The Ultimate Workout - Dozoia

[Guest guest]

I finally tried this workout this DVD today (I got it over the summer I think), doing all 3 workouts for a 75 minute workout, although each can stand on its own with a warmup and short cooldown. The first is a 30 minute cardio, then a 30 minute sculpting, then 15 minute flexibility workout.

I couldn't think of how to describe the cardio so I borrowed this from a review on amazon, it describes it very well:

The cardio begins with a 7 min. warm up. Right off, uses big moves to get your body warm. After the warm up, you start 1 of 3 sets. Each set contains 3 movement patterns with built in intensity. uses the hi/low method to get your heart rate up, plus she incorporates a good bit of arm movements. You will do kickboxing moves, squats, lunges, knee ups, push ups, high knee run, wide stance w/fast feet, power jacks & heel clips...just to name a few =) You will sweat...a lot!

My own addition to that is that there is quite a bit of high impact but she has two members of her gym with her and one always shows low impact moves. The cardio sets are intense, though she does build in lower intensity movements too, it cycles between low and high intensity but is mostly moderate to high. Each set builds upon itself, I think, but all 3 sets are separate and you don't take anything from the very beginning. The movements are mostly athletic but, as usual, I had some problems copying a few moves so I just did my own "special" version of them at the same intensity and impact level. I followed throughout and loved it. I burned almost 300 calories in just 30 minutes and that included the warmup and very short cooldown (you don't stretch much because there is the 15 minute stretch routine to add on). My only problem is that I didn't think she was cueing all that well, it seemed late or, at times, like she was just talking instead of cueing but I was tired before I started and the workout was pretty intense so it might have been me. I will have to do this again before I'm sure of that. Also, some of the movements took up a bit more room than I was comfortable with but I workout in a tiny space so others might not have a problem with that (I had to modify slightly, like taking smaller side steps).

The sculpting workout requires two sets of hand weights (she offers suggestions on what size in the introduction, the DVD is chaptered), a high step (or stool or chair, I used my fanny lifter) and gliding discs or paper plates (I had paper plates). She moves fast from exercise to exercise so you must have your equipment close by. Most of the exercises are compound and simultaneous, most incorporate upper and lower body together and many also require balance. She might start with just an upper body move (like a leg press on the step) and then adds on an overhead press, then also adds on abducting the leg you are not standing on. Most of the exercises are slow to moderate speed and well controlled. I have only used the plates (as gliding discs) once before so I don't know a lot about them but she used them even for standard exercises, like lunges, to add in a new level of skill and complexity. She also did what seemed like some really unique exercises with them too, including some killer core exercises (I did not do well with them at all, partly because I'm using the plates on carpet but mostly because my ab muscles really need work, I'm sure!). Overall, I liked this, although I'm still not a huge fan of simultaneous, compound exercises (though they are growing on me more and more). Her cueing seemed quite good in this one.

The flexibility workout was slow and controlled. You hold the stretches decently long. My only criticism is that she never talks about breathing through the stretches though she does encourage ou to relax. She seems to stretch the entire body.

The music on the entire DVD is excellent. The cardio music really keeps you going and the sculpting music is also great. The music for the stretch is soothing and relaxing without putting you to sleep. I can definitely see using the cardio especially for a quick, intense workout and probably the stretch too. The sculpt needs to grow on me a bit but it did hit a lot of areas in just 30 minutes so I can see using it separately too. I got this for free with some Borders credits I think but it would have been worth paying for too. Definitely a good workout and definitely a step up from Rockin' Body Cardio Jam and Your Best Body Circuit in terms of intensity. Definitely a solid intermediate to advanced workout I'd think too.

2 thumbs up!