Product Details

• Format: Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony
• VHS Release Date: November 3, 1998
• Run Time: 71 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1573309923
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,804 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Everybody wants a lean, toned body, but who’s got the time? You do, thanks to Kathy Smith’s Instant Workout. Three fast ‘mini workouts’ that each deliver great results in a specific area of fitness. Now you can personalize your training by concentrating on the goals that are most important to you. Or, combine all three to create an amazing total workout that does it all!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kathy Smith-a great aerobic instructor, February 18, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Palo Alto CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kathy Smith - Instant Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have really enjoyed Kathy Smith's tapes. This one is included in my collection and I have to say it is an instant work-out! The toning tape is a good challenge and gives pretty good results. The aerobic portion is fun, kinda zany and doesn't get to boring. There are a few traditional moves, like the grapevine with other funky ones added in, like the "running man". It also allows for some freedom in sections that you are bound to enjoy. The stretching portion leaves you feeling relaxed and free. Each section is made up of its own individual 20 minute mini workout. Different music and settings help alleviate boredom. All in all, I would suggest you add it to your collection, especially for the price. Great if you are on the go and have minimal time in your busy schedule to get in shape. Also good if you feel like taking a long work out with lots of variation.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fairly good overall workout, August 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Kathy Smith - Instant Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video was overall a good workout. The video is divided into three segments: Muscle Toning, Aerobics, and Stretching. The muscle toning segment consists of a lot of leg work, and also some abdominal and upper body work. More attention could have been paid to the upper body, but I found, overall, this section to be fairly effective in working out the muscles and toning up. It also has the different people performing the exercises in different ways as to allow people of all ability levels to get the benefit of the exercise (for example, one person uses a chair to help keep balance). The aerobics section is effective as far as getting the heart rate up and working up a sweat (take it easy if you aren't intermediate--it's somewhat high impact on the video, but I found you can easily convert it to low impact by taking out a lot of the 'bounce' in the moves), but it is a bit goofy and in a different style than what I am accustomed to with Kathy Smith. The gentleman with the long hair especially ads to the goofiness with his behavior. Anyway, the goofiness isn't so bad in that it keeps you from getting bored. The stretching segment is probably the most well-done part of the tape. It is very effective and relaxing. None of the stretches are particularly difficult. While the video is designed so that one can do any one segment alone, it is probably most effective to do all three segments consecutively if you have the time.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars From mediocre to bad to great., June 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Kathy Smith - Instant Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

First, don't buy this tape if you're looking for a hard-core athletic workout. These low-key, low-impact feel-good sessions will work up a little sweat, but none are particularly challenging even for a beginner. That said, the obvious sales point for this tape is that it is divided into short 20 min segments, each with a different purpose: toning, cardio, and stretching. The toning segment is ok, but not great. I do it once in a while for a change of pace, when I'm feeling lazy, or when I've already done a lower body work out and just need a little more. The segment concentrates almost soley on the gluts, thighs, and abs. The exercises themselves are not intense--you could flop through them while eating a pie if you wanted to -- but if you bring energy to it, you can get a fair lower body workout. Unfortunately, upper body exercises are limited to pushups and a couple of very pansy movements that exercise the back. The shoulders and biceps are pretty much ignored. You will have to find another means to tone your upper body, which kind of defeats the "20 minute" workout concept. The cardio section is just awful. Bounce bounce bounce on the balls of your feet. Twist and bounce, turn and bounce... yawn and bounce. This part of the tape, neither challenging nor fun, feels more like 20 hours than 20 minutes. I did it twice and never went back. Finally, we have the stretching segment, the ONLY reason I keep this tape right on top of the VCR. The stretching segment is this tape's redemption. It is wonderful, luxurious, both energizing and relaxing. The stretches are comfortable but effective, seem very safe and well thought out. Smooth transitions and gentle positions add to the sense of relaxation. The whole body is addressed. I can't say the segment offers a workout superior to full-length yoga or stretching tapes, but it's better than some I've tried and does the trick in just 20 minutes. I do this section every evening before bed and I have never grown tired of it. Bottom line: If I were recommending a tape for toning to a friend, I'd suggest this one only as a supplement to another broader program; for stretching and/or stress-relief, it's a perfect quickie; but for aerobics, forget it.