I really like this tape even though it is not perfect. Some of the moves, I feel, are probably not safe for the back like the one called side leg crunches where Rachel lies on her side supporting herself on one elbow with the other elbow behind her head. Then she lifts her straightened legs towards the elbow behind her head which involves both some torso twisting at the same time as she's lifting the weight of her legs. In fairness, an inset shows a safer modified version of the move. Sometimes Rachel demos bad form like during the dumbbell flies when her back is arched very high off the bench even though an overvoice says keep your back against the bench! Her back arches hugely again during the triceps exercises on the bench. Rachel is young, has a beautiful body and is in great shape but she should be more aware of proper form. Admittedly the video abounds with tips on form and it is helpful but when she models bad form, it's confusing. In one segment she does squats and an overvoice says make sure your knees stay over your shoes but Rachel's knees are beyond her shoes. Someone who's not familiar with proper form would probably do as she does. At the beginning of the video, we are advised to have 10 minutes of activity and stretching before doing the video. Rachel says the video is concentrated exercise and it is, which is probably why I like it. But her few seconds of stretching that she intersperses throughout the tape are rather abysmal. She says hold the stretches for at least 10 seconds as she bounces the stretch for a couple of seconds! After the hour tape there is a almost a whole minute of badly performed stretches during the "cool down" at the end.

Ok, now to why I like this tape. Since giving up the Firm due to knee problems exacerbated by the step box, I have missed weightlifting and find it too boring to do on my own. This tape, especially the first half, fills a crying need I have for some weightlifting. I do like the fact that it's fast paced. Rachel uses 8 lb. weights and I'm able to alternate between 5-10lb. depending on the exercise. She does show modifications to do without a weight bench. I use my Step as a bench. There is such a wide variety of exercises and some of them are unique enough, not ordinary crunches and leg lifts, that I find I can keep my interest up for the duration of the hour tape. One of the routines is called jet sit ups with one leg bent and the other leg straight and raise the whole upper body up to meet the straight leg. Probably another move with debateable safety but she does show a modification.

The first segment covers upper body and probably is my favorite because of the weightlifting. It includes standards like bicep curls, lateral raises, etc. but it is rather fast paced in that it moves quickly from one exercise to another and several alternating sets are done. Rachel does demo each exercise and gives just enough of a demo that you can perform the exercise correctly. I do like the fast pace because some days I'm using it to replace an aerobic workout along with a yoga tape. The second half includes some unique variations of pelvic lifts, e.g. pelvic lifts done with one leg raised straight up, which I enjoy a lot. I also love the standing side leg lifts and the buttock compressors.

I've done this tape 3 times now. I find Rachel pleasant to exercise with. She enjoys the workout but she's not perky or too vapid! She's very good at counting the reps so even if you look away from the TV you can keep up. I feel that this tape is a "let the exerciser beware tape" i.e. you have to be familiar with good form and do the modification if you feel a move is threatening to your back. Some of the moves on the second segment may not even be effective because they appear to largely depend on momentum rather than the slow repition. I'm still evaluating this tape to see if it's bothering my back.

I bought the tape at Best Buy for $12.96. The tape is just Rachel and you, one on one. The setting is pleasant with a large areas of geometric color both on the floor and in a large backdrop painting. The music is quiet jazz type music. Rachel uses a wooden weight bench and 8lb. weights.

Yvonne Delamater