This DVD contains three 20 minute stretching segments. The first one uses no equipment, the second a stability ball and the third a resistance band. It is chaptered so you can pre-program a DVD player to only play one segment.

I've only done the first segment once and didn't much like it. The second segment I've done twice and thought it was OK. But I've done the resistance band segment several times and like it quite a bit. I think the band adds something different. In addition to the usual muscles, it targets the groin and forearms, which I think is nice.

I have modified it to get more out of the stretches. For instance, she begins with a set of groin and outer thigh stretches, alternating until you've done two each and then switching legs. Instead of doing two each, I hold the stretches longer and do one each.

I've tried beginning yoga and like it for how it really gets you to relax into the poses. But in general I prefer stretching workouts that aren't yoga. For some reason this workout has less dread factor for me than yoga. I'm more likely to do this twice a week, whereas I can barely bring myself to do yoga every 10 days.

Instructor Comments:
Cathe doesn't seem particularly comfortable doing a stretch video. She doesn't remind people to breathe frequently enough, nor does she spend enough time on many of the stretches. I find this can be circumvented in some cases through some easy modifications.

Diana