I received this workout as a free copy to review. Like Dana's kickboxing workout, this workout is also set in an indoor gym; the camera angles are good and the music is very energetic. Dana uses a stability ball during the warm-up, holding it overhead while we do the following moves: squats; fast feet; jogs or marching (your choice); front crunches; side crunches; more jacks or jogs; side lunges; step-touches, hamstring curls, and skaters -- these last moves are all done while moving the ball in a “figure 8” motion.

With the warm-up over, we put the ball on the floor and do planks and crunches on the ball. I was glad to get the core work over and done with! Next, we put the ball away and grab our weights for squats and reverse lunges. Dana gets the upper body involved by adding front arm raises, side arm raises, rotator cuff moves, and tricep kickbacks. Everyone in her class looks like they’re getting tired; I’m glad I’m not the only one!! After a quick drink of water, everyone comes back for plie squats with arm raises, then squats with reverse lunges. The next move was something Dana called “progressive push-ups” which were suspiciously like burpees. I wasn’t crazy about these. Then we did side-to-side shuffles with a floor touch at the end of each shuffle. Picking up heavier weights, we move to squats with knee lifts, to which we add lateral pulls and pulses, then alternating lateral pulls with tricep kickbacks. Then it's back to the mat for more pushups, seated crunches, and oblique twists (guess we WEREN'T done with the core work!) We return to standing for single weight presses overhead, put the weights down for some kickboxing, then pick up tubing for side steps and overhead arm stretches. Finally it's back to the mat for crunches, then a nice stretch!

While I am not a big fan of using a bunch of different equipment, it didn’t bother me that she mixed the workout up with the stability ball, dumbbells, and tubing. I am also not a fan of standing, then sitting, then standing, etc. There was some of that in this workout, but not enough for me to hate it.

Instructor Comments:
I really liked the energy of this workout, and Dana has a really terrific personality. Unfortunately, she does not mirror cue – it always bothers me when an instructor doesn’t mirror cue, but I guess I can get over it.

Debbie J