Customer Reviews

Skeletal Fitness by Mirabai Holland Osteoporosis Prevention Bone Loading and Strength Training Exercises:A Workout For Bones and Bone Health for Boomers, Seniors, and Beginners

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I exercise regularly at a gym near my home, but when I travel for business or pleasure, I'm not that comfortable in new facilities. So I thought I'd give this DVD a try. I can't say enough good things about it.
From the beginning info on osteoporosis and bone loading through the exercises and finally the stretch and further info on dietary recommendations at the end, this was just what I had been looking for. I found it easy to follow Mirabai's instructions because she demonstrated clearly how each exercise is done while talking about alignment and posture. After watching and doing it along with her a few times, I found I was able to have the DVD on my laptop and just listen to cues without looking at the screen. In fact, hearing her remind me to relax my shoulders and remember to breathe made me look around to see if one of the trainers from my gym was in the room with me!
Another thing I liked was Mirabai's options for making the workout harder or easier and variations for those with more or less flexibility while always reminding the viewer to be aware of how their body reacts to each exercise.
And oh that stretch at the end feels so good with its combination of slow, rhythmic movement and stretching poses accompanied by gentle music you are barely aware of. The effect is that of having spent a couple of hours at a spa where you have done something really good for your mind and body.

When I learned that medical professionals and Prevention Magazine endorse "Skeletal Fitness," that was enough for me! I sent away for the DVD and am very glad I did.

I love Mirabai's straighforward, down-to-earth style and trust her professional expertise and credentials. [She's certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, and specializes in preventive and rehabilitative exercise.] After working out with the DVD, it's easy to see why she's receiving such accolades.

Mirabai has zeroed in on the precise exercises that put just the right amount of gentle stress on the bones to stimulate bone growth by using light weights, small movements, and resistance - stretching and isometric techniques. The exercises target all the areas most prone to fracture, such as the hips, ankles, and wrists. The exercises are easy to follow and simple to do. Definitely a program I can stick with and fit into my busy schedule.

I also appreciate her reminders about posture and correct breathing while exercising, and about not squeezing the weights too tightly. Her timing seemed perfect - she caught me every time! All in all, exactly what I was looking for. Highly recommended.

I have recently discovered all three of Mirabai Holland's videos. They are all great! No crashing waves against the shore. No little jokes that are so-so the first time, but with repeated playing drive you up the wall. No personal comments. Just a no-nonsense professional approach to fitness. She knows her subject and conveys it beautifully! I understand there are more videos in the works. I look forward to them!

This is a really well thought-out bone strengthening program. Mirabai is gentle and encouraging - and sees you through all the areas where you'd have potential fractures: wrists, hip, spine, etc. Having a video for this type of thing is far superior to an instructional book - it really takes the guesswork out of proper execution of the exercises. For myself, I feel like I hit a goldmine when I came across this DVD. Highly recommended for women young and old.

When I was diagnosed with Osteopenia last month my doctor told me to do some bone loading exercise. She recommended Skeletal Fitness by Mirabai Holland, so I bought it. Well, I couldn't be more pleased. Her manner is soothing, her instructions are simple and to the point, the music is nice and easy, and by the end of the video I can feel I've done something for my bones. I've only had this video for a week but it doesn't feel like something I'm going to get tired of, and that's important for me because I'm in it for the long haul.

I've owned the Skeletal Fitness videotape for quite a while and like it so much that I bought the DVD and gave the tape to a friend who still doesn't have a DVD player. It's great for people like me who don't like to exercise, and I really believe it works. I'm just short of 55 years old, and the bone density test I took this summer showed hardly any bone loss; I'm so excited! I told my doctor about this DVD, and she now recommends it to her patients.

Mirabai Holland has a gentle, encouraging approach that doesn't intimidate when I got tired along the way. In fact, she offers alternative ways to do her workout for people who don't have the flexibility to do some of her stretches.

I also really like this video because it explains the importance of each exercise and how/where each one helps your body. I feel like I'm learning a lot at the same time as I'm giving my body a workout. At the beginning, there's a good explanation of what osteoperosis is and how giving your bones a workout can help prevent the disease. After the workout, there's an even more in-depth discussion of osteoperosis.

I have been anxiously waiting for Skeletal Fitness to come out on DVD. There are very few exercise alternatives for those seeking a bone loading workout. Sadly I must give this exercise DVD a resounding thumb down. The most disappointing part of the workout is the lack of specific safety instructions while you are working out. For me the whole advantage of a DVD over an exercise book is that the instructor is able to give safety instructions while I am doing the exercise. While Mirabai occasionally gives a safety instruction while doing the exercise (don't grip the weight too tightly) she spends more of time just repeating "breathe and breathe" or the intensely annoying "enjoy the workout." Maybe it's just a peeve of mine but by the twentieth time Mirabai exhorted me to "just enjoy" the workout instead of giving helpful instructions like relax your neck muscles I was beyond annoyed.

Not only are the safety instructions mostly missing, but she also does not give complete instructions on how to perform the exercises. In the upper body with hand weights she is obviously doing extra motions, twists and extensions with the arms and wrists that she does not describe. I was forced to stop and slow motion over and over trying to figure out what I was supposed to do. This was made more difficult by the stationary camera angle. By this I mean that all the repetitions (typically between 14 to 20 reps) are all performed from a fixed camera angle. You don't get another camera angle to try and figure out how to perform the exercise. If you are lucky (mainly in the lower body section) you get a different camera angle when you switch from the left to right leg. This is much more instructive. What it should have been is a different camera angle for different repetitions, i.e. first four rep straight on shot, next four reps four shots from an angle on the right, the next four from the left, the next from the rear or above or below as appropriate for the exercise. Zoom out and in.

Production is amateur at best. Looks like it was shut all in one go with little or no editing. Numerous shots have bright overhead lights shining in your face. One shot has the cameraman's shadow distracting you as it moves across the floor. Mirabai wears a bulky microphone pack. The first information section is stilted and wooden with choppy camera jumps. The music choice is annoying. It is neither upbeat (which you sometimes need to work through the pain) nor soothing (except for the stretch and relax section which does have soothing music). It might best be described as a new age guitar fusion with light jazz??? Does this sound motivating to you?

Furthermore the exercises are not distributed over the entire body. "Upper body and Hand weights" is almost exclusively for the wrists, arms and shoulders, as is"Stretch Pull and Twist with Towel." "Isometric and Wall Resistance" adds in some loading to the spine. "Lower Body Bone Loading" works the legs with some loading to the spine. Please note that this section requires you to be able to work up against a wall while watching the DVD. Even worse for many instructions you are told to "hold onto the wall". Mirabai is working up against a very wide column, about three feet wide. She reaches around and holds on to the sides of the column to perform the most amazing convoluted ballet type exercises. Think ballet pellets on tiptoes with ankle weights on. What are you supposed to use if you don't have a wall you can hold onto. A chair or two chairs or even the back of a sofa are too low. Mirabai gives no alternate instructions.

I will be sticking with my book Exercises for Osteoporosis by Dianne Daniels. I never would have thought a book could be better than a DVD.

Will someone please make a decent exercise DVD for people who need bone loading exercises.

This dvd is wonderful! I have been searching for an excercise dvd that would provide specific instruction and guidance for bone strengthening. My doctor recommended this one to me. I love it. Mirabai is a natural. I actually look forward to working out with her. She shows you the proper way to do these excercises and makes it so easy to follow. Her presence is not overpowering but very supportive and friendly. What a big difference this has made for me. Thanks so much!

This DVD is just what I needed to get started.I was diagnosed with osteopenia and decided that I need strength training. I feel that this DVD is perfect for beginners.

I was recently diagnosed with low bone mass and my doctor, Dr. Becker at Columbia Presbyterian in New York, a top osteoporosis specialist, recommended this video as the best she's seen. I had a great experience with it--the exercises are easy to do and the color coded sections make it easier to find the body parts I need to work on. Mirabai is great to work out with and a great coach and motivator. She obviously knows her subject. Highly recommended.