(Anchor Bay)
2003
What is it?
A light, 37-minute cardio workout based on Latin dance moves.
Who is it for?
Beginning to intermediate exercisers who love to dance. If you have two left feet, or just don't feel that Latin groove, this is probably not the workout for you.
What to expect:
It's a challenge to put together a good workout that combines Latin dance and cardio exercise. While steps such as salsa, meringue, samba and the like are a lot of fun, the moves are compact and aren't easily revved up to sweat-inducing intensity. Zumba makes a pretty good job of it, however, as does this workout from Crunch. It's no surprise then that the instructor of this Crunch routine is Giselle Roque de Escobar, who also co-taught Zumba. Like most Crunch workouts, this one is divided into several choreography segments. None of them are difficult to learn - even exercisers who have a bit of difficulty with dance steps should be able to catch onto these routines after a few tries, and if you ever find yourself on the wrong foot, a cha-cha-cha should get you back on track. Giselle instructs with a lot of energy and verve, and she makes the workout fun. The music is enhanced with the presence of a live percussionist, which makes it even more festive. While this workout may not have the sheer power of, say, a kickboxing DVD, it's a very enjoyable light exercise routine - perfect for those days when you're not even sure if you want to work out. This DVD will inspire you to get moving instantly!