Customer Reviews

Keeping Fit in Your 50s - Flexibility

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

 

 

These are not your average fiftysomethings. One is a model with an obvious facelift, the other is a cyclist who keeps opening her eyes very wide as if she's having shock treatments. Both are in phenomenal shape, and both talk as if they're speaking to retarded children. (I'm fifty-five, I am not stupid!)

The video begins with a lot of "tips." Things most people know at fifteen and probably have taught by fifty. For example, we get a nice shot of what a calf is. (Body part, not farm animal.) We're told that if a stretch is too difficult, we should back off. Duh. (Again, I'm aging, not stupid.)

The stretching is basic Iyengar Yoga. That would be fine if (1) it were very simple Yoga for those of us with arthritis and other problems and, (2) if detailed information about how to do each posture properly was given. It isn't.

Just as the viewer has decided to be spoken down to and has gotten into the stretching (Yoga), the two women on the tape decide to give us a taste of Pilates, and then what they actually call Yoga, which is what we've been doing for an hour already. ???

Although the stretching and other work is all right, the women thankfully aren't twelve and bubbly, and the music is only repetitive enough to peel the enamel off one's teeth, I'm not happy with this video. I do a lot better with Rita Moreno's "Now You Can!" and the Living Arts Yoga series.

This is absolutely the most annoying exercise video I have ever viewed.

Too much talk! I just couldn't get pass the chatter. The narrator is condescending lecturing as if talking to 5 or 6 year old children. The constant babble is a turn off when one is trying to exercise. I kept watching, and hoping but by the time I reached segment 6 I was fed up! I hit mute! Without the chatter the video might be somewhat useful -- don't know.

Chattr aside -- keeping fit in your 50s is a very very basic intro to body-sculpting. If you have never exercised it might be for you. If you want a good work-out video this video is not for you.

Since I am on the other side of a fatigue-filled menopause, I am now in horrible physical condition and find this DVD perfect for someone in my condition. Every single muscle in my body aches. I have tried all sorts of different yoga DVDs and find them too difficult (at this time) for me. I think it's a good place for me to start.

I also have to say that I don't find them talking to me like I am stupid. I think they are talking to those who have not had much experience with yoga, pilates, and exercise in general, and, last buy not least, the elderly.

The worst thing I can say about this is that that in order to miss all the talk, I have to FF to the right spot. I miss the old VHS tapes, where you could turn it off and start right at the place you want. If there is a way to do this with a DVD, I would love to know.

I had checked this out at the library and it was great so I bought it and use it consistently. If you are feeling tight and inflexible, this video will get you back on the track to feeling better. Easy exercises, nicely paced....

The DVD is great and I recommend it highly. I have fibromyalgia and this is perfect for getting those muscles stretched and warmed up without causing further pain. Definitely worth 5 stars.

I liked this. No I don't think the ladies are talking down to the viewer. Solid instruction, stretches are done more than once, soothing, effective.

I purchased the series and liked all three, particularly flexibility. I was glad to see inspiring women my age in the DVD and thought their approach was realistic and not too frenzied. The exercises were familiar but effective. On the other hand, the timing can be a bit off, so the counts during workouts aren't perfectly symmetrical. The explanations take quite a bit of time, but those can be skipped later to go straight to the workout sections. The DVD series repeats a lot of information, but that might be useful to those who buy the DVDs separately. Overall, I feel good after the workouts and feel these are age-appropriate.

I'm 60+ and this helps flexibility for retirement's lower activity lifestyle. Needing regular exercise is essential, but also is this part of fitness, flexibility. I could care less about the 50-something model assisting the presenter. The instructor is a certified exercise physiologist with decades of experience.
BOTTOM LINE: This works for my need. I retired to reading, writing, patio time, and DVDs with a bit of gardening and other things included. Then a heart attack limits heavy yard work. So the flexibility issue is BIG.

I found following this routine of stretching (not aerobic exercise) is keeping muscles loose and pain lower, if at some times it does exist. That means a much improved lifestyle and enjoyment. And many of the stretches are exactly the same that was encouraged in my cardio-rehab program following the heart attack and stent implantation. It's not the ONLY thing you need to do, but it helps me, as a part of a continual fitness program.

This also comes in a 3 DVD set available on this website which includes a "Strength" DVD (I use it also) and "Aerobics" (not the best DVD, but I've used it some days). The aerobics routine is a bit off musically, but then so is a 60+ year old man (me), so it is acceptable.

I do recommend this DVD on FLEXIBILITY, as it helps keep me moving with much less aches and pains from retirement's reduced activity and the unstoppable old age onset. I'd also recommend this to working executives, teachers, drivers, or employees that spend a day sitting, especially all day at a computer or sitting work station. You'll learn some stretches you can do on break, in a business trip hotel room, or just quick stretches throughout the busy and long back-breaking working day.

Finally a stretch DVD that I can do and enjoy! I really am healing my hips and ham strings (spends a lot of time on these, best stretches I've ever done). It's very long, slow and detailed but I like it that way. You can pick and choose a segment if time is short. The only thing that bothers me is the comments during the DVD, ex: "Oh, this really feels good, I can really feel that". It's OK the first few times you watch but to hear them over and over is a bit tiring. I guess they didn't realise this when recording that people will be watching this over and over again. I just can't do exercise on my own. Maybe other people can.

I needed something to keep my fitness routine going when I was unable to get to the gym which was happening too frequently. Keeping fit in your 50's was just what I was searching for. Great selection of exercises taught at a very comfortable pace.