Things You'll Need:
- DVD player
- internet access
- library or blockbuster membership
- list of fitness or weight loss goals
- $5 - $20 per DVD
- motivation!
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Step 1
Are you focused and meditative? Yoga videos will transform you into a svelte you.Know your goals and tastes. Just because a video or instructor is the current star, doesn't mean his or her workout dvd will work for you. Before you even start looking at videos list:
- Your goals - are you looking to lose weight, gain muscle, de-stress or get flexible?
- Your fitness level - Are you a beginning exerciser? What intensity can your body handle high energy or low impact?
- Things you enjoy doing that involve movement - Walking, dancing, jumping rope, hula hooping, yoga. . . if you don't like it you won't do it. Don't forget about the activities you loved as a child, cheerleading for example.
- How much space you have to move in - Some videos need un-carpeted floors or require a lot of lateral room.
- How much time you have to exercise - Some dvds allow you to customize your workout for shorter or longer lengths. Others, such as the 10-minute series offer short workouts for those of us pressed on time. -
Step 2
Outgoing and vivacious? Like complex movement? Dancing with the Stars is fun and fast.Research the options. Do an internet search using the types of exercise you are interested in from your list above. Compile videos that look tempting from catalogs and websites such as Collage Video and Amazon. Then, before you buy:
· Go to the library. Most libraries have fitness videos/dvds in their collection. Ask the librarian if you can’t find them. If they don’t have the title you need, arrange with the librarian for an interlibrary loan from an out of town library.
· Rent it. Use Blockbuster or Netflix to rent.
· Seek other’s opinions. Several internet sites post exerciser reviews. See list below. Keep in mind the reviewer’s level of fitness and experience. Someone who loves step is bound to give the newest hi/lo video a bad review.
· Preview it. Visit the instructor’s websites and online video retailers, such as collagevideo.com, who provide streaming video samples. -
Step 3
High energy but don't like choreography? Kick Box videos fit the bill.Get Fit and Have Fun. Make a schedule for when you will exercise. You
can make this into a game by creating a "weekly class calendar" for your home health club. For instance:
Monday :
7 - 8 am Yoga with Kathy Smith
noon Step with Kari Anderson
4 - 5 pm Kickboxing with Janice Saffell
Tuesday:
8 - 9 am Pilates with Crunch
6 - 7 pm Weights with Patrick Goudeau
At the beginning of the week, schedule in your blackberry what "classes" you will take. This is especially helpful when you build a large video collection so you remember what you have.
When you get tired with the routine, mix it up . . . it's your club after all! I sometimes even "cut and paste" doing one video's warm-up, them moving to another for my cardio and then cool down with a yoga video.
Follow these tips and you will build a fitness video library you and your body will love.
Comments
missforty said
on 6/12/2008 Love the idea about the weekly class calendar for your home workouts!