TRUDIE STYLER'S CARDIO DANCE FLOW (GAIAM), DH65
BEST FOR... Older women
What it offers: Three workouts on one DVD: a 25-minute Cardio Dance Workout, a 10-minute Express Workout and a 25-minute Stretch Workout.
The claim: A head-to-toe routine with intense cardio intervals alongside elongating stretches to improve your balance, strength and endurance.
The gist: Inspired by Trudi's childhood ballet lessons and her 20 years of yoga practice, the 50-year-old wife of Sting joins forces with yoga- and ballet-trained choreographer James D'Silva for a fusion workout of yoga, ballet and aerobics. Aerobic exercises like lunges and knee lifts are given a balletic twist - think plies, pointed toes and lots of Arabesque arms. Each set is done to counts of eight, counting down, with a change of arms on every repetition, providing both variety and different muscle group workouts.
The best bits: Set on the terrace in Trudi's 16th-century home in Tuscany, the landscape views are mentally calming. I loved the 10-minute Express Workout - ideal for when you don't have much time and don't want to keel over. Though quick and intense, it's totally manageable with lots of leg lifts, lunges and big arms, but a good balance of stretching and holding moves alongside cardio.
The bad bits: A little dull at times and not so serious on the cardio front.
Quote we love: "Physical fitness is about how much energy you have for your kids and your life - it empowers the mind to be disciplined in all other areas," Trudi Styler.
What to wear: Three-quarter leggings, T-shirt and character shoes.
Does it actually work? As it's really functional - James delivers no-nonsense instructions - and there's lots of routine repetitions, it's easy to pick up. After about ten minutes of cardio dance, you do break a slight sweat, and although the pace quickens, it involves simple and low-impact moves, where James intersperses the knee lifts, leg lunges, gallops and grapevines with plies and stretches to get your breath back. Definitely improves flexibility and seems to tighten and tone leg muscles. In the stretch section, I found my pecs and hamstrings working overtime.
Extras: A 25-minute Stretch Workout - James shows us 101 things to do with a long cushion on the floor, isolating and working every muscle. A footwork tutorial by James provides ballet basics like pointed toes, plie positioning, toe tapping and side steps.
PUMP IT UP: THE ULTIMATE DANCE WORKOUT - BODY BURN (MINISTRY OF SOUND), DH125
BEST FOR… Dance beginners
What it offers: As well as separate warm up, tone and stretch sections, there's four main dance workouts that you can select, according to your mood, all delivered by Take That choreographer Gareth Walker, to the exclusive soundtrack of 23 smash hits, from Rihanna's Rude Body to Dizzee Rascal's Dirtee Disco.
The claim: An all-over body tone-up for every fitness level to help you get fit, lose weight and learn the latest dance moves. It guarantees you'll ‘feel the burn' and shed pounds.
The gist: Led by the very camp, floppy-haired, super-tanned Gareth, alongside four girls with perma-smiles, a mix of hot danceable moves are combined into short routines, repeated for separately themed 20-minute workouts, with new moves introduced at the end of each segment. Shake It Move It follows a ‘club dance' scenario linking exaggerated and funky moves (think bouncy walks, hair throwing, pointing, skipping, shimmying and bottom wriggling) to club scenarios loudly voiced by Gareth, such as "I barge through the club and walk it out." The Pop It Rock It workout brings in posey, streetdance moves, with shoulder popping, knee swings, punching and digging. Burn It Lose It is aerobics brought bang up to date, with moves like squats, curls and star jumps that are easy to do but physically challenge. There's also a 12-minute tone-up session that works bums, abs and thighs with lots of squatting and squeezing, and a stretch workout.
The best bits: It offers a high-intensity, low-impact workout, but with low intensity, high-impact options, plus lots of alternative moves if you want to rev it up or slow it down. Gareth shows you the up-and-coming move, while you're still following the girls on the last move, so you know what's coming up, which is great for beginners.
The bad bits: Gareth and his hair-flicking could get annoying - though personally I found him compulsive viewing.
Quote we love: "If in doubt, smile it out," Gareth the instructor.
What to wear: Shorts, vest and trainers.
Does it actually work? All the sequences are very fast, but it's all so repetitious that it's easy to pick up. It is exhausting and you ‘do' feel the burn, especially in the thighs and buttocks.
Extras: There's a diet plan, with sample meal ideas for a week and a snack list, all less than 100 calories; a behind-the-scenes segment; and a soundtrack.
CARDIO HIP-HOP WORKOUT (QUICKFIX), DH450
BEST FOR… Time-stretched women
What it offers: Three 10-minute workouts with a motivating countdown clock in the corner.
The claim: In just regular 10-minute sessions, you can burn fat and have fun, regardless of your dance/exercise experience. It claims to be simple to follow and easy to master.
The gist: Each workout, led by the manic hip-hop dancer Juliane Arney, offers a combination of both simple and more challenging moves, with every combination broken down into eight counts. There's lots exaggerated steps (marching, bouncing, knee lifts, hip popping and grapevine in all directions) with big arms that gradually get bigger - think "gangster-style" throwing up of hands, swaying arms and brushing the shoulder. Once you've mastered the moves, they're made bigger each time.
The best bits: I love the countdown clock in the corner - it really spurs you on to work harder. Each routine begins with a ‘Dance Lifeline' - a simple move that you can go back to if you lose your way, which is great to keep up intensity and means you don't lose out on a single calorie-burning minute. Plus, Juliane always gives lots of options for easier moves.
The bad bits: You need loads of space as moves are big and there's tons of travelling. Julianne's trendy language and move names (think "krank It around", "dig down", "jam on it") can be a tad irritating. And, Dh450 is a bit pricey for a 30-minute DVD with no extras.
Quote we love: "I wanna see lots of attitude," Juliane, the instructor.
What to wear: Cropped top, combat pants and trainers.
Does it actually work? All the sequences are very fast-moving and intense, but it's all so repetitious that it's easy to pick up. Each workout gets less complicated move-wise but physically more challenging, and workout three, in particular, with its ‘keep low' and ‘deep into the knees' movements and big arms really works the thighs, bottom and triceps. It's upbeat, motivating and full of attitude.
Extras: None.
PACHAA WORKOUT, DH125
BEST FOR… Sweating it out
What it offers: The most famous club brand in the world, Pachaa in Ibiza, delivers four dance-themed fitness Club Workout sessions, including a warm-up, full-on dance routine, a low-and-groovy dance session and a high-energy session, plus cool-down exercises.
The claim: Do this three times a week, says Pachaa dancer Sarah Main, and you'll see a big difference in your body, you'll have more energy, while having lots of fun".
The gist: These workouts, demonstrated by seven scantily-clad tanned, toned and tattooed skinny girls (and two token boys), have an ‘80s Flashdance feel about them. The moves are super-sexy, with lots of boxing-style moves, on-the-spot sprints, hair shaking, arm pumping, pelvis tilts, and booty shaking, as well as a striptease routine. The first routine teaches you how to ‘club dance', with ‘Gonna get dirty' pelvis pulls; the ‘drunken step' walking and head rolls, and lots of African-style torso movements with thrusting pelvic contractions, which build up pace, and works the waist, legs and abs. The Drive The Car workout works the midsection using an ‘imaginary steering wheel' and really builds a sweat, while the Hi Energy Workout is a boxing-meets-Flashdance extravaganza and you really sweat. Finally, there's an Abs workout and a 10-minute Samba workout.
The best bits: As a big fan of Flashdance, I loved the on-the-spot sprinting and hair shaking and the Hi Energy Workout, in particular, was really addictive. Also, loved the ‘teacher feature', where you get the option to follow the workout with extra tips and encouragement.
The bad bits: There's lots of close-up shots of the girls' oiled bodies with shaking of booty and pelvic thrusts accompanied by consistent panting ‘oohhhs' and ‘aahhhs'.
Quote we love: "Close your eyes, feel the music and let it take over," Paccha dancer.
What to wear: Small briefs, vests and Lonsdale boxer boots.
Does it actually work? Yes, you really do work up a sweat, but it's great fun and you don't feel it. The steps are pretty basic - steps, kicks, bounces, jogs - but with high-energy music. It's manageable because each workout has four sequences, repeated in reptitions of eight, four, two and one, and between the five-minute bursts of full-on exercise, you keep returning to basic steps in order to breathe and stretch it out.
Extras: Tons of extra features, including a Paccha yoga chillout on the beach; eating out tips from the chef at Pachaa; a ‘day in the life of a pacha dancer'; backstage makeup; outtakes from the DVD; and a CD with two great music club tracks.
BELLYDANCE FITNESS FOR BEGINNERS (DIGITAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION), DH45
BEST FOR… body sculpting and toning
What it offers: An introduction through Basic Moves to the fitness and toning benefits of bellydance, as well as a Fat Burning Bellydance session, and floorwork.
The claim: Claiming to ‘slim, trim and define', especially the abs, bottom and thighs, you'll learn the basic bellydance moves for fitness, before upping the tempo in the Fat Burning segment to raise your heart rate to the optimal level for burning calories.
The gist: Sisters and dance teachers Veena and Neena (they've starred in music videos, 70 films and even performed at the Academy Awards) have transformed traditional bellydancing moves into a head-to-toe-toning fitness regime. The Basic Moves segment is low impact and introduces specific moves, demonstrating how to isolate various body parts - think separation of head from neck and waist from hips - to work individual body parts. Once you've got the hang of shimmying your shoulders, sliding your rib cage, and lifting your solar plexus up and down - moves get smaller and smaller until you're doing it triple-time. There's also floorwork ‘Cleopatra style'. The Fat Burning part uses traditional moves from Egyptian Folk Dance with added bounces, knee lifts, hops, jumping and jogging, as well as swinging and swaying.
The best bits: I loved that Meena and Veena, though beautiful and seriously fit and toned, weren't ‘skinny minnies'. It's incredibly relaxing and sensual, and dare I say ‘enjoyable', while working major muscle groups through very controlled movements. Also, the variations in movement and speed keep you moving without feeling exhausted.
The bad bits: Production quality is quite naf. Though it's pretty hard going on the muscles, it's not particulary cardio-based, so don't expect to get too fit - more toned.
What to wear: Supportive bra top, leggings and a waist shawl with bare feet.
Does it actually work? It really works a variety of muscle groups - ones I never thought I even had - and teaches you controlled movements on abs and bottom, in particular, which I've since discovered you can use at any time throughout your day. My thighs and bottom were aching by the end.
Extras: None.
STRICTLY COME DANCING THE WORKOUT (BBC), DH80, 88 minutes
BEST FOR… Dance enthusiasts
What it offers: This DVD offers four fun routines based around the most popular and energetic dances - Salsa, Jive, Quickstep and Tango - from the TV show, each targeting different body parts, including legs, bum, arms and tummy.
The claim: Perfect for all ages and levels of fitness, it claims to be easy to pick up and will have you moving, getting fit and toning up in no time.
The gist: After the warm-up, which involves repetitions of sexed-up squats and glammed-up grapevines, follow Kelly Brook (with Flavia's voiceover) in the fast-paced but relatively easy Salsa segment. An all-over cardio workout, it's great for toning legs and bottoms, with lots of movements on the balls of the feet to build up the calf muscles. The Tango, which focuses on the back, butt and abs, delivers lots of twists, turns and cabaret-style high kicks, holding on to a chair. The Quick Step segment works your cardio and your bingo wings, with lots of bouncing, hopping, kicking and big arms. Finally, the Jive, which offers both a longer and a quicker workout, is high cardio, great for shifting pounds and tightening the bottom, with leg flicks, bouncing and skipping.
The best bits: Love the music - warmed-up' to Eye of the Tiger and did the Charleston to I'm So Excited by The Pointer Sisters. I also loved the fact that each dance targets different body parts, so if you have bingo wings, choose the Quickstep, and a wobbly butt, try the Fast Jive. Plus, you can choose with or without instructor help.
The bad bits: In some segments, the footwork was rather, especially in the Tango, and I lost my way and rhythm, which put me off. The silver lining could be that, due to focusing so much on the footwork, you forget you're actually exercising.
What to wear: Leotard, floaty skirt and strappy shoes with a slight heel.
Does it actually work? You certainly build up a sweat, especially in the salsa and Jive, which are both quite cardio-driven. However, despite the step-by-step instructions (which fail, due to being taught all at the beginning, rather than as you progress), a lot of steps are tricky and quite difficult to pick up and you need to have some dance experience - preferably of the Latin American variety - to get anything out of it.
All DVDs available at Virgin Megastore.
