Customer Reviews

Pregnancy Fitness: Stretch & Strengthen

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This video combines simple exercises with seated exercises and leaves no excuse for skipping exercise while pregnant!

I designed this workout to help stengthen the muscles needed for pregnancy, delivery and faster recovery. This workout can be used during all trimesters and after the birth of your baby to begin the road to regaining your shape.
Stretch & Stregnthen is a little on the basic side, but can be made more challenging with hand weights.
If you are an advanced exerciser, you may want to check out my upcoming Cardio Tone workout-great for fat burning too!

FYI- I produced and instructed the Pregnancy Fitness Series in my eighth month of pregnancy. I felt that most pregnancy fitness dvds were either outdated or not targeting the right muscles. Exercise during pregnancy makes a huge difference for both you and your baby! Any bit of exercise helps!
(...).
Thanks for your interest!
Kira

Before becoming pregnant, I exercised by running 3-4 times a week for 30-45 minutes. Once I became pregnant I was just way too tired to run, so I looked for a DVD to get me through.

I bought this DVD (along with Kira's cardio & core dvd) based on Kira's own review about the videos. I liked her philosophy (and the fact that she was 8 months pregnant in the video) and was lured by the claim that I would be doing exercises designed especially for muscles needed in pregnancy and delivery.

The reality for me was that the workouts were way too slow. She doesn't announce the move changes in enough time and the routine does not stay consistent (for example, transitioning consistently from one move to the next with the same foot or after the same number of repetitions). This may not bother you, but I found it distracting. I could never anticipate what was coming next or when the whole thing was going to be over. Also, the video is shot outdoors on a golf course and you can easily tell the passage of time throughout the workout, and during the ab section she has to wave the bugs out of her face while she is instructing... again, this may not bother you.

I did the workouts probably 3 times throughout my pregnancy. They were just too boring for me.

I prefer Leslie Sansone's "Walk Away the Pounds" series. It has a lot of the same steps: marching in place, stepping side to side, small kicks, etc., she gives modifications (which I did not do when pre-pregnant, but they made for a gentle workout while pregnant), the workout is far more organized, and Leslie is as positive as Kira.

As for the exercises targeted for the pregnant woman promised in the Pregnancy Fitness series... it boils down to the ab tightening and the Kegels (which any pregnancy book will describe how to do).

Super DVD for non-pregnant as well as pregnant women! Very easy to follow. As Kira says, with this DVD, there's no excuse for not exercising and you can enjoy it too!

I have done years of strenuous aerobics. From that point of view, this program is very slow moving and very easy.

On the other hand, I am an older female having a baby for the first time and cannot do any strenuous aerobics. Also, my coordination has seemed to have completely deserted me. I also have no idea of what I can and can't do for exercise when I'm pregnant. If anyone is in this state, this is the video for you. All the talking in between just gives you a bit of rest and you get a nice easy workout that provides you a benefit in keeping your muscles stretched and toned for labor. It helps with back pain and general fatigue. Also, it helps prepare your abs and "pelvic floor" for labor.

I would highly recommend this program to the following pregnant people:
older than 30, out of shape, or those having coordination problems.

I thought that this DVD would be more of a cardio stay in shape video but it's more for the gal who wants to get in shape for delivery. It offers great muscle toning workouts for the muscles you will use in the delivery process but unfortunately little else. I also found things were over explained but again this could be good if your just starting out.

My daughter lost intrest quickly and it is near impossible to do all the floor moves with a wandering baby or one that thinks ur a play toy cuz ur doin floor exercise's! My 5 yo wanted me to use him as the baby...that was intresting! I now do work outs while she is napping and really like the buns of steel post natal work out!

I started Stretch and Strengthen exercises when I was 6 months pregnant after a different excercise DVD and I have enjoyed it since then. My main problem area is my upper legs and Kira's exercises have helped me to keep more or less decent shape in that area, even though overall I have gained more than 40 pounds at this point, and I'm 37 week pregnant now. Anytime I start having back pains or leg cramps at home, I don't go to bed, but start doing these excercises and all the problems disappear right away. As my mom says: "Pregnancy is not an illness, it is a temporary and joyful condition. As long as you don't have a complicated pregnancy, stay active". My mom's words in combination with Kira's excercise routine have brought me through the entire period in good spirit and relatively good shape. Thank you, mom and Kira!

So I tried this video last week with my almost 6-month old son and he loved it! He giggled so hard every time I blew out air during my sit-ups. I wish I could have videotaped it! Putting aside my son's laughing spells, I was sore after and felt like I was able to (finally) get in some strength training while he was awake. This video now takes the place of Kira's pregnancy fitness workout in my DVD player as a daily MUST!

I have both of Kira's videos and loved both. I used them during my pregnancy and can honestly say that it made a difference in my comfort level throughout the pregnancy. I was less tired, had more flexibility and just generally felt great. She is very knowledgable about the fitness field and I can't wait for her cardio tone videos to come out. Definitely a must-buy for any fitness level...great shower gift too!!!