Search - The Works - Yoga/Pilates on DVD

Look Out Billy Blanks! Heh heh...

11/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, just kidding around a bit in that title. Billy Blanks still works me the hardest, but Sharon Mann's DVD is great, too. I've used it several times, taking advantage of the option to create your own workout routine. I was hesitant at first because I did not know if it would work in my player, but the DVD works just fine in both of the two DVD players in my house (my player and my parents' player). The only bummer is that there is no fast forward scan available in this DVD, and the reverse scan keeps getting stuck in one of the players. I need it to work because sometimes I get lost or distracted, and need to go back a few steps and try again. Eh, well.The workouts themselves did get me plenty tired, especially the plyometrics exercises. Each workout routine you design lasts about 30 minutes. Mann herself does intermediate level workouts, while people in the background do modified workouts for beginning and advanced levels. I've become used to doing routines that last longer, at least 60 minutes, so I just go back and make another combo to fill in the time. The only thing is, you need to buy a few props for some of the workouts if you do not have them already such as for the step workouts and the military training sections.In spite of the two bummer issues (the lack of a fast forward scan and the need to buy a few props, which is why I docked one star off my rating), I like this DVD. I have one of the other ones (for yoga and pilates) and enjoy it, too. I'm looking forward to getting the body sculpting DVD soon."

A must have for anyone serious about getting in shape!

CHERI C. RAPP | Bremerton, WA United States | 02/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, this DVD is a must have for anyone who is serious about getting into shape. It offers a varied selection of workouts programmable by YOU. You decide which type of warm-up, workout and cool down to do. This makes it very easy to alter each workout to work more cardio, or more lower body or ....you know where you need the most work, and this DVD lets you decide how and where to work it most. Some of the workouts use freeweights, some are kickboxing, pilates, some all over training. I love the flexibility to change workouts, in one DVD instead of 6 or 7 different ones with one workout each to accomplish the same thing. I have used it for 2 weeks, and already lost 4 pounds and my clothes are fitting loosely. I can not believe how fast I started seeing a change in my body shape. I sound like one of those silly commercials, but I am serious, it is working for me and much faster than I would have thought. I would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to get aerobic training, and improve overall body condition."

Good Series.

CHERI C. RAPP | 06/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The picture is of the Yoga/Pilates DVD which is also good. The Cardio is a fun DVD. Each time you exercise you can select different routines. No matter how you pick them, there are 4 segments-warm up, workout 1, workout 2, and cool down. All of that in a 25 minute time span. Great for when you need something different and quick. I do these in addition to my cardio workout or by themselves."

Not quite what it seems

CHERI C. RAPP | 04/08/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In concept this DVD sounds like a great idea. The choice of mixing and matching different types of exercises to get a variety seemed likely to add choice to my workouts. Unfortunately this DVD suffered alot in poor production and teaching. Firstly, the instructor Sharon Mann has a strong background in aerobic fitness which is not a bad thing but it seems she took a weekend course in pilates, yoga and tai chi as a trendy thing to add to her teaching. Unfortunately this means she is not very strong in these fields and has a tendency to aerobezice everything including yoga. It was very disconcerting for her to speed things up during the yoga portions with aerobic stylings and I am by no means a purist. Secondly she seems to not know what she was teaching in some of the segments. If I picked pilates she would be doing yoga type postures including phrases. If I picked yoga there would be aerobic postures. What is with the Heinz 57 here!? It can be very misleading to those not familiar with these methods.
The music was the same for most of the routines including yoga. Its this dancey generic music that I had no choice in turning off or changing.The segue in between each routine was the worst. She would be in part of the routine and instead of just ending it the screen would fade off partway through the postures and then segue partway into the next routine. It had no flow or link. Very bad. Lastly, you were supposed to choose the person on screen whose fitness level was closest to yours but the camera stayed on Mann most of the time and there was no choice of multi angles. Luckily I was close to her level anyways. I cant strongly recommend this DVD but I try to ignore all the flaws and get some benefits. She is a perky and encouraging instructor though."