Customer Reviews

Your Personal Best Workout [VHS]

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This workout video is very good, the scenery, the music, the exercises themselves are very tasteful.

It is an "interval training" workout video. It is roughly 4-5 mins warming up, then starts to the first aerobics section, moves on to some toning for the legs for some 10 mins then moves to aerobics section 2, then again to some more toning for the legs and arms, then back to aerobics 3 and so on, till the end there is a 6-7min abs section.
The aerobics sections, eventhough they are short, they bring the heart rate up.

The video is a great change of pace video for those days that you want to workout, and want a little of aerobics and a little of toning the whole body.
Although, the video is roughly an hour long, time flies rather quickly.

I would highly recommend this video to anyone who wants both - aerobics and toning in one video who is a beginner/intermediate.

I thought this was a great workout. The set was a beautiful natural outdoors set, perhaps filmed in Australia. The background varied, and the music did too. The music was vocal rock, for example, INXS.

The workout:

It's circuit training. Three aerobic segments and three weight-training segments. The aerobic segments get harder and higher impact each time. The first is very gentle, the middle one concentrates on your legs and butt. The last one is a mixture of various sports movements - skating, swimming, basketball, and boxing. It's the most strenuous, but it's also the most fun.

The strength-training workouts are very hard. I only had 5 pound weights, so I couldn't use light weights like Elle. She does a full leg workout, an abdominals and glutes workout, but the arm workout seemed to concentrate most on the triceps.

This video requires handweights, although I stopped using them and continued without when my arms got fatigued. Optimally, you would also have a weight bench, but an armless kitchen chair will do you just as well. A sturdy one - both my antique chair and my director's chair were unable to hold up to my weight during one of the butt toning segments.

My back muscles and hamstrings are probably the most sore after this workout, as the other workouts I've been doing have not emphasized these areas.

The instructors:

Karen Voigt is fantastic. She talks just the right amount and her cueing is amazing. The first time through I didn't miss a single step, because she clearly let you know what was coming up next. Elle is a nice person. Her motivational speech in the beginning was great. She also was very helpful during the video, talking about muscles and sympathising with the exerciser.

I purchased this workout video about six years ago, while I was still in high school. At the time I was part of the track team and averaging aout 4 miles of running everyday. Despite this, the video tape was a great addition to my work out. Now as a 20 something year old, I have come back to the tape and realized its full potential for someone who is always on the go and who also happens to be gym shy. Its a great video. The steps are easy to follow, and target all the right places on my body (butt, legs, thighs, arms).
Another thing I love about the video is the absolutely gorgeous scenery! The background scenery is so beautiful, and in addition to this, Elle picked out great upbeat music. I think the combination of good music and nice scenery adds to my workout. I hate workout tapes where the instructor has annoying music in the background, within a bland, blank environment. It makes doing the excercises even tougher under such circumstances.
I also liked Karen Voight alot. She is not annoying and perky like so many fitness instructors tend to be. In addition to this, I appreciated the fact that Elle, let Karen Voight take control. Elle McPherson doesnt try to pretend to be a fitness expert, she leaves this all up to Voight.
This video is great for anyone on the go like the average working woman, college student, etc. I've got my sister addicted to the video. Now she and her dorm mates all religiously work out to this video.
Overall, I have to give this video my highest rating. Great for all ages!!!!!!!! I just wish that they offered it on DVD.

Although the cover of this workout featuress supermodel Elle MacPherson, don't let that fool you--the instructor of this video is none-other than world-renowned fitness instructor Karen Voight. This is a circuit workout, which means there are aerobic segments which alternate with weighted toning intervals. Karen and Elle appear together in a variety of beautifully scenic Hawaii locations, and although Elle introduces the various segments, Karen takes over from there.

The workout starts with a 4 minute warm-up. This was classic Karen Voight: basic moves such as marches and side-steps combined with arm movements to warm up both your lower and your upper body. Next comes the first aerobic segment, lasting about 4.5 minutes. Again, Karen uses very simple moves (hamstring curls, knee-ups), and she ups the intensity a bit at the very end with some hops. For the first toning interval, no weights are used, but Karen and Elle use a bench; a chair works fine. Seated in the chair, you'll do various leg extensions, move on to tricep dips, and then finish on the floor with push-ups for a total of 5.5 minutes.

The second aerobic interval is very similar to the first; it also adds a bit of intensity at the end with jumping jacks, and it's about 5 minutes long. The second toning segment is longer (11 minutes) and works a greater variety of muscles. First, you'll use the dumbbells to work your arms and shoulders in a standing position. Next, you'll lie over your chair or bench (I used my stability ball here) in a an all-fours position for glutes work. Finally, you'll move to a seated position for some additional upper body work with the dumbbells. The last aerobic segment starts with some mock jump rope, and then Karen performs moves inspired by different sports, including basketball, football, karate, and swimming for 9 minutes total.

The last toning segment is performed on the floor. You'll start with abs work, and as always, Karen attacks the abs thoroughly with a variety of crunches. You then lie on your back for additional glutes work via several pelvic lift variations. Finally, Karen has you lie on your stomach for just a few back strengthening moves for a total of 8.5 minutes. The workout ends with a 6.5 minute cool-down performed entirely on the floor; Karen leads you through some seated and lying yoga stretches to the tune of "Fields of Gold" (although the artist is not Sting), bringing the total time for the workout in at about 54 minutes.

The interaction between Karen and Elle reminded me very much of another supermodel fitness video, Cindy Crawford's A New Dimension--there, instructor Kathy Kaehler leads the workout, but Cindy makes frequent comments, as Elle does here. Some might find these quips annoying, but Elle seemed genuine to me, and she certainly deferred to Karen as appropriate. In addition to the song mentioned above, much of the music in this video was recognizable as hits from the late 80s/early 90s, including "Some Like It Hot" and "Break My Stride." Finally, I think this video would appeal to a wide range of fitness levels: beginners could modify down by keeping the cardio entirely low-impact and by using light or no weights, and more experienced exercises could add light hand weights to the cardio segments, utilize ankle weights for the leg work, and increase the dumbbells for the upper body work (but beware: Karen does a lot of reps, and as an intermediate, I found using 5 lbs. tough!). Overall, this is a very solid interval workout with a timeless feel, and I'd definitely recommend it.

I originally purchased this video because it was filmed in Hawaii. Then after I got into it for the first time I really enjoyed it. Like most people, my drive to workout dwindled. A while later I was recovering from cancer and was ashamed of my skeletal form. Looking through my workout video's I pulled this one out again. At first I was only able to get through the warm-up. As I got my strength back I was able to get through the entire tape. I loved the video so much after that, that I wore the tape out. I have never found a better video that has worked my WHOLE body, not just concentrating on a few parts. This video really contributed to MY personal best.

This is a great video for anyone looking to get back into shape. Karen Voight has choreographed a brilliant routine. The moves are introduced slowly as part of the warm-up, and then combined in a high-energy, fun way for the final aerobics segment. Also, the aerobic portions specifically focus on the muscles used in the prior and next weight-lifting segments - warming up and cooling down those muscle groups. Karen gives clear instructions, and the filming is easy to follow. It's a intermediate workout, and remains one of my favorites after years of use. I give Elle credit, because she's clearly the student in this tape, rather than pretending to be the instructor. She & Karen are a nice combination.

This is the one workout video I actually enjoy and look forward to! Consisting of 3 aerobic sections with upper body, abs and butt workouts in between, it's a great 60 minute workout that gets your heart rate up. The aerobic sections are fun, almost dancey and easy to follow, and Karen and Elle both look like they're having a great time! The toning exercises are varied and good too, as is the cool-down. And there's actually great music and different outdoor locations throughout the video, which keeps it interesting and enjoyable.

Karen & Elle have put together a workout video that you will love for years to come. The music, although a bit dated (1995), is calming and easy to listen to & work out to. I have been doing aerobics on and off for about 2 years, but got a great workout. Easy moves for beginners, as well. Hawaiian scenery is relaxing. Unlike other instructors (esp. Kathy Smith), Karen & Elle give great advice throughout the video and don't talk the entire time.

I have approx. 30 exercise videos and this is one of the best. Although it is now 10 years old, the music and exercise attire are not too dated - I'll probably enjoy this one for years to come. Elle's demeanor is friendly and engaging, not offensive. For example her pointers about adjusting the exercises "if you have long arms and legs like mine" were welcome because I have long limbs too. I did get the impression that nobody told her when it was OK to speak so she sometimes sounded a little unsure or perhaps shy. Karen's instruction is, as always, top notch. It is clear that a great deal of effort was spent in designing this program. Well done. I'd like to see a follow-up video.

A lot of tapes I've seen I hate doing again because they get too complicated with the footwork - (I'm not a Rockette, and you only have so much room in your livingroom!). I liked this tape because I know I got a good work out, and it's broken down in sections to keep you going. I enjoyed the transitions~ aerobics to body sculpting to aerobics again. Karen Voight does an excellent job explaining what you're doing, and whats up next - I enjoyed it so much I didn't realize the whole tape was done! Usually I can't wait to get a tape over with! Also enjoyed the beautiful scenes in Hawaii - the beach & interior shots.