10-Minute Solution

Michelle Dozois
Year Released: 2002

Categories: Ballet/Barre, Pilates/Core Strength


I had this workout long ago on VHS and never did it because it was too much of a hassle to keep rewinding and fast forwarding to get to the sections I wanted. So I decided to try it again when I saw it was available on DVD.

There are 5 10-minute sections: Boot Camp, Yoga, Pilates, Ballet and Kickboxing. I don’t think any of them are adequate as a stand-alone workout except the Pilates section. The boot camp section tries to do too much in 10 minutes---the Quick Fix series does a far better job with short strength workouts by focusing them on a specific body part such as abs or arms. The kickboxing section suffers from the same limitation: by the time you get really into it, it’s over. The Yoga section was okay but felt a little rushed, and the ballet section was wonderful, but too short, and therefore a bit too easy to stand alone as somebody’s entire workout for the day.

Thankfully, the DVD is extremely well-designed, and has a program feature built-in that allows you to string the sections together in any order. You can even program a section to play twice! My favourite way to use this dvd is as an alternative stretch and toning workout by programming the Yoga, Pilates and ballet to play in sequence. It’s a great 30-minute light workout.

All of the sections are taught by Michelle Nevidomsky Dozois without a class. This makes for a more intimate workout setting that I think works to the tape’s advantage. Michelle is a fun instructor, and I give her credit for teaching such a diverse range of styles so well on the same tape.

I think the Quick Fix series has taken the 10-minute concept to the next level with their countdown clock and really focused, tight routines. If I had to choose between one of their disks or this one, I would choose them. But this workout was a pioneering concept, and one of the first well-produced dvds on the retail market---and its wonderful ballet section has yet to be matched. If you can find it on discount, it is worth having. But get the DVD---not the VHS!

Joanna

04/10/2003