Customer Reviews

Strong & Smooth Moves [VHS]

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

 

 

When you compare this 1995 video to Karen's newer yoga inspired videos, there is quite a contrast. Karen is still one of the most talented instructors. She adapts her workouts to the changing time and is a leader in the fitness community. What I love most about Karen's workouts is her instructing style. Her voice is calm, the transitions between exercises are smooth, and when she tells you to push your limits, you know you are going to feel the burn. Once you have mastered the classic "Karen Moves," her videos become easier to follow.

In this workout, you will notice a techno/gym feel. You will need 2-5lb. hand weights or her unique 12 lb. padded weighted bar. It is worth collecting all of Karen's fitness products as other instructors soon copy her and you won't need to buy extra equipment for those videos. The weighted bar is very sturdy and can be unscrewed in the center so it may be used as a 6-lb. bar. I have found myself using this bar in some of the Method videos.

This video is divided into two main sections. The more advanced first 25 minutes warms your muscles and prepares you for the second body sculpting section. On your first viewing, you might have to fast forward through about 5 minutes of various footwork segments or you can adapt your footwork until you learn all the steps. I find this workout would not be suitable for anyone with knee problems, unless they adapted the footwork.

If you can make it through the first half (I fake about 10 minutes of footwork - trust me!), then you will enjoy developing long lean muscles, targeting your butt, firming up your abs and working on your inner thighs in the second and best segment of this video. I love the creative use of the weighted bar. Karen has a good imagination and uses props to help you balance and the bar makes you feel like you are working out in a gym.

I rate this video advanced because of the fast paced beginning and the heavier weight bar. The floor workout is much slower in pace and concentrated to the upper body. If you focus your mind, clear out all distractions, and remind yourself why you are doing this video, it becomes a little easier.

Karen has just released two new videos with some interesting equipment. She has such a range of fitness expertise and is an Internationally acclaimed fitness expert. I can't wait for Amazon to make her new "Reform" series available. She also has a new mat and a ring you can use for resistance. Enjoy working out!

~The Rebecca Review

I loved this fast paced cardio/strength tape. Karen's excellent cuing and good choreography will keep you interested and give you a great workout. The toning is thorough and you will feel energized at the end. The soundtrack is very good and as always, the production quality is top notch.

Paula Abdul looked so fabulous in her "Get Up and Dance" video that I scouted out the Internet for information about her "fitness consultant" Karen Voight. At the time I was moving quickly back into intermediate/early advanced level exercise thanks to the Abdul tape, and "S & SM" seemed like the best introduction I could get to Karen's work. It's great!

The staging reminds me of the set for Madonna's "Express Yourself" music video--I half-expected to see the Material Girl herself drop by and show off some of HER smooth moves. But the music--jazz laced with funk, and later, some mellow, almost New Age numbers--is like nothing on MTV. This is not disco or pop that will go out of style in a few years--it will still sound fresh ten or twenty years from now!

Much has already been written about her gift for teaching, but let me add that Karen cues so well that even when the lighting and the camera play goofy tricks on my eyes, I could still follow the routines without messing up. My only complaint about the production is that during the cool-down the camera operators did at least two gratuitous close-ups of Stacy's and Michelle's faces. Granted, these ladies are attractive, but come on now--this is a serious workout--what was the point of filling the screen with extreme zoom-ins focusing on their closed eyes and finely chiseled noses? It didn't do anything toward helping me learn the routine or get into the spirit of relaxation. Of course, maybe I'm not the gender/orientation that would appreciate such artistic camera shots :)

But I digress. That is such a trivial matter in the grand scheme of this workout. It was just annoying, that's all. Let's get back to this review: The title begins with the word "Strong", which rightfully indicates that the tape's primary emphasis is its muscle conditioning program. However, I agree with Wendy that Karen really does a lot with the non-stop 25 minutes of aerobics. Both the music and the moves flow so smoothly into one another that this routine flies by, and before you know it, Karen is smiling at you and saying, "we're done."

Regarding the strengthening section, I must confess I haven't been very faithful about doing it. You're reading a review from someone who hates calisthenics like poison. But other than the first set of exercises for the hips and buttocks, which for some reason I can't do without bothering my lower back, this is the most interesting and even relaxing routine of its type I've ever tried. And bless her heart--Karen exercises right along with you. She doesn't run around the floor correcting everyone's form or counting repetitions while you lie there flopping like a fish out of water. (I really do need to get motivated to stick with this part of the routine--if anyone out there has seen some real results from doing it, let me hear from you. I think that would do the trick!)

The built-in verstility of this tape makes it a winner, too. If you're beginner to intermediate level, you can alternate the two parts of this on a daily basis--aerobics one day, and strength the next. You can also start with lighter weights and work your way up as you get stronger and learn the routine. If you're intermediate-to-advanced, or are trying to lose weight, the entire tape can be done alternating days with a longer (30+ minutes) aerobics routine. Best of all, Karen's style is the greatest for the times when nothing's going right and you're in a bad mood. Most days I'm a party animal when it comes to aerobics. I can't wait till it's 9:00pm when my daughter's in bed and my husband's surfing the "Net" so I can jam with Paula Abdul or Donna Richardson. But once or twice a month I have a bad night where it's 10:30 and I still haven't exercised. With apologies to Cyndi Lauper, when that happens, this girl just doesn't want to have fun! Those are the nights I pull out this tape and let Karen pull me gently into activity. Her all-business demeanor is just what I need at that point. Even if I only do the aerobics, I'm much more refreshed the next day than if I'd just blown off exercise and gone straight to bed.

Terrific instructor, fabulous music, and a versatile workout that will advance with the exerciser. . .need I say more?

Grade: A+

This is a workout that will definitely raise your energy level. She has a great personality and is very good at giving cues--I found it easy to learn the moves. I have several of her videos and alternate them for variety. This one doesn't require a step, and it's not the most challenging of her videos, but you still get a very good workout. Of all her videos that I have, I like the music on this one the best.

Simple and low-impact moves that are very effective. Great tempo and music keep you energized that make you want to do more. Dance routines are easy to follow and delivers good cardio workout. Sculpting section is easy, slow-paced yet effective. Must-have for your workout video library!

The production values are excellent, and I like Karen's professional demeanor--helpful but not cutesy or chatty. My favorite part of the video is the sculpting with weights section, the second part. It can be adapted for any level. As for the aerobics section, the choreography is not difficult, but Karen seems to equate working hard with working fast, and I don't agree. Still, a nice video.

The aerobics section of this video is beginner/intermediate level and great! It's fun and Karen is an excellent instructor. I also like that it's short. If you are an advanced exerciser, use this on your easy days or try something more difficult. Perfect for the average exerciser. Unique set makes it more interesting to look at than some other videos. I've had the video forever and still enjoy getting it out, although the bar section (I even bought the bar) never thrilled me.

I am an advanced Tae Bo user and thought I would try something else for a change. I bought this tape and Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance. I tried Strong & Smooth Moves twice and both times I was ready to give up and go to the Donut Shop. The Dance moves are so quick and the steps change too often. These purchases made me realize I am not into the dance aerobics and it gave me a new appreciation for Tae Bo. I can burn calories and tone all in one workout. Strong Moves & Paula Abdul's video are both filmed in a dance club type setting with flashy dressers, this is not what I am looking for when I wake up to exercise at 5:00am. These are the kinds of tapes that reminded me of why I never continued with a workout routine before Tae Bo was discovered.

I generally love working out with instructor Karen Voight, but I didn't enjoy this video. First of all, I found Karen's choreography to be very difficult to follow, particularly during the warm-up and aerobic segments. Although she does give excellent instructions on form (using very down-to-earth language), her cuing is less precise: she sometimes fails to indiciate whether to start on the right or left, and she is often late in cueing new movements. During the low-impact aerobic segment--which lasts about 25 minutes--I frequently found myself marching in place because I was unable to keep up with Karen's complex movements, and I eventually fast-forwarded through this section. Admittedly, I often have trouble with complex choreography, so those who regularly engage in these types of workouts might find Karen much easier to follow than I did.

Following the aerobic segment, Karen moves on to strength work. She uses a 12-lb. body bar, but several of her students show modifications using hand weights (plus a chair for support). The toning section begins with approximately 13 minutes of standing work for arms and legs. Karen demostrates traditional moves such as bicep curls and lunges (although she frequently adds a unique twist to the move), and she places a strong emphasis on form rather than repetitions. Karen transitions from the standing work by doing one exercise for the back before moving on to floor work. She starts with several abdominal crunches, still using the body bar, but then she mixes it up a bit by including some additional leg work inbetween exercises for the obliques. Finally, Karen concludes the toning section with several arms exercises performed while lying on the back, for a total of approximately 12 minutes of floor work. At the end of the workout, Karen leads a simple, 5-minute cool-down segment during which she briefly stretches each of the major muscle groups targeted in the workout.

The music for this workout is jazzy and pleasant without being distracting. The lighting is low, utilizing spotlights and colored lights to give an appearance more akin to a disco than to a gym. Although the strength training portion of this video was okay, I would recommend Karen's "Streamline Fitness" video instead of this one--it provides a similar toning workout, but instead of aerobics, she includes an excellent, Pilates-like abs workout combined with simple yoga stretches.

I enjoy Karen's videos. She sticks to the workout and motivates you. She's not hype, just solid kick-your butt. I enjoy doing the Stong & Smooth Moves video at the gym (only because I don't have a bar of my own). Anytime I don't feel like running but want a good workout, I use this video to get my heart elevated.