Customer Reviews

Callanetics Fit Forever

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Callanetics for me has been an extremely effective method of stretching and toning of my body. My first experience with Callanetics began in the mid 1980s. My original book on Callanetics had been lost during time and the exercise eventually forgotten. I was so pleased to find this book in our public library and am again doing Callanetics. What I like is that it firms the buttocks amazingly fast and effective. Also, this is the best program I have found in all my years of exercise for the entire leg. Many exercises just work on toning the upper thigh area. This program lengthens and tones the entire leg and makes your legs look super toned, longer and beautiful. The abdominal exercises, for me, are somewhat difficult but they are very effective for mainly the upper and lower abs which are both hard areas to tone. I use various exercise methods, light weights, breathing, yoga, Pilates, walking, and various floor exercises. Now that I have re-found Callanetics I have cut some of my other floor work and have already seen great results! The exercises are very effective but you have to do them absolutely correctly and if you do you should see toning results within less than the 10 hours mentioned. I haven't lost any weight and am not trying to. However for others who are trying to lose weight I don't think this will cause you to lose pounds but you will lose inches. My opinion is we should revive Callanetics it is a lost treasure!

I did Callanetics back in the 80s when I gained my freshman 15 (more like 25) and it was amazing - my body firmed up and melted away and I got down to a much smaller size without much other effort. I don't know why I stopped. I bought Fit Forever a couple of years ago and put it down because there were no pictures like the original book. The pictures were so helpful and I had a hard time remembering exactly what to do. Reading and exercising at the same time is a very hard thing to do. So back on the bookshelf it went.

I picked up the book last week and started to use it, pictures or not. I'm on my 4th workout and I already notice my clothes are looser and I'm still doing beginner workouts. I've since bought a used version of the original book and the VHS for the visual aids. I also believe the workout in the original had different levels of exercise. I'm excited to get my book and tape. I really feel taller, leaner, healthier and my back feels much stronger. I'd recommend the original book to the Fit Forever though.

I so looked forward to this book as Callan had not done a book in years. I still have her original book which started the whole Callanetics thing - it's out of print so thank God we have her videos. Unfortunately, this book falls short of her high standard. One big dissapointment is that the exercises are demonstrated by a model, not by Callan herself. Most of the photos are small and not all that easy to follow. In general the book has no pizzaz, and is geared towards the maturing woman and even advices on diet (the usual low fat type). I passed the book on to a friend who was interested, but I do not recommend it.

Callanetics Fit Forever is a collection must for the Callanetics 'family' of followers. The cardio portion is a welcome addition to the already phenomenal exercise program. I like that she has used a Callanetics instructor as her model in the book. Having done Callanetics for the past 8 years I can say this exercise program has made a difference in my life. It is truly one exercise program for all ages, any body! Can't wait for her next book!

The best thing about the book is the straight run-through of most of the original Callanetics exercises (the ones you'd find on the blue VHS tape and in the original blue book), with clear instructions. If you are already familiar with the exercises, you will not miss pictures or the tape at all--in many cases, they are the exact words from the tape. Make a copy to take with you when traveling.

As for the cardio section, it is very disappointing. Not only is the model wearing a dark leotard, making it difficult to see exact leg placement, but for many exercises you have to flip back and forth between the steps. Directional arcs drawn onto the pictures would help greatly. Also, the instructions are not clear at all--it is as if someone else wrote them. If this is the same cardio workout that is featured on the new DVDs, I wouldn't bother buying them.

Unless you were completely sedentary to begin with, this cardio section is not strenuous enough to give a decent aerobic workout. You would be better off doing a 20-30 minute power walk with light hand weights, and/or wearing a weighted vest, or a low-impact step-type workout, or even the original BodyFlex breathing for 40 breaths to get your heart rate up and then do the Callanetics as your muscle workout/cooldown. Also, the other shortcoming of Callanetics, a lack of upper body exercises, was not addressed either, so you still need to do something for those arms, like pushups.

The rest of the book has some useful tips on healthy eating (though no recipes) and dealing with stress.

Not a bad book, but not as good as her others.

Callanetics Fit Forever, although not my favorite of all the Callan Pinckney books, has had an impact on me. I tried to follow the cardio portion and had trouble. I was fortunate last year to travel to Chicago to take a wonderful CardioCallanetics class with the most graceful instructor, Mallory. (who was also the model in the book) I do not do other cardio programs because of my back and knees. However, this program was modified so that I could keep up with the pace and get the most benefit. A beautifully choreographed exercise routine! I do the basic and super Callanetics exercises regularly and I am hoping a cardio video will be available soon.

Callanetics Fit Forever is a collection must for the Callanetics 'family' of followers. The cardio portion is a welcome addition to the already phenomenal exercise program. I like that she has used a Callanetics instructor as her model in the book. Having done Callanetics for the past 8 years I can say this exercise program has made a difference in my life. It is truly one exercise program for all ages, any body! Can't wait for her next book!

I hadn't exercised in some time due to a spinal cord condition, and my body was really showing it. I needed to do something to improve my appearance as I'm approaching 40 and wanted to look, as well as feel good by my birthday. Callanetics did the trick, and in a very short period of time. I used to wonder where my butt had disappeared to, now I can't help but admire myself, esp. in my jeans. My beau also is quite pleased with the remarkable lift in my butt. I am absolutely pleased with this purchase. Callanetics 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours - Amazon.com Exclusive. Thank God for callanetics, esp. for those like myself with range of motion issues. It's very gentle, yet quite effective in transforming your figure. If you're over zealous like me, you might want to purchase the books as well as the DVD.

This book continues Callan's idea that in one small subtle motion you can change the way your body looks and feels. She also gives practical advice on health and nutrition as well as stress management. The book contains the original callanetics basic routine and then moves on to include low impact Cardiocallanetics. One is led to believe the excercises shown are demonstrated by Callan herself, but it is hard to be sure.

Cardio sequence does not make sense, but I loved the concept of the book. Who is the 'model' in the book? A Callanetics instructor?