I really enjoy this workout as a total body workout that emphasizes lower body work. What a nice change of pace to have abs first! The ab segment is different, fun, and effective. It reminds me a lot of the abs in Method tapes but it moves at a faster pace. I really enjoy the squat and side lunge combination--I really try to isolate the muscles in my inner thigh so I can feel it. The hover squats are killer! As far as the hamstring work leaning over the tall box goes, I'm used to doing it a la Heidi Tanner in SH (with ankle weights), so I just add the weights at this point and keep them on through the plie squats, pushups, tablework, and lying side abductor work. I know that the participants don't use ankle weights during the leg sweeps--it's very Pilates' inspired--but in order for me to feel it I have to (maybe I'm just not doing them right, though). Regarding the upper body work, there isn't much of it, but the moves are slow so you can use heavy weights. I wouldn't choose this video alone often for a total body workout since it is lacking in the upper body department, but it's a wonderful lower body workout (my legs were trembling by the end of the video). I use it in combination with Not So Tough Aerobics (which has quite a bit of upper body work for a "cardio" tape), or Tough Cardio Mix. Adding an upper body tape would also round out the workout. I do enjoy this one a lot--the set is bright, the music is fun, and there are some different variations on classic lower body moves that keep this tape interesting.

Instructor Comments:
I really like the combination of teachers that this tri-trainer has. I think that it really makes the video fly by! I enjoy how the different styles of the three instructors complement each other. Jen Carman is fabulous--so fit and energetic. Taber Bruno is also very good--others have hit the nail on the head when they have said that she is reminiscent of Heidi Tanner in SH. I like Jennifer Peluso as well. Her style is definitely different than that of the others, but for me it provides a nice change. All three offer helpful form pointers, but I would have liked more instruction on the Pilates-inspired moves that Jen P. taught (especially the Precision Toning-like ab breathwork and leg sweeps). I also got a little confused as to which leg I should be doing the lunge/dip combos on. Cueing was otherwise fine.

Kristin Aziz