Customer Reviews

Geri-Fit: The First Workout With Weights for Older Adults [VHS]

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

 

 

I'm 67 years old and have been working out to the Geri-Fit videotape for 5 months. I do this three times a week, almost without fail and I follow the entire session, not skipping the stretching before or after.

On that basis, let me say that I'm enjoying tremendous benefits from this regimen. Those benefits include increased mobility, flexibility, strength, and balance. I thought perhaps I had passed the age where I could recover what was lost, but this workout has proved me wrong. I can walk up the two flights of stairs in my townhouse without pulling myself along using the handrails; I can scrub the kitchen floor on my hands and knees; all my strength for opening jars is back; I can rise from a chair without leveraging myself up by hands on knees; and can do calf exercises on a rocker board without holding on to the doorjambs. The list goes on and on. I can't recommend this video more highly to mature adults who think they've passed the point of no return.

As someone who is returning to fitness after years of illness (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), this tape provided the perfect "restart" workout for me. At 41, I'm younger than most of the people on the tape - but the workout is still plenty challenging for me. The pace is slow, and Francesca seems to hit all of the major muscle groups. These are classic weight training exercises, specially adapted for seniors. Many of upper body exercises are completed in a chair. The chest and ab work is done on the floor, but the program has been designed so that you only have to get on the floor once. There are very few standing exercises, and these are supported by a chair.

My only complaint has to do with the editing of the tape toward the end. At one point during a final quad stretch, it cuts away too quickly to the next stretch. You don't have time to get into the position, let alone give it a good stretch. But I think this has to do with the editing, not Francesca's teaching. I just pause the tape there so I get a good stretch.

No intimidating, perfect bodies here -- the participants all look like "real" seniors. I found that comforting and even motivating...I kept telling myself "if they can do it, so can I."

I received this VIDEO last week and am very pleased with it. For a change, this exercise is for the over 50 in mind and the people involved do not have hour-glass figures. In other words, they are the average "Senior Citizens" who take responsibility for their fitness.

I am 46 and have been suffering with fibromyalgia for the last few years. I bought this tape because I thought it would be an appropriate start for someone in my condition. I think it would have been if it was actually geared toward the seniors it claims to be targetted for. It was way too hard for me and would be way too hard for the frail elderly and people suffering from arthritis or other rheumatic conditions. The instructor whips through the sets and no modifications are made for those who are not able to keep up. Let's put it this way. My daughter is extremely fit and weight trains with 10 pound weights. She looked at the tape and agreed that it was plenty challenging and inappriate for all but the most fit seniors. I'm sorry I wasted my money. The tape is fine for those who are already fit and want to add weights to their routine (although I don't believe in racing through 3 sets of ten for almost every exercise and not pausing for a break, even after completing 3 sets). The rest of us can settle for Pat Laster's Yoga for Seniors...a truly wonderful tape.

i bought this tape for one cent from amazon marketplace dealer
and its a bargain.
i am an overweight 61 year old who has been exercising for almost two year(alas no weight loss)this tape runs 48 min of active exercise and i used 3 pound weights. i thoought it was
good. perhaps the instructor could have paused after some reps
but she does say you can pause when you want.
i wouldn't pay $25 for a new tape but if you find used buy it.

and i would recommend to anyone looking for a introduction to
free weights, not only "old people"

I still work full time and am fairly active. I use my treadmill a few times a week (hate it) but felt I was not generally as fit as I need to be as older age approaches. This is not a difficult workout for a person of average physical ability. It includes a stretching routine and then a workout with light weights. It seems to include most muscle groups and targets those areas older folks need to keep active. If you are a body builder this is not for you, it will be too easy. As a routine to continue as we get older it's great.