with
Karen Voight
Elle MacPherson w/Karen Voight tape is not difficult at all. The third
aerobic session was hard at first but is becoming more enjoyable as you
use it more. I use this tape when I get sick of stepping (very rare) but
still want a good aerobic workout w/toning.
Annie Jen
More Reviews:
This is just a great little workout! It's definitely not for the advanced,
but it's a good, solid aerobic/toning video. It's 56 minutes long, with
three basic aerobic segments and three toning segments presented in a circuit
style. As with Karen's other videos, you use light weights and high repetitions.
Using ankle weights for the lower body toning is a must for more advanced
exercisers. The last aerobic segment uses basic jumping rope, skating,
swimming, basketball and football moves. It's a lot of fun. I recommend
it for beginner and intermediate exercisers. I like it as a nice, easy
workout when I don't have the energy for Energy Sprint or when I need a
rest in between heavier Firm workouts.
The set is gorgeous. I wish I really could do quad raises with the Hawaiian
surf crashing behind me or sit-ups on a big rock in the ocean.
Don't let Elle McPherson's name in the title fool you. This is another
great Karen Voight production all the way. Next to Karen, Elle looks like
a skinny kid trying to keep up. She does interject some astounding words
of wisdom such as, "I find that if I point my toe, my hamstring works a
little harder", and "I really like this exercise; it really works the backs
of my arms." It's probably targeted to a younger audience -- aspiring model-types.
Nonetheless, as I said, it's just a great little workout!
Joni O
Instructor comments:
Elle is very enthusuastic in this video and she seems to show respect
for Karen (that is she acknowledges Karen as a knowledgeable instructor).
Plus both Karen and Elle seemed to have a fun time while producing this
video.
Karen cues are excellent and she keeps the viewer informed as to what
the next move will be. She is safety conscious and counts out the moves(this
makes the viewer more apt to finish a particlar move I feel since we know
the count will stop at a particular number)
Video comments:
This video is an excellent toal body workout. Beginners will feel "very
challenged" to complete the 50 minute workout without any breaks.
The workout begins with a nice warmups where Kathy warms up our whole
body with nice moves that get the blood flowing in our body.
The video has three aerobic segemnts which progress from easy to challenging.
The aerobic segments are moderate intensity and include moves such as grape
lines, forward and back, and squats. They also include sports moves such
as boxing, kick boxing, moving laterally as in football warmups, swimmming,
jump roping, and jumping up as in basketball.
In between the aerobic workouts we have toning sections. The first toning
section is mainly for the for the lower body and includes squats, calf
raises, and also push ups. The second toning section includes exercises
which work the butt,and the thighs. These exercises are done on the floor
and ankle weights are recommended. Then in this toning section we have
an upper body workout with Karen taking us through a variety of exercises
which work the arms and chest muscles. Weights of 3-5 pounds are recommended.
I found this part very challenging(beginners would find it sufficient to
workout without the weights).
The third toning section is mainly for the butt and the stomach. The
stomach exercises I think are very effective and one can feel the burn
in the stomach. Karen works on the whole stomach i.e. the upper and lower
part of the abdominals and the oblique muscles also. She uses a chair to
rest our feet on during the abdominal exercises so that we do not use our
hip flexor muscles.
Finally after the third toning section we have the cooldown. The cool-down
is shot near a lake and puts the viewer in a relaxed mood. Here Karen mainly
stretches out our legs. I feel there could have been more stretching but
oh well!
Overall I would give this video a A-
Very well produced and shot.
Nice location
Safety conscious
Fun also!
Amit Aggarwal
This is an interval workout with Elle Macpherson, beginner/intermediate
level. The intervals are about 8-10 minutes each, "athletic" type floor
aerobics alternating with strength work. I like to do this one on an "easy"
day. As always, Karen's form pointers are excellent. The backgrounds are
something else (shot in Hawaii) and make me forget I'm stuck in the frozen
tundra. There is plenty of variety and the hour-long workout goes by quickly.
I wish Elle wouldn't say that she really needs the lower-body work (for
which I add ankle weights) but hey, *maybe* she actually does. I think
this would be a great video for someone just starting out: non-intimidating,
enjoyable and very thorough.
Angela Pahlow
I know this has already been reviewed at this site, but I really enjoyed
it and wanted to put my two cents in.
The 50-some minute workout is in cicuit training style, alternating
periods of aerobics with strength training. Voight's cueing is right on
target; she makes it feel easy, although I KNOW this is a good workout.
I especially like Voight's use of movement borrowed from other sports.
I used to take martial arts training, so I know those kicks and punches
she borrows do indeed shape you up quickly.
Elle MacPherson is a pleasant presence. She gives nice words of inspiration
without sounding like Voight's cheerleader. She also stresses that each
body type differs and that we can all be fit in our own way.
Karen
I have been using this video for about the past 6 months, about every
couple of weeks. However, having read the reviews on this site, I have
recently started using ankle weights and adding more high impact moves,
which makes it feel much more effective, as it was getting a little stale
and unchallenging. However, it is still one video which I turn to when
feeling uninspired as it is fun and provides me with a combination of some
cardio work and toning. I especially love the abdominals exercises and
the lovely stratch at the end. My only (small) grumble is Elle - why does
she have to look so good and why doesn't she keep quite and let Karen get
on with it?! Otherwise - thoroughly recommended.
Jude
04/02/97
The video looks amazing- great locations, music, outfits- all the great
stuff you get with a supermodel video, and I'm a sucker for ambience. This
amboence is not at the casrifice of a great workout or well-put together
exercises- the workout combines aerobic portions that get more intense
with toning portions for the whole body. This is a great video for beginners
to intermedite. The strength training is not really long enough to satisfy
advanced, and maybe not intermediates, but I still like to use this video
when I want to have a slack sort of day and do my full-body strength work
plus aerobic exercise in under an hour. Elle stays quiet for the most part,
occasionally offering witticisms such as 'Buns are what I need to do most'
and 'It's hard if you have long arms like me. It makes you feel a bit...uncoordinated'.
I suppose it would, Elle. You need weights for the arm portion, and Elle
suggests that although she's using 3 pound weights, we can start with 2
and work up to five if we like. Thanks, Elle! Joking aside, there often
isn't much information given on how much weight to use, and this is useful
information to beginners. Two thumbs up for this video!
Instructor comments: This video introduced me to Karen Voight, and for
that alone it was worth it (though I didn't pay for this video, I won it).
Elle bops along with Karen, whose form is perfect and cues are above reproach.
Emily H
6/21/97
I bought this tape on the strength of Karen Voight as the Instructor.
I was very disappointed. For one thing, the aerobics are broken up by toning
sections (I think this is called circuit training.) I never felt like I
really got going in my workout. Just as I would start to work up a sweat,
we would stop and do some toning. I guess cicuit training just isn't for
me. That's good for me to know. Each time they switched sections,though,
they also changed locations and outfits. Now this is just my personal pet
peeve, but I think those leading the workout ought to at least be experiencing
it as we video exercisers are. I can't feel too motivated by somebody's,
"Gosh! That was tough!" when I know they only exercised for 8 minutes,
and are off to be pampered and change into another fetching and sporty
getup. Obviously I don't recommend this video for people with the same
bent as I on the subjects I addressed.
On the positive side, Karen's instruction and form are, as always, wonderful.
The routines are athletic rather than dancey, for the most part. The final
section of aerobics has moves based on different sports ( swimming, basketball,
skating, etc.) which made it rather interesting.
Erin
8/97
It is a great video with a good instructor. I enjoyed the changing
scenery and the sports oriented exercise moves. The only think I did not
like about the video was Elle McPherson. Throughout the workout, she made
silly comments and she looked as if she would injure herself in an awkward
looking imitation of K Voight's moves. Elle was very irritating at times
(the close-ups should of been on KV, not on Elle).
Overall, it was a good solid workout. I would definitely recommend the
tape to someone just starting an exercise program but would have to warn
against the irritation factor (Elle).
Ratings:
Instructor K. Voight: A
Scenery: A+
Workout: B+
Celebrity: F-
Overall Score: B
Instructor comments: KV is an excellent instructor. Her cueing
is superb and the workout was a lot of fun.
vielca james
This tape and a breakdown of the workout have already been discussed
extensively, so I'll try not to repeat it all here.
I like the way the aerobics and toning alternate. This makes for a varied
workout, which is never boring. As many people have mentioned, the sports-related
moves are fun and really get the heart rate up. The outdoor setting also
makes a pleasant change from the usual studio setting.
The steps are not complicated. In the second aerobics section there
are some grapevines which finish with a lunge. I found this a little awkward
at first and tended to lose my balance a little in the lunge movement,
ending up with sore knees.
I agree with the reviewer who said she would have liked a longer stretch
at the end.
I find Elle Macpherson's presence a little superfluous. She's not obnoxious
or anything, but I sometimes think "Who IS this person and what's she doing
here?" Maybe it's the generation gap - I understand she is quite popular
with younger women.
One minor point: as this tape is meant for beginners/intermediates,
I think the introduction could have said a little more about selecting
weights and when to move up to heavier ones. All that is said is that you'll
need weights "anywhere between 1 and 5 lbs". There is no recommendation
on how often to do the workout, either. This may seem self-evident to those
who've got into the habit of exercise, but I know when I started out I
didn't have a clue.
Instructor comments: What can I say that hasn't already been
said? Good instruction and cueing; professional attitude; no unnecessary
chatter or bad jokes. But that's already been said…
Glynis van Uden
17 July 1998
Since I dislocated my knee, I haven't worked out in ages, but I turned
to his video to get back on the fitness kick. I like the way the video
alternates between aerobic and sculpting segments. I usually get bored
quickly or just feel discouraged with other videos, but the aerobic sessions
are fun and the sculpting segments are challenging, but do-able. The one
thing on the video that I could live without is Elle McPherson. She seems
like a very sincere person, but some of the "cutesy" comments she makes
while exercising gets annoying after awhile. Overall, I loved the video
because of the circuit training aspect of it and because of Karen Voight's
expertise.
Instructor comments: I really like Karen Voight. I had never
done any of her videos, but after working out with this video, I'll be
going to Blockbuster to check out some of her other ones. She's serious
and knowledgeable, but still fun.
Kainoa
11/22/98
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, like 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.
Instructor comments: Karen Voight 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 really liked how Karen wasn't too silly or bouncy, and definitely
not chatty. After previewing a Denise Austin tape, it was a relief to see
that Karen keeps her mouth shut unless she has something important to say.
Shannon Davis
sdavis@bbn.com
2/23/98
After reading some of the comments, I had to input my own. Don't be
put off by the negative remarks about Elle. I found her perkiness encouraging
and fun. Elle and Karen seem to have a genuine rapport on this video, and
it was quite enjoyable, though I would use it on "easy" days. Also, production
quality was excellent. I like the fact that Karen uses techniques to isolate
the target muscle areas in the toning sections.
Be aware that this is a circuit style video. If you want your heart
pumping consistently for an extended period, don't use this tape.
All in all, a fun and enjoyable production, but as previously noted,
not a super tough workout. Elle's presence added, not detracted.
Instructor comments: Precise cuing, instruction.
MGT
3/22/99
I like this video. The workout is set up in intervals alternating aerobics
and toning. The aerobics are atheletic and straightforward. Some high impact
but not much. I thought it was funny when Elle said she felt uncoordinated
because I was thinking that she doesn't move with any particular grace
and style. Karen is tops in the tape instructing the toning work. Most
of the moves are standard fare but she is so attentive to detail and form
that they feel more effective. The setting is gorgeous and I loved seeing
more than just one area of the islands, so it didn't bother me that they
changed settings a few times. The music was cool too. I prefer hip music
to canned any day... overall, lots of fun for intermediates.
Instructor comments: Karen is one of the finest instructors around.
She is very thorough and professional. Having Elle around seemed to help
bring out Karen's personality, she actually seemed to have a genuine smile.
Elle was friendly and motivating, seemed to encourage exercisers to try
it and seemed to enjoy herself. They had a nice rapport that seemed very
genuine.
L'Anne
Could this video be any more amazing to look at? Why can't I be in Hawaii?
They've picked some great music, and fabulous settings for this fun interval
workout. I got this video from a friend who decided videos weren't for
her and she hated this one specifically (the package wasn't even opened!).
Personally, I thought I'd hate the work out. I'm just not a celebrity video
person, I guess. But I was pleasantly surprised. First, Elle seemes kind
of superfluous, c'mon, who needs eye candy when you have the incomparable
Karen Voight? But then I realised Elle provides the charm in this video.
She is the one with the enthusiasm, and motivation. She really seems to
lighten Karen up from her usual less personable demeanor. I love the way
Karen teaches resistance work, no nonsense, detailed, careful instruction,
but when you're jammin' to INXS, the same precise attitude just doesn't
seem as appealing. The steps are fairly simple, some impact. The toning
is very good, as always for Voight, and the stretch is very good too. Overall,
a wonderful find for intermediates, or even advanced who want a slider
with gorgeous scenery and fun, rockin' music.
Instructor comments: Karen Voight is a very meticulous instructor.
Her attention to detail is unequaled among video instructors and the class
instructors I have seen.
linda
6/30/99
As a beginner, I found this tape pretty difficult. I started feeling
a little nausious from over-exersion during the last set of aerobics and
had to modify way down.
I also found that I didn't care for the circuit style of the tape. I
just didn't feel as satisfied and I didn't get that terrific endorphin
high because the aerobics were all chopped up.
The production and setting of this tape are beautiful, and its obvious
by all the other reviews here that other people really like this tape.
It just hasn't been my cup of tea so far. I tried it again after not using
it for about 6 months, and I find I still don't care for it even though
I can get through it just fine now. I'm not ready to put it on the exchange,
though, because I just love that last scene where Karen and Elle are laughing
and getting wet.
-Jennine
This was my first experience with Karen Voight and I liked her a lot.
She seems sincerely nice and non-intimidating.
Jennine
JAuerbach@UBMail.UBalt.edu
10/23/99
This video seemed to get such good reviews, but I have very mixed feelings
about it. In general, I think it is too easy and is more for beginners.
The strength intervals can be challenging but just barely (I have to use
ankle weights for the first one). It's mostly the aerobic sections that
I don't like-- I generally improvise on them. I'll probably keep the tape
to use when I want to combine aerobics with toning and do it under an hour.
The tape is nicely produced-- colorful, scenic, and with decent music.
I find the "model" in this workout to be annoying at best and seems
to really distracts from the tape. I try to just focus on Karen Voight
as my personal trainer!
Instructor comments: I bought this tape because I really do like Karen
Voight but I found Elle Macpherson to be a real distraction.
Sarah K
sk200@hotmail.com
I really enjoy Karen Voight, and she is as meticulous as ever
in this video. The scenery is gorgeous, the choreography sufficiently follow-able
and adequately cued and the segments short enough that any time constraint
can be met: do all of them, or some of them or whatever, and the time will
go by fast enough courtesy of the stunning settings used.
My only complaint has less to do with this video itself and more to
do with my not understanding how to fit this video (and I suppose circuit
videos in general) into a rotation. Is the weight work sufficiently basic
that you can do weights the next day? Is it too much to do cardio the next
day? I think Karen could certainly give some pointers to that effect if
she re-does this video. I think a marketing plan that paired this with
her stretch tape or some sort of companion might be good. I don't think
the work is advanced enough that you could split the tape and keep doing
that for a workout. But if you're like me where you reserve one day a week
for "non-traditional" tapes, you might enjoy this one. I am a choreo-klutz
and could handle it just fine. My one sort of amusement about this tape
is that Elle is much MUCH taller than Karen, and there are places where
you can really tell. Kinda made me identify with Karen even though she
is like amazon goddess fit person and I am just a not-quite-5'2 little
intermediate working out in my little apartment.
Joanna C
1/07/01
I have add this video for a few years now and I really like it.
It was my first contact with Karen Voight, love her ever since!
The circuit W/O is fun and the fantastic scenery is very inspiring.
Over the years this has become my feel good W/O. When I don't quite feel
like working out I pop-in this tape. It works every time! The music is
also very motivating.
I love the stretching blooper at the end :-)
I recommend this one!
Instructor comments: Karen's personality really comes through,
it's nice to see her smile and have fun. Elle's comments are OK. (I have
very low tolerance to blabbing)
Josée D
27-01-2004
Even though it's starting to get to be to easy for me I still
really enjoy this video. The production quality is fantastic, which a gorgeous
Hawaiian backdrop and great music. Most of the moves in this workout are
pretty standard, but for some reason the background, the music, and the
personalities really make it special. I love the cooldown, which is to
Sting's "Fields of Gold". I also really like the way Karen and Elle interact
with each other, sometimes turning to face each other instead of facing
the camera.
I thought I would be intimidated by the supermodel in this video but
I wasn't at all. Elle came off as a friend rather than an unattainable
celebrity. She even mentioned some of her own insecurities, which makes
her seem more human. I almost feel like we should be going to a slumber
party after this (with Karen being the mom :))
I would definitely reccomend this to a beginner, especially someone
who may be unsure about video fitness. It would also be a great choice
for an intermediate - even if it starts to get easy after awhile. It's
great to have around for those grey days when you don't feel like exercising.
Overal, an A+!
Megan
Feb. 29, 2004
