Search - The Method: Cardio Flex Band Workout on DVD

Feels great!!!

Young Vermont Mom | Vermont, USA | 01/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just did The Method: Cardio Flex Band Workout. Wow! I feel WORKED, and it was only 35 minutes. NOTE - I am 5 months pregnant, but active. I think this would be an awesome workout for anyone.

There were 2 people besides the instructor doing the workout, and they were very quiet. Just there for the demonstration, not for conversation. One of them showed lower impact moves if the instructor went into high impact.

The instructor (I think her name is Cindy Fox) has a pretty thick New York accent that I found distracting at first, but I got over it pretty quickly, once the workout got going. I also got over the pink tones in the set and the pink accented workout clothes. I really really hate pink, so that was a hard one. Plus, the bands they used are bright pale green, so that was also a bit jarring to the eye.

Onto the workout:

Started with a Warm-up which did a good job of stretching and warming up my body.

Went onto what they called a Lower Body workout, though it mostly worked my shoulders. I guess there was some background strengthening in the lower body, but MAN - the shoulder exercises were crazy good. I like that, because my shoulders are not the strongest part of my body.

Next came the Upper Body which was mostly biceps and triceps, though it incorporated some lunges in it, too. Very good!

Then came a short Low Impact Aerobics section, without the band. This incorporated the mambo and cha cha, and in a way that didn't confuse me or make me fall flat on my face. It wasn't too challenging for aerobics-inept me, but got my heart pumping, so I would say it was very effective.

Back to the band!! The Back, Shoulders & Hips came next, and it was very good. There was a part where you tie the band in a knot and use it around your ankles like a rubber band to do some hip/leg exercises. Nice. Some of them needed some balance to do, and even big pregnant me didn't fall over, so I guess the balance I have been practicing in yoga is good!!

The band went away for the rest of the workout... Abs with Jabs and Punches came next. It was a good standing ab workout, which I like, since I can't lie down!! You also work your arms with some punches and jabs, and your legs with some mini-squats ("under the rope"). Overall, good.

The Cooldown/Stretch was also really good. One thing I liked is that they include a hip stretch, which I can always use. My hips get tight really easily. And I never remember to stretch them on my own!!!!

Anyhow, if you have an exercise band, and don't know quite what to do with it, this workout is a really good one. Not too long, and both tones and gets some cardio in. I was sweating by the end, andI know my shoulders will feel this later!! PLUS - no lying down, so I could do the whole workout. (You are not supposed to exercise on your back after the first trimester of pregnancy.)

Recommended!!!

:)"

A different way to tone your muscles (and an effective one)!

Cute mom | Hong Kong | 10/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, kudos to the marketing people: they chose an attractive model for the video cover and that's a smart move. (Just to make it clear, the covering person does not appear at all in the video!)

The trainer, Cindy Fox, has done a great job with the flex band, which is a simple, effective and usually underrated sports equipment. (Mind you, she's not one of those slender / petite / bony type of trainers, but who minds when the exercise is effective?)

Even though I workout every day, the exercises in this video, especially those that actually involves the band, are rather challenging - the intended muscles actually start to "burn" half way through and it takes enough mind to complete the whole set!

As for the cardio segments that does not use the band, you may find the choreography not as pretty as those performed by other younger, slimmer and prettier trainers, but at least these routines are very do-able and the heart keep pumping without the rate shooting to the roof.

This is a great alternative to those who have already worked with dumb bells (who probably get bored by them sometimes), especially on a holiday. Imagine all you need to take with you is something you can pack into your pocket.

Oh, another good thing, which may not be apparent enough on the cover: the price paid for the video already includes a green low-resistance band. This is indeed very value for money, especially for someone like me who had been tempted to get a high-resistance band, only later to find out that I'm not yet strong enough to use it in these exercises!"

Good workout/not the best cueing

BG | Eureka, CA United States | 03/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Found this to be a good workout. You can adjust the resistance by moving your hands further down on the band. I found Cindy Fox the instructor a bit annoying and her cueing is not the best if you are new to exercise videos. But the workout I felt was worth it. I will definatly keep doing it. It is a nice dvd to have in your rotation."

Looks slow, but a tough workout

M. Henry | Tiverton, RI | 07/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first impression of this workout was not a good one. The set and instructor were a bit generic, and I did not have high hopes for the intesity level. However, once you get into this workout, it is very good. There are several moves that my body is not used to, which is good. This is not the most challenging DVD, but a must have for beginners, and more specifically for those who need a very low impact workout."