Customer Reviews

Paula Abdul's Get Up And Dance! An Aerobic Dance Workout [VHS]

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I just want people to know that this is a hip-hop workout and difficult for some of us due to all the jumps, twists, and general joint-popping. I would have liked to have known that before I ordered it.

Paula Abdul--choreographer to the stars--and two of her colleagues lead a workout which will challenge your feet and leave you sweating. As far as I know, she's not a certified aerobics instructor, but she had Karen Voight serve as Fitness Consultant for this video, and that was good enough for me. She's taught dance routines for years. Much of what she did for George Michael, Janet Jackson, and the guys from ZZTop probably involved getting them to relax and not worry over how goofy they felt when they couldn't get the steps the first time around. She does spend some time talking about that before you begin this routine. In the words of the customer service experts, she practiced good expectations management there. So I wasn't surprised or disappointed that I couldn't get it all the first time, either. Heck, I like a challenge!

You can't do this if you're sleepy. I've never tried it at 5:00am. To me, it's more of a "let's dance and have a party" routine, and one I want to be fully awake for. And there are no modifications given for those who want or need a gentler routine. But this is an intermediate program, after all. I've found that if I didin't snap my neck all the way around, bend my knees too deeply, or jump--just raise my arms toward the ceiling and go up on my toes--then I was all right. I'd also encourage folks who want to keep their heart rate up to use a full range of motion dring the "teaching" segments of the routine and really lift their knees up during the "march-it-outs." I found that even the "YMCA cooldown" (which is really goofy but fun, anyway!) can be aerobic if I made my moves bigger. If this sounds like too much work, then pick up a Kathy Smith or Donna Richardson video, practice the low-impact modifiers they teach, and come back to Paula's program later!

Having given those caveats, I still think this is a great, fun, inspiring workout. Paula is beautiful and she's passionate about dancing. This tape is her way of making some of that accessible to the masses. You've gotta love her for that! One exerciser is 42, another is 50--so it's not all 20-somethings. I knew going in that it would take consistent practice to master the dance steps. After a month, I had most of them learned, and abandoned my "modifications" to really go for it. I'm also glad to see an aerobics tape which includes abdominal floor work after the cooldown. If I do ab stuff even a little bit following an all-out cardio routine, my back usually benefits from the stretching and muscle work, too. The most important things are to not get discouraged if you can't get all the steps down in a week or two, and as Paula says, "don't give up" and "have a great time!" I didn't and I did. Hope that's true for you, too!

I think this video can be really awesome, alot of fun and a fantastic workout. I agree with a few other people's reviews. I went through the tape once and could not follow it. Its a workout that you definitely need to learn in steps. That's what I am doing now. Even though I could not follow Paula's steps when I tried it the first time, it still gave me a workout with sweating. I wanted to continue and learn the steps all at once but I knew I wouldn't be able to get up tomorrow morning. So I will gradually learn it and I am sure in time I will be able to follow her all the way. I really love dancing so I know I will love it when I can do all of it. In my opinion if you don't like dancing, this isn't the tape for you. Its fun and very challenging. I do believe though the people in the video are either professional dancers or they spents hours learning the steps in this video. You cannot learn it in a one shot deal. But I would say if you love to dance, love aerobics then this is definitely the workout for you. Thank you for letting me express my feelings about this video.

Forget the words: "workout" & "exercise".
Instead - think of: a little challenge, dance steps, and fun.

You can do this.
Don't rush. Take a little at a time.
Anyone can learn moves - all it takes is repetition - just doing it over and over (that and not giving up).

And to get or stay fit you need repetition.
Thus this video encourages the viewer to repeatedly play it;
repeatedly exercising and before you know it - surprise - you're getting more fit, staying fit, and not "working" at it! (along with getting more agile, more balance, more finesse, more confidence, more grace (i.e., your manner of moving is smoother)).

Think of it as your dance class you have x times a week - but it's even better because you can do it in private.

I found myself at different times during the day (when stressed, nervous, bored, waiting, needing to relax - all different times), I found myself practicing some of the steps....i.e., the perfect remedy for any of those situations and so good for ya!!

just fun.
just do it.

I have read several reviews from people saying that it is too hard to learn the steps in the video. I loved the video from the first time I watched it. It did take a while to master the steps, but that is what a rewind button is for! You do have to be committed to learning or you will never get it. I tried inviting friends over to learn it with me but 3 or 4 of them bailed out before it over the first time they tried it.

I couldn't believe the review that said you do not get a good cardio workout. Come on! If you are doing the steps correctly you will definitely get your heart rate up! I can't wait to try the next video. Also, I do not have much dance experience except for drill team so if I can do it, so can you! Keep trying. Stick with it and you'll be glad you did.

I'm not going to comment on the video's value as an aerobic workout because I think you can make pretty much any exercise aerobic by maintaining continuity.
As far as a dance video goes, I think it's pretty good. I'm not buying her comments about the "ordinary" people she put together for the video..this isn't a routine for clumsy people and/or significantly overweight folks, especially the later sections. But anybody can pick up at least some useable moves from it. In my opinion, if you can get through the whole thing without stopping, at the pace it's shown, you're already quite fit and coordinated. I agree with what has been said about camera angles and such, but I was able to see what was being shown, even if I couldn't do all of it. Of the half dozen freestyle dance videos I've bought, I'd rate this the most advanced overall.

I have had dance training, but after two babies, I am not in shape. This tape requires practice and ptience. The warm up section is easy enough, but the dance part can be too quick for the amateur. The first few run throughs you spend getting lost. I have done this tape now for six straight days and have now learned the dances, but that is where the endurance comes in. Once you can do the dance, you get no rest stop and the tape is almost an hour. So if you like Paula and like to dance, try it. It is fun and something you can take with you to a dance floor once you have some technique. If you can't dance well, and are not in shape, pass this up. You will just be dissatisfied. The up side is that I am sure that you will get results from this workout once you can keep up!

Let me start out by saying that I am not a fan of aerobic videos and I have never really been a fan of Paula Abdul. I live in an apartment, don't have money to join a gym, and thus wanted a cardio workout that I could do inside on rainy or winter days. After looking through schloads of your run-of-the-mill exercise tapes, I opted to try Get Up and Dance. I've been completely satisfied ever since.

Paula is a great instructor and has earned herself a new fan. What's truly amazing is that I don't ever get bored with this routine, even once I learned all the dance steps (and learning the steps will take patience, along with the willingness to hit rewind several times). This workout is definitely going to make you sweat, but it is some of the most fun I have EVER had exercising.

While I do not admit to many people that I actually own a Paula Abdul workout video, I feel the need to share my experience with you. I purchased the VHS back in 2000 and hated it. I spent a week fumbling around my living room like a buffoon attempting to do these moves. I stuck with it and I encourage you to do the same.

I began doing this video twice a week. I ate the same, exercised the same, and did everything else the same. Within a few months I went from 154 lbs to 138 lbs and I have stayed there since (disregarding a few fluctuations around the holidays). Sure I am not Twiggy, but I look and feel great.

The video is broken down into three segments, each consisting of three dance moves. At the end you put the nine moves together for a great workout. The first segment (3 moves) is fairly easy, but they get progressively harder as the video plays on. In the first few weeks (if you are anything like me) you will never think you can get it down, but I encourage you to stick with it. Once you get the moves down, the video is a lot of fun! It is fast paced - this is bad at first when you learn the moves, but it is great after you know the moves as the video becomes fun!

Once in a while forget squats and weights and just dance, sweat and have fun! And learn those hip steps and feel cool, too. I agree that those steps cannot be learned at once, but I am sure I can pick them up soon (and I have 2 left feet!).

This tape has a warmup which was based on dance movements, and real dance segment, abdominal workout and cool down. I am very please with the seperate ab workout, because we all know that that area needs some special care. After the dance segment, 4 college students(? obviously they are not professional dancers) give a surprise FUN dance to Village People's song YMCA. What a great and smooth transition from dance to cooldown! I laughed and followed the tape as if I was in that studio with the boys and Paula. That was something I never expected or seen in any other tapes.

I usually love elegant dance movements like in the NYC ballet workout, but this tape made me taste the fun and energy of dynamic dance. What a nice surprise, Paula!