>
Visit the Tracy Anderson Message Board and Discussion Community!
The Tracy Anderson Method
Mat Workout DVD Review
You should be gettin’ your cardio or walks in 30 minutes a day as you wait for your package to arrive.
Oh, I almost forgot. How this happened I don’t know. My slightly hanging face jowls have lifted I would say about 35%. I did start a new face crème but that was 3 days ago and I think I saw a change before then. Maybe it’s the increased blood flow. Maybe it’s praying that I can get through the routine and all the looking upwards.
I’m telling you, this DVD is The Physical Multi-Vitamin. No wonder the billionaire Material Girl has attached Tracy to her hip. I am too for $29.95.
And the running time? I don’t even know. I don’t care.
By the way, I ordered Tracy’s Dance Cardio DVD today 9/28/2008. I will keep everyone posted of my progress and review that DVD too.
ATTENTION READERS: If you’d like to receive an email letting you know when The Reviewer has posted an update, a review of a new product, or something insightful, you must be registered at VentPark. Go to register by clicking here.
You may return to Amazon here to purchase the Tracy Anderson Mat Workout DVD, hand weights and/or a mat.
Part two of this review is now online. Read it here
|
An anonymous user says:
Thanks for your review. I have a question. Do you think it’s better to start with 1, 2, or 3 pound weights for the arm workout if I haven’t worked out in over a year? I want to get fast results. Thanks!
Reviewer says:
If I had a little more info that would help such as how many pounds you are overweight (if any) and your general activity level. If you’re lifting toddlers all the time vs. sitting at a computer all day makes a difference.
I can tell you that Tracy’s workout without the weights as she says “kills.” There’s no disadvantage to starting with 1 or 2 lbs and then moving to 3 lbs later. You’re still getting a workout and will still see quick benefits. Plus you have something to ‘grow into’ besides a larger pair of pants.
An anonymous user says:
Your review was very helpful and encouraging as I just bought the DVD but can’t understand some of what she does. The standing abs is tricky, what does it mean when she says to go diagonal? Any information you can give is welcome. I look forward to what you think about the aerobics DVD as I’m dithering over that too.
Reviewer says:
Thank you for the question as it will help others. If you think of standing in a box with a flat side facing your chest, think of sending your rib cage to the front right corner and then immediately back to your back left corner. She goes back and forth from the front right to the back left a few times.
Then she switches to sending the rib cage to the left front corner and then to the back right corner. To increase the workout, think of lifting everything to arrive to any point so you fully engage the muscles in the abdominals and obliques (sides of abs). If this made no sense, let me know.
Leah says:
Dear Reviewer,
Many thanks for the helpful (and entertaining!!) review! You should get a cut of the profits as I was wavering on the purchase (due to lack of info) but now I’ll purchase it for certain. I’m a Pilates/yoga instructor and always looking for ways to keep my teaching (and my own workouts) fresh and effective. Too bad (for me) that she left Indiana as I just moved here last year and would love to splurge on a workout or two at her studio.
Anyway, thank you again and I’ll look forward to your review of her dance/cardio dvd.
Best wishes on your own workouts!
Leah
http://leahrenascence.blogspot.com/
Reviewer says:
Thank you Leah for your kind words.
My friend, the VentPark owner, just launched this wonderful site (who doesn’t like to vent?!). This review is subsidized in a teeny, tiny way when folks click on one of the Amazon links plastered all over this page to purchase. It goes from here to the same Amazon page but it ‘counts’ as coming from here for him.
Also, my friend appreciates any vents or replies from the VentPark home page since they are ”hosting” my commentary. I personally feel that to the extent we all do cleanses or exercise or eat healthy to de-tox the body, let us not forget to get out of us/express our outrage or frustration rather than carry it around. Perhaps this can lead to a cure of cellulite??!!
BTW, feel free to post your blog articles in the Blogs Park on VentPark.
bunsy says:
Terrific review! You should write for a living — maybe you do… very entertaining (and informative). Tracy has a program where she is going to teach classes at my gym (I live in NYC), but it is $2,500 for a week (2 hour classes/day)… I am glad I have her DVD and can do my own program for $29.00. :)
I am going to suggest that they have someone trained by her just teach the mat class.
But thank you for a terrific review. I have done it a few times, but could only do it with 2 lbs weights (and I am in pretty good shape), but my arms were KILLING me! So I guess it works. (BTW, it was filed at Gwynnie’s private gym at her home in the Hamptons…. which is a little house separate from the main house. Why do I know this stuff?)
I look forward to keeping at it, and getting your results.
Reviewer says:
Thanks Bunsy for the generous words and the insider tips, which were great. I believe that we should all use this site to create our own Tracy fan club/check our collective results and you should be like the sock puppet from the Conan show–
While you’re at your gym when Tracy’s teaching, you should go in on a guest pass or just randomly walk into her room as if you were looking for the locker room and blend in. Although can there be blending in with today’s economy and $2500 a pop? Okay, go in like a celeb and blend with the other celebs. Wear Prada or Prada knockoffs. Then get back here and reply and tell us about it.
stas526 says:
What a great review!!! I am really contemplating ordering the DVD, I am in good shape but in my early 40’s and I can’t get rid of this horrible muffin top!!! I just don’t know about comitting to 6 days a week. I also would love to know how long do you work out with the DVD daily not including the 30 minutes cardio!!
Thanks!! I look forward to hearing more!
Reviewer says:
Hey there! I spread my workout out…I do some exercise then get a task done then I’m back at it and so it might take an hour and a half. Commit to what you can even if it’s 4 days a week and work your way up to more. I hate that muffin top too. UGH. The only fix is high waisted pants or workin’ out like crazy. I also think remaining as stress free as possible makes a big help with the muffin top issue. Have you ever noticed how there are good days and bad with that? Happy days–less spillover!
roshnit says:
what is the difference between the post pregnancy workout and mat workout dvd ? My tummy is my main problem area. which one should i be buying?
Reviewer says:
That’s a good question and wish Tracy provided more info. I have not purchased the post pregnancy workout. The mid section is the hardest to change but with an overall plan (eating healthy and not tons of calories plus lots of working out) you can change this trouble area. Conversely if someone only did ab crunches and nothing else, they wouldn’t see a change. I doubt there’s a significant difference between the 2 DVDs but it could be said that the Mat workout is more intense, but not sure.
dmsouk says:
Hi there. Thanks so much for the very thorough review. It was so helpful and great fun to read. I have been doing the mat workout for about two weeks now and I agree with you completely. I don’t think it is just wishful thinking, I feel the results already. I love how different this workout is and really believe it is something that will finally change my body if I persevere.
I also have the dance cardio DVD and find it to be unbelievably challenging. I try to do the mat workout first and then follow up with the cardio but find that after the mat workout, I am quite spent and struggle to do 10 to 20 minutes of the cardio.
Have you received the dance cardio DVD yet? I would be interested in your opinion - do you think I would be better off to alternate days for each workout or continue to simply do as much cardio as I can on a daily basis. Working out for more than an hour a day can be challenging with two kids but I’m sure the results will be worth it. Will I still see results if I alternate the workouts? Tracy suggests doing both four to six days a week which might be tough for most of us moms.
I look forward to your feedback and really appreciate it.
Thanks again.
Reviewer says:
Hi dmsouk,
Yes I did receive the Dance Cardio DVD (DC) and have not posted as after 2-3 days of (like you said just a few minutes of attempting to do it) I developed an array of heel pains so I’m letting myself rest and ordered new shoes to try to defray the pain. I’ve been wondering however if the heel pain is due to the lack of circulation from standing so long during her Mat workout. I am middle age so it could make a significant difference.
I agree tho that the DC workout is soooo intense. I don’t have a reliable comment based upon such a short attempt for you. I only got thru the first 2 routines–barely.
Once you log another 2 weeks of the Mat workout you will be stronger for the cardio. My opinion is to do some sort of cardio whether it’s a walk or 10 minutes of DC–and even if you have to take rest breaks during the DC. For now, keep up with the Mat workout and do as much cardio as possible. I’ll post here soon again regarding the Mat workout.
Davina28x says:
Hello! Last week i have got my mat workout dvd from Tracy Anderson. I love the very nice backgroundmusic. It’s very difficult to find music from “badassjackson” in germany or worldwideweb. Can you tell me the name of the songtitle where Tracy shows the arms workout and using 3lb weights. PLEASE HELP!!!
Sorry for my bad english!!
Many greetings from germany!!
Reviewer says:
Hi Davina,
Well you knew more than me about the music being Badassjackson! A quick search through my iTunes showed that most of the songs are on the album “The Good Looking Revolution.”
If you download iTunes and then go to the United States store you’ll see it. Not sure if it’s in the Germany store.
Good luck with your workout and your English is better than most of us who use it as a first language.
abm says:
Hello! First and foremost, love your review of the Mat workout. I found it after receiving the DVD and it has encouraged me to continue with the routine. I’ve been doing the workout for two weeks straight and starting to see results and lovin’ it! I’m getting into my skinny jeans a lot easier now. I do have one question for you…do you find that the arm workout focuses mainly on your shoulders? I don’t feel like I’m using my biceps or triceps that often. Just curious what you thought.
Thanks!
Reviewer says:
Hi abm! Thanks so much! A couple of things about your question…One, Tracy is intentionally not doing typical contractions (biceps curl or triceps kick backs) because she believes in keeping the muscle longer through exercise because she doesn’t want “any bulk.” In reality all of us using her DVD are giving that theory a shot (we don’t have anything to lose except fat).
Secondly, I’ve noticed over the years I’ll “feel it” where I’m the weakest first. You may notice your shoulders because they may be weaker and that’s why it seems like more of a shoulder routine. Just a hunch. I know that sculpting/working those shoulders helps with the overall look of the arms–which is good.
I am still doing the mat workout and checking results, thinking, contemplating and we’ll see how it goes!!