Jodi Stolove's Chair Dancing - More Sit Down & Tone Up [VHS]

Looks easy, but is a good workout. Can modify it as needed.

Before I bought this tape I did some research to seek out the opinions of those who had followed any of the Chair Dancing tapes. Oddly enough, the only negative opinions were from those who had NOT tried the workout - those who had tried the tapes loved them, including nurses and physical therapists. Those who want to laugh at the idea of getting your heart pumping while seated can go right ahead, I'm sure those laughs will burn off a half calorie or so. Meanwhile, those of us who have been left out of other exercise routines due to physical considerations can quietly go on to stretching, toning, losing body fat and getting that great after-workout tingle.Jodi Stolove has an incredibly physique, that's for sure, but her manner is calm, friendly and straightforward, none of this "hey, you can look like me if you REALLY work hard" that some instructors seem to radiate in waves. Her movements are fluid, unhurried and easy to follow. Emphasis is given to form, especially supporting the back with the abdominal muscles. She reminds you with each routine which muscle group you should feel being gently exercised. Breathing, stretching after exercising a muscle group, relaxation and a positive attitude make this tape relaxing and actually kind of fun.There is a great variety in the people exercising with Jodi, plus size and diminuitive, male and female, younger and older. Some people work with weights, some do not. Slight variations based on muscle strength or physical consideration are shown in an inset, as are the occasional finer points of an exercise (such as "drop your shoulders and bring up your chest" being illustrated for proper posture).No stress is placed on knees or ankles, so if your idea of hell is doing a set of knee bends while gazing at a woman in a size 0 leotard, you'll enjoy this tape! No attitude, no straining, just a sensible workout.

It's a FAR cry from the Jillian Michaels' videos I was doing but I still have trouble with it.So background, I'm a 24-year-old female who had a stroke and now everything works but I have zero balance, hence sitting is a lot safer. It's a good video, the hostess goes really fast though so watch out. I don't recommend doing it in a wheelchair though because the arms get in the way for some of the moves. I gained about 20 pounds by doing nothing so hoping this changes that. Guess we'll find out in like, a month. I use 2 pound-weights. Also the people with her are varying weights and ages, and wear normal workout clothes like t-shirts. It's gotta be from like the 80's or early 90's though.

I have a disease that is hurting my legs so I can't do much exercise using the legs. This DVD has some warm-up at the beginning involving moving the legs of which I can only do about a fourth or less of the exercises. That's ok. I love the rest where we lift the hand-weights up and to the side, etc. This section doesn't get too hard to do but pushes a little bit (which it should since it is an exercise program).After I finish I feel IN CHARGE of my day, ready to get on with the needed chores or whatever else. I feel terrific. I'm hoping to get the next Tone Up DVD too. I had always enjoyed her exercise programs before my legs got so bad.I must say that I am sitting in a folding chair while exercising with the DVD--which is not good. I highly recommend using the proper chair for your exercising. My dining table chairs are on wheels and I have a very small apartment. I'm still trying to figure out how and where to put a normal chair in here to exercise with.

I first received Jodi Stolove's "Chair Dance" exercise video on VHS. It was a bit combersome going through the introduction time after time, but once you hit the dancing exercises, you were set. Now FINALLY the DVD and bonuses -- there are MORE Chair DANCING ROUTINES: These exercises show older people, heavier people, some with handicaps like unable to lift legs, etc. and the DVD encourages you to do only as much as you are able to do. I have this one "Sit Down and Tone Up", "Chair Yogi", and the original "Chair Exercises". All are definately doable for people who absolutely can not stand up to do exercises. You need to watch them all a few times to get the ideas of the routines, but once you have them, there is no need for anyone to say they cannot exercise.

I am 33 years old and overweight. I have had fibromyalgia for over 12 years and have always been looking for a tape that would allow me to workout yet not kill me off in the process. Given my fibromyalgia I have to be careful in how much I stretch out. This was so nice to do! I had a good stretch of my muscles but it didn't overwork me and I wasn't in pain after the 20 minutes. You do feel all your muscles and they instruct you how to do things correctly, an added plus! Excellent! Worth all the five stars. However, if you're looking for an aerobic workout this isn't it. This is about like doing weights in a gym. I would check out Stolove's others for that.

The exercise is fast passed but the choice of music is quite old fashioned. I would have preferred more modern music.

It was boring and nothing I could not have done on my own. The title is misleading. It should have read exercising in a chair, not chair dancing. Where did that come from? I could have done the exercises from a TV show. OK if you are older and need to be careful of certain exercises. Not recommended for the more fit active exerciser.

Very good DVD only thing it is only about 1/2 hour long, wish it was longer

learning any new moves for the fitness class i lead in the care home i reside in at this time..bunch of old people with limited movement etc.. or wheel chair bound as i am..