Search - Minna - Emergency Workout on DVD

A Great Investment

Lady Murasaki | Washington, USA | 04/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Minna's Emergency Workout is aimed at people who have an event they would like to look good for and claims that you will see results in 6 weeks. This tape can be used by anybody. The tape is divided into two workouts: a 30 minute cardio workout and a 30 minute toning workout. The cardio section is great fun. Minna combines traditional aerobics moves (like grapevines, V-steps, and jumping jacks) with dancier moves (like salsa lunges, mambos, and cha chas). This helps those of us with two left feet feel like we're dancing while not overwhelming us. Minna's cuing is excellent and she is upbeat without being overly perky. Her two assistants look like their having fun, and I definitely have fun and sweat when doing the workout.The toning workout uses multi-muscle moves to target common problem areas: abs, legs, butt, and arms (for example combing front lateral raises with stationary lunges). One of Minna's strongest points is that she explains the moves and proper posture. She also cues very well and prepares you for changes.Included with the video is a 6 week intensive care diet planner which has a sample workout schedule, fit tips, menus, success tips, and nutrition tips.Minna's program is very sensible. It covers cardiovascular fitness, weight training, and good nutrition which are essential for creating a healthier, confident you. I've only started the program but I feel that it is a program I can stick to and that will help me get the results I want."

It works as hard as you do

Lady Murasaki | 11/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got this DVD because I already had Minna's Optimizer DVD and her TotalMix workout, both of which I really liked. I like Minna as an instructor quite a bit. She doesn't do the whoops and hollers that other video instructors do. I am NOT the cheerleader type, so I can do without the perky motivation.This workout is great for me. I almost wish I'd needed it to get ready for a big event six weeks down the road so I could tell you how effective it was that way. Instead, it serves an integral part in my ongoing workout schedule.I like it for two reasons. 1) I tend to focus more on weights than cardio, and the first half of this DVD is a fun and brief -- but effective -- cardio routine. Sometimes I do it alone, but when I have time, I group it with other routines I'm doing to ensure I get as much cardio as I should during the week. 2) The second half is a very effective weights routine that's great for when I want a total-body toning workout rather than spot toning, such as with Tamilee Webb's "I Want That Body" (which focuses separately on arms, buns and abs, rather than a comprehensive, overall workout).The backup girls are much better this time around than in Minna's Optimizer, not that I worry too much about what the secondary figures are doing. (Pay attention to the blonde backup girl in Emergency, though; she's a worse dancer than even I am!)If you hate dance workouts, this one might not be for you, however. Me, I really liked it. I don't dance usually, so it's kind of taught me a few moves I didn't know before. It also makes the workout fly by. I have no desire to stand still and do marches or steps or anything like that. But if you throw together a dance routine, 30 minutes flies by in a snap for me.I hope Minna puts out another video soon, one that complements the work she's already released."

This is a keeper

Yarra | Suffield, CT USA | 07/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently purchased this video, because I have her Strength & Grace and Fat Eliminator. I did it for the first time yesterday and really enjoyed it. It's not very difficult, but is perfect for the days I want some cardio and light toning (not a 'killer' workout). I usually use heavier weights, and probably will the next time, but I did feel that I got in a satisfactory workout. The ab section was very weak, I would have liked something longer and more intense, but all-in-all, I found it a fun video and the time flew by. Minna is a very good instructor, easy to follow and not at all what I had expected (cheerleader type)."

A workout you have time to do!

drariadne | 12/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Last New Year's I bought a bucketful of exercise DVDs after extensive research reading reviews such as these - but most of them I did once or twice and relegated to the "okay but not really what I'm looking for" pile. Both of Minna's DVDs (this and "Balanced Blend"), I'm happy to say, reside permanently in slots 1+2 of my DVD changer... The Toning segment is the best, concentrated short workout I've found - it's easy to find time for a 30-minute workout! The moves are easy to follow, and the cueing is excellent (with the exception of one girl in the background who throws you off when the editor cut in some B-roll). You can use the same handweights throughout, without needing to switch weights. The best part is that each exercise flows seamlessly into the next, without those long-winded pauses in between to explain what you're about to do. I would have liked a few more minutes of ab work as there are no obliques (35 mins would still be a quick workout), but if you're looking for a maximum full-body toning workout that's fun (i.e., it's over before you know it), then this is it. The Cardio segment isn't my favorite, though it does help that you can just wiggle your hips and wave your arms to the fun music and not really have to concentrate too hard - just do something similar and get your heartrate up! (And it is a nice change from Minna's five million squats in the Fat Eliminator routine on Balance blend, which is also a great 30min toning routine but quite grueling at times!)Both segments on this DVD feature girls in the background that look like they are enjoying themselves (without any annoying "whooping" sounds a la Donna Richardson). And Minna's personality is about the best there is; always a pleasure to listen to and watch."