I really enjoy this dvd. I got it for $2 at Ocean State Job Lots (great deal). It has three workouts on it: Aerobox Workout, Kickboxing Workout and Tai chi (not really a workout, more like a cool down). The first two workouts are about 50 minutes long and they are both excellent workouts. The tai chi segment is 15 mintues long and is more tai chi inspired than real tai chi, but it's nice relaxing just the same. The modesty factor is pretty good - everyone has their bodies pretty well covered, for the most part, although my grandmother would have probably been appalled at the apparel. :)
Aerobox workout: This is a good overall workout. It's led by a boxer, not Kathy Smith, but he has good cues and it is an intense workout. Since it is a boxing workout, it is heavy in the rope jumping. I did it without a jump rope, for a few reasons. 1) my basement ceiling isn't high enough for skipping rope and 2) it was my first time doing this workout and I haven't skipped rope since I was a teenager. It's still a good workout without a jump rope if you pretend like you're using one. The second segment of jump roping is extremely intense. The new girl trainer from the Biggest Loser is one of the back-ups in this one.
Pros: intense and good all over workout. Good cues, fairly easy to follow with easy transitions. Doesn't take any special equipment or extreme amounts of space. Fairly easy to modify to go lower impact if you're a first timer or if you have issues with high impact.
Cons: tough if you don't like jumping. The most intense part of the workout is all jumping.
I'd give it 8 hearts out of 10.
Kickboxing Workout: This one is led by Kathy Smith. This is an excellent all over workout. It has the warm up, workout segment, legs segment, cool down and then abs segment. I especially like this because it gets out my inner aggression. :) It's pretty funny to watch me in my skirt, looking like I'm going to knock the stuffing out of someone. I'm a green belt in karate, so this is right up my alley.
Pros: intense and good all over workout. It will work every part of your body, without resistance. It's a great core workout, much tougher than Jillian Michael's workout. The abs workout is great. The music is the right tempo for getting full range of motion from the moves, but still pushes you to max out your power. I almost always like Kathy Smith's workouts because she's a good motivator, and has good rhythm. Her cues are easy to follow and she leads through the motions before going full speed, but you still get a good workout because you're constantly moving even when you're slowing the speed down.
Cons: I'm not sure of any right now. Maybe some resistance work could have been worked into it to give a more rounded workout.
I'd give it 9 1/2 hearts out of 10
Happy exercising!
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