Jodi Stolove's Chair Dancing

This video was used in an exercise physiology class I attended, with the stated goal being to show how exercise can incorporate fun through the lifespan. The younger members of the class--in their late twenties and early thirties--pooh-poohed the idea that any exercise in which participants were seated had the potential to physically challenge people of their age. By the end, they admitted that their initial impression was wrong.The video starts out relatively slow, with a seated version of that classic dance from the 1920s, the charleston. This is only for a warm up. If my class's experience is at all typical, this warm up was fun, with some of the exercise effect coming from the group's collective belly laughter as we all made fools of ourselves to varying degrees.Part of the physiological challenge comes from the instructor's demonstration of how seated exercise--what she calls "chair dancing"--can be made more challenging, to address the fitness level of individual participants.I found it refreshing to see pretty much the full age range in the video's participants, from pediatric to geriatric--and best of all, everyone appears to be having fun. This unself-conscious participation by her audience is part of the what may be the unique charm of this video.If you are looking to accommodate persons with a wide range of fitness and don't want to leave anyone out, this video may meet your needs.If you are someone with special activity needs--elderly, chairbound, obese, or just not all that coordinated--this video will bring a smile to your face as you take steps to increase your activity level.If you just want to have fun while you get a decent workout, you won't be disappointed, either.

In the 90's, I was actually certified as an aerobics instructor for 4 years. Last year, after a serious automobile accident due to a careless driver, I had to have my ankle rebuilt. A year later, I had to have the metal removed due to infection. I still have to wear a brace so I decided to look around for an excerice routine that could be done in a chair and ran across this DVD. I ordered it and have been using it ever since. Jodi does everything right in this video. Checking your pulse is done at the proper intervals and the chart of where you should be at that time is displayed. She does an excellent warm up and stretch. Muscles should be properly stretched when the muscles are warm and she does that. Her toning exercises work all the muscles. I was surprised at how well the abdominals are worked throughout this video (even more so than most standing aerobics during the cardivascular section). You will sweat and feel the burn. The routines are fun. The people working out with her are in color coded outfits. When you watch the video you will see that the colors represent various intensities performed by the groups. Working out with her are some young children, physically fit, middle aged, senoir citizens, and some with weight problems. The cool down and stretch stretches all those muscles you just worked out. She uses paper plates in some of the routines but that is not necessary for the routines. The music is great and adds to the fun. I was so impressed I am ordering three other DVD's (as soon as I'm done here).

I take care of an elderly lady and she had Jodi's "Chair Dancing Around the World." We did it together and it was a great workout. I, subsequently ordered Jodi's yoga DVD and several others for the simple reason that, while I am able-bodied and have many regular exercise videos, I find it impossible to do them in my small space. With a regular exercise video you are making constant adjustments in terms of moving forward, back, to one side or the other, trying not to kick into the furniture or the walls. It is such a relief not to have to do that and to just exercise.In terms of this yoga DVD, I mostly liked it. The moves were wonderful adaptations of yoga poses and really did give you a chance to stretch everything out. I wished that she would take more time and go slower with each pose, however, because, like most yoga DVDs, they talk the talk about breathing, but they do not give you any sort of time to inhale and to exhale fully. I have only seen one yoga DVD that gives you time to really breathe and that is Wai Lana's wonderful DVDs but even then, I take the time to breathe only because I don't keep up with her reps, which she does a lot of.I did not care for the buzzing of the music on this DVD, but it wasn't hugely annoying. Other than that, I love Jodi's clear instructions and the adaptations of the poses. A few more reps of everything would have made it better, but it's good and doable, and you feel good after you do it.

Jodi Stolove's Chair DancingJodi Stolove's Chair Dancing Through the DecadesJodi Stolove's Chair Dancing Around the World Injuries may keep you off your feet. But with Chair Dancing you can still get plenty of exercise. I've purchased three of the Chair Dancing DvDs. They provide fun, interesting exercise that can be done sitting or standing. The 35 - 45 min sessions provide warm-up, work-out and cool-down and allow for differing fitness levels.These programs provide aerobic and coordination exercise, not strength training.

did not like it at all. music and chair dancing should be joy! this is boring.