Marisa Tomei Core and Curves (3 out of 5 stars)
Gaiam/ 60 minutes

In a nutshell: Marisa Tomei is 45. Seriously. She looks 30 and is hot as hell. So of course, she’s going to release a workout dvd so we can all be hot as hell with her. Let’s keep in mind that she had a lot of motivation to get into shape since she had to appear in a movie as a stripper (The Wrestler). Also, this is her job, people—let’s not forget that! Apparently, this dvd is how Tomei got into the amazing shape she’s in. I beg to differ. While this workout would certainly be effective for a flabby-guts, it’s not hardcore enough to get you into AMAZING shape. So I take issue with the fact that it’s marketed as the way she got that bod. Because you won’t get that bod just by doing this dvd. Still, there are some good things here (she uses a toning band that’s included and does small movements) and I was sore the next day.

Synopsis: Join Academy Award-winning actress, Marisa Tomei along her celebrity trainer,
Key Son, in this revolutionary fitness program designed to create long, lean
muscles for sexy legs, toned abs and shapely  arms. Key Son has developed a
system of circuits that focus on small muscles that lengthen the body –creating
slim, well-balanced lines.  The continual motion from one move to the next
provides cardio benefits for simultaneous calorie burning and toning.

3 Workouts on 1 DVD
o Body Definition (with toning band)  - A complete reshaping program that uses small movements for big results.  This subtle, yet highly-targeted, cardio and resistance training shapes and tones in all the right areas for a long, lean well-balanced look (20 minute workout)
o Best Legs Workout - Typical trouble spots are targeted in this workout guaranteed to get your legs lean and toned.  Get them looking great while also improving your balance and posture (15 minute workout)
o Ten Moves in Ten - Ten exercises engineered to build core strength and sculpt the body using the Toning Band for resistance.  These ultra efficient moves were designed to get you fit fast (10 minute workout)

Extras: Interview with Marisa Tomei and  Key Son
• Toning band included

The instructor: Actually, this is the part I enjoyed the most. It feels like yo’ure just joining Marisa and her trainer for a workout. Neither one annoyed me in the slightest which is rare….

Worth purchasing? I say yes. The workouts are effective, just not advanced level. And it’s a nice change of pace.

Core Fusion Collection (5 out of 5 stars)
Acacia/ January 5, 2010

In a nutshell: Now this is my kind of workout. I’m not a girl who enjoys jumping or getting sweaty. I do it because I have to (especially since I had a baby) but it’s not really my cup of tea. I naturally gravitate towards things that are serene and controlled. Core Fusion is PERFECT for me! Created by a husband and wife team, Core Fusion is a blend of Pilates, Barre Method, Yoga, blab la bla. It reminded me most of Lotte Berk Method which I used to adore. Basically the moves all require proper form and consist of miniscule movements and pulses followed by stretching. Sound easy? Eff no. By the time I made it through the first dvd (Body Sculpt) I was shaking like a leaf. My thighs were so on fire the next day I got tears in my eyes when my little one tried to climb on them to get on top of the couch. The Pilates Plus DVD focuses more on core but still burned where it needed to. And the Thighs and Glutes—Jeebus. I can see why they tell you you can have trimmer thighs in three weeks. The set is very calming but it is a little dark. The husband and wife both demonstrate the moves taking turns showing more basic and more advanced examples. The only thing I wish these dvds had more of was arms. I never folt like I got a full upper body workout but there is a new dvd just for that that I’ll try to get my paws on for you.
Synopsis: Three complete CORE FUSION® programs!
"Exhale’s Core Fusion will tone you from head to toe." --Prevention
"Firmer, higher backside in one month!" --Fitness
A quarter of a million people have transformed their bodies at exhale, the exclusive mind/body spa. Now you can get these same results at home. Each program contains five focused segments of just 10 minutes each, for quick results that fit your busy lifestyle.
BODY SCULPT A twist on traditional strength training, this total-body workout targets everything from the arms and shoulders to glutes, hips, thighs, and abs.
PILATES PLUS Integrating your core with every move, this Pilates-based program is a quick and effective way to get a thin, sleek physique.
THIGHS & GLUTES Lift your buns, tone your legs, and trim your waist--these exercises firm and tighten in all the right spots.
Husband and wife team and Core Fusion creators Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp have over 50 years of combined experience teaching Pilates, Lotte Berk Method, yoga, and dance--disciplines that comprise the Core Fusion workouts. They are founding team members of exhale, a leading mind/body spa with locations around the United States.
Extras: None, really.
The instructor: Fred and Elizabeth perform the workouts while voiceovers instruct you. This sometimes leads them to be out of synch but nothing terrible. They’re both pretty happy but the whole thing has a nice easy vibe so no one gets annoying. Elizabeth’s body is KILLER. She has that elusive yoga butt so it’s pretty motivating to look at. I like them
Worth purchasing? Yes, yes, yes. Loved these.

Anything with the As Seen on TV label gets me excited. I don't know why but I always think it's going to be AWESOME. Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circiut Training isn't awesome I'm afraid, but it could have been. Jackie Warner is a trainer to the stars and she certainly has the basis of an amazing workout here but she fails to translate it properly to dvd format. She goes much too quickly for the viewer to change positions. I know it's a circuit workout so it's supposed to be fast but I felt my form suffering because of it. That said, it still kicked my ass. I was sweating like a hooker in church and hurt like hell the next day. It basically ends up combing cardio with strength which is always a plus. And she is RIPPED. And kind of scary. I can see how she'd be a good trainer because I wouldn't want to whine in front of her... So just be very careful with form and this could be a solid choice for your rotation.

You probably know Trudie Styler as Sting's wife. Apparently she's also seriously into yoga. She's been a practitioner for 20 years and certainly looks the part. She is getting into yoga dvds now, starting with Trudie Styler's Warrior Yoga. Her trainer is former dancer and Pilates teacher James D'Silva who leads you through the workout, while Styler acts as the student. I don't think this is for beginners, there aren't enough modifications. But it's an energetic series of poses that does keep you moving and works up a little sweat. The 50 minute workout is 25 mins on each side which does get a little annoying to me as I feel lopsided until I stretch out the other side. But the flow is good and the series is somewhat unusual. You get to listen to Sting's music in the background which could be a bonus or not, depending how you feel about new agey tinkly music. A nice addition to your practice if you're an intermediate.

Denise Austin 3-Week Boot Camp (3 out of 5 stars)
Lionsgate/ 52 minutes

In a nutshell: Denis Austin leads her pack of robo-women is two twenty-minute workouts that she promises will make you lose inches in three weeks. Uh, shaaa.
Not to burst anyone’s bubble here, but despite the fact that workouts are at times challenging, you’re not going to lose much by doing 20 minutes three times a week. Still, I can see how if you did them together (a 40 minute workout) it would be effective. She needs more weight-training here but the idea is good. Denise rotates between cardio and weights for interval training. There is also a 6 minute Ab Fat-Blaster workout that is good, but I would have liked to see be longer. If I can get over my distaste for Denise (and I’m not sure I can) I may try this one a few more times but it’s not particularly unique or effective.
Synopsis: Jump on the fast track to weight loss and lose up to two dress sizes with DENISE AUSTIN'S 3-WEEK BOOT CAMP! This invigorating plan delivers two supercharged workouts that combine cardio and strength training to boost metabolism and accelerate fat loss. Then, finish strong with a 6-minute bonus Ab Fat-Blaster that will tone and trim a sexy midsection. In just three weeks, you will trim inches, get fit and feel great! CARDIO & STRENGTH INTERVALS (20 min.): Tune up your metabolism and your muscles with cardio and strength intervals specialized to blast maximum fat and calories. ATHLETIC TRAINING (20 min.): Trim inches with a kettlebell-inspired workout that uses controlled momentum, full-body moves and cardio bursts to shed weight fast. BONUS: AB FAT-BLASTER (6 min.): Sculpt rock-hard abs in an instant with three-dimensional exercises that target-tone the entire core to reveal a slim, strong, sexy center.
Extras: Thank Gods there is a music-only option so I can get her grating voice away from me.
The instructor: Jesus Mary and Joseph. This woman is 52? Efff. I need to work out more often it seems. She looks better than me at 20 years older. But that doesn’t take away the fact that she drives me up the wall. I can’t stand her cueing or her voice. So I’m not a fan. But millions of people are so don’t let my dislike be the only reason you pass this up. Check her out on youtube first and if you don’t mind her, then she may be the trainer for you.
Worth purchasing? Perhaps. If you only want to do 20 mins a day, this is a great 20 mins. A little old school, but it does get you sweaty.

Element Slim & Tone Pilates (4 out of 5 stars)
Anchor Bay/ about 30 mins

In a nutshell: A fabulous Pilates workout for the Intermediates. Kara Wily has created this workout using traditional mat exercises (which I’m familiar with) and apparatus mat exercises (not so much) What you end up with is a challenging Pilates workout with some stuff you maybe haven’t seen before which is always great (it can get really boring). I did this yesterday and man do I feel it today, especially in my abs and arms. The leg and butt I always find need more than Pilates, but that’s just me. These instructors always seem to have great legs and butts so maybe I’m doing something wrong. I don’t think this is for beginners because some of these moves are HARD and Wily doesn’t really explain modifications. But for those that have some Pilates experience, it’s a goody.
Synopsis: Pilates is ideal for creating strong healthy bodies that are slim, flexible, and lean. Filmed on a beautiful location overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this dynamic workout includes both standard mat exercises and apparatus mat exercises. The apparatus exercises, which are usually done in a Pilates studio on a reformer, enhance the routine and give you a taste of the studio experience in your own home—without purchasing any expensive equipment. This specially designed combination of the two types of Pilates provides you with a very complete workout that will slim, tone, and firm your whole body.
Extras: nope
The instructor: Apparently, Kara Wily knows her stuff. She does get seriously annoying a few times in the beginning when she talks-in-the-rhythm-of-what-she-s-telling-you-to-do (which is kind of hard to explain with typing) but thankfully she stops after the first five minutes. Hopefully, someone was all, “Uh, Kara? That’s’ the most effing annoying thing ever so shut up.” She ends up a good, soothing instructor with solid cueing.
Worth purchasing? Absolutely.

Valerie Bertinelli Losing It and Keeping Fit (2 out of 5 stars)
Gaiam/ November 3, 2009

In a nutshell: Super super basic workout from Jenny Craig's last spokeperson. Yes, Valerie Bertinelli looks great at 49 but if you try to tell me that she got that way based on this workout alone, I will laugh. It’s extremely easy. The case says there are two workouts--beginner and intermediate, one 20 mins and the other 40mins. The 40 minute is supposed to have “cardio bursts” but those are seriously lacking and the actual workout is only about 30 mins. The cueing is horrible and the entire thing seems much too focused on squats and lunges. Sorry Valerie, I know you’re playing to your audience but I am not impressed.
Synopsis: Actress Valerie Bertinelli shares the secret of her weight-loss success with two full-length workouts led by personal trainer Christopher Ross Lane. "Losing It: Body Basics" is a 20-minute, beginner-level routine that works the entire body while focusing on trimming the hips, thighs, abs, and arms. "Keeping Fit: Bikini Ready" is a more challenging, 40-minute routine that sculpts muscles and burns fat by alternating toning exercises and cardio bursts. The program also includes the bonus workout "Bikini Abs Sculpting" to specifically target the troublesome midsection.
Extras: nope
The instructor: Well, her personal trainer is technically the instructor but no one does any real instructing here and Bertinelli is ANNOYING, actually whining “Do I have to?” at times. Oy.
Worth purchasing? Mmmm…no.

Past Fitness Reviews

June/ July/ August '09

April May '09

March/ April '08

January/ February '08

Fitness September/ October '07

 

Fitness Link for January and February '07

 

 

Aaahhh..... Oommm.... Zzzzz....

All things I need more of in my life. Which is why I LOVED Restorative Yoga Praactice with Deborah Donohue by Real Bodywork. It's just about relaxation. The poses were supported by blankets and you hold them for a while so you can really sink into them and quiet your thoughts. My favourite part of class is always the end so this was lovely. There are a variety of options to choose from: 12 minutes meditation, 15 minute morning session, 45 minute midday session, two 55 minute evening routines (which are heaven before bed) and one 85 minute total session. It's shot in High Def is Santa Barbara and is certainly lovely to look at too. If you just want some forced relaxation and stretching (which frankly, if not forced, I'll never do) this is for you.