This 1999 workout has 5 different mini-routines. It's a great addition to any workout library, as long as you get it on DVD. If you have a VHS tape, like me, you will probably get frustrated at having to forward/rewind to the exact section you want. Also, if you follow the workout in the order it's presented you'll get annoyed at having to constantly take off and then put on your shoes. With DVD, you don't have to worry about any of that.

BOOTCAMP: (Equipment needed- a chair, mat and 2 sets of dumbbells - Michelle uses 3 & 8 pounds). The brief warm-up consists of step touches, knee lifts and arm circles. She keeps you constantly on the move, interspersing toning with sports drill-type cardio moves:
lunges (back, front, then side)
high knee jogs
one-arm lat rows (Oops! Michelle does 10 reps w/ the right arm & only 9 w/ the left)
one-arm tricep kickbacks (8 reps)
quick 3-count side steps w/ high knees
tricep dips using the chair (12 reps)
side hops
squats & bicep curls (10 reps)
bicep curls (12 reps)
push-ups (12 reps)
abs: crunches & oblique twists (10 reps)
push-ups into plank (8 reps)
abs: crunches w/ legs raised (8 reps)
seated spinal twist stretch
shoulder rolls
Michelle packs a lot into this workout. It's perfect for your lazy days or when your time is limited and you want to do "something".

PILATES: (Equipment needed- a mat) This workout starts off with some breathing exercises. Michelle gives some excellent pointers on keeping the focus on your breath. Some of the moves she does are bicycle, roll-ups, hundreds and leg circles. I'm an advanced exerciser but relatively new to pilates and I felt like I got a thorough workout. Ends with a brief supine spinal twist stretch.

BALLET: (Equipment needed- a chair or barre) This was my least favorite workout on the tape because Michelle does too few reps to really feel anything. For some of the moves, she only does 4 reps.
They include tendu, dégagé, rond de jambe, grand battement and leg swings (plus a few others that I have no idea how to spell - sorry!). Michelle is very graceful and shows excellent form. Workout ends with a seated hip stretch.

KICKBOXING: (No equipment needed)This is a fun energetic workout that is perfect for warming up before using weights. Michelle starts out with shoulder rolls and bobbing & weaving. Then comes...
jabs
cross punches
front knee "thrusts"
hook/uppercut combo
jabs
cross punches
jab/cross combo
jab/cross/hook combo
jab/cross/hook/knee thrusts combo
body shots/uppercut combo
front kicks
round house kicks
front/round kick combo
body/uppercut/frontkick/roundhousekick combo
bob&weave with double jabs
The workout ends with 3 brief standing stretches for the back, legs and calves.
Michelle's form really bothers me. It looks like she's locking her elbow during the jabs, and she is throwing too much elbow into the hooks. Also, the kick combinations were pretty quick and it looked like she was having a little trouble positioning her feet on the carpet for the different kicks. At the speed she was going, working out on a smooth surface would have been better.

YOGA: (Equipment needed- a mat)After bootcamp, this was my favorite workout. Very relaxing. Michelle starts out with seated stretches: spinal twist, side stretch, inner thigh stretch with legs bent & heels together, and hamstring stretch. Then she goes into a cat stretch on hands & knees into downward facing dog, lunges, warrior, cobra and child's pose. Because she doesn't spend a lot of time talking about breathing (just once she mentioned breathing though the nose and that was halfway through the workout), I viewed this section as more of a basic stretch workout than yoga.

Music: Subtle unobtrusive instrumental music playing so softly in the background I could barely hear it at times. I'm not a real music buff, though, so this didn't bother me at all.

Setting: A large airy room filled with warm colors. Tan & green carpet. Gold & tan walls with a brick red trim. Large potted plants in the background. Two windows on opposite walls with a night-time view of a cityscape.

Instructor Comments:
Michelle looks great - very toned and healthy. She is motivating and cheerful but not syrupy sweet. She talks throughout the workout but isn't chatty; everything she says has to do with exercise instructions or form pointers. She wears a different outfit in each section.

Martha