Five Exercise Videos I Actually Enjoyed

Okay, so I'm no personal trainer (although the thought is probably hysterically funny to those who know me), and I'm not a particularly avid TV watcher either, but from time to time, there are actually videos that appeal to me from the fitness section.  I've purposely sought out new ones each week at the library when I go, and it's led to some fun finds and some lousy ones.  Gotta love testing them out for free!  One I found simply because a friend tried to get me to work out with her a couple of months back.  We made it through one workout at her house, discovering that the video she suggested we use was a great time, but keeping my Little busy for a full hour at someone else's house (someone who has no children for The Little to wreak havoc with) was not a good time.  The others?  Well, I stumbled across a yoga set at Costco one day which included a family yoga DVD and two specifically for kids.  Yoga is known to be a "good thing" here in this household.  The other two I just wandered across in Borders at various times, and they turned out to be winners.

So next time you've got the urge to do some exercise, give one of these DVDs a shot.  I'm rather picky about this sort of thing, because I don't like hyper "give it all you've got, ladies!" instructors nor overly spiritual ones.  And they can't be toooooo calm and cool, because that just makes me want to turn off the TV and take a nap.  (Which sounds nice too, but doesn't burn any calories.  Trust me, I've tried!)

Here are my winners, for now:

• The Method T'ai Chi (Beginner's Level & Intermediate Level):  Found this set at Borders a couple of years ago and decided to give it a shot.  It's led by Claire Hooten, who I believe may be yet another one of the people I want to be when I grow up.  She's so calm and centered it's kinda scary.  Not spooky scary like some New Age-y people on videos; more like "wow, she's incredibly soothing!" scary.
• Carmen Electra's Fit to Strip (Disc 2 of Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease):  This is the one my friend D. introduced me to.  I'm not a big fan of Carmen's, nor am I a fan of aerobics.  If it has medium to high impact, count me OUT!  And I think that I do okay in the striptease department on my own.  (And honey, if you disagree, don't tell me.  Let me think my routine is just fine.  At least it's free!)  However, the workout that gets you "working your way to a dancer's body" is actually pretty darn good.  And Carmen barely speaks.  (She also barely sweats, but we all know that's because she's got a bloody hair and makeup team sitting right there powdering her and such.)  The expert instructor, Michael Carson, is calm and cheerful, without being an overly Richard Simmons-esque perky person.  Which is all well and good if you like perky.  I am not perky.  I have never been perky.  And I believe all you cute little perky people should be slapped until you're less perky.  Just kidding.  (Well, mostly.)
• Natural Journeys Bellydance for Weight Loss Pure Sweat:  There's that word again -- sweat.  Ew.  Sweating means you're actually exercising.  But then again, I hear tell that burns calories and them thar fat cells up.  *sigh*  At least this way it can be fun.  So my suggestion is use Carmen's video to get fit, then use this video with instructor Rania, to come up with the really hot striptease routine.  Not that that's my plan, of course.  *innocent look*
• Gaiam's Pilates Beginning & Intermediate Mat Workouts:  Okay, so I checked out the beginning mat workout from the library and liked it so much that I went to Borders where I bought, um, the intermediate one.  I meant to do that.  Really.  (Okay, so I realized after I opened the bloody thing.  Argh.)  Oh well, now I can work my way up from beginner to intermediate, right?  My favorite parts: how much Pilates is like yoga, the fact that the instructor, Ana Caban, isn't annoying, and that there's a second person who shows modified movements for those of us who are just starting out and don't want to hamstring ourselves on our second day doing Pilates.  Woohoo!
• Yoga Journal's Family Yoga:  Let me say it this way: Rodney Yee rocks.  Shall I say it again?  Rodney Yee rocks.  I've done YogaKids with The Little and it's fun, at times, and not particularly intimidating since it's meant for kids.  This video, however, makes things more adult-oriented without alienating the little ones, who we know just have to do what Momma's doing or they'll never let you do what you want to do.  Now if only one could get one's Man to try out yoga, since it really does make big, burly strong men more limber and less likely to be injured when they do their standard workout of running (ugh!  high impact!) and lifting heavy (make that incredibly heavy!) things.  Something tells me he's going to ignore that idea like usual, but at least I bragged about his ability to lift incredibly heavy things, right?  (Scary heavy.  As in, "please don't drop that and hurt the heavy object, dear" heavy.  Did I mention he's one hot husband too?  Muahaha.)