Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Parade Video
• DVD Release Date: July 12, 2001
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005MNHA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,346 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one WORKS... Highly Recommended!, October 15, 2003

By 

Crystal Kludy "Crystal M." (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Minna Optimizer - Balanced Blend (DVD)

This is an excellent video for someone who wants to get fit and lean without fancy dance steps. I bought this DVD because of the good reviews given to it by others and I was not dissapointed. The music wasn't overpowering, the backup people weren't annoying, and Minna wasn't overly peppy. I cannot stand it to watch super-perky instructors that stare at you like a frightened deer and give off this attitude like if you don't do the steps they'd shoot you in the feet.

My favorite workout on this DVD is the "Fat Eliminator" segment. It combines strength moves and cardio for a balanced workout that you can really feel. After over 2 months of doing this video at least 4 times a week, I still find myself sweaty but energized after doing it. This segement has a lot of jumping, lunges, and squats, so if you have weak legs or knees then be careful and watch your form. I am a totally un-coordinated clutz when it comes to dancing or any complicated moves, but these moves were straightforward and I picked them up right away. I actually liked this DVD so much that I bought a copy of the "Fat Eliminator" video for my friend and now she does it every day. I am 5'4" and used to weigh 128 lbs and now weigh 124 lbs. Yah, 4 pounds doesn't seem like much to most people, but I am a lot leaner and muscle weighs more than fat. My waist was 29-30" and flabby and it is now a tighter firmer 27.5"-28". My flabby but was 39" and it is now a very firm 37". I started doing this video without a specific goal, and just wanted to see what I could do with my body if I did it 4 or 5 days a week. I eat a well balanced diet (which I did before, but I still sat around too much), so I guess don't expect results if you still eat garbage. I have so much energy now that I just want to tell everyone to go out and buy this video! I can't wait for Minna to come up with a few more videos like this!

Oh I guess I should say a thing or two about the "Strength and Grace" portion of this. I have only done this part a few times mostly because I find this segment to be a lot of yoga. It does have some good pilates in it. It almost feels like you're not doing a workout when you are doing it sometimes, but other times you can really feel the burn. I almost find myself more tired after doing this portion because it really challenges the muscles. If you are a fan of Pilates and Yoga, then you should like the "Strength and Grace" portion.

I also own Minna's Emergency Workout but I don't use that one quite so much because it is longer and the cardio requires that you do some salsa and mambos and I am a clutz. I also recommend "I want that Body" by Tamilee Webb for some extra sculpting exercises if you want to really firm up. I do that DVD almost as much as I do the Minna DVD. This is a program that works. Try it!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch Your Body Change!, March 9, 2005

By 

Leela - See all my reviews

This review is from: Minna Optimizer - Balanced Blend (DVD)

Seriously! At the end of Fat Eliminator Minna says "do this program on a regular basis and watch your body change". It's true. I have been doing this DVD and only this DVD for about a month now - 3 days a week is Fat Eliminator and 2 days is Strength and Grace and my body is firm! I have abs now, biceps and definition in my thighs and buns. Extra flab is gone. This is a fantastic workout combination. FE is tough, particularly the first three cardio circuits. Those plyo jumping jacks are killer. Once I get through that third cardio circuit though I feel like I've already had a good workout and I'm only halfway through! I work up a sweat - I can't even answer the phone because I couldn't talk even if I wanted to. It's definitely focused on your lower body with lots of jumping and plyo and core work but the circuits are quick and they really do go by quickly. The workout is also fantastic in that just when you feel like you can't do one more plyo lunge, she changes the pace to something more less impact. The 15 minute Blast The Fat toning section I always add onto the cardio days. It's nice, quick and effective and in one hour while my son is napping I get in a total body workout.

I also LOVE the Strength and Grace segment. I enjoy alternating my days with this. It's a perfect combination of relaxing and energizing and I still work hard, just without all the jumping around. My heart rate does get up there and again you do a lot of leg work for those nice glutes and thighs.

Minna is a beautiful woman and I appreciate her demeanor and her physique. There is just something about her that is completely likable. Overall, I am extremely impressed with these workouts - the results I have seen will defintely make me continue these workouts!

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent !!, September 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Minna Optimizer - Balanced Blend (DVD)

I recently purchased this DVD and I absolutely love it. It combines both the Fat Eliminator and Strength & Grace tapes together. Altogether it is 90 minutes long. You can pick and chose which section you want to do b/c it is on a DVD, which is great if you only want to do a few things from each section. I personally loved the work-out I got from the Fat Eliminator section..it really works your muscles. It is an excellent cardio and strength training work-out. You start sweating within 10 minutes of the work-out. It also has 15 minutes of abe work at the end..which is great too. I really enjoy Minna as an instructor also...very easy to follow.