Product Details

• Actors: Minna Lessig
• Directors: Andrea Ambandos
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Parade Video
• DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001
• Run Time: 65 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005BJXP
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,739 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Fitness & Yoga > By Instructor > Minna Lessig

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"Lose weight and tone your body in just six weeks!" claims the back cover of Emergency Workout. Don't expect to look like gorgeous Minna Lessig, former Ms. Fitness USA and National Fitness champion, in that time, but do expect to have fun getting into shape with these two well-designed, high-energy, 30-minute workouts.

Remember the pre-hip-hop era of aerobic dance when we were doing cha cha, salsa, mambo, grapevines, and hip-swinging, feel-good combinations that kept our heart rates and moods up without taxing our minds terribly much? That's what Lessig gives us in the aerobic segment. The dance moves are just challenging enough to be fun and give us a sense of accomplishment, without being a major learning endeavor. Lessig teaches the routines smoothly and expertly, a move at a time. Her two female assistants, their faces animated, seem to be having a great time, too.

The second workout is a non-stop weight segment using dumbbells. Lessig's routine is an interesting mix of combination moves, such as biceps curls with lunges, or leg extensions with lateral raises, sometimes involving balance. The only problem is that you have no time to change weights between muscle groups, so you have to go light. Each workout has its own warm-up and cooldown, so you can alternate them on different days, or blitz yourself by doing the whole hour. A sample 1,100- to 1,200-calorie diet menu is included. --Joan Price

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Investment, April 1, 2004

By	Lady Murasaki (Washington, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Minna - Emergency Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Minna's Emergency Workout is aimed at people who have an event they would like to look good for and claims that you will see results in 6 weeks. This tape can be used by anybody. The tape is divided into two workouts: a 30 minute cardio workout and a 30 minute toning workout. The cardio section is great fun. Minna combines traditional aerobics moves (like grapevines, V-steps, and jumping jacks) with dancier moves (like salsa lunges, mambos, and cha chas). This helps those of us with two left feet feel like we're dancing while not overwhelming us. Minna's cuing is excellent and she is upbeat without being overly perky. Her two assistants look like their having fun, and I definitely have fun and sweat when doing the workout.

The toning workout uses multi-muscle moves to target common problem areas: abs, legs, butt, and arms (for example combing front lateral raises with stationary lunges). One of Minna's strongest points is that she explains the moves and proper posture. She also cues very well and prepares you for changes.

Included with the video is a 6 week intensive care diet planner which has a sample workout schedule, fit tips, menus, success tips, and nutrition tips.

Minna's program is very sensible. It covers cardiovascular fitness, weight training, and good nutrition which are essential for creating a healthier, confident you. I've only started the program but I feel that it is a program I can stick to and that will help me get the results I want.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It works as hard as you do, November 16, 2002

By A Customer

I got this DVD because I already had Minna's Optimizer DVD and her TotalMix workout, both of which I really liked. I like Minna as an instructor quite a bit. She doesn't do the whoops and hollers that other video instructors do. I am NOT the cheerleader type, so I can do without the perky motivation.

This workout is great for me. I almost wish I'd needed it to get ready for a big event six weeks down the road so I could tell you how effective it was that way. Instead, it serves an integral part in my ongoing workout schedule.

I like it for two reasons. 1) I tend to focus more on weights than cardio, and the first half of this DVD is a fun and brief -- but effective -- cardio routine. Sometimes I do it alone, but when I have time, I group it with other routines I'm doing to ensure I get as much cardio as I should during the week. 2) The second half is a very effective weights routine that's great for when I want a total-body toning workout rather than spot toning, such as with Tamilee Webb's "I Want That Body" (which focuses separately on arms, buns and abs, rather than a comprehensive, overall workout).

The backup girls are much better this time around than in Minna's Optimizer, not that I worry too much about what the secondary figures are doing. (Pay attention to the blonde backup girl in Emergency, though; she's a worse dancer than even I am!)

If you hate dance workouts, this one might not be for you, however. Me, I really liked it. I don't dance usually, so it's kind of taught me a few moves I didn't know before. It also makes the workout fly by. I have no desire to stand still and do marches or steps or anything like that. But if you throw together a dance routine, 30 minutes flies by in a snap for me.

I hope Minna puts out another video soon, one that complements the work she's already released.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a keeper, July 5, 2001

By	Yarra (Suffield, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Minna - Emergency Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I recently purchased this video, because I have her Strength & Grace and Fat Eliminator. I did it for the first time yesterday and really enjoyed it. It's not very difficult, but is perfect for the days I want some cardio and light toning (not a 'killer' workout). I usually use heavier weights, and probably will the next time, but I did feel that I got in a satisfactory workout. The ab section was very weak, I would have liked something longer and more intense, but all-in-all, I found it a fun video and the time flew by. Minna is a very good instructor, easy to follow and not at all what I had expected (cheerleader type).