Recently, I finally tried the Classical Stretch tape. Here are my quick reactions:

This tape is about 50 minutes long. It's not just a stretch tape; it includes strength work that covers many parts of the body (though there's no weights, and very little for the upper body).

It contains three sections: Standing work, floor work, and barre -- well, actually chair -- work. Some of the exercises in the two standing sections remind me of the "ballet" moves in Yoga Booty Ballet. The floor work reminds me a little of that in Kathy's Pilates tape, in that it's more difficult to do than it looks when you preview it. This was not a really intense tape, but parts kicked my b*tt -- although, I must admit, mine is pretty easy to kick.

I didn't finish sore and exhausted, but I did feel delightfully stretched.

The exercises are also more interesting when you do them than when you just look at them. They're not as thoughtfully put together as those in Angles, Lines and Curves, but they're not just bland cookbook moves, either. I'm not the best person to judge safety and form, but I didn't notice any obvious problems.

The music and the outdoor setting are, of course, absolutely wonderful. Miranda is a bit too chatty and a bit too eager to promote her tape as the cure for everything. But one can live with her.

Summary: Classical Stretch is not a tape that will find an easy place in a rotation. But it's good for the same "wild card" slot as Angles, Lines and Curves. Or Yoga Booty Ballet. It's not quite as interesting as those tapes, but there's nothing about Classical Stretch I don't like.

Lenore Levine