I know this is a bit old, but I found this DVD used recently and I'm in the habit of posting reviews for any workout I do when possible (vayos con Dios, Collage Video.)

Anyways, I got this because I thought it looked like a potential short on time/energy workout for me and I liked the instructor, Violet Zaki. I'm not crazy about the one Sculpt DVD I have of hers because the exercises don't have enough reps to feel effective and the cuing is spotty. I found this DVD to have the same problem, only a little worse.

There are lots of unique moves in this workout, it's true. Unique enough that I would have preferred some advance cuing at times. I had to stop and rewind several times, which I don't normally have to do with weight workouts. Of course, if you end up really liking this workout, you'll do it enough times that it won't matter. Otherwise, Violet cues well during the moves. More than once she says "One more," and then will say "Four more", which kind of bugs. Also, I couldn't hear Violet that well over the music. Not sure if that was just the mix on my DVD, or what.

The sets are of varying difficulty. The biceps move is way too easy, but I thought the triceps section was kind of tough. The abs were short but ridiculously hard. One move that is a balance done while swinging heavy weights out in front of you was borderline too awkward.

Some good things: there is someone demonstrating low impact moves for the few segments that require them. As someone else said, there aren't any insane get-ups like there are in other Crunch videos (depending on your taste, you might count this as a negative aspect.....)I did like the variety. Like everyone else, I thought the cardio segments were very brief and the last one felt very slapped together.

I know that effective 30 minute weight workouts are possible (Ellen Barrett's "Self Magazine Bikini Ready Fast" or just about any KCM workout spring to mind), but I don't know that this is one of them. I just didn't feel very worked out when I finished. I see other reviewers liked it and swear that the cuing is just fine though, so this is very much an individual taste matter.

Instructor Comments:
I really like Violet Zaki. She is cute and has an appealing energy.

vanessakm