June 1st, 2010 
blacKandi Well, I normally like all the fuss and drama when I workout and when I say fuss, I mean high impact workouts because they help increase my endurance and agility even more than non-fussy workouts. But, but, but, sometimes I just don’t have the energy for all of that jumping around and I just need to take a down a few or A LOT of notches. I have found GREAT LOVE and interest in a DVD workout, by Gaiam, called Marisa Tomei: Core & Curves. (((((It is a low-impact, toning workout))))).
If you don’t know who Marisa Tomei is (which is a shame if you don’t) then watch a super funny called, “My Cousin Vinny“. Great movie! She even won an Oscar for her role as Mona Lisa Vito in it. Pure Love.
Here is a clip of the workout I’m talking about!
Anyway…there is no dread factor, no boredom in this (at least for me which is saying A LOT), and it is so calm and peaceful like Yoga, but not lingering, want to kill yourself and fall asleep right away like Yoga. The exercises in this workout are basic and they use balancing techniques in it as well so that means your core is engaged at almost all times. The exercises in the workouts also uses small movements, but they hit the targeted muscles in a powerful way. You can tone up loose areas with this workout if you use it at least 2-3 times per week along with your regular strength program.
The workout is on a DVD, as mentioned above, and comes with a heavy toning band which is great! The reason why I’m flippin’ happy about this band is that I don’t have to buy Cathe ones which are expensive when you figure in shipping (Cathe gives your three bands that have varying weights). I got the DVD and the band for about 9 bucks total + free shipping at DeepDiscount.com along with some other heavily discounted workout DVDs that were on my wishlist. The usual price for this workout is $14.95 + shipping from CollageVideo.com. Ewwww! I give DeepDiscount.com TWO THUMBS UP!!!
I received two bands like the ones from this workout in my 10 Minute Solution…blast thighs, butt…whatever workout which I love and can’t remember the name – doy -, but the resistance on the bands are poor because they are not heavy and that means that I am not getting a good workout using them. So now, I’m able to not have to knot up my heavy resistance bands to use with any of the workouts that require a band like this…I can just use my Gaiam one! Here are pics of what I mean. The first two pictures are of the loose (light/medium weight) resistance bands I got from the 10 Minute Solution workout DVD and the last band is the one from Gaiam. I’m loving the fact that the Gaiam band is thick and tight…firewalkers, leg extensions, etc. really burn when I use it!
Anyway! I give this workout an A+ for the time because the workouts are not long and comes with three workouts on the DVD, very effective because you’re working hard large muscle groups all at the same time – no isolation exercises (one muscle) in this workout which is GREAT, the fact that you don’t have to lunging and squatting out of control when you don’t want to to get a great lower body and core workout and lastly, it’s easy on the knees, uses no traditional weighted equipment, it’s not boring…calm / feng shui, but NOT boring.
This workout helps me grow my booty and after MUCH hard work, I’ve got booty back ya’ll. Get this DVD!
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From looking at the clip, you might like the Core Fusion series. It’s a mix of Barre workout and pilates etc. But uses a lot of the same ideas of this workout clip — engaging some smaller muscles all at the same time. Check it out!
Nice! Core Fusion is on my wishlist. I have put Aero Barre on top of it though so yes, I’ll definitely be getting Core Fusion in the future. I watched some clips over at TFD when it was released. I think I didn’t bite because I didn’t like the setting of the workouts, but I had put it on my list anyway. Thank you!