Deciding on an Exercise DVD - What to Look for When Purchasing a Workout Video

If you’re looking to buy a workout video but you’re not quite sure which one to choose, then this article is for you. This article will take a look at the main benefits of using fitness DVDs, the styles of exercise, and the top personal trainers to look out for when buying a fitness DVD.



The Benefits of Fitness Videos



· Convenience: do your workouts in the comfort of your own home, at whatever time best suits you and your daily schedule.

· Less Expensive: buy the video once, and then use it over and over again, rather than paying for individual sessions with a personal trainer.



Styles of Exercise:



· Weight Lifting: good for people who want to build up their muscles and improve their body shape.

· Dance Fitness: want to have fun while you get fit? Why not try dance fitness.

· Walking: the most natural form of exercise you can do, and best of all, it’s free! Great for people who live in rural areas, especially if it’s hilly.

· Aerobics: this type of exxercise combines stretching with rhythmic aerobic exercise, resulting in an improvement to all areas of a person's fitness (muscular strength, cardio-vascular fitness and flexibility).

· Pilates: a physical fitness system invented by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. The goal of the method is to increase flexibility, strength and body control.

· Yoga: this ancient set of mental and physical disciplines originates from India. Although many people now associate the word "yoga" with the stretching and toning exercises, this is only one aspect of it.

· Exercise Ball: a variety of exercises are done using an inflatable ball as the equipment, such as physical therapy, athletic training and even weight training. Some people even claim that even just using an exercise ball instead of a chair is good for developing the abdominal muscles.

· Stretching: exercises that seek to deliberately elongate a specific skeletal muscle or muscle group so that elasticity and tone are improved.

· Kickboxing: as with Dance Fitness, this is another great fun way to get in shape.

· Pregnancy Workouts: a set of exercises tailored specifically for a pregnant woman, taking into consideration the care of the developing baby and the range of movements that are safe and comfortable for the woman to do.

· Tai Chi Chuan: translated literally as "Supreme ultimate Fist", this form of exercise is actually an ancient Chinese martial art, and is practised both for its defence training and health benefits.



Major Workout Trainers to Go For



Many different workout instructors have exercise videos on the market, but some are definitely better than others. Here are some of the top names in workout videos. You will probably recognise some of these names from their appearances on TV.



· Jillian Michaels: A well-known exercise instructor from LA. She is widely known for her appearances on TV shows such as Losing It With Jillian and The Biggest Loser, and she is known for her intense, forceful manner, pushing people to their limits. She has 202 exercise videos available.

· Bob Harper: Another American fitness instructor, this time from Nashville. Like Jillian Michaels, he has also appeared on the TV show The Biggest Loser. He has 39 exercise videos available.

· Jackie Warner: Another American trainer, this time from Fairborn, Ohio. She is best known for her appearances on TV show Work Out. She has 38 exercise videos available.

· Leslie Sansone: A fitness expert whose spciality is walking. Her videos will be more suited to people who generally want to get in shape and lose weight, rather than people want to tone up and develop their muscles. She has 119 exercise videos available.

· Denise Austin: American fitness instructor, author, columnist, and former member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. There are 86 fitness DVDs in her range.



Still not decided which fitness DVD you want? Visit Fitness DVD, which has reviews of the best fitness DVDs, such as No More Trouble Zones