2007 was a great year for new exercise DVDs. There was something for everyone's taste — beginner's workouts, really tough workouts (thanks, Jari Love!), Pilates and Pilates fusion, cardio dance with simple choreography or complicated choreography, workouts for when you have an hour or only ten minutes. We did as many as we could and while most offered excellent workouts, a few — the ones featured below — stood out. These were DVDs that we returned to again and again, even after the review was written. That's always the clue to a great exercise DVD — it spends more time in the player than collecting dust on the shelf. The key to fitness is consistency, so it's important to have workouts you want to do on a regular basis. We liked these DVDs enough to make them part of our regular routine. There were a few notable trends in the past year. Workouts seem to be getting shorter. A lot of DVDs featured 10-minute workouts. That didn't mean these DVDs were easy — a good instructor makes sure every minute counts. We also found a lot of DVDs this year that used exercise bands, which were included in the DVD box. Sometimes the exercise band workouts fell flat — they were too easy or it was too hard to get the bands in the right position with enough tension — but there were several instructors who made the most out of the bands. 2007 also brought us a couple of fresh instructors, along with the veterans we've grown to love. The past 12 months were a banner year for home workouts, and 2008 is shaping up to be even better!
(Note: You'll find a few DVDs that were released in December 2006 — we didn't get a chance to cover them for last year's round-up and had to include them here!)
- Women's Health: Total Workout in Ten!
Amy Dixon is one of our favorite new instructors. She's intense, a bit of a jock, and she pushes you in a way that's encouraging instead of bossy. This is no mean feat, judging from some other, more annoying instructors out there. Ninety percent of the time she's no-nonsense as she leads you through these four 10-minute workouts and one 12-minute bonus "core" routine. The other 10 percent, she'll joke around a little (while you're still sweating). Each segment has a different focus — cardio, lower body, upper body and stability — and even though the time is brief, Dixon never lets you off easy. If you've got the time you can do all the routines on the DVD and get a really powerful workout, but even if you can only fit in one, you'll feel it the next day. We also really liked Dixon's other DVD, Women's Health: Ultimate Fat Burn!
- Jeanette Jenkins: The Hollywood Trainer 21-Day Total Body Circuit Workout
Jenkins is our other favorite new DVD instructor. She's actually been around for a while, but her profile increased this year with this latest toning workout and her book. The two weight workouts on this DVD are each just under 40 minutes and Jenkins keeps things interesting by having you fatigue each muscle group in just one set before going on to the next exercise. She's got a fun, likable persona — not bossy, and not like a drill sergeant. It's more like being coached by a friend who happens to be a personal trainer.
- Shape Bikini Body Camp: Transforming Workout
Admittedly, we're not huge fans of boot camp-style workouts around here. We're a little on the girly side. But we loved the three 30-minute routines on this DVD (one is cardio, one is sculpting, one combines both). They kick your butt without being mean about it, thanks to three veteran instructors — Michelle Dozois, Lisa Wheeler and Tracy York. And just because one segment uses an exercise band (included in the DVD, if you're buying it new), do not assume there is anything wimpy about any of these routines. Each one will leave you breathless, energized and with muscles that vibrate.
- Michelle Dozois: Your Best Body Circuit
In her new workout series, Michelle Dozois fits a lot of workout into an hour. It uses a variety of equipment — an exercise band (included in the DVD), dumbbells, and a mat — and it's done circuit-style with a lot of combo moves, so you are never bored. Intermediate exercisers who think they've done it all will find this always-engaging take on traditional workouts refreshing. You get cardio and toning for maximum fat burning and sculpting, and the results are proven — all the women accompanying Dozois onscreen have been through her program and dropped mega pounds.
- 10 Minute Solution: Slim & Sculpt Pilates
Not everyone wants to work out with weights, but everyone wants a toned physique. This series of mix-and-match 10-minute Pilates-influenced routines use an exercise band and are great for advanced beginning through intermediate exercisers. Each 10-minute segment has a different focus — abs, upper and lower body, total body and a surprisingly tough flexibility routine, all courtesy of instructor Suzanne Bowen. The band comes with the DVD, so you have everything you need (except maybe a mat) in one box.
- 10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zones
Here's another excellent 10-Minute Solution DVD that uses an exercise band. Out of all the instructors who gave us exercise band workouts this year, Amy Bento does it the best. The bands can be a little confusing when you're first trying them out, but she's created a series of simple moves that utilize the band in an extremely effective manner. There are 10-minute segments for your arms and shoulders, butt and thighs, abs, total body and a great stretching routine. Bento takes advantage of the band's stretchiness to make sure your muscles are working during every part of each exercise. We liked a number of DVDs that used the band, as you can see, but if you can buy just one band workout, make it this one.
- Shape Pilates Workout: Makeover Your Abs, Butt and Thighs Fast!
Here's a lower-body exercise band routine that we'll pit against any weight workout any day. Lizabeth Garcia will make your legs, butt and abs quiver with these Pilates exercises (both standing and mat work), but you'll love the results, since Pilates gives you long, lean muscles instead of bulk. Like Amy Bento, Garcia understand that the value of the exercise band involves keeping your muscle engaged during every part of the move. As a bonus you also get a pretty nifty upper body workout too.
- Dance Off the Inches: Hip Hop Party
Jennifer Galardi has a habit of making complicated choreography look easy and fun. Unfortunately, her workouts aren't always as easy to learn as they appear. This DVD, however, offers Galardi at her best — there's a 20-minute instructional breakdown in which she illustrates the most important moves very clearly, and this makes the actual, 42-minute workout much more enjoyable. It's hip, stylish and since you probably won't have to repeat segments over and over ad nauseum, you'll burn calories right from the first time you try it out.
- Dance with Lisa: Red Hot Salsa Made Simple II
We love Salsa, but usually find Salsa dance DVDs too easy. The answer to our complaints came with this challenging 53-minute workout. Lisa Nunziella puts you through your paces in an instructional section and then works you out hard for the actual routine. What we liked the best about Nunziella's choreography was that she starts the steps on the 2-beat instead of the more familiar 1-count start. This makes things a little more interesting — and sexier. Also more challenging, but the reward is that you both master some cool moves and get a satisfying workout.
- Jennifer Kries: Hot Body Cool Mind - Waking Energy
The second in Jennifer Kries' Hot Body Cool Mind series is undoubtedly the best mind-body DVD of the year. In two and a half hours, there are seven routines that you can mix and match, including Qi Gong, Pilates and Yoga workouts. Kries does a great job of introducing mind-body techniques in a way that will appeal to the Western mind. These segments energize you, improve your flexibility and build muscle tone. Some of these routines are surprisingly challenging, since you are moving your body and breathing in ways that may be new to you. There are pre-programmed sessions, some of which run over an hour, or you can just pick and choose one or more routines on your own. This DVD is a little equipment heavy — you will need a mat, light dumbbells, a stability ball and a Pilates Magic Circle at one point or another during these workouts — but you will be glad you have all these items down the line.
|
