Scott Cole's Discover Tai Chi for Beginners - Workout Essentials (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)"...because he is alive to difficulty. That is why he meets with no difficulty." ~Lao Tzu
Firstly this workout DVD has so many features it was quite amazing. If you are new to Tai Chi this is a perfect place to start. The music is soothing and exotic, the scenery is beautiful and the instructor's voice is calming.
Secondly, I could actually do the workout on the first try. Tai Chi looks difficult when it is done too quickly. On many other DVDs I felt that I could not learn the moves fast enough so I gave up. Scott Cole moves at a perfect pace.
Scott Cole focuses on guiding you through Tai Chi postures and training techniques. He blends martial and healing arts in order to empower you and motivate you to move in a healing direction. He was named one of the Top 5 Fitness Instructors in the world and has appeared in over 300 publications worldwide.

DVD Contents:
1. Play Features - Plays all the features
2. Chapter Selections - Pushing the Wave, Beautiful Woman Turns Her Waist, Grounded Chi Journey in Hawaii, Parting Horses Mane
3. Special Features - Postures with Narration, Postures With Music, Workbook Slideshow, Hawaii Workout to Music.
4. Audio Features - Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1
The benefits of this DVD are immediately apparent:
Renewed Strength
Upper Body Warming - blood flow definitely increases in the upper body.
Increased Flexibility
Increase in Energy and Confidence
This Tai Chi workout is the best I've ever tried. It was easy to learn the exercises and I also had a few great laughs because, well, some of the postures and movements are rather funny the first time you do them.
Once you have learned the moves you can then try the workouts with just music. Once you have memorized the workouts you may find yourself wanting to do the exercises outside. The exercise routines can be done almost anywhere and you need very little space to do them indoors at home.
~The Rebecca Review

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Open up to the pearls of wisdom that organic movement has to offer. Welcome to Discover Tai Chi for Beginners Workout Essentials.Enjoy soaring confidence, reduced stress, and exhilarating movement as you explore the mysteries of the ancient martial art of Tai Chi.Join wellness veteran and Tai Chi expert, Scott Cole, in his private studio and on the timeless beaches of Hawaii as he guides you through the seamless program of basic postures, life-altering philosophies, and healing movement techniques that will reveal your personal potential for exponential growth and change.Renewed strength, flexibility, mobility, and vitality are yours inthis easy-to-follow program that is uniquely formulated for beginners and can serve as continued study for more experienced Tai Chi practitioners.Experience the dynamic energy of over fifteen moves including: Traditional Yang Opening, Snake Creeps Down, Fighting Tiger, Brush Push, Playing the Pi Pa, Wave Hands Like Clouds.

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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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Kathy Kaehler Basics - Total Fitness Workout Review

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(More customer reviews)Kathy Kaehler is a celebrity trainer who knows how to tone and condition your entire body in about 50 minutes (DVD says approx 45 minutes). She is a more serious instructor who still likes to have fun.
If you have an hour to exercise this is a good choice. She does give ideas for working out for 5 minutes a day, but I can't see this workout being effective in only 5 minutes. I'm learning you need to workout a lot more than 5 minutes a day if you want a fit body like Kathy Kaehler. Let's be realistic here. I hear that some very famous individuals, who we all know, exercise 6 times a week and for way more than 5 minutes. I've even heard of some actors trying to get in shape by working out for 2 hours a day.
Each segment doesn't have its own warm-up section, so you will more than likely end up doing at least two segments at a time, maybe the first two sections and the bonus at the end would be easy to fit into a tight schedule.
After you do this workout you will want to do the entire workout again and again. It is slightly addictive for reasons I can't quite comprehend. The set is in a living room; so maybe this makes me feel "at home." The set includes a Persian carpet, sapphire curtain, couch and table. A chair is taken from the dining room and you will need a sturdy chair. I prefer to put the chair up against a wall.
You honestly don't have time to be running about collecting the items you need. Things to collect before you start: mat, towel, chair, ball, 5-lb weights. The playing cards are optional but maybe more motivational than essential. Kathy Kaehler uses the cards while doing lunges and once while doing abs. Otherwise, you really don't need special equipment. The yoga mat seems essential when doing some yoga exercises.
Segments:
Warm it up
Cardio Blast
Bottoms Up
Arm Sculpting
Hot Legs
Ab-Solutely Ab
Stretch it out
Where do I feel the workout the most? In my stomach and legs. Who knew leaning up against a wall could be so intense or that my abs could feel so tight in such a short amount of time.
The motivational music keeps you focused and you quickly burn lots of calories, increase muscle mass and reduce your risk of disease.
Just when you think you are "absolutely" finished and all stretched out, the bonus section gets you all worked up again. I think the bonus section should be part of the workout and put back in right before the stretching. Although, if you want a break after doing your abs it can work pretty well.
Health tips include things like "not crossing your legs while sitting" and "walking when angry." The Nutrition tips help you work on your lifestyle and include ideas like drinking vegetable juices as snacks.
Benefits:
Increased Cardiovascular strength
Calories - you will burn a lot if you do the entire workout at once
Increase Muscle Mass - the use of weights helps
Increase Flexibility - not much stretching, but enough to stretch you out after exercising
I look forward to trying more Kathy Kaehler workouts. She works me out fast and furiously and I'm still sort of panting while writing this. This workout should make you sweat and give you a burst of energy. Nice as an afternoon pick up to wake you up for an evening out.
~The Rebecca Review
Reviewing my way to fitness, one exercise DVD at a time...

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Total body conditioning in 5-minutes a day!Celebrity trainer and NBC’s ‘Today Show’ fitness expert Kathy Kaehler leads you through a series of 5-minute workouts designed to tone and condition your entire body.In this "back to basics" approach to exercise, you’ll hit all three sides of The Fitness Triangle:Cardiovascular, Strength and Flexibility.Plus, you’ll increase lean muscle mass and improve your balance and posture.If you’re new to exercise or crunched for time, this 7 segment workout program is right for you. Complete the entire 35-minutes or choose a 5-minute segment each day:Warm Up, Cardio Blast, Bottoms Up, Arm Sculpting, Hot Legs, Absolutely Abs, or Stretch It Out.You too can perform the same tried and true techniques that have helped shape such famous physiques as Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jennifer Aniston!

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Karen Voight - Slim Physique (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)While this is an interesting concept, will it work for you?
Do you only have 30 minutes a day for a workout? Then, this might be a great solution. Karen has created a variety of mix 'n match workouts. All you do is select the day of the workout. If you are used to working out for an hour, you might have to combine two days.
Monday (Cardio & Lower Body Strength): This is an interesting combination of small cardio segments that seem to increase in intensity. You end the workout with a short floor routine and some stretches.
Tuesday (Yoga Strength): Karen shows you how to get the most out of each move. She will work your body into a finely tuned fitness machine. Compared to other 45-60 minute yoga workouts I have, this seemed to be a very quick workout for me, so adding 40 minutes of walking will take this to a new level. You can do the walking before the yoga and it will warm your muscles so you can go deeper into the stretches.
Wednesday (Cardio & Abdominal Strength): Aerobics workout in which you start with a warm-up routine, then move into more energetic moves. I thought the "bunny hops" were kinda cute. It is like using a jump rope without the rope. Karen is a bundle of high energy and takes you from simple moves to complex routines that not only challenge your body, you have to stay very aware and the footwork is very creative. The aerobics workout is followed by floor routines for abs. Some stretching at the end.
Thursday (Upper & Lower Body Strength): You start with the cardio workout and then work your way into using weights while standing. Lots of upper body work and then you go to the mat and continue working out your upper body. The cool down has some lower body stretches.
Friday (Abdominals & Yoga Stretch OR Yoga Strength): You start with Abdominals and have to get to you mat very quickly. In fact, you might want to be flat on your back with the remote in hand before you even start. Karen seems to be famous for jumping right into the workout, so this is something you have to be aware of. There is no explanation before each workout. The explanations are all during the workouts and the instruction is refined and you make the most of each move. The Yoga workout is on an oriental carpet and is quite a beautiful routine due to the carpet, the music and the lighting, wood floor, etc. This is my favorite section on the DVD. Karen's black cat-suit type outfit also sparkles. This section of the workout is sort of magical and relaxing. I'd like to see more workouts like this! An entire DVD of stretching routines would be bliss. (If you love this section of the workout, you might also enjoy YOGASCULPT.)
Saturday (Cardio & Upper Body Strength): Again, you start with an aerobics routine. You will notice the "swimming" from a workout she did with Elle Macpherson in "Your Personal Best." Karen definitely seems to have a lot of "signature moves" which make her routines easier to do in the long run. Your body knows how it is supposed to move and it is very satisfying to find moves you have learned in other Voight workouts. Karen is quite creative and always seems to be in a state of constant change because she makes up new moves in addition to the old ones, so you really have to focus. Her workouts are as much for the mind as the body. Cardio Circuit Energy Boost is followed by the weight workout you did on Thursday.
Sunday (Yoga Stretch): I started with this routine. It has a nice flow and there are plenty of creative poses. The stretches do seem designed for the very slim as there are some poses in which you literally twist yourself into a pretzel. Never fear, there are only a few of those poses and you can work your way to that level of flexibility.
Tools: hand weights, yoga mat, two blocks and optional foot stool.
Karen presents each workout in a no-nonsense style. She gets right to working out. So, have all your equipment ready to go. You won't have time to go find your yoga mat, weights or block once you start the workout. For the most part, the footwork wasn't too fancy, but there are a few times I just went back to walking until I could figure out the routine. If you are used to aerobic workouts and want a new challenge, Karen will give your mind a workout too. She has a friendly instruction style and a pleasant voice.
Karen Voight has always been an inspiration to me. Her workouts really motivate me. If you enjoy this workout, you might also want to try: Ultimate Circuit Training. It also has B.L.T. on a ball workout, so you don't have to buy the additional DVD.
"Sleek Physique" is a fun DVD to use every now and then for a complete week. It gives you a break from trying to figure out which workout you are supposed to be doing. Karen does the organizing for you. This is perfect to take with you on vacation so you don't get out of your workout routine.
This DVD has previews of other workouts and links to Karen's
website so you can purchase exercise equipment. Throughout this workout, Karen has a workout partner.
~The Rebecca Review

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Now it’s easy to lift weights, do low-impact cardio and practice yoga with this personalized cross-training program mapped out for your whole week. At the push of a button, get a different 30-minute workout each day to keep it interesting and fresh. With the convenience of this daily schedule, you’ll have no excuse to skip your workouts and you’ll never work the same muscles two days in a row.

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Get Ripped with Jari Love Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the only video that I have by Jari Love, but it's a great one. Ripped is an hi-rep lighter weight endurance workout that runs just under and hour. It is quite similar to the Bodypump workout or classes, which I personally have never seen but have heard they are alike. Jari is exercising along with 3 other exercisers which she refers to as the "Rippers". You will need weights, dumbells and/or barbell, a step or a bench you will need for some of the seated exercises (they use the bench for the lying exercises but I just lie on the floor), a mat if you don't have carpet and Jari also recommends a heart rate monitor. The setting is a bit dark and somewhat plain but didn't bother me. The music is decent, techno would be the best way to describe it.
The warmup I found a little odd, not really your typical warm up, you just grab some weights and go from the start. You do some shoulder rolls while holding a barbell or weights, and then you will so some deadlifts, rows, deadrows, bicep curls, overhead presses and squats. These are all moves you will see in the workout but the weight should be much lighter than what you would normally use.
Then it's on to the workout, Jari tells you what exercise is coming so you can prepare. They also display each exercisers "personal weight load" which I really liked, it gives you an idea of what weights to use which I found very helpful. You start out with squats, a pretty long set with varied counts, 4-4, 3-1. 2-2 and single count. After these you will do a brief set of plie squats before finishing out with another brief set of traditional squats. Chest work is next you will do a short set of pushups, followed by bench presses again with varied counts. Next are pullovers where just one dumbell is used, I usually think these are pretty easy especially in a workout like this where lighter weight is encouraged. My arms were on fire! Pullovers also target the triceps and that is where I really felt this one. Following pullovers is lying triceps extensions to fry the triceps a little more, then you will move into a close grip bench presses that also work the triceps. Towards the end of this set Jari will combine the two exercises.
Floor leg work is next, inner thighs are worked first with leg lifts, then you will work the outer thighs with more leg lifts, then knee ins with some pulses. Ankle weights can be used here or a dumbell for a little extra challenge. Then you will move onto deadlifts and rows. You will start with deadlifts, then rows, then you will combine the two for a deadrow where you will bend at the hips then row. Next are lunges, where you will step back and then lunge down and return to standing. I modified this one just a bit by doing a static lunge in a 2-2 count which I liked better and I will still on pace with Jari and friends.
You will finish out with biceps, shoulders and abs. The biceps and shoulders are two of the toughest sets in the workout. The biceps are done in varied counts and is a pretty long set. The shoulders consist of 4 sets total, you will do 2 sets of side lateral raises, then 2 sets of front raises. The ab work is pretty easy and short, you will do 3 exercises, reverse crunches, traditional crunches and oblique twists. Then it's on to the cooldown and stretch. There is also stretching in between most of the exercises so the final stretch isn't too long.
Overall I really liked this workout and give it 4 and a half stars. Jari is a very pleasant instructor and I liked her style, I would definitely buy more workouts from her. The DVD has a few extras, a testimonials section where people talk about why the love the Ripped program, and a techniques and modification section where Krista (one of the Rippers) shows how you can personalize the workout to your needs. I would rate this workout as intermediate, but it is suitable for all levels. I would advise viewing the video before doing so you can familiarize yourself with the different rep counts and tempos as most of the exercises have them. For those who like hi-rep endurance workouts, this one is a great choice. Well done Jari!

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Urban Rebounding Workout DVD, Compilation 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)I just got this in the mail today. I've had a mini-trampoline for many years and have always loved messing around on it, but I'm the type of person who benefits from instruction. I am glad to see these workouts.
They tell you to use their Urban Rebounder, but my no-name model from Sears works fine. I don't know if I could add the stability bar on to it, but I don't think I'll need to use that.
I started at the beginning and did the first workout: First-Timers. It was so difficult I couldn't believe it. They slowed everything down so much that it was no fun and I was completely out of breath. I had to take jogging breaks to catch my breath. However, the First-Timers workout only needs to be gone through one time, if that. I think you can learn all the basics from the second workout: The Basic.
The Basic workout was really fun and up to tempo (unlike the First-Timers). It was exactly what I was hoping for: a good workout on the mini-tramp. It included a warm up, cardio section, jogging/sprinting section, cool down, and abs workout (which I thought was pretty tough). The moves were all basic but the warm up and cool down had some variety not included in the cardio section.
This disc includes 6 workouts, not four. They are: First-Timers, Basic Program, Intermediate, Advanced, Oldies But Goodies (for Seniors), and Abdominal Bound.
I haven't tried the other four yet, but the other reviewer covered the Advanced program and the fundamental outline of all the programs. I did look at the workout for seniors. The music for it is also very slow so I don't know if it will be a fun workout. It has a different instructor (JoJo) who is very interesting.
The main instructor, JB Berns, puts me in mind of the martial arts instructor from Napoleon Dynamite, but he's not that bad. He's actually kind of funny. He does take the name of the Lord in vain twice in First-Timers and once in Basic. I hope that will not continue into the other programs. You'd think someone would have told him . . . (unless they didn't want their face smashed?)
He mentions checking your heart rate one time, but gave no time to do so. I'm glad he mentioned it because I was so focused on the moves that I didn't realize how elevated my heart rate was. After that, I had to modify the moves myself to keep my heart rate down. They had five people on camera; you'd think one of them could have demonstrated some modifications.
Sometimes he gives good instructions on form, but other times none. He says, "use good form," but doesn't explicate. If you are a beginner you will need to learn about form from other fitness instructors (Karen Voight being the best I know of).
The demonstrators are all wearing gym shoes, so I wore mine. I tried the cool down barefoot because my feet were hot, but I think it's better to wear shoes for the workout.
I'd have to say that maybe this DVD only deserves three stars because of its weaknesses, but I gave it four because it's unique (are there any other rebounder DVDs out there?) and because it's a good value. You get six workouts on one disc.
There are other compilations too, with different instructors, including ballet, dance, pilates (core), African, Latin, kick, boxing, hip hop, hi-lo, and stretching. I'm looking forward to trying some of those.

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Get in great shape and have fun doing it in the comfort of your own home.Get started and expand your Rebounder workout with these 6 workout videos.Compilation 1 includes First Timer, Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Senior, Abdominal.

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