The Method: All in One Workout is a very unusual workout for several reasons. The moves are inspired by many disciplines: jazz and modern dance, aerobics, toning, yoga, Pilates, and sometimes a combination. Each section is taught by a different instructor, and the music is provided by live drummers.
The video begins with a 15-minute warm-up targeting each muscle group, more in the manner of a jazz-dance class than traditional aerobic dance, complete with isolations. Next a 30-minute aerobic cross-training segment alternates aerobic-dance and jazz-dance movements with toning with light weights. The aerobic patterns are tightly choreographed. Some of the toning moves are also unusual, such as rising up on your toes and squeezing your buttocks as you do arm movements holding weights. After this, you still have a 35-minute "centering makeover," with abdominal exercises that will reduce you to quivering jelly, even if you think you're the queen or king of abdominals. Finally you get a 10-minute stretch, and you really need it by now. All the instructors are very clear and motivating. They are accompanied by a class of bare-midriffed women and a couple of muscular men. This video is best for experienced exercisers with aerobic dance or other dance background or familiarity with Pilates. (If you have a bad back, some of the moves will be too stressful for you.) You get more than your money's worth with this one.--Joan Price
NOT A FAVORITE I bought this video thinking I was going to get a killer workout that emphasized all the thing I enjoyed dance,streching, weights. This was not it, the tempo of the video was slow, the instructers were not engaging. This video just did not hold my interest enough to want to do it on a regular basis. In fact I traded this video in at a local video trade store. However I would recommend THE METHOD DANCE TO FITNESS.
The Best "All in One" Workout This tape lives up to its name...You get a stretching/warm up segment that uses ballet movement and other basic stretching. Followed by a cardio routine that mixes in weights (great for toning arms...regular pilates sometimes misses the arms), followed by an EXCELLENT pilates segment. You can even break the segments up and just do the warm up/cardio one day and the warm up/pilates the next day. Try this video! You won't be dissapointed!The Method All in One Work Out This tape could have received 5 stars but lost points because 1) The back cover did not inform me that equipment was going to be used in the program and 2) Although all instuctors seemed highly intelligent and inspiring, I didn't click with any of them immediately as I do with my crunch tapes. However, because the workout itself is enjoyable, motivating, and surprisingly thorough, I would recommend this tape to anyone who likes to dance or get a dancers workout. At first I felt ripped off, but as I continued to do the tape I began to respect the instructors more.
