Customer Reviews

Kathy Smith - Instant Workout [VHS]

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This is a great workout video for beginning or intermediate levels. It contains a 20 minute toning section, a 20 minute cardio section, and also a 20 minute cool down/stretch section. You can do them separately and take it easy, or all at once for a pretty intense workout. This particular video is very easy to follow. I love it!

I find the toning and aerobic portions too dated and a waste of time, so I only keep this video for the stretching portion only. I will admit, that I'll do the toning portion, if short on time, but it is basically a lower body focused workout. You can get some shoulder work in, doing the advanced modifications, but the biceps & triceps are neglected. Now the stretching portion makes the purchase of this video worth it alone! You start out doing a few rythmic movements to get your blood flowing and loosen up the back & upper body. This part feels great. Then an all over body stretch. There is some soothing music, and Kathy's voice is very relaxing. Not only do you stretch your major muscle groups, you stretch your back and neck as well. My back & neck feel so good after this video! I highly recommend getting this for the stretching portion alone.

This tape is effective, but I find it somewhat boring. What I appreciate about it is the fact that it's a concentrated workout that does the job in twenty minutes per section. If time is limited, I'll do twenty minutes of toning one day, twenty of aerobics the next. I typically skip the stretching section, but it's nice when I'm feeling tense after a day at the office. I also workout to the Firm, Jane Fonda, and Paula Abdul, and Kathy Smith provides a similar challenge, though not as high a production quality as the others.

The aerobic and stretching parts of this video are fine, but the toning segment is not. The abs section is good, and there is a fairly thorough leg section. However, the stretches within the toning portion are extremely rushed, and she moves from exercise to exercise so fast that the people onscreen are already finished a few reps by the time I've figured out which exercise they are doing.

Also, she seems to think that push-ups are the ONLY upper body exercise you need, along with a very short and perfunctory lat portion - I had to do my own shoulder, bicep, tricep work with dumbells after I finished - this is NOT the tape to choose if you really want to work your arms.

There are some confusing cuts and editing, cheesy, dated music, and some odd camera angles (i.e., a view of the bottom of an exerciser's foot while she's doing leg extensions).

Be forewarned that the box copy about it being a thorough workout is exaggerated, and be prepared to add on some of your own arm work.