Customer Reviews

Low Impact Aerobics (Esquire Great Body) [VHS]

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

 

 

This is a true low-impact aerobics tape. Some tapes that call themselves low-impact aren't really, because at some point they will have the exerciser jogging or jumping jacks and in true low-impact at least one foot is always touching the floor. The three women get you moving quickly and even a person at intermediate level will get a benefit from this 30 minute workout. The only draw-back is the monotonous background music. It varies little in rhythm and never strays from the soft percussion.

I love this video, have been doing it a couple of times a week for about 2 years, and still haven't gotten tired of it!

The "low impact" is important to me (not allowed to jump around or do Step), yet I still get a good cardio workout in the 25 or so minutes, which is a great length, too, as I never seem to have enough time to do the 45+ minute ones. I find the background music enjoyable - the melody doesn't distract, yet the beat and tone change with the various components of the routine. I also find that with outdoor settings, I tend to look at the scenery, but the studio setting helps keep me focused on getting the most out of my workout.

I think this is a great video for beginners because the routines are not complicated, and you can work up more intensity with bigger, more exaggerated arm and leg movements, and emphasizing more resistance during the motions.

The biggest surprise is that that girl pictured on the jacket is not in the video!

This tape is exactly what it claims to be - a safe low-impact workout. There is a lot of energy going on, but it isn't difficult to follow. The moves are all simple and Marian Ramaikas gives good cues and explanations. If you are more advanced and a fan of high impact you might be a bit dissappointed with this one though. It really is more of a beginner's aerobic workout. However, I am at a strong intermediate level, and I still enjoy this video. It is perfect for those days when I am just not feeling up to doing a more intense workout, but still want to get up and move. Sometimes I even combine it with another beginner's level workout when I want something longer but not higher impact. I am still able to get my heart rate up to where I need it to be with this tape even though I consider it to be an easy one. The production value isn't great, but it's not as bad as some I've seen. It was produced in 1990 so the outfits and background are a bit dated. The music isn't great, but it fits the movements and helps keep my timing right. There is a tiny bit of skipping and sort of a hop thing going on toward the end. This shouldn't be a problem, even for a beginner, unless you have really severe knee problems. In that case you could probably just march in place and do the arm movements. For the price this is a nice little video.

Let me start by saying the actual moves are pretty standard, though the squats are done too quickly for someone with bad knees. The instructor is pretty awful; she keeps saying "right" when she does *her* right side, and so on. This is the opposite from any other instructor I've ever had, and she's not consistent about it. One time she even calls the left foot three times in a row. She also describes more than one movement as "arms up!" and "big arms!" This wouldn't be so bad if the direction of the video weren't so terrible. About 30% of the time the camera has a close-up of her feet, and you can't see what arm movements she's doing. A lot of times the camera view doesn't fit the entire movement. Sometimes there are face close-ups, which is ridiculous for an aerobics video because we can't see what they're doing. The video quality is poor and the music keeps fading in and out. What I can hear sounds like a cross between a scary movie and an early 80's Nintendo game. It's boring to work out without energetic music, and the instructor doesn't even try to make up for it. All of this makes these reasonably simple routines difficult to follow, and it was a sheer waste of money.

This is a super one! I've returned to exercise after about a year off, and I'm so glad I found this tape. It is truly low-impact, but high intensity, and easy to follow. It's the perfect program for anyone who wants a good workout but not complicated footwork. I was so hoping to find a good low-impact workout that I could actually follow and feel like I've done something really great for myself -- and I found it in this! Yes, the production is not the highest quality, and yes, the music does go in and out a bit, but I am much less concerned with these things than I am with getting a good, easy-to-follow workout. I don't care about the outfits or even a mis-cue once in a while -- this is a tape that delivers what it says it is -- low-impact, high intensity, easy to follow. Try it!

I used this video years ago when I led an exercise class at church. I recently added low-impact aerobics to my exercise routine, and this tape works well, even for a senior citizen. This exercises require just the right amount of effort for me, and the length of the tape is fine.

I've had this tape for 20+ years and LOVE it! Once you get the movements down, you don't even have to watch it ... just listen to the music and the instructor and you can do it blindfolded. It's a good workout and has helped me tone up and lose weight. It's good for beginners.

I hadn't been exercising in many years and I thought I'd give this tape another chance. The first couple of times I was winded and thought I'd never be through. That was only because I was so out of shape. After that it felt good. You get to move your whole body and in enough repetitions so you don't get lost. It's really a fun 30 min workout.

I recommend this to everyone starting out.

I got the 1985 version of this (with Deborah Crocker) at a garage sale a couple years ago, and it quickly became my absolute FAVORITE exercise video ever. It is low-impact, as it says, but it also has a 5-minute section with normal aerobics that the instructor says you can follow if you wish by doing the low-impact step with the aerobic arm moves.
I always feel like I got a good workout, and the steps are SUPER EASY to follow. The cues are off a little sometimes, and one of the girls in the back is uncoordinated, but its mostly just funny. I don't mind the silly outfits, as it's like a blast from the past! lol. Anyways, I definitely recommend this to anyone- especially beginners. Enjoy!