Your Personal Best Workout

Buy This Item Your Personal Best Workout by Walt Disney Video  Available from Amazon  $12.98  on 1-6-2009     Although the cover of this workout featuress supermodel Elle MacPherson, don't let that fool you--the instructor of this video is none-other than world-renowned fitness instructor Karen Voight. This is a circuit workout, which means there are aerobic segments which alternate with weighted toning intervals. Karen and Elle appear together in a variety of beautifully scenic Hawaii locations, and although Elle introduces the various segments, Karen takes over from there. <br /> <br />The workout starts with a 4 minute warm-up. This was classic Karen Voight: basic moves such as marches and side-steps combined with arm movements to warm up both your lower and your upper body. Next comes the first aerobic segment, lasting about 4.5 minutes. Again, Karen uses very simple moves (hamstring curls, knee-ups), and she ups the intensity a bit at the very end with some hops. For the first toning interval, no weights are used, but Karen and Elle use a bench; a chair works fine. Seated in the chair, you'll do various leg extensions, move on to tricep dips, and then finish on the floor with push-ups for a total of 5.5 minutes. <br /> <br />The second aerobic interval is very similar to the first; it also adds a bit of intensity at the end with jumping jacks, and it's about 5 minutes long. The second toning segment is longer (11 minutes) and works a greater variety of muscles. First, you'll use the dumbbells to work your arms and shoulders in a standing position. Next, you'll lie over your chair or bench (I used my stability ball here) in a an all-fours position for glutes work. Finally, you'll move to a seated position for some additional upper body work with the dumbbells. The last aerobic segment starts with some mock jump rope, and then Karen performs moves inspired by different sports, including basketball, football, karate, and swimming for 9 minutes total. <br /> <br />The last toning segment is performed on the floor. You'll start with abs work, and as always, Karen attacks the abs thoroughly with a variety of crunches. You then lie on your back for additional glutes work via several pelvic lift variations. Finally, Karen has you lie on your stomach for just a few back strengthening moves for a total of 8.5 minutes. The workout ends with a 6.5 minute cool-down performed entirely on the floor; Karen leads you through some seated and lying yoga stretches to the tune of "Fields of Gold" (although the artist is not Sting), bringing the total time for the workout in at about 54 minutes. <br /> <br />The interaction between Karen and Elle reminded me very much of another supermodel fitness video, Cindy Crawford's A New Dimension--there, instructor Kathy Kaehler leads the workout, but Cindy makes frequent comments, as Elle does here. Some might find these quips annoying, but Elle seemed genuine to me, and she certainly deferred to Karen as appropriate. In addition to the song mentioned above, much of the music in this video was recognizable as hits from the late 80s/early 90s, including "Some Like It Hot" and "Break My Stride." Finally, I think this video would appeal to a wide range of fitness levels: beginners could modify down by keeping the cardio entirely low-impact and by using light or no weights, and more experienced exercises could add light hand weights to the cardio segments, utilize ankle weights for the leg work, and increase the dumbbells for the upper body work (but beware: Karen does a lot of reps, and as an intermediate, I found using 5 lbs. tough!). Overall, this is a very solid interval workout with a timeless feel, and I'd definitely recommend it. Reader Reviews This is by far my favorite work out tape ever and when I say ever I mean I have had this as part of my collection for about a decade now. The workout has three areobic sections and three strength training sections that work all areas of your body. It is not grueling or repetitious, instead you go through various moves that are easy to follow yet change enough that you don't get bored. I have noticed a visible difference in my muscle tone due to this workout. This is one of the only exercise tapes I use but I also watch my diet and exercise in other ways to suppliment my workouts, but I think you would still be able to see great results from this tape alone.

Your Personal Best Workout Available from Amazon Price: $12.98 Updated on 1-6-2009.

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