This is definately a unique video. It combines yoga, ballet, and Pilates moves to "balance" the body. The first section is about 20 - 25 mins long, and focused on the abs. I found the ab work very effective. The second section is also about 20 - 25 mins long, and focuses on the upper body. She uses a "method toning bar" (I used a broomstick; those of you with dowels could use those instead). The idea in this section is that you imagine the bar is very heavy, while doing things like bicep curls. This is the only section of the tape with music (a drum beat). The final section is lower body toning for about 30 - 35 mins - here she relies on a lot of stretching, plus yoga moves like proud warrior. I found this section very long and boring. The tape ends a bit abruptly - I think in the original design section two was actually meant to be the end of the tape, because she ends that section with a comment like "thank you for joining us in the balanced zones." Section three ends with no comments at all.

What I liked about the tape: the instruction was generally good, and it was interesting to do something different. Also, I found the ab work fairly effective, and I really enjoyed the emphasis on good posture. What I didn't like: the background exercisers are almost zombie-like, the tape quality is less than other exercise tapes (e.g. the Firm or even Cathe Friedrich's tapes), and the workouts were a bit boring. Also, I was not sure how effective the exercises were - there was no doubt the ab work was good, and even the arm work felt not bad. But I have trouble believing I will reshape my legs by stretching. I am open to the possibility that I was doing something wrong, but this then suggests that the instruction should be more thorough.

Overall I would give the tape a B, or a B-. I ended up trading the tape away, but despite this fact I would be interested in trying other Method tapes. However, I will think of the tapes as yoga and abs tapes, rather than as body sculpting tapes.

Instructor Comments:
Jennifer Kries is a good instructor with a wonderful figure. What I did not like was the fact that she did not cue to the home exerciser properly - for example, when she said "left", she was refering to her left, rather than to mine. This is a bit aggravating. Also, after only a few exercises, she always stops for a relaxation stretch of some sort. I felt like that was a waste of my time. Finally, at one point in the tape she comments about how the exercises will have us "dripping with sweat" (something like that) - I am sorry, but stretching does not cause me to break out in sweat! One good thing about her instruction is that she really stresses posture, something that I wish more instructors would do.

Loleen