In working out to her DVD Box Series The Works With Sharon Mann, Containing Cardio; Pilates/Yoga and Body Sculpting DVD's I found them to be no different than the "In Shape With Sharon Mann" TV Shows on Womens Network and Fit TV. All they did was piece together different segments from the TV Show. The Editing is poor, where ever segments are edited together they put a little saying on the screen like "Keep Smiling" or something cheesy.

Advertising for the DVD's do not say that she uses equipment or how much of it she uses. So I was not impressed. In working out to her DVD Series I couldn't help but get the feeling like she was trying to prove how many exercises she can do and how many pieces of exercise equipment she is capable of using. She uses a lot of equipment in many of the segments such as the stability ball, all the yoga and pilates equipment, dumb bells, weight bars, step etc. These are advertised in the discovery Store and would cost approx $250.00 -$300.00 US to obtain the same equipment! By the way... Discovery also says that its the same equipment as used on the "In Shape with Sharon Mann" TV Show. So now I'm wondering if the video isn't just a gimmic to sell more equipment. It would cost me an arm and a leg to go out and get all that equipment. Mann says you can improvise with what you have at home But you can't improvise using a stability ball! For me, This took away from the DVD Series and it took away from a good workout. I did not have the equipment and therefore could not work out at an advanced level. Only the low impact people on the left worked out with no equipment So I had to follow what they did. The problem then was that the camera did not always show what I was supposed to do without equipment! Between that and those sayings posted up in between the segments, and the total work out being only a 1/2 hour. I didn't get much of a work out at all. As a matter of fact I was confused and frustrated during the workout.

After a few days of this frustration, I went back to my Tae Bo Advanced and had a great full body work out. After not working out for some time, With Tae Bo I felt every muscle in my body (and No equipment is necessary!) Yet I hardly felt a thing with Mann's DVDs. I definitely got a better workout with Tae Bo than I did with Mann's DVDs. Mann is No Billy Blanks!

If you don't have equipment and you want an advanced workout this video is not for you. But if you like a mediocre workout and lots of variety then maybe you'd like it. But check out her TV shows before you by the DVDs! Because the DVDs are only pasted together segments of her TV Show. For the above reasons I would not recommend this DVD Series. It costs more time, trouble and money just to get a good workout! Save your money!

Instructor Comments:
Mann is energetic and positive, and keeps a smile on her face whenever possible. She is very professional and doesn't talk about anything other than the exercises at hand. She seems knowledgeable but I found her to be lacking in personality and motivation. She is no Billy Blanks!

Connie