Customer Reviews

Minna - Emergency Workout [VHS]

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Minna's Emergency Workout is aimed at people who have an event they would like to look good for and claims that you will see results in 6 weeks. This tape can be used by anybody. The tape is divided into two workouts: a 30 minute cardio workout and a 30 minute toning workout. The cardio section is great fun. Minna combines traditional aerobics moves (like grapevines, V-steps, and jumping jacks) with dancier moves (like salsa lunges, mambos, and cha chas). This helps those of us with two left feet feel like we're dancing while not overwhelming us. Minna's cuing is excellent and she is upbeat without being overly perky. Her two assistants look like their having fun, and I definitely have fun and sweat when doing the workout.

The toning workout uses multi-muscle moves to target common problem areas: abs, legs, butt, and arms (for example combing front lateral raises with stationary lunges). One of Minna's strongest points is that she explains the moves and proper posture. She also cues very well and prepares you for changes.

Included with the video is a 6 week intensive care diet planner which has a sample workout schedule, fit tips, menus, success tips, and nutrition tips.

Minna's program is very sensible. It covers cardiovascular fitness, weight training, and good nutrition which are essential for creating a healthier, confident you. I've only started the program but I feel that it is a program I can stick to and that will help me get the results I want.

I got this DVD because I already had Minna's Optimizer DVD and her TotalMix workout, both of which I really liked. I like Minna as an instructor quite a bit. She doesn't do the whoops and hollers that other video instructors do. I am NOT the cheerleader type, so I can do without the perky motivation.

This workout is great for me. I almost wish I'd needed it to get ready for a big event six weeks down the road so I could tell you how effective it was that way. Instead, it serves an integral part in my ongoing workout schedule.

I like it for two reasons. 1) I tend to focus more on weights than cardio, and the first half of this DVD is a fun and brief -- but effective -- cardio routine. Sometimes I do it alone, but when I have time, I group it with other routines I'm doing to ensure I get as much cardio as I should during the week. 2) The second half is a very effective weights routine that's great for when I want a total-body toning workout rather than spot toning, such as with Tamilee Webb's "I Want That Body" (which focuses separately on arms, buns and abs, rather than a comprehensive, overall workout).

The backup girls are much better this time around than in Minna's Optimizer, not that I worry too much about what the secondary figures are doing. (Pay attention to the blonde backup girl in Emergency, though; she's a worse dancer than even I am!)

If you hate dance workouts, this one might not be for you, however. Me, I really liked it. I don't dance usually, so it's kind of taught me a few moves I didn't know before. It also makes the workout fly by. I have no desire to stand still and do marches or steps or anything like that. But if you throw together a dance routine, 30 minutes flies by in a snap for me.

I hope Minna puts out another video soon, one that complements the work she's already released.

I recently purchased this video, because I have her Strength & Grace and Fat Eliminator. I did it for the first time yesterday and really enjoyed it. It's not very difficult, but is perfect for the days I want some cardio and light toning (not a 'killer' workout). I usually use heavier weights, and probably will the next time, but I did feel that I got in a satisfactory workout. The ab section was very weak, I would have liked something longer and more intense, but all-in-all, I found it a fun video and the time flew by. Minna is a very good instructor, easy to follow and not at all what I had expected (cheerleader type).

I bought this DVD at a super discount store just because the price was right. I wasn't expecting much but I was surprised that this is a little gem of a DVD. Having heard the name, Minna, but never seen any of her work I wasn't sure what to expect. I also am not a fan of gimmicky come on titles such as this one.... you know a "quick fix" solution.

What I did like was that it's in two parts, cardio and toning. I should say I am an experienced exerciser and have been exercising at home exclusively for the last two years. Prior to that I was a gym junkie and did both cardio and weight lifting on a regular basis. I use a heart rate monitor to level my performance whenever I work out and I recommend all exercisers who want to really know how they are doing get one as well. You will be pleasantly surprised at what is really going on. Don't think because you are feeling tired that you are in the correct heart rate zone or out of it. You need to see the numbers to really undrestand. Having said all that I was not able to get my heart rate into my target zone of choice doing the cardio section alone. I was able to get in the proper zone if this was a second or third cardio segment I was doing but not the first meaning I was already getting fatigued. Another way I could increase my likelihood of getting into the target zone was to wear the weighted gloves. I use two pound gloves and had no problem. As my fitness level improved I found I needed to get something to keep my heart rate in the proper zone and I was not keen on throwing away exercise tapes because I was now in better shape. My sister on the otherhand is not as experienced as I am and she found that this tape got her heart rate in the target zone right away. Minna has a good cueing style and her form is excellent. It doesn't hurt that she looks fantastic so if you like a sculpted look as a an inspiration then she is your girl.

The toning section was ok. It's effective enough for maintaining but if you want growth then you need to supplement. Again I thought her form was excellent and that's important especially for people who are just starting out. I use heavier weights and I recommend that people challenge themselves from time to time. Just because it looks like the presenter is using a 2 or 3 pound weight in a video doesn't mean that's what you should use. Try going heavier and go down as fatigue sets in. You will see better results. It's my opinion that you see lighter weights on video presenters for two reasons: 1) They need to show correct form at all times and it's easier for them if they aren't really working as hard as they could to maintain that control and 2) they don't want to put off beginners who might feel they can't do the workout using large weights.

Overall a good workout but experienced exercisers may need to modify.

This consists of two half hour workouts. The first is a hi/lo that is a bit dancy, but not too complex. She is very good at teaching the steps, but it does require a certain amount of co-ordination- they are not all easy to do. The music is motivating, and she includes lots of shimmying your shoulders while moving your legs in another pattern. It is fun, and the time flies by. The toning section is the second half, and is well planned. It is fun to do- but I like weight work.Some of the moves are complex- you are exercising more than one body part at a time. This is a good workout for someone to start with as you can do the two halves separately, and work up to a full hour workout. The intensity is lower than Tae Bo, and is mostly low impact.

Minna is a great teacher, and very personable. She doesn't come off as a bimbo, but instead is very competent and motivating. She looks great. She has one white, and one black background exerciser, which I thought was great, as there aren't a lot African Americans in exercise videos.

Last New Year's I bought a bucketful of exercise DVDs after extensive research reading reviews such as these - but most of them I did once or twice and relegated to the "okay but not really what I'm looking for" pile. Both of Minna's DVDs (this and "Balanced Blend"), I'm happy to say, reside permanently in slots 1+2 of my DVD changer...

The Toning segment is the best, concentrated short workout I've found - it's easy to find time for a 30-minute workout! The moves are easy to follow, and the cueing is excellent (with the exception of one girl in the background who throws you off when the editor cut in some B-roll).

You can use the same handweights throughout, without needing to switch weights. The best part is that each exercise flows seamlessly into the next, without those long-winded pauses in between to explain what you're about to do. I would have liked a few more minutes of ab work as there are no obliques (35 mins would still be a quick workout), but if you're looking for a maximum full-body toning workout that's fun (i.e., it's over before you know it), then this is it.

The Cardio segment isn't my favorite, though it does help that you can just wiggle your hips and wave your arms to the fun music and not really have to concentrate too hard - just do something similar and get your heartrate up! (And it is a nice change from Minna's five million squats in the Fat Eliminator routine on Balance blend, which is also a great 30min toning routine but quite grueling at times!)

Both segments on this DVD feature girls in the background that look like they are enjoying themselves (without any annoying "whooping" sounds a la Donna Richardson). And Minna's personality is about the best there is; always a pleasure to listen to and watch.

I really like this DVD. Minna doesn't break any new ground here, but she is a great instructor. She is not annoying, she cues well, and she's gorgeous so it just might give you something to aspire to. The cardio portion of this DVD is a lot of fun because, even though it's pretty standard aerobics, Minna puts it together in a way that is NOT AT ALL difficult to follow and kind of makes you feel like you're grooving on a dance floor. The toning section is heavy on the squats and lunges and you use light weights throughout for the arms. Absolute beginners might start out with no weights and anyone with weak knees needs to be careful here. Minna is very fit and goes DEEP into those squats and lunges, but if you are out of shape that will hurt you, so don't go as deep. I'm sure this DVD won't do much for the advanced exerciser, but for everyone else I think it's just wonderful. You can increase the weights in the toning section as you progress and it's easy to step up the cardio a bit if you focus and USE all of your muscles to get that heart rate up. A lot of people complain about the quality of the cardio and at first I agreed, but once I got the routine down and really focused on the workout...I got sweaty! I'm glad I bought this (it's going into my favorites pile) and I would definitely recommend buying the Emergency Workout. It really is a fun video and Minna is lovely and low-key.

I was looking for something to get me excited about working out. (I fell into a slump of no working out after abdominal surgery). This was just what I needed. I find myself doing the tape sometimes twice a day b/c the cardio is almost like mini dance routines. Very Fun!

Minna is fun to watch and easy to understand. I don't feel like I am trying to "keep up" with her. If I do miss a step the workout is easy enough to jump right back in. I really like the toning part of the tape b/c I have never been into lifting weights, but I noticed results(especially upper body strength) after about 2 weeks of doing this tape, that was motivation enough for me.

All the combinations flow really well with the music and help to keep me in step. It took about 2 weeks to get the tape down to where I was always in step, but it was fun learning. I will definatly buy another one of Minna's tapes.

I have the Emergency workout and I love it. Minna is a great instructor who is upbeat, positive, down-to-earth, and keeps you motivated, but not in your face. The cardio portion is fun and will really make you sweat. At first, (along with any other dance related workout video), the steps were a little intimidating. However, with some practice and replaying the steps they soon become second nature. Don't expect to be able to do the steps the first time, you have to get up and practice. The cardio portion goes fast because it is fun. It's really a great stress reliever also. The toning is also very good. It may take a few times to master the double toning techniques (squats with bicep curls, lunges with arm raises) but it is worth it. You burn more calories because you're using more muscles! Overall this is a great workout. I've seen someone else's review and they had negative feedback. Do not base your decision on that. It really is a fun workout!!!!

If you're intermediate or above, I think you'll find this workout is too easy. There's nothing wrong with an easy workout - the problem I have is that it's called an EMERGENCY WORKOUT. This is supposed to be the workout for you if you need to lose weight for a wedding or other occasion. I really don't think this workout is the most effective way to lose those extra pounds to fit into that special dress.

It's a good balanced beginner workout for those not ready for more complicated moves or a lot of jumping.

Part 1:
The first half is about 25 minutes - not 30 as the tape states (I bought the VHS, not the DVD). It is low-impact and has a lot of basic salsa moves. None of the moves are difficult to learn. It's just a bit basic - I never broke a sweat. Minna is not very enthusiastic - very dull.

Part 2:
This is the weights/toning section. It's better than part 1 because you can use the weights you want and customize the workout to your level. Here's where you can work up a sweat if you challenge yourself with the weights. This part is closer to the actual 30 minutes that are advertised.

Bonus item:
In the VHS version I bought, a 1200 calorie meal plan was included on a pamphlet. The information in this pamphlet is FALSE. I have been counting calories successfully for years and this meal plan is WAY underestimating the number of calories in these foods. For example, it says you can have a bagel with 2T cream cheese and a piece of fruit for something like 200 calories. In reality, that's a MINIMUM of 350 calories and could be as much as 500+ calories depending on the type of bagel you choose. Throw this pamphlet out - it is misleading.

SUMMARY: don't bother with this one if you're intermediate to advanced (that applies to your fitness level as well as your capabilities with various aerobic moves and dance steps). For your daily 30-60 minutes worth of exercise, you can do something else with a little more "bang for your buck".