more like a regular class that ends with practicing a routine for a recital. Personally, I have both NYC Ballet Workouts and use them equally. I'm so excited to live out my childhood dream of being a ballerina (although just in private-there's a reason why this is just a dream) that I can't help but enjoy these workouts. Are they perfect? No. Are they as fun as a real class? No. Do they make you sweat buckets? No. Do they help you increase your flexibility, strengthen your muscles, improve your balance and posture, and make you feel like you're a graceful dancer when you're done? Absolutely.
The DVD comes with a booklet offering workout tips and a summary of the program. (Don't let the photos of the super-flexible dancers intimidate you; you won't have to do any of those stretches in the workout.) You have the option to select chapters or program your own workout, so if you only want to do part of the exercises, you can. (For example, you can do the warm up, floorwork, and stretch one day and the warm up, standing work, and Reverance another day; you could also focus on lower body.) There are "Quick Fix Target Exercises" for the abdominals, shoulders & back, and thighs & buttocks, where a dancer demonstrates an exercise to add on; it's then up to you to do them on your own. There are 2 documentaries: "Tendus, Tutus, Tights, and Takes," which is a behind the scenes look at filming the workout, and "Born to Dance," which combines bios with a day in the life of each of the dancers. (It's worth seeing for Aesha's commercial debuts.) In addition, there are trailers and promo spots for Danskin and NY Sports Club. You may find the book version of the exercise program helpful, particularly if you have little ballet experience, but it is not necessary.

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NEW YORK CITY BALLET WORKOUT 2 - DVD Movie

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New York City Ballet Workout (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)This DVD is excellent for toning and lengthening your muscles, and will definitely work up a sweat. The workout is divided into 17 segments, which can be viewed all at once, one at a time, or as part of four sections. Exercises 1-4 are warm ups, includes some dance steps that get your blood pumping and some nice stretching. 5 & 6 work your abdominals. 7-9 are "floor barre," which means you lie on your back and keep everything stable except the moving leg -- very effective. 10-16 are leg work, such as degagees, tendus, and grand battements. Finally, 17 is a cooldown with some stretching. Note that there is no instructor-led dance segment after all that barre/center work, as there is in a dance class.
There is one main thing I don't like about this DVD -- the verbal cuing is terrible. At the very end, the narrator says, "Rather than follow my instructions, follow the dancers, the music, and listen to your body." Yeah, well, tell me how to follow the dancers with my face in my knees. A few viewings should make this much less of a problem, but the first times through may be frustrating, especially during the (almost silent) cooldown, when your neck is craned around to see what's going on.
I don't know if someone with no ballet experience would find this DVD very rewarding. Although no special equipment is required, there is no explanation of technique, and the narrator makes frequent use of ballet terminology. Perhaps in conjunction with one of the ballet instruction videos or books, this would be better for beginners, but I think a semester of ballet classes would be more reward for the money in that case.
Given those caveats, this is a great workout to intersperse with your other strength and aerobics workouts.

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