Customer Reviews

Crunch: Latin Rhythms

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jen is a favourite instructor of mine. Her routines are fun and energetic and this is the same. It's an intermediate workout with basic choreography and lowish impact. It does get your heart rate up a bit and you do sweat a little, but it isn't quite challenging enough for me.
It's a combination of classic aerobics and fun latin moves. You learn a basic aerobic move, and then she adds the latin flare to it. I personally have only done this twice but never felt sore or tired as a result of it. I'd use this on a day where I can't be bothered doing much else but still want to do something. It's certainly going to burn off some calories, but advanced exercisers won't be overly impressed with this. Jennifer is motivating and personable like usual, but I hope her next workout will be a little harder and more challenging.

I've owned a handful of Latin dance fitness DVDs, and this is a nice break from those. The footwork is less complex, it incorporates more arm and upper body moves than most Latin dance DVDs, and it's all low-impact (so it may not be intense enough for intermediate exercisers). There aren't as much traditional Latin dance moves in this as in others - there are more aerobic dance moves. That said, the aerobic components are refreshingly original, without the usual tired, boring morass of chasses, grapevines, and knee lifts. (There's even a quick little move where you pretend to play conga drums.)

You won't need any equipment, but you'll need enough front and back floor space to be able to walk about 4 big (or 8 small steps), and enough space on the sides to take 2 big steps in each direction.

The warm-up and cooldown blend smoothly into the workout itself, so on the downside, there's no menu other than "Play" or "Resume." And if you're looking to learn traditional Latin dance steps you can take to your cousin's wedding, you'll be disappointed.

Overall, it's sexy, playful and fun, and easy to follow with plenty of cuing.

OMGosh--Everytime Jennifer Galardi comes out with a new DVD, I always think "Now this one is definitely my favorite!" But it happened again! You can't help but have an absolute blast doing this dance! The moves are unique, incredibly fun, and boy, do I work up a sweat. Remember when you do dance, the sweat comes when you really accent your moves. So only I learned it, there was no problem getting a great intermediate workout!

I ordered this DVD because I love the Crunch Cardio Salsa with Giselle Roque de Escobar. Unfortunately this DVD pales in comparison. I like that it is fast-paced and will cause you to work up a sweat, but there is very little latin styling or latin music involved. If you are a die hard latin workout fan like me, get the Crunch Cardio Salso instead, or Lisa Nunziella's 5-day latin dance system. Both are much better than this one.

I am a fan of Jennifer and I like very much all her videos, the ten minute solution with the band and the one without, and the dance off the inches hip hop party. Unfortunately I didn't like the crunch videos and I really prefer the others. I see my level as an intermediate and a bit of a dancer and this wasn't fun to me because I hated the music it seamed that I was in an arena bullfighting instead of being dancing and this videos have also to many people in the background you get distracted when the camera changes from one person to another. I did it all once and by the end of the video I was lost because I was tired to think about the moves and in this one you really need to pay attention. I tried to do it two other times but the music really didn't got me going.

When I saw the preview to this video, I thought it looked like something that would be fun and fairly easy to follow. It's Not! There is absolutely no instruction in how to do the different dance steps involved in the routine. If you already know Latin dance, you could probably follow, have fun and get a great workout. But for those who don't, don't waste your money. The workout team obviously spent a LOT of time learning the routines.

This dvd workout is great if you are very familiar with dance moves and can go quickly as she explains them! The instructor isn't a true teacher and doesn't spend enough time coaching you through the moves by a step-by-step slow pace so that you get the correct posture, footing, and rountine. The instructor starts off quickly to the workout beat with the dances, explaining while quickly keeping to the beat and rhythm, which is ok if your a dancer that's familiar with these moves. I found myself having to pause the dvd in increments in the beginning to get the footing down. This makes the learning process very frustrating to get any heart rate up in the workout until you learn the steps. I would like to see this dvd have an intro section for beginners to learn the steps and patterns then, have another segment for the workout for those who have it down.

With that said, I think it is a very good dance routine to have and I would recommend that if your purchase this, as most any age group up to 60 could participate, be warned that it will take awhile to learn moves & routine before really getting your cardio heart rate up.

I love Crunch, and I love Jennifer Galardi. Mix the two together, and you get a great combination. This is 40 minute workout with a warm-up, three routines, and a cool down. The warm up is basic and easy, getting your blood flowing and getting you ready to work out. The first routine seems to be a mixture of Cha-Cha and Samba. It is my favorite as it is basic but really, really fun. The second routine appears to be a mixture of Rumba, Cha-Cha, and Samba. It is the longest, and it is my least favorite. Jen seems to go from the top way too much, but it is cardio and fun, though slightly too repetitive. The third one is mainly Merengue with a few other styles of Latin dance mixed in. It is a little silly with moves such as "sunshine" and "play the bongos." The cool-down is fabulous with some small, flowing dance steps and some great stretches. This is, in my opinion, a perfect workout DVD, but you do have to appreciate Latin dance. Yes, the middle routine is a little long and monotonous, but I still love this video. My favorite video by far.

I lost 10 kgs by exercising every morning with the "Crunch Fitness" and "Gotta sweat" programmes on ESPN several years ago.

Now I am need of losing that weight again so I purchased 3 of the Crunch fitness titles. This is my favourite. As a lover of latin music it certainly encourages me to get up and workout each morning.

I just wish there were Cory Everson would release her "Gotta Sweat" programmes on DVD.

Jennifer is easy to follow, and very consistent with style in all of her workout videos. That is why I purchase any of hers that I can find. I have been exercising to workput videos since the Jane Fonda era and there are very few instructors that I return to again and again. Jennifer is one of them.