Customer Reviews

The Santa Fe Stretch

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

 

 

I tried this DVD with the idea that as a weight lifter and gymrat, that this would be a way to get flexible and enjoy the area of New Mexico that I love...boy was it a surprise...it is not just a stretch video and my abdominals really got a workout.I did like the stretches, although West seemed to move more like a dancer and that was abit too feminine for me, but the floor work, the what she called "Marine Floats",my center worked hard and it was tough...even as she spoke so gently, the movement was hard work...I told my friends about the abdominal work and we all did it together and laughed at the idea that the soft voice could be doing such hard things...
The lovely shots of Santa Fe were special to me as I used to live around there and recognized the area. There are scenes that almost steal the show from West.

I do the Santa Fe Stretch almost every day. This is the perfect exercise routine for somebody relatively new to yoga, who wants to get into it, and build up their strength and flexibility. The series starts with a simple warm-up and ends with deep stretches and yoga positions. At first there was no way I could do it all, but it didn't put me off. I felt encouraged and did what I could, and then built up until I could do all three series comfortably. In fact, I have introduced several friends and relatives and given copies of The Santa Fe Stretch to people from ages 17-75, and it is appropriate for all. The exercises and positions are peaceful, and beautifully paced. I feel more in harmony, both mentally and physically from doing the Santa Fe Stretch.

The menu is quite simple, only the options of the 3 chapter workout or play all.
Sue West does the warmup & deep stretches exercises outside & though I was in a hurry to exercise to be ready to go out after, I felt very calm from the beautiful scenery, the music or Sue herself w/her calms soft-spoken voice.
The warm-up consists of very simple stretches that many have seen before. The floorwork is set inside someone's home, consisting of crunches, boat pose in yopga & other ab work, pilates such as the hundreds & others & many different kinds of leg lifts or leg holds to work the abs & legs. The deep stretches is yoga based mostly with deep lunges, side angle, butterly, forward bends, wide legged forwards, downward dog, holding plank/push-up position, etc. along with more simple stretches & good seated spinal twists.
I agree Sue West is very flexible & you can easily see she is/was a former dancer or at least was heavily into it as a hobby, with more then a hint of ballet in her foot holds/moving style. I was surprised how much older her face looked though her body looks to be the envy of any woman in her 20s or 30s or any age. She can easily kick her foot to her head or do easy seated leg splits.
I had a little trouble keeping up at the the point of the deep lunges, but survived though I've been doing exercise dvds reguraly for over 4 years. This isn't my favorite dvd, but the content is great & the production quality is simple, but not bad at all. Only a little wind/thunder at the end is slightly in the way though it's cool to hear the thunder.
Take off 2 stars if you're expecting anything other then a only light simple soft piano music & slow pace of pilates/yoga.

I'm pretty new to yoga and just started pilates. I've enjoyed different dance workouts for years. This sounded like it was going to be a bit of all that so, even though it doesn't have hundreds of reviews I got it. I like it. I think anyone could do it. You don't have to have any yoga or dance experience. The workout is challenging but it was fun and energizing too. Something different and I think a nice compliment to a yoga or pilates program.

This beautifully filmed exercise video is so unique. I love the fluid movements and the location shoots. The idea of being in a space so lovely as you workout is relaxing, soothing and inspiring. Good job., lets hope we see more of this type of exercise video.

This was a very unique and beautiful exercise video. As someone that loves classical dance and yet can not take classes as I have children, this workout made me feel like I could achieve a dancers body. I also loved the quietness of the music, there was not the usual style of music that sounds like you are in a gym, but instead the music lead the workout with its tempo.
Also, I loved the abdominals...they were hard, but more stabilizing, instead of grinding. Like dance, each new exercise seems to be easy, but was not.

This workout has a great segment for the abdominals, it's quite challenging. I like the instructor Sue West - reminds me of all the nice ballet teachers I have ever had who sometimes slip into addressing us like little girls even after we've all grown up! I think this is a good workout for flexibility and abdominals. I gave it three stars however, because I found it too easy for Intermediate Level. I'd say the abs work is Intermediate Level, but even so, I would pause the workout and do more reps of the abs before I feel it. I think the stretches perhaps assume an Intermediate Level level of flexibility, thus the workout is described as Intermediate Level. However, if one is not flexible to an Intermediate Level, one could still do the exercises within one's own range of motion. The exercises are done slowly enough to follow. Also, I'd have liked more back stretches to improve my backbends.

I'd have given this four stars if it wasn't advertised as Intermediate Level.