1994 video wrap-up: workout videos for everybody - Bibliography

Eve Jane Fonda couldn't have predicted where the fitness video market would be today. Videos for step, funk, boxaerobics, seniors, kids and the physically challenged cater to a wider audience than ever - and they're safer, more effective and more fun. So there's no excuse to leave anyone off your holiday gift list. To help you sort through the barrage, we've reviewed some of the latest releases.

Aerobox Workout with

Kathy Smith

Michael Olajaide actually teaches the hour-long workout with Kathy Smith as his student. He does a great job cueing through this advanced level cardiovascular workout, which also tones the upper body, using a jump rope and performing real boxing moves. Shot in a boxing ring within a factory, it has an MTV feel - especially with all the black and white footage.

Exercise Fun with

Buddy Bird

Buddy Bird is one of the sometimes seen students in a 20-minute aerobic workout led by Ginger Jones. No warm-up or cool-down is included in this high-impact (although the box says "light" impact) workout. The choreography is adult and complex, despite the "8 years and older" age suggestion. Although children follow along well, there's no evidence it was tailor made for kids.

Jane

Fonda's Yoga

Exercise Workout

Simple, elegant, clear. Fonda teaches the basics of yoga by using a 20-minute full body stretch and tone, 15-minute yoga sun salutation progression and 15-minute relaxation section format. Practical time allotments, soothing voice and nice braid.

Karen Lee's

Personal

Health Care

Plan for

Women in

Their Second

40 Years

and Beyond

A two-hour-long informational video concerning women's wellness and preventive health care for those over 40 hosted by nurse practitioner Karen Lee. Lee discusses the 10 most asked questions, and the two most avoided ones. A Personal Health Care Plan workbook accompanies each video. Good stuff!

Kathie Lee's

Feel Fit & Fabulous

Workout

Kathie Lee Gifford provides the humor, friends and house tour, as AFAA certified C.B. Yelverton leads an interval training workout for beginning to intermediate exercisers. Safe throughout, using light weights for toning intervals.

Maria Serrao's

Everyone Can

Exercise!:

Toning and

Strengthening

This 45-minute video caters to able-bodied and physically challenged individuals, giving clear cues to proper exercise execution during the warm-up, muscular endurance and strengtening, and cool-down stretching sections. Led by trainers Linda and Kevin Lewis, Serrao is enthusiastic and appealing, not to mention inspiring.

Ms. Fitness USA Lower

Body Workout

Focusing on the lower body, the Ms. Fitness USA Workout Team performs a complete warm-up and lower-body muscular endurance training in this hour-long step workout. Theresa Davis does a good job cueing through this multi-level workout modified for all fitness levels. During all side-lying positions, lay your head down on your arm to decrease the level of neck stress.

Pathways: Exercise

Video for People with

Limited Mobility

Outstanding video! Shoosh Crotzer's workout is for seniors, people who are overweight, have multiple sclerosis, arthritis or other individuals with limited mobility. Many will benefit from this well-paced, gentle and thorough combination of stretches, strengthening, range of motion exercises and 10-minute relaxation segment. It comes with in illustrated checklist of every exercise shown for doctors to approve before participation.

Perfect

Balance

Workout

A little of everything that's hot on the market today in a single hour-long video. This is a multi-discipline workout combining movements from tai chi, yoga, ballet, karate, hip hop and salsa, led by instructors Donna Richardson, Lisa Gaylord, Stephanie Herman and Gloria Quinlan. Music, set and effects are stunning.

Power, Step,

Hi/Lo, Funk and

Slide Video by

CIA-Power 5004

Video

Three classes in one 120-minute video. Includes a step (22 minutes), hi/lo (20 minutes) and funk cool-down (10 minutes) workout with Christi Taylor. Taylor's excellent instructional skills and technique are definitely the highlight of the tape. Also included are a 30-minute slide combination class taught by Deborah Silvers and Terri Klinghoffer and an advanced 30-minute step workout conducted by Debbie David.

Sandy Lewis'

Stopping into Shape

Sandy Lewis leads the International V-Toner Team through a 30-minute, whole body cross training routine, combining the V-toner (a professional version of the Thighmaster) with stepping. The cardio workout doubles up with upper-body conditioning work. Warm-up and cool-down round out this intermediate to advanced level tape.

Steppin' Out: Ultimate

Interval Training

System

Carrie Weiland not only instructs this interval training video, but wrote and performed the soundtrack as well. The routine includes a warm-up, four cycles of four-minute step/cardio intervals with three-minute strength training with weights and an abdominal segment. Final stretches complete the hour-long tape. Best suited for intermediate to advanced exercisers.