Minna - Emergency Workout

I really like this DVD. Minna doesn't break any new ground here, but she is a great instructor. She is not annoying, she cues well, and she's gorgeous so it just might give you something to aspire to. The cardio portion of this DVD is a lot of fun because, even though it's pretty standard aerobics, Minna puts it together in a way that is NOT AT ALL difficult to follow and kind of makes you feel like you're grooving on a dance floor. The toning section is heavy on the squats and lunges and you use light weights throughout for the arms. Absolute beginners might start out with no weights and anyone with weak knees needs to be careful here. Minna is very fit and goes DEEP into those squats and lunges, but if you are out of shape that will hurt you, so don't go as deep. I'm sure this DVD won't do much for the advanced exerciser, but for everyone else I think it's just wonderful. You can increase the weights in the toning section as you progress and it's easy to step up the cardio a bit if you focus and USE all of your muscles to get that heart rate up. A lot of people complain about the quality of the cardio and at first I agreed, but once I got the routine down and really focused on the workout...I got sweaty! I'm glad I bought this (it's going into my favorites pile) and I would definitely recommend buying the Emergency Workout. It really is a fun video and Minna is lovely and low-key.

I chose this DVD because I liked Minna's style on the Quick Fix Abs/Arms/Buns/Total Body series. I don't have Minna's other workouts, but will likely get them soon because I enjoy this one.There has been some criticism about the dance-cardio segment of this DVD. I would say that it is a little confusing and at times I have felt a little silly doing it, but each time I do the workout I improve and it is always fun. The challenge of wanting to do all of the steps well and not look too much like a freak keeps me coming back. 30 minutes of this cardio workout beats 30 minutes on the treadmill any day.The toning segment is challenging enough to make me feel like I am using my time wisely, but it doesn't kill me, so I won't find excuses to skip it altogether.I would agree with other reviewers that have said if there is a true "emergency" and you are working toward fast results for something specific, you might want something that is more intense. But for a workout that will keep you coming back everyday, this is a pretty good one.

I've been going back to this DVD for - seriously - 20 years. Divided into 20 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of toning, it is perfect for getting back in shape when needed. You can alternate cardio and toning for 6 days and then have a rest day on day 7, then as you get stronger, or you can add days where you do both. This is my go-to video for losing weight / toning back up when I fall off the fitness wagon. It's fun, you can do it in a very small amount of space, carpet or hard floor, and it's easy to learn but challenging enough to be interesting. It also makes you a better dancer. What's not to love? So grateful for this DVD. I'll buy it again when my kids inevitably scratch this one.

Which I am not, so I kind of made up my own moves. The tape is divided into 2 sections, a dance/cardio routine, and a weight routine. The dance section consisted of mambos, cha cha's, and a whole lot of dancy type moves. I can hardly keep both of my feet straight, much less complete a dance routine, so I found myself improving most of the dance routine. If you are coordinated, you will definately get more of a workout by following the tape exactly, rather than just dancing around like I did. Minna does not make you feel bad, though, if you are uncoordinated, she does tell you to follow along however you can. This is termed an 'emergency tape', to get you ready for some big event at least 6 weeks out. Supposedly if you do this tape 6 days a week for 6 weeks and modify your diet, your body will change. This obviously isn't true for just this tape, any workout that you stick to for that intensity and length will change your body. Don't buy this tape thinking it is a miracle, buy it because you want a non-conforming aerobic workout, with a not so tough weights section.

I have had this video since I had my first baby and that was 12 years ago. Back then in my early twenties this dvd really helped me shed the baby weight. Now in my early 30s I popped this dvd back in and Im in love with it all over again. Seriously I never write reviews, but this dvd deserves one. Minna cues very well, and just balances all the workouts so well. There is a 30 min cardio and a 30 min toning workout. I wake up the next day and my butt and thighs are on fire, so I know we are targeting those zones well both in both workouts. Highly recommend Minna, even over 10 years old this dvd still has it! Im actually on here today to order some more of her dvds.

Buy this DVD for the toning workout. The cardio portion is okay, but you will need to do it on a bare floor, since there is a lot of pivoting and turning around with all the dancing, which is not difficult, but unsafe to do on carpet. Lessig is very good about cueing and reminding you of proper form.The toning workout is one you can use for a while, starting with lower weights and increasing as you go. Plenty of variety in the exercises to keep you from getting bored, but long enough to feel like you're getting some kind of a workout.

I was looking forward to buying a new video - one that would give me an extra routine to do so I don't get bored with my current tapes. But this video was a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, Minna is good and she's encouraging and cues really well etc, but this was meant to be a video that you can do when you feel that you won't fit into that special outfit or you wake up one morning and suddenly realise that summer is actually on your doorstep. This video is not for the advanced exerciser. It's really for beginners and not that challenging. It's only low impact and the toning exercises don't fatigue your muscles like you think it should. Don't buy this if you are used to great challenges like a Keli Roberts tape or Karen Voight etc. because I doubt this will get you into shape at all.

The video is two 30 minute workouts, one toning the other cardio. I quiet like the toning segment but the cardio is all dance moves and far too advanced. At no point do they break down the moves, the pace is too fast to learn on the fly.

I didn't like the music in the cardio part and i think the music is very important in a cardio workout video plus i found the moves were very hard to follow. But i loved the toning part,one of the more complete workout using weights. Faboulous.