Instructor credentials:If the teacher is certified by one of the legitimate
professional organizations, you can bet that the cover will say so. Be
wary if all you can find is “Internationally Recognized Fitness Expert.”
See Chapter 4 for details about certification.
The date of the copyright: Some tapes are timeless classics, but chances
are, a DVD produced in the last couple of years will be more in tune with
the latest training techniques. Also, choreography is a lot more creative
than it used to be, and safety and instruction are given more considera-
tion these days. Even some of the older workouts led by our favorite
instructors contain moves considered unsafe by today’s standards.Get a sneak preview
Before you try a DVD workout, sit down on your couch and watch it all the
way through. Imagine yourself doing this tape week after week, and consider
the following:
Safety:Use your common sense. Is the instructor doing anything outra-
geous, like arching her back so much that you can hear her vertebrae
screaming for help?The instructor’s style and personality: Is the instructor upbeat and pro-
fessional, or is she hyperventilating with excitement? Is she kind and
encouraging, or does she refer to “the huge butt you may have?” Does
she have a clear, resonant voice, or does she sound like she sucked
helium? Some instructors sound like the cheerleader from hell, some do
the sex-kitten thing, and others bark orders like a drill sergeant. One
well-known instructor blurts out non sequiturs like “Lose those jigglies!”
Instruction: Does the instructor use good form and give adequate direc-
tions? Some instructors look great doing the workout but never explain
proper technique or alert you about what to do next. Others go on and
on about good form but don’t practice what they preach. In one workout,
an instructor cautions against jumping around on hard surfaces while
she leads an outdoor class on cement! Some instructors are so winded
that they can’t even get the words out.Don’t give up on a tape just because the routine seems too complicated:
The first time is bound to be confusing. But go with your instinct: Do you
think you’ll ever get it, or is the instruction just plain lousy?
Production quality:Does the sound warble? Is the DVD shot in focus?
The tape doesn’t need to look like an Academy Award–winning feature,
but neither should it appear to have been filmed with a camcorder in
someone’s garage. At the same time, don’t confuse slick production with
quality instruction.Chapter 19: Choosing an Exercise Class or DVD 297