This video (so far only on VHS) is about 43 minutes long with an instructional section afterwards of around 12 minutes. This video has a definite new age-y feel to it, especially the "montage", an introduction before the workout of about 3 minutes that I think is supposed to make you experience the joy of pregnancy (well, and show you that Karyne can do a headstand). The music is also new age, but not in a distracting way. The major focus is strength training, although I was definitely sweating when I did it.
The warm up was about 10 minutes long (I think), and included head rolls, shoulder rolls, ribcage rolls, arching/rounding the back on hands and knees and other "loosening up" exercises (which are not coming to mind). The main workout starts off using a chair for balance, with optional step. During most of the workout, there are beginner and advanced variations for the workouts (I did the beginner variations). The first exercise or two also have intermediate variations. The beginner version starts with plie/ leg raises (you do a small plie, then lift one leg to the back). The intermediate version is that you step up on a step, and lift your leg back. The advanced has you step up on the step, lift your leg to the back, step down off the bench and possibly lift your leg again. During the exercises, the majority of the screen would show one view, with a small window with the variations along the side. There are other standard exercises done with a chair, such as squats (advanced doesn't use a chair, and squats as low as you can go. I think she called those childbirthing squats), stationary lunges, triceps dips, and scissor kicks (swing your right leg back and forth in front of your left). She also adds kegels from time to time (3 sets of 6, I think). There are leg/arm lifts (on hands and knees, lift a leg straight out and the opposite side arm and hold), lat rows (advanced uses a dumbbell) combined with raising the arm out to the side, a runner's stretch position where you alternate putting one arm straight forward, and other arm/shoulder exercises. She also does a series of leg exercises, including leg circles (lie on one side, knees bent, draw a circle with the top knee), leg lifts (lie on side, lift top leg), and inner thigh lifts (put top leg in front of bottom, lift bottom leg). Probably all of these exercises are out of order, by the way. She also uses some pillows to prop up her upper body, and does some cruches. The last exercise in the tape is called an endurance exercise, designed to "help you prepare your mind for childbirth". Basically, this involves sticking your arms straight out from the shoulders, and drawing small circles with your hands for about 5 minutes (although it seems longer). I think the basic idea here is that she's continuing the movement even though it hurts (after a while). I'm not completely sure how this helps you prepare your mind for childbirth, as the amount of control I had over the situation was limited (and it's not like you can give up and go home in childbirth, either!). Anyway, this is followed by a cooldown where you "connect with your baby". I'm actually not sure if you do the majority of the cooldown before the arm circles, or afterwards now, but the cooldown involves a few stretches of the arms and body.

All in all, I think I enjoyed this video more than I've ever enjoyed a pregnancy video. I usually watch them once, and don't touch them again. I really don't know why. If you like doing strength training exercises, you'll probably like this video. While it's not a weight-intensive video, it reminded me of some of the videos that are.

Although I thought some of the dialogue got a little spacey from time to time (like the "connect with your baby" and the montage), during the exercises it's mostly straightforward and related to the exercise. I got my copy off amazon.com, but the website on the cover is www.progressiveparent.com.

Instructor Comments:
Karyne Steben was an acrobat with Cirque du Soliel, and made this video (and the Perfect Postnatal Workout, which I don't have) while she was pregnant. She has a soft voice, and an interesting accent. From time to time, her cuing is a little off (sometimes she'll tell you what's coming next a few reps away, others you don't know till she starts doing it).

Suzette