Streamline Fitness

Karen Voight
Year Released: 1997

Categories: Total Body Workouts


The other reviewers summed of the video quite well. If you're used to The Firm or Cathe's weight training, you might find this a waste of time. However, I think it serves its purpose. It's a workout for those days when you're busy, traveling and the demands of life cut into your workout time, it's meant to keep the body active so one should not expect an all out burn. The warm-up to me is similar to Strong and Smooth Moves in that is uses total body large limb movements. The weighted segment is a cross between The Firm 4-limb moves and The Method Precision Sculpting. It's not a tape to build a work out on but rather to supplement one. Can beginners use it? Perhaps. Light weighted workouts demand strict attention to body alignment and the stabilizer muscles.

The second part of the workout is a great ab workout and and mellow yoga stretch. Some of these ab techniques are in Energy Sprint and hit the midsection from every possible. The yoga section is good, but non-mystical and approachable. She does triangles, warrior, downward facing dog, and spinal stretches. Karen moves gracefully like the dancer she is.

The video itself is artsy and well-produced. There are inserts of other locations in color and b&w of her doing the movements outside, in her studio, and in a living room setting. To those who are new to exercise videos, let me tell you that most videos don't have this film-like quality. The clips make the cuing seem a half a beat off but this is not a highly choreographed video. It also seems to be a trend to show outtakes. I'd like to see the Firm do this.

Instructor Comments:
Karen Voight seem somewhat friendlier on this video, still no nonsense,, giving good form pointers, but very good as a one-on-one teacher. She uses weighted balls in this video and also demonstrates the moves using dumbbells. Thanks, a lot of videos don't demonstrate alternativives. About the obvious boob job, oh well, she does live in California, must be peer pressure.

Jean L. Wakefield

03/24/1999