Videos Can Work

Videos Can Work

Videos are great for at-home exercisers, especially beginners who might feel selfconscious in a gym. You can pop a tape into the VCR at the most convenient time for you, and it needn’t be the same time every day. You can exercise first thing in the morning, before or after work, late in the evening when it’s dark outside, on stormy days, while the baby is napping, while older children are at school, or any other time you want.Hundreds of videos are available, and many of them are moderately priced. Working out with videos presents many options and offers both variety and flexibility. Working out with videos has several other advantages as well. You can do one or more routines a day. You can turn the volume as high or low as you want. You don’t have to get dressed to go out, you don’t have to figure into your workout schedule the time it takes to drive to and from the gym, and your shower is right there. You can slip a video into your VCR and make it your main exercise routine, or you can use it to supplement walking, running, classes, or a gym membership.
Select your videos as you would classes at a gym. Ask yourself some basic questions.
Your answers can help steer you to the appropriate videos.
? What are your goals? There are videos for general conditioning, aerobic videos for fat-burning, strength-training videos, yoga videos that enhance flexibility and relaxation, tai-chi videos that are ideal for older exercisers, and more.
? Do you like simplicity or glamour? Videos using simple studio sets and a trainer who is not a star might appeal to some people, while others might prefer to work out with a big-name trainer whose program is captured in a glamorous location.
? Are you a beginner or do you have some experience? Videos aim at all exercise levels. If you are just starting an aerobics or step program, for instance, you’ll want a simple program that you can do easily. If you are intrigued by kickboxing, be sure to start with a basic program to get the moves right and prevent injury.
? What are your musical tastes? Hip-hop, rock, jazz, New Age? Find a video you can gladly listen to as well as watch.
? How much space do you have for your workout? If you have a lot of room, you can accommodate an aerobics or dance workout that covers a lot of floor space. If space is a problem, select a workout suitable for a small area.
You can test-drive videos before you buy something you may or may not use. Many video stores stock exercise tapes. Rent the ones that interest you before investing. Also,keep an eye out for used tapes that the video store might be selling.
Some people play one video day after day. Others have a virtual library of videos for different purposes. Videos run the gamut from general workout tapes to those that help strengthen and tone specific body parts, from easy intro programs to fairly demanding aerobic routines. Certified trainers and all sorts of celebrities have made videos. The most important thing is to use the videos you’ve bought and to follow the instructions as if you were taking an exercise class with a live instructor.
The Complete Guide to Exercise Videos is a free, comprehensive mail-order catalogue of current exercise videos, as well as motivational tapes for walking, and exercise accessories. It categorizes each offering by length, level, and emphasis, and also summarizes the philosophy and spirit behind each.