what muscle areas the poses target
MTV Yoga is fun and makes you sweat but moves quickly through the postures. First-timers may want to watch first to avoid injuries. You can purchase MTV Yoga at Best Buy, 2020 W. 31st St., Borders or www.mtv.com.
Remember to listen to your body when doing yoga. Don't go too far into a pose before you are ready, and always use proper breathing technique to ensure a safe practice. If in doubt, speak to a certified yoga instructor for more information. Julie Jones
STRENGTHEN, TONE & FLEX
Isolate core muscles, increase flexibility and improve your posture with Mari Winsor's pilates DVDs. Her set includes Basics step-by-step, 20-Minute Workout and an Accelerated Body Sculpting DVD. In the Basics DVD, Winsor breaks down each movement. She is easy to follow and includes modifications for back and shoulder problems. It is inspiring and motivational to learn these movements from someone thirty years older than you, and who's in great shape for her age. The 20-Minute Workout acts as the next level, so familiarize yourself first with the movements. These DVDs work your thighs, abs and buttocks. To prevent injury, have enough space to move and progress your ability level over time.
I do not suggest moving to the Accelerated Body Sculpting DVD until the 20-Minute Workout becomes easy. It's not safe to move from one level to the next too quickly. If the instructor demonstrates a movement that has you thinking "yeah right," don't give up. Move into it slowly to prevent injury, and allow yourself to work at a comfortable level until you're ready to move on. These movements take a lot of strength, balance and flexibility. A lot of the videos are great for added emphasis on what you may have already learned in a class.
"It's like trying to learn golf off of a video," says Elizabeth Ahearn, director of the Pilates Center at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD. "It's good if you've already started, but you need personal instruction and attention."
—Lauren Karp
TAE BO BILLY BLANKS' INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
I really enjoyed Billy Blanks' Instructional Video. It was short, but Blanks made the movements quick and fun. You're constantly moving, which keeps your heart rate up. Though this video teaches the basics, I managed to get a good workout. I was sweating afterwards. Tae Bo takes martial arts-like movements and puts them to an aerobic pace. Blanks does a good job of beginning and ending his workouts with stretching. He reminds you to breath and uses motivational phrases to keep you going.
BILLY BLANKS' ADVANCED VIDEO
If you try the instructional video and feel comfortable enough to move on, this video will be a good challenge. It's challenging, not necessarily because of the movements, but because of the speed and the length of the video. It becomes a cardiovascular workout requiring endurance. Here Blanks uses more repetitions and does everything, "double time." His constant smile and upbeat attitude make you want to keep going. These exercises develop strength, muscle tone and flexibility.
Both forms of exercise, Pilates and Tae Bo, emphasize breathing. Breathing provides oxygen to your muscles. If you forget to breath you will cause muscle strain, making it harder to do the exercises as well as tiring you out much faster. As for which is a better workout, it depends on what you're looking for. Once you get Pilates down, it is a relaxing way to tone and build strength. Tae Bo is for the person who prefers a fast paced, "in your face" workout.
—Lauren Karp
ABS SHEENA EASTON'S 7 MINUTE STOMACH
OK, I'll admit it, when I picked up Sheena Easton's 7 Minute Stomach, I had no idea who Sheena Easton was. A little background research revealed a Scottish-born singer and actress responsible for the 2000 album, Fabulous. That didn't mean anything to me, but I decided to give Sheena's video a try. Despite Sheena's '80s attire and excessive make-up, I found her workout to be simple, surprisingly effective and convenient.
When I first viewed the video, I was skeptical. Sheena's perfectly-styled hair and dark make-up seem better suited for a night out than an abdominal workout. However, as Sheena explained basic sit-up techniques, her credibility grew.
Unlike instructors from other videos, Sheena doesn't attempt to inspire her audience with stories or anecdotes. Instead, she issues instructions in a simple and straight forward way.She tells you exactly what you need to know. Then she begins the workout.
Sheena spends the next seven minutes rhythmically going through basic crunch exercises. She calmly leads her audience through sit-ups, oblique twists, combinations, crunches and crunch holds. The movements are familiar and easy to follow. They're also effective. On my first viewing, my stomach muscles began to burn midway through my oblique twist. Throughout the workout, television screens behind Sheena countdown repetitions. You never wonder how many crunches you have left. The best part of Sheena Easton's 7 Minute Stomach is the tape's length. After seven short minutes you're done.
The bottom line? Bad make-up,good workout.
—Lauren Reidy
thursday, october 2, 2003
jayplay. 9