Saundra

Upper Body Balance Disc Bonus from Lift, Move, & Restore Functional Upper Body workout clocks in at just over 20-minutes. This workout uses two disc, although Cathe does have someone show modifications using one disc. The workout requires core stability. In several of the exercises, you are either placing your hands or knees on the balance disc to perform the exercise; or you are seated on the balance disc performing the moves.   Some moves are more challenging that others.  Cathe does give you time to shake out the wrist and recover a little before moving on to the next exercise.  For each exercise, you are moving at your own pace and not necessarily at Cathe’s pace. 3 stars  

Lower Body Balance Bonus from Lift, Move, & Restore Functional Lower Body is a 20-minute workout.  This workout uses two disc and the STS Bar.  You can use a chair if you do not have an STS bar.  Cathe takes you through a series of standing exercises first starting with ankle mobility and then moving on to test one leg balance work.  This is a progression workout.  For each exercise, Cathe starts off with the least difficult move and then she layers on.  For example, you might start with both hands on the bar. Then, next time through one hand on the bar and one hand on the hip. Third time through both hands off the bar.  It was challenging.  3 & 3/4 stars

Restorative Yoga Bonus from Lift, Move, & Restore Functional Yoga Fusion clocks in at 22:43.  Restorative yoga is about easing your way into each posture and then holding or relaxing yourself into each posture for a certain amount of deep breathing. It is about opening and expanding the body to create restore paths. Cathe utilizes two yoga blocks to aid in the comfort of each move.  You are to place the yoga block under the body part you are working making it easier to get into each posture.  Once in a posture, you are holding it for quite some time.  Cathe signifies the end of each move by telling you to take 5 more deep breaths.  It does not feel like you are doing much in this workout. At first I was going to describe it as "slow-moving" but I don't think that is accurate. The pace is unhurried but it is definitive for each move. Anyway, I like this workout more than I thought I would. 4 stars.

Anytime Mobility Bonus from Lift, Move, & Restore Functional Total Body clock in at 16:37.   In Anytime Mobility, Cathe takes your through a series of body weight exercises that are designed to increase your mobility and range of motion. Cathe works in a 360 degree plane, meaning, you are doing the moves at various angles and levels (standing, seated, and lying). Cathe states that the workout is not meant to be easy and that you should work through each area as best you can.  I guess that is why I like some moves better than others. But overall, the workout was okay. 3 stars

Lower Body Foam Rolling Bonus from Lift, Move, & Restore's Functional Pilates Fusion clocks in at just under 18-minutes.   Cathe starts the workout using the foam roller to massage and warm up the lower body. She mostly does this by rolling various body parts across and on the foam roller. After the warm up, Cathe uses the foam roller as a support prop to work the lower body. There are standing and floor based exercises. The rep count varied by the exercise.   There is a brief workout at the end. A mat and foam roller are used in this workout. I could hear the music more in this workout than I could in the Upper Body workout. I did these two workouts back to back which is why I noticed.      I thought parts of this workout challenging. I could see me doing this one again. 3 & 3/4 stars

Upper Body Foam Rolling Bonus from Lift, Move, & Restore's Functional Barre Fusion workout clocks in at just over fifteen minutes.   Cathe starts this workouts by using the foam roller to massage and warm up the different upper body muscle groups.  You are doing about four reps per exercise move in the warm up.  After the warm up, she takes you through a mini workout using the foam roller (sometimes as a prop and other times as resistance).  On average, you are doing 8 reps per exercises in the mini workout.    The workout concludes with a super quick stretch. Along with Cathe, there are 4 other cast members.  Along with the foam roller, a mat is also used.  The music in this workout seemed very faint.   The workout was just okay for me. I am not sure how often I will do this one.   3 stars

Functional Core Level 2 Bonus from Lift, Move, & Restore's Functional Core Fusion DVD clocks in at around 11-minutes.  There are six exercises in this bonus workout. Some of the exercise are single sided (you perform on the left and then on the right). The workout uses a mat, a smaller core ball and the larger stability ball. Cathe gives you breaks between each exercise. Nothing is really hurried.  There is no warm up nor cool down.  Cathe either describes and/or demonstrates each exercise prior to doing the move. Along with Cathe, there are four other castmates. I really like this short workout. 4 stars

  From Jessica Smith All Access Pass is Soothing Stretch .  This workout clocks in at just under 22 minutes.   Jessica takes you through a series of standing and lying exercise that are design to open up the body.  This workout moves very slowly.  You are holding each position for at least 25 to 30 seconds or more.  You also enter and exit each move in a very deliberate way.   There is not a warm up but for this particular stretch workout, I don't think one is necessarily needed. Nevertheless, I did do a low impact cardio workout prior to doing this one.  Overall I like this workout as it force me to quiet the mind. There is nothing about this workout that is frantic or suggest being in a hurry. 3 & 1/4 stars

Low Impact Cardio Bonus from Lift, Move & Restore's Functional Mobility Fusion DVD clocks in at just under 14 minutes.  Cathe presents you with a list of 10 exercise combos that get the heart rate up but without high impact.  There is not a warm up or cool down in this workout so it is probably best to use it as an add on. I used it as a warm up to a stretch workout.  During the workout, Cathe introduces you to each move and then you perform the move. The reps vary for each exercise.  Some exercises get repeated and some do not. Between the exercises, you are pretty much doing what you like to recover before the next exercise continues.  I love the sound track and vibe of the workout. Very energetic. And this workout is quick. It really is a get in and get out workout. 4 stars  

November 2024  Sunday - Treadmill Monday - Tracie Long Cardio Sculpt Tuesday - Kelly Coffey Meyer Step-Boxing Wednesday - Lower body with Tracie, Tracy and Pam Thursday - Michelle Dozois Cardio Friday - Flow Fusion with Jessica Smith Saturday - Rest 

October 2024 Workout Rotation For October, I have short (25-minute or less) workouts plan.  The workouts will be coming from The FIRM Express and 30-Minute-to-Fitness premix and RAW timesaver workouts.  

September 2024 Workout Rotation . Sunday -Treadmill Monday - Lower Body 21-Day Fix, Jessica Smith Tuesday - Upper Body 21 Day Fix, Jessica Smith Wednesday -  CoffeyFit Interval Cardio Thursday - Total Body 21-Day Fix, Jessica Smith Friday - CoffeyFit Kickboxing Saturday - Yoga, 21-Day Fix, Jessica Smith  

 August 2024 I was away from home quite a bit in August so I just fit in workouts when I could.

Fitness Training For Functional Aging with Jessica Smith contains two workouts.   DVD Menu Introduction ABC Routine (running time 29:46) Functional Strength (running time 29:30) End Credits Play All  

WHFN KickButt!  Steamin' Cardio is a 50-minute workout led by Heidi Tanner.  This workout is a remake of Anna Benson's Fitness Favorites FitPrime Steamin' Cardio with Kelsie Daniels. DVD Menu Play Full Workout   Select Tune(There are 17 segments) Equipment List First Time Tips Credits  

WHFN KickButt! Push Pull with Kimberly Spreen and Heidi Tanner is a 49 min non-dominant training workout.  Pull Pull is a remake of Anna Benson's Fitness Favorites FitPrime Up & Down with Jeanne Anne Copleston. DVD Menu Play Full Workout Select Tune (There are 19 segments) Equipment List First Time Tips Credits  

KickButt! Floor Burn is a 43 minute workout lead by Tamela Hastings. This workout is a remake of Anna Benson's Fitness Favorites FitPrime Floor Burn with Susan Harris. DVD Menu Play Full Workout Select Tune (There are 15 segments. Equipment List First Time Tips Credit  

  WHFN KickButt! Crunch Time is a 40-minute total-body pilates-cardio-yoga-weights fusion workout led by Tamela Hastie. DVD Menu Play Full Workout Select Tune Equipment List First Time Tips Credits There are 17 select tune segments.  This workout is a remake of Anna Benson's Fitness Favorites FitPrime Crunch Time with Susan Harris .

WHFN (Women's Health & Fitness Network) Fast Cheetah has a running time of 48 minutes. This workout is led by Kimberly Spreen and Heidi Tanner. DVD Menu Play Full Workout Select Tune Equipment List First Time Tips Credit Select Tune further breaks down into 16 sub-chapters.  In this workout, Kimberly mostly teaches the cardio segments and Heidi does everything else.  This workout is a remake of Anna Benson's Fitness Favorites FitPrime Fast Cheetah with Tracie Long.  

WHFN (Women's Health & Fitness Network) KickButt! Strong Bear is a 52 minute workout led by Keli Roberts. DVD Menu Play Full Workout Select Tune Equipment List First Time Tips Credits. The DVD is extremely well chaptered. Select Tune allows you to choose a particular workout segment, of which there are twenty. This series has one of the best sets I have ever seen. This workout is a remake of Anna Benson's Fitness Favorites FitPrime Strong Bear with Tracie Long.  

The FIRM FIRM Basics Abs, Buns, & Thighs Workout with Stacey Millner-Collins is a 45 minute total body workout geared towards the beginner exerciser.   While this is a total body workout, the emphasis in this workout is on the abs, buns and thighs.  Throughout the workout, you will be doing several sets of exercises that focus on these areas. The first set of 'abs & core' is performed lying and the second set of 'abs & core' is performed seated. The cardio segments are performed in a control manner.  One cardio segment uses the dowel (dowel aerobics) and one segment is 4-limbed movement. DVD Menu Full Workout Warm-Up Abs & Core Thighs & Buns Cardio & Thighs Cardio & Buns Cardio & Thighs Upper  Body Abs & Core Stretch Tall fanny lifter, dumbbells and dowel are on the equipment list for this workout. 3 stars 

July 2024 Workout Schedule  

The FIRM FIRM Basics Sculpting with Weights features Tracie Long in a 45-minute workout designed for beginners. DVD Menu Hot/Stretch Warm-Up Weights & Cardio Posture Pelvic Contractions Pecs, Core, Hips & Thighs Stretch The workout alternates cardio and toning segments. Some of the cardio segments uses light dumbbells for 4-limbed movement. Dumbbells are used to work the upper body but for the lower body,  you are mostly using your own body weight as resistance. Equipment list includes a tall step (fanny lifter), dumbbells, and a dowel.  I do these workouts when I want an Active Recovery day or when I am coming back from an illness or injury.   Tracie Long is outstanding in the workout as the lead.   4 stars

The FIRM FIRM Basics Fat Burning with Jennifer Carman & Stacey Milner-Collins is a cross-training workout designed for beginner exerciser. I am easy myself back into weight bearing exercises so I pulled out my FIRM Basics. I thought I had reviewed these but could not find them on my blog. In Fat Burning FIRM Basics, Jennifer and Stacey alternating leading different segments of the workout. Jennifer leads the cardio segments and Stacey leads the toning segments.  The workout alternates between cardio and toning.   I say toning because not all toning segments used weights.  The workout is 45 minutes in length. DVD Menu Full Workout Warm-Up & Stretch 4-limbed Cardio & Lower Body Cardio & Lower Body Cardio & Lower Body Cardio & Lower/Upper Body Cardio & Upper/Lower Body Abs & Bridge Work Stretch 3 stars

Stretching For Health presented by Victoria Sarquisse Tangoflex Method.  This DVD contains five stretching workouts; each with a different emphasis. DVD Menu Play All Choose Workout Video 1 is approximately a 13 minute  workout.  The is workout is performed seated.  Some of the moves are wavy arms, spine twist, side stretch series, forward fold series, and body rolls/wave  series.  Emphasis is the shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, and back. Video 2 is performed seated and it clocks in at around 12 minute.  Exercises include chest opening/closing, neck stretch, shoulder circles and hugs, and seated stretch extensions. Focus is posture.  Video 3 is 18-minute in length and is performed in the lying position. The first 6 to 7 minutes of this video, you are lying supine and taking a complete inventory of your body. Starting with your head and going systematically all the way down to your toes.  Circle knees, double knee stretches, single knee side...

June 2024 Workout Rotation I altered quite a few of the May rotation workout due to hurting my back and knee. I kept all of Jessica Smith workouts but replaced the PHA workouts with Yoga workouts. For June, I am going to try to get back into adding more resistance in the form of Barre/Pilates workouts. The plan looks like this: Sunday - Treadmill Monday - Suzanne Bowen BarreAmped  Tuesday - Ilaria PowerStrike Wednesday - Suzanne Bowen BarreAmped Thursday - Core Rhythms  Friday - Suzanne Bowen Pilates Saturday - Pool I have add-on workouts that are recovery-mobility-stretching workouts as I am still nursing my low back and knee back to health.  

Classical Stretch Back Pain Relief and Prevention with Miranda Esmonde-White includes three workouts for the back.   The DVD Menu : Introduction to the Workouts 14 Minute Upper Body Pain Relief 14 Minute Lower Body Pain Relief 30 Minute Back Prevention Workout   14 Minute Upper Body Pain Relief This workout actually clocks in at 10 and 1/2 minutes. It features shoulder rolls, one arm shoulder circles, shoulder blast, Upper back stretch, diagonal pulls, forward fold arm rotation to name a few. Workout uses a chair. 14 Minute Lower Body Pain Relief Clocking just under 14 minutes, Miranda starts this workout seated stretching and rounding the back. After the chair series, there is a standing series in which you use the chair to continue stretching and rounding.  This is followed by a lying series where the IT Band is the focused. Miranda includes back arches, leg lifts and child pose to further the stretching and loosening of the back. 30 Min Back Pain Prevention Workou...

STS 2.0 Foam Rolling Upper Body + Foam Rolling Lower Body Not really a workout. More like, Cathe is just showing us the way we can use the foam roller. She does introduce exercises and gives tips on how to use the foam roller and what to do during a particular exercise, but she tells you, she wants you to come back and concentrate on the muscle groups that are tight for your particular body. Everyone is different she says. Foam Rolling Upper Body is approximately 20 minutes in length. In the upper body session, Cathe uses the foam roller as a prop or tool to assist with stretching in many of the exercises. Only the back and lat rolls are used to roll out tightness in the muscle.   Cathe introduces the following exercises: Chest Expansion Back Roll Lat Roll Side Reaching Side Bend Thoracic Rotation Side tilted saddle stretch Posture Muscles /Arms Prayer stretch upward arc Thoracic Open Book Foam Rolling Lower Body is approximately 14 minutes in length.  In the lower body...