(Anchor Bay)
2001
What is it?
A 45-minute beginning aerobics video hosted by fitness expert Gay Gasper.
Who is it for?
Beginners who want an easy-to-follow aerobics routine, or those who just want basic moves that will still help them work up a sweat (and the high impact option here will definitely do that!).
What to expect:
The "Dummies" series comes through once again with an excellent exercise tape. Gay Gasper has appeared in some seriously intense aerobic videos in her time, but she also knows how to create an easy program that a newbie can follow. She begins this tape by going over basic steps, such as V-steps, grapevines and mambos and by the time she's taught them all, you've completed a pretty decent warm-up. The heart-pumping section of the video contains four simple routines, each made up of three or so of the steps Gasper has just taught. At the end, the routines are all strung together. The tape finishes up with a cool down and stretching. As basic as this video is, it's surprisingly versatile. Complete beginners can skip the arm moves until they get the feet down; those with strong aerobic capabilities can do the high-impact version and get a surprisingly satisfying workout. In addition, there are also the usual "Dummies" features - the myth busters, tips and cautions. This is one of the best tapes around for anyone who wants to learn aerobic dance from the ground up, and it's even fun for more experienced exercisers, too.