Stats: Total Toning Basics and Advanced Fat Burning DVD/124 minutes Running Time/ Copyright 2005/ Found on Amazon.com or local retail video stores

Cost: $14.99+

Review:

I had high hopes for this after watching an informercial on tv.  I am always looking for the newest and best work-out routine (as evidenced by the website of course) so I snatched this up when it first came out.  This particular video includes the Total Toning Basics and the Advanced Fat Burning routines.  

Let me first say that the cinematography is amazing.  The video is shot outdoors by the water or by a fish pond and it’s beautiful.  That’s the good part.  The tough part, at least for me, was the various segments.  I found it a little disjointed.  The Total Toning Basics is a 45-minute routine which begins with a cool warm-up.  It then stops and moves right into the ballet portion which lasts about five minutes.  The next segment is the sculpting, then the yoga poses, abs segment and finally the cool down.  Each piece is filmed in a different location and lasts about five minutes.  That’s the problem - I realize it was the basic program, but it’s hard to feel like you get a good workout bouncing around like that from one thing to the next without spending any length of time on one particular area.

The advanced was definitely better in that regard.  The cardiovascular portion was probably 20 minutes and was a mix of ballet and funky hip-hop moves.  It was actually kind-of fun and nice for a change of pace, we even did a move called the “chicken.”  How can you go wrong with that?

The music was for the whole video was good, with some background beats and a guy sitting to the side playing drums.  And of course there was the proverbial “center your heart” and and “coiled cobra” moves that is often found when doing any type of yoga.  It is suggested that you use hand weights (1-8 lbs) and a sticky mat as well as a pillow for various exercises.  Bottom line: For something new and different and to add to your weekly workouts, the advanced routine offers a unique change of pace.  For a long-term solution to weight management, you may want to look elsewhere.  

Pros:

• Fun and unique
• Good music
• Amazing cinematography and background
• “normal” people included in the video
• Can pick and choose the various segments if short on time

Stats: 162 minutes/DVD/Copyright 2004

Cost:  $9.99 DVD

Review:

Hmmm… how do I describe this video?  I’m torn, quite honestly.  The layout is good as is the cinematography.  The music, it’s okay but it’s also yoga so it isn’t going to be anything other than soothing.  

The video is divided into three parts: 1 Energize (for beginners), 2 Tone (intermediate level) and 3 Sweat (advanced level).  Part of my problem is that I never made it past the beginner’s segment.  The moves were difficult but that is not the instructors fault of course. I was a bit distracted by his hair and outfit - he looked like an extremely fit and intense Kenny G.  

Some people may really like his style.  I personally wasn’t too motivated by the workout, but I can see how others might enjoy it.

Pros:

• The instructor knows his stuff
• The setting is relaxing and cool
• There are different segments to correspond with your level

Website:  www.poweryoga.com 

Rating:  3.5 Stars

Stats:  Running time: 65 minutes

Cost: $10.49 on Amazon, List price $14.99

Review:  Have you ever had those mornings where you just couldn’t get up and work out no matter what you did?  Well, I can’t say that never happens to me, because it does.  But this workout helps.  (Of course I have had days where I couldn’t be convinced to get up no matter how good the workout was, but that’s another story.)

This weight-training video is taught by Jari Love who, of course, is a perfect size two and is very pretty with her long blond hair and expertly applied make-up.  The good news is that she is not annoying and overly cheerful, rather, she is straight forward and matter-of-fact.  She actually sounds a little wooden, but she’s a good instructor so I let that slide. 

The workout is divided into 15 five minute segments.  Each segment offers a demonstration of the exercise before it begins and an alternative for those who may have limitations.  The segment focuses on a particular group of muscles and offers numerous repetitions which ensures that the muscles are fatigued.  There is no cardio section but with the number of reps and the numerous muscles used, your heart rate should be elevated so that there really is no need for one. 

I won’t lie to you: this is one tough workout and it kicks my butt every time!  But it also shapes my butt like no other video has.  In fact, I worked out regularly for a couple of months using this video and could definitely see a change in my backside.  Anything that can offer those kind of results is a plus in my book!

Pro’s:

• Both weight training and cardio benefits
• Instructor is knowledgeable and efficient
• Workout broken down into segments, can pick and choose

Website: http://www.rippedworkout.ca/default.htm  

Rating:  5 stars