Margaret Richard - Likes/Dislikes?

Negin · 05-01-22, 09:04 AM

I've been on these forums for years and have been hearing about Margaret Richard. I have lots and lots of options - both DVDs and on YouTube. A new program is the last thing that I probably need. I haven't tried any of her workouts yet. Am I missing something? Is she that good? Sorry to sound snarky. That's not my intention at all. I'm curious.

I had all of the Joyce Vedral books and DVDs for a while, but then I got turned off by the poor production quality and dated look overall. I don't want this to be another "mistake" like that.

Workout Instructors/Programs that I love:
Classical Stretch/Essentrics
Jessica Smith - and so much more on YouTube.

If I do choose to try her, streaming is not my cup of tea, unless if there's a really good deal. I prefer DVDs.

summer breeze · 05-01-22, 09:12 AM

I have enjoyed MR's workouts for years. They are dated though if that bothers you. Her streaming is also very expensive and glitchy and it's all her old shows so you'd have to be a true aficionado to do her streaming. I use her dvds when I do her workout but I'm not even sure if they're available on her site anymore.

All that being said she's good solid low weight high rep weight training. No compound moves, not metabolic, just straight weight training. She's very meticulous about form.

If I wanted to try her out I guess I would look for her Series 1900 from her old Body Electric tv show or her All My Best dvds which are a sampling from many other dvds.

Just bear in mind they are dated and all older workouts. I still love them though.

sbh · 05-01-22, 09:16 AM

I like Margaret Richard's workouts. I do not like her warmups or cooldowns though. Sculpture is the only one where she does a fair job with the warmup/cooldown, IMHO. They are dated but that does not bother me if the workout is good. I also like and use a lot, Getting Better and Beauty to the Bone.

yogapam · 05-01-22, 11:08 AM

I only have two Unplugged seasons. I like them, but I usually skip the cool down and stretch & do my own. They are effective short workouts.

Pat58 · 05-01-22, 11:33 AM

I have or have had just about all of her workouts. I tried and traded these away:

A dance workout - name escapes me. Too slow, goofy, and no/too late cueing.
Unplugged 2000 series. I love the 1900 series but 2000 has too many weird exercises that didn't feel right for me.
My Body of Work and My Body of Work Unplugged. These are clips from various DVDs, one per body part, cobbled together. Just didn't need it and she selected some of the weird exercises I don't like.
The Spark - just didn't appeal.

The Maggie DVD looked so dreadful in the clips I never bought it. The two workouts are Body Shaping (1980s called and said this is too goofy even for us) and Knockout, a boxing? workout that looks pretty bizarre.

Other than that I like them all. My particular favorites are:

Sculpture
Perfect 10
The Classics
Getting Better
Good 'N Strong
Raising the Bar
Give me Strength

bubbles76 · 05-01-22, 12:49 PM

If you don't like dated, you won't like Margaret. Do yourself a favor and skip.

I like the datedness

. I like Margaret's classiness, her attention to detail for form, even the music she chooses (though some describe it as elevator music). I like floor work and the high rep, low weights.

Cons for me is that she doesn't have enough of warm ups or stretches at the end I can get by the doing my own stretches but her warm ups don't really get me warm. I need more movement.

JackieB · 05-01-22, 09:15 AM

If you look at her streaming site, it says "these classic routines are still relevant today".

I like Margaret and at one time had her "Unplugged" series. For whatever reason, I have never clicked with her workouts. The older workouts are too dated for my taste, and I didn't like the randomness (seemed haphazard) and chatter of the "Unplugged" series. The only workout I've liked and kept is "Getting Better" as I have struggled with foot and knee injuries.

As with everything, we all have instructors we gravitate towards. There are so many great instructors and an abundance of content out there. We're fortunate to have so many good choices!

BamaTanya · 05-01-22, 11:27 AM

I posted about her Unplugged series here:

http://www.videofitness.com/~vfwnk/f...ed#post2198710

Pros: short, easy to follow (except the warmup), lovely background, variety, clear/precise instruction. Throughout the series she shows multiple exercises to work those muscles.

Cons: no music (if that matters to you), doesn't cover the whole body in one workout, kind of corny (but I even like that), may be hard to find.

I have a few of her workouts, but the Unplugged workouts are the ones I've done multiple times. I'm in a place where I can't get motivated to start any long workouts.

These clips may give you a feel for her style: https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...hard+unplugged

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05-01-22, 09:04 AM
Negin Join Date: Nov 2011	Margaret Richard - Likes/Dislikes? I've been on these forums for years and have been hearing about Margaret Richard. I have lots and lots of options - both DVDs and on YouTube. A new program is the last thing that I probably need. I haven't tried any of her workouts yet. Am I missing something? Is she that good? Sorry to sound snarky. That's not my intention at all. I'm curious. I had all of the Joyce Vedral books and DVDs for a while, but then I got turned off by the poor production quality and dated look overall. I don't want this to be another "mistake" like that. Workout Instructors/Programs that I love: Classical Stretch/Essentrics Jessica Smith - and so much more on YouTube. If I do choose to try her, streaming is not my cup of tea, unless if there's a really good deal. I prefer DVDs. __________________ "Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on earth filled with glory." - Betty Smith, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"

05-01-22, 09:12 AM
summer breeze VF Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005	I have enjoyed MR's workouts for years. They are dated though if that bothers you. Her streaming is also very expensive and glitchy and it's all her old shows so you'd have to be a true aficionado to do her streaming. I use her dvds when I do her workout but I'm not even sure if they're available on her site anymore. All that being said she's good solid low weight high rep weight training. No compound moves, not metabolic, just straight weight training. She's very meticulous about form. If I wanted to try her out I guess I would look for her Series 1900 from her old Body Electric tv show or her All My Best dvds which are a sampling from many other dvds. Just bear in mind they are dated and all older workouts. I still love them though.

05-01-22, 09:16 AM
sbh Join Date: Feb 2006	I like Margaret Richard's workouts. I do not like her warmups or cooldowns though. Sculpture is the only one where she does a fair job with the warmup/cooldown, IMHO. They are dated but that does not bother me if the workout is good. I also like and use a lot, Getting Better and Beauty to the Bone.

05-01-22, 11:08 AM
yogapam VF Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West coast of Canada, eh. ;)	I only have two Unplugged seasons. I like them, but I usually skip the cool down and stretch & do my own. They are effective short workouts. __________________ **~Pam~** Certified Level 4 Essentrics Instructor - March 2021 Hatha YTT - 2011 Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down..... "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." Jim Rohn "It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” - Tony Robbins Check out my Instagram account, @fitness.ficti0n.inspirati0n

05-01-22, 11:33 AM
Pat58 VF Supporter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Connecticut	I have or have had just about all of her workouts. I tried and traded these away: A dance workout - name escapes me. Too slow, goofy, and no/too late cueing. Unplugged 2000 series. I love the 1900 series but 2000 has too many weird exercises that didn't feel right for me. My Body of Work and My Body of Work Unplugged. These are clips from various DVDs, one per body part, cobbled together. Just didn't need it and she selected some of the weird exercises I don't like. The Spark - just didn't appeal. The Maggie DVD looked so dreadful in the clips I never bought it. The two workouts are Body Shaping (1980s called and said this is too goofy even for us) and Knockout, a boxing? workout that looks pretty bizarre. Other than that I like them all. My particular favorites are: Sculpture Perfect 10 The Classics Getting Better Good 'N Strong Raising the Bar Give me Strength

05-01-22, 12:49 PM
bubbles76 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Jersey	If you don't like dated, you won't like Margaret. Do yourself a favor and skip. I like the datedness . I like Margaret's classiness, her attention to detail for form, even the music she chooses (though some describe it as elevator music). I like floor work and the high rep, low weights. Cons for me is that she doesn't have enough of warm ups or stretches at the end I can get by the doing my own stretches but her warm ups don't really get me warm. I need more movement. __________________ "You humans have the potential to be the most wonderful beings there are - if you can get past all these enormous stupid spots you seem to have in your hearts. It's not your fault. You just don't know how to work your hearts right yet. That's why there are dogs." - Jim Butcher, Zoo Day

05-01-22, 09:15 AM
JackieB VF Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Minnesota	If you look at her streaming site, it says "these classic routines are still relevant today". I like Margaret and at one time had her "Unplugged" series. For whatever reason, I have never clicked with her workouts. The older workouts are too dated for my taste, and I didn't like the randomness (seemed haphazard) and chatter of the "Unplugged" series. The only workout I've liked and kept is "Getting Better" as I have struggled with foot and knee injuries. As with everything, we all have instructors we gravitate towards. There are so many great instructors and an abundance of content out there. We're fortunate to have so many good choices! __________________ Jackie Certified Essentrics Instructor, Level 4---February 2017 Yoga Tune Up Roll Model Method Practitioner---December 2021 "Movement is a privilege. You don't have to exercise. You get to exercise. Visit a person whose mobility is severely limited, and you'll appreciate the distinction. Do what you can, count yourself lucky, heal yourself in the process." Essentrics Colorado

05-01-22, 11:27 AM
BamaTanya Join Date: Feb 2012	I posted about her Unplugged series here: http://www.videofitness.com/~vfwnk/f...ed#post2198710 Pros: short, easy to follow (except the warmup), lovely background, variety, clear/precise instruction. Throughout the series she shows multiple exercises to work those muscles. Cons: no music (if that matters to you), doesn't cover the whole body in one workout, kind of corny (but I even like that), may be hard to find. I have a few of her workouts, but the Unplugged workouts are the ones I've done multiple times. I'm in a place where I can't get motivated to start any long workouts. These clips may give you a feel for her style: https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...hard+unplugged