Bodystrikes

I thought that Bodystrikes by Ilaria Montagnani is a really well-done lower-body workout. It is around 45 minutes long and you work all 45 minutes non-stop. I like it because it is an awesome leg workout with a variety of moves - kicks, leg lifts, squats, lunges - in four segments that are all put together into one routine at the end of the workout. The choreography, for lack of a a better word, in this workout is easy to follow, and the transitions are easy too with no awkward steps or counts.

Ilaria is in front of five back-up exercisers in a well-lit studio and they are set against a bank of windows. It all gives a light and airy feel. There is not modifier. However, throughout the program, Ilaria describes and presents a modified version of each move for beginners or those with problem areas (like knees or back issues). I had no problem with knowing what modifications I wanted to do. There are times when Ilaria how NOT to do a particular move along with why it is a bad idea. As a visual person who likes lots of detail about form, I like knowing the "why" because it helps me in my overall knowledge and fitness performance.

Each of the four segments is introduced move by move and is drilled before putting it together and moving on. The moves are straight forward and the combination of moves are comfortable and logical. The segments get more challenging as you do them with tempo changes and additional twists to the moves. The moves just flow for me because of their sequence and Ilaria's incredible cueing. And, this is a really is a truly low-impact workout that keeps your heart rate and intensity up with continuous, non-stop movement. I also found it to be aerobic and strength oriented at the same time. If you are looking for running, jumping, punching or anything other than the lower-body combinations in this workout, Bodystrikes is not the DVD for you. If you are looking for a great low impact and high intensity leg workout that gives a definite cardio effect, check out Bodystrikes.

P.S. There are burpees in this workout. Some people want to know that before they buy a workout.