Customer Reviews

Karen Voight - Energy Sprint [VHS]

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
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Energy Sprint is an advanced workout for those starting to exercise and an invigorating challenge for those who have already achieved a high level of fitness. Spending 80 minutes on exercise requires determination, stamina and dedication!

You can either use a step/bench or work your way up to using it. The step Karen sells is great as you can use it at different height levels to increase the intensity of the exercises. This workout is a bit different than normal step workouts. You will notice a "Sprint Timer" which will appear when the intensity level goes up. The timer helps to keep you going right to the last second even though the exercises are very challenging at that point.

Energy Sprint is based on "Interval Training." You will alternate between high and low levels of intensity. Karen is known for her innovative workout programs and this in a good example of how she uses full range of motion, control of movement and repetitions which ensure you will change your shape and reach your goals.

Karen owns the Voight Fitness and Dance Center in Los Angeles, CA where she keeps her clients in top shape. She excels in clarity of instruction and creative style of motion. She incorporates some of her classic "Karen Moves" into this video and also focuses on many unique step moves you won't see anywhere else.

Have your step all ready to go when you put in this video. Karen jumps right into the first 40 minute aerobic section, keeps you moving through 15 minutes of butt and leg exercises, helps you shape your arms and upper body for 15 minutes and then spends 12 minutes showing you how to get those abs in shape.

There is a heart rate check during this workout, but you will want to monitor your heart rate during the aerobics section as some of the exercises are pretty intense. Don't let that stop you from ordering this video. While it is the hardest video I have ever done in my life, I feel incredibly good after I get through it. I can tell a difference in my circulation, my body is warm for hours and I feel very alert and ready to face life's next challenge. If you are serious about fitness, this is the workout you will want add to your workout video collection.

~The Rebecca Review

This is a step interval tape but it goes beyond just that description. She is a terrific teacher, reminding you constantly of proper form and variations for different fitness levels. She does leg toning before the cardio to really wear your legs out and has a great upper body and abs section at the end. The warm up is thorough, the cool down is great, too and by the end your entire body, top to bottom, has been worked evenly. You will get cardiovascular benefits, strength training and toning out of this one amazing tape. Even if it is hard to find or takes a while to order, it is SOOOOO worth the wait. This is the only tape in my collection of over 40 exercise tapes that I can honestly say will do it all. For beginner's, it's a tough time at first, but use the modifications she suggests and you will progress like a pro. This is also the kind of workout that is equally applicable to men and women, as the movements are athletic, not "dancy" and her approach is very no-nonsense and technical, not the usual "cheerleader" instructor. Any fitness enthusiasts or anyone looking for help in getting fit should have this tape, male or female. END

-"Energy Sprint" works your heart and all your muscles with an interesting, challenging step-interval aerobics and muscle-toning routine. You need a step and a set of fairly light hand weights. It is appropriate for all levels of exerciser except perhaps true beginners who are very obese. Most beginners would enjoy this tape and get a lot of benefit from it.
-This 80-minute workout starts with a warm-up and lower-body sculpting, using the step.
-Then come 7 cardio intervals called "sprints" of different lengths (1 1/2, 1 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, 3 1/2, 4, 5 1/2 minutes). All the intervals use the step, except the last, which is very fast and fun, but low-impact and on the floor with triumphant-sounding music. Between intervals is a little lighter work.
-Then comes upper body sculpting for about 10 minutes. Pushups are a nice easy variation with your ribs on the step -- good for those of us who don't like regular pushups.
-Next is a good abdominal section with interesting moves and plenty of variety.
-Finally you get a good stretch.
-Karen Voight explains the moves like a great teacher, not like a cheerleader, coach, or drill sergeant. The workout team is nice to look at because they look like regular people. They are of different ages, races, genders, and fitness levels, but they all do the whole workout and you can see they are really working hard. That's motivating. The moves are interesting and varied without being too complicated, and Karen's cueing is very good.
-I think most beginners could do this routine. It might take a few times through to learn the moves, but they are really not very complicated, and you can take breaks and just work your way up gradually to doing the whole workout. For beginners, this tape could be the only exercise tape you need for quite a while.
-For intermediate to advanced exercisers, this tape is still challenging and interesting. If it gets too easy, just raise your step and/or use heavier weights.

This tape is one of the few aerobic tapes I've done that is interesting enough to do more than once. One of the few where you will break into a sweat in 20 minutes. Karen's form is excellent, and is for those who really want the most out of their time spent exercising. She also works with graceful movement, which is a rare quality in most other "just keep running" type videos. If it's too fast for you to start with, follow the people in the video who are doing the all-floor version. Excellent video instruction.

This workout kicks my butt everytime. It is pretty intense and very thorough. The step sections are interesting and varied, athletic and not dancy. There is a good leg strengthening section, and ab section, an upper body section and a nice cool down. This is a looong, tough workout so it is one for your hard workout days.

I really like Karen Voight. She is alogether professional and straightforward. No, she doesn't joke or whoop it up, but she tells you to keep going in a no nonsense way, and pays particular attention to making sure you are getting a thorough workout. This workout is not about having fun, but about working hard to get results. If you like dancy moves and lighthearted chatter this video will disappoint you.

The people working out with Karen have a variety of body types, which is nice to see. I especially like watching the one woman who is on the large side like me because that motivates me to keep going. I watch her, and mentally tell her "I'm with you, sister--if you can keep going so can I!"

If you were to have just one excercise tape, then "Energy Sprint" would be it with 80 minutes of total body w/o! This has a very interesting 40 mins of aerobic interval training and I am still working on my recovery rate from the last 3 "Energy Sprints". The moves are not complicated and Karen's instructions are very accurate and timely. This tape emphasizes on correct form. The aerobics section is followed 40 mins of both Strength training for the upper body and abdominal work. I love the abs work in this tape. You will need a step box for the aerobics and some weights for the strength training part.

You may get discouraged the first few times with parts of the video that are too difficult, but you really WILL get there! This is the only video I have continued to enjoy doing..even after a year. In fact, my original copy was dropped on the floor and broke, but I love the video so much I am ordering a new one. Karen Voight really concentrates on the legs and butt, so be ready to work hard.

Fantastic video. You can work with a bench or without. Karen explains how to keep it easy or how to pump it up a little bit. I've used this video for 4 years and still love doing it.

I usually run from 3-5 miles a day, but due to the cold icy New England winter, I didn't want to run outside anymore. After going through some of my roommate's tapes and finding them too difficult, I settled on Karen's tapes, since her Pilates tape was easy to follow. This tape was exactly what I was looking for - not a lot of confusing, complicated moves, but something to get my heart rate going. I have not yet done the strength training half of the video, but the aerobic part is definately wonderful. Also, there are many different body types in the "class" with Karen, which is encouraging. For those who wouldn't be caught dead in an aerobics or step class, this is the tape for you. This video does require a step, and the aerobic part runs about 60 minutes (despite the 40 minute claim)

I just did this workout for the first time -- it is about an hour and a half long in total -- it starts with an aerobic step workout (without weights) and then moves on to upper body work (with weights) and ab work.

This is also my first Karen Voight tape (I usually do The Firm or Kathy Smith tapes) and she is a great instructor. The moves looked complicated at first but I got them very quickly. The best thing about this workout is that it really got my heart rate up and my knees did not feel any strain at all.