Strictly Come Dancersize - 9/10
Erin Boag and Karen Hardy lead the viewer through five energetic workouts, each one based on a specific dance - the salsa, jive, quick step, samba and cha cha. The routines are well explained, easy to follow, fun to do and you get to learn a few real dance steps along the way. The camera moves are all over the place, which can be a bit disorientating, and the music tracks are quite repetitive, but all in all, this is a great all-round workout DVD.
Ability Level: Beginner to intermediate
Nell McAndrew's Cardio, Core & Stretch - 6.5/10
Instructor Liam Duffy takes Nell McAndrew and a class of gym bunnies through a warm up, intensive workout, core stability floor workout and a cool down. This is a fast paced aerobic workout, which is easy to follow and gives you a great all round workout. There's nothing here that we haven't seen before though, and it is quite repetitive, so could get boring after a few goes.
Ability Level: Super fit
Fit Friends Workout - 8/10
Gaynor Faye's Dancing On Ice partner, Dan Whiston, puts her and the viewer through a series of workouts - one warm up, two toning, an energetic cardio and a cool down. The routines are varied, well explained and easy to follow. They're also ideal for squeezing into a busy life. The DVD is very non-intimidating, and Gaynor and Dan obviously have a great rapport. However, after several viewings, their constant chatting could get annoying.
Ability Level: Beginner to intermediate
The Kung Fu Kickboxing Workout - 6/10
Kick and punch your way to fitness with martial arts champions Tiffany and Max Chen. The DVD is split into three progressively harder workouts, each based on repetitions. It is better than your usual boxercise DVD, but it could have gone a lot further. Short routines would help to keep the viewer's interest up. As it was, the whole DVD felt more like a warm-up to a kickboxing class than a full workout, and does get boring pretty quickly.
Ability Level: Beginner to intermediate
Latina Tone - 8/10
Strictly Come Dancing's Lila Kopylova leads the viewer through a series of different routines, based on specific dances - the merengue, salsa, mambo, tango and African samba. You get a good fun workout, that leaves you feeling upbeat, limber and ready to hit the town! Routines are well explained, and easy to follow, although some are a bit repetitive. The reverse view option allows you to view from the back, which some people will find easier to follow. You can also create your own personalised workout, which really helps to keep things interesting.
Ability Level: Beginner to intermediate
Move More - 9/10
Weight Watchers members are put through three different styles of workout: Relax & Flex, Tone & Trim and Energise. Various disciplines are included, such as yoga, pilates, boxercise and dancersize. Routines are well explained, easy to follow and feature loads of different combinations to keep the viewer interested, although the instructor does come across as quite patronising at times. One main bonus is that you can select different timed routines for each section, from 5 to 30 minutes. You can also watch interviews with the featured Weight Watchers members, which does come across as blatant advertising, but is inspiring none the less.
Ability Level: Beginner
Shilpa's Yoga - 8/10
Bollywood's Shilpa Shetty demonstrates a sequence of asanas (yogic) poses, focusing on slow movements and concentrating on different areas. Controlled breathing exercises are also included. The sequence of movements is easy to follow, but a couple of the poses are a little tricky for a novice to attempt. The main workout is quite long and the scenery is distracting, but if you're pushed for time and need a quick fix, a bonus 15 minute workout is also included. Perfect for viewers with an aversion to the gym, this low impact routine really doesn't feel like exercise at all, but definitely gets the heart pumping.
Ability Level: Beginner to intermediate
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article