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AM/PM Stretch for Health

AM/PM Stretch for Health

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.24
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Loved it!
Review: This is a great DVD. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and the stretches are relaxing and invigorating at the same time. The instructor does an excellent job reminding you to keep proper form and proper breathing. I am an advanced exerciser and found that this DVD was a great addition to my routine. I really felt like the lower back, hamstrings, and the entire upper body were opened up and stretched. You even stretch the wrists in the PM Stretch, which is often a neglected part of the body. Very basic, but very effective. Beginners to advanced exercisers would benefit from using the DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best 25 minutes of the whole day!
Review: This is definitely one of the most effective stretching videos I've ever used. It moves very quickly, but doesn't seem rushed. With 4 kids, I rarely get more than 25 minutes to myself, so I need something that provides a good head-to-toe stretch in a minimum amount of time.

The scenery is fantastic--especially the bright mountaintop sunrise for the a.m. program. Madeline Lewis is pleasant and very "down to earth" (no new age "yoga speak").

My only criticism (and not enough to give it less than 5 stars): There are one or two postures in each program that are uncomfortable if you have low back pain. I've practiced yoga long enough to know how to modify them, but instructions either aren't given or they aren't given until you're already in the posture.

This is a great program for all levels--easy enough for most beginners, but still worthwhile for those who are already pretty active.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT STRETCHES FOR BEGINNERS OR ADVANCED!
Review: This is such a great video! I recommend for all fitness levels. It would be a wonderful first for someone "just starting out", but also very benficial for someone already in a "more advanced" exercise routine. The a.m. video is invigorating...the p.m. video relaxing. The movements are SIMPLE to follow and leave your body feeling SO MUCH BETTER. This was the first "stretch" video I ever purchased and I am wondering how I got along without it. After just delivering our 5th child, I am anxious to get back into my exercise routines...and this is the first ex. video I reached for.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best!
Review: This is the best stretching video that I have found. I have a half dozen yoga tapes but what I wanted was just a good stretching tape and AM/PM Stretch is it. I wish Madeline Lewis would do something similar for us older folks.

You get two 20 minute routines (AM/PM) and a bonus yoga style flow (which I cant do. ha!). I would also say that most people can do "most" of the moves unless they have severe limited mobility.

If you hate exercising like I do then this is the only stretch tape you need.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: This tape is more yoga and pilates than an actual stretching video. It's not at all what I expected. If you want a great Pilates DVD, try Crunch - Hit the Spot Pilates, it's fast, easy enough for anyone, and I feel does a better job at actually stretching out the entire body than AM/PM Stretch did. I have back pain, and although I'm fit and exercise every day, I felt I needed to add some flexibility to my routine of running, biking, and various videos I do. This video is monotonously slow, and has odd positions that I didn't feel were appropriate for a stretching video. Like I said, if I'd wanted yoga, I'd have gotten another yoga video, but I didn't want yoga, I wanted stretching. At the beginning of the video are two "short spots", one for renewable energy, and one for a natural home, the video is set in the mountains of AZ, and it's by GIAM. Guess I should've read more review before ordering because this just wasn't what I was looking for.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 3 Workouts to Improve Flexibility, Core Strength, & Posture
Review: Workout Description: 2 30-minute routines & 1 20-minute routine (DVD bonus only).
Workout Level: high beginner to mid-intermediate
Instructor: Madeleine Lewis (Certified instructor and personal trainer; Nike Elite Athlete; has designed and choreographed many fitness videos, including those by Kathy Smith) by voice-over. Madeleine's voice is clear and pleasant. She cues well, and the cues are well coordinated with the movement. However, she is not always very precise with her description of movements or naming of muscles.
Class: Madeleine only.
Music / Set: The instrumental music is pleasant. All workouts are filmed outdoors in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Equipment Needed: mat. Workouts can and should be done barefoot.
Caveats: Familiarity with stretching is helpful. Even though each stretch includes a warm-up, you will get the most out of these stretches if you do more of a cardio warm-up (such as marching in place) for a few minutes before starting.
Additional Comments: You do not need a lot of space to do this workout. You should be able to lie down with your arms and legs extended and be able to move your limbs around without hitting anything..
The A.M. stretch is good for not just the morning; you can also use it as a warm-up before other exercises. It includes some core (abdominal and lower back) work and posture awareness series in addition to the stretches, meaning it's more energizing than relaxing. The P.M. stretch is good for relaxing at any time. It includes a quick foot and lower leg massage and brief relaxation segment in addition to stretches. The Power Stretch has some yoga-inspired moves but isn't yoga, so if you want the benefits of yoga but don't like that discipline, this might be the thing for you. I've added it on to a strength training workout either as part of my warm up or cool down.
The DVD allows you to choose your workout, with or without music, or your chapter and has an interview with Madeleine about her background. The short booklet included breaks down of the A.M. and P.M. workouts and has a few helpful suggestions about how to use the routines.


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