Selecting the top five exercise videos can be challenging. It's a highly selective process, which encourages people to rate videos by the charm and charisma of the presenter, the music and the seemingly fantastic claims. These criteria have unfortunately inspired an abundance of celebrity workout videos, which are taught by charming and charismatic individuals who lack respectable fitness credentials.
The following videos or DVDs were chosen by the professional credentials of the presenter and the efficiency of the workout. Extra credit was given to any video that was unique and interesting. None of the video presenters make false claims about spot reduction and quick weight loss. Most of these videos are 1 hour long.
FitMoves: Juan Carlos Santana
Juan Carlos Santana M.Ed., CSCS, NASM-CPT, is one of the fitness industry's most popular educators. The FitMoves circuit video is based on his theory of the four pillars of human movement. These include locomotion, level changes, pushing and pulling, and rotation. The circuit has five stations that consist of a medicine ball, an exercise band, a stability ball, an exercise step and a body-weight exercise station. The fast station-to-station exercises, as well as the multidirectional movement, provide an aerobic workout that also enhances strength, balance and coordination. The FitMoves DVD is priced at about $35.
Santana also designed a sport-specific version of the FitMoves program. The two-DVD set costs about $50. Perform Better sells a FitMoves package, which includes the DVD and various forms of equipment.
Balanced Body Pilates Mat Exercises With Small Apparatus
Physical therapist Elizabeth Larkham was one of the original founders of Polestar Pilates. She blends Pilates with the Feldenkrais technique and is noted for her precise cuing and her unique and interesting method of combining Pilates props to create effective workouts. The Balanced Body Pilates Mat Exercises With Small Apparatus video offers a boredom-proof Pilates workout that combines the stability ball, the rotating discs, the foam roller, the fitness circle and the balance board. No body part will be left untoned. The video is sold for about $21 on the Balanced Body website.
Bosu Cardio Fusion
Rob Glick is the recipient of the 2006 International Presenter of the Year award from CanFitPro and the 2005 Best Male Presenter award from ECA. He has a B.S. in exercise science and serves as a continuing education provider for many fitness instructor organizations. As its name implies, the Bosu Cardio Fusion video uses the Bosu for an aerobic workout. The Bosu is actually half a stability ball with a dome side and a platform side. This video is divided into five segments, which include a warm-up and acclimation, fusion one, fusion two, fusion three, and a cool-down. The Bosu is used in the same manner as an aerobic step, with patterns performed on the Bosu and on the floor. During the acclimation phase, Glick effectively teaches patterns that improve your proprioception, or your body's awareness of its position on the Bosu. The other segments combine sport- and dance-oriented aerobic moves, which are taught in a progressive, add-on style. This workout enhances aerobic fitness, balance and coordination. It is priced at about $20 and is available through Collage Video.
Just Dance: Petra Kolber
In Just Dance, veteran IDEA presenter Petra Kolber provides an engaging dance aerobic workout that combines high- and low-impact moves. The jazzy instrumentals provide nonstop motivation. It is priced at about $17 and is available through Collage Video.
Spri Pumping Rubber With the Exertube
Elastic resistance training is the perfect solution for anyone who is short on time and money. The Spri Pumping Rubber workout shows you how to get a total body workout using the Spri resistance tubes. It is priced at about $15 and is available on the Spri website.
Member Comments