A 43-minute strength training workout, half standing, half floor exercises. Erin O'Brien instructs.

Advanced beginning through intermediate exercisers. Beginners could probably do this with light weights, but O'Brien will make you work. You will need 3–8 pound weights and a mat.

If I were to imagine my in-a-perfect-world health club, it would have group classes available from Amy Dixon and Ellen Barrett, and Erin O'Brien on staff for personal training. O'Brien has a great approach that's both matter-of-fact and supportive. She isn't effusive (thank God!), and she doesn't try to push you so hard that you want to slug her (encouraging she is, bossy she is not). Instead she just urges you on with the understanding that the last few reps may be tough, but you'll do it. And along with great instruction — she explains exactly what you're supposed to be doing and why — she'll often take a moment to be playful, turning an exercise like a V-sit into a game. One thing I love about O'Brien's approach is that she's training everyday people for everyday life, not pretending you’re an athlete going for the gold. On days I do feel positively Olympiad, I reach for an Amy Dixon DVD. Other days I'm all too aware of how utterly average I am... but I still want to work out hard enough for some well-deserved DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) — that's when O'Brien becomes my best friend. Because you do work pretty hard, this DVD is best for those who have been working out for a while. But I don't want to scare beginners away either, because O'Brien's instruction is so good. So if you're new to exercise, give this one a try, but go with light (or maybe even no) weights, don't stress out if you can't finish all the reps... and do expect to be a little sore the next day.

 

 

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