Marisa Tomei: Core & Curves

About me: I've cancelled my gym membership and have been expanding my exercise video collection. I have noisy, weak knees-they make noises going up and down stairs. The bigger issue is my hips:they are in a very bad way and I have no choice but to strengthen my hips, glutes and hamstrings. I fluctuate weight-always have- and I'm at my maximum allowable which is about 20 pounds over weight. I bought this one becasue lets' face it, Marisa has an absolutely fantastic body and she is my age--I would love to look like her & I LIKE looking at someone I aspire to look like when I work out. If it's a normal looking person or an overweight person, I feel like the exercises didn't help them, so they probably won't help me either... I was pleasantly surprised with this workout. The included band is awesome-I may use it for other things too-reminded me of many of the exercises I did during 4 months of physical therapy. I was also very surprised at the gentle focus of the knees--the area right above the knee. They focus on form the entire time and Marisa gives you tips for things that help her during the workout. It's definitely not a cardio workout so to speak--they do make you do some quick moves periodically to keep your heart rate up, but you would need a lot more of that to really keep your heartrate up. I'm a big fan of Jillian Michaels, but many days I can't go that hardcore due to pain and this dvd is for a NON Jillian day! I felt sore the next day, so I was pleased. I was able to complete all the workouts--unlike my Jillian dvds and quite a few others too. I love the balancing which engages the core--I also love to workout barefoot which they encourage because it uses additional muscles to do so--the mixture of core/ balance/ toning, was refreshing and I felt great afterward. The band worked my hips perfectly. I have tendons and ligaments that are too loose which is causing all kinds of issues--it's technically called Osteitis Condensans Illi and working out, chiropractor & massage therapy have helped me to walk again. If I don't work out, I don't walk well--I have to keep the muscles strong and tight, and this gently fit the bill! This workout may be too easy for some, but again, if you use your body correctly, tighten the right things, focus on your form, you can make it harder. If you struggle to find exercises that aren't hard on your knees--this one is perfect. I have another favorite new video and that's Tracy Andersons post pregnancy workout dvd--also very gentle and was sore for many days after on that one--couldn't finish all the exercises, but it really focuses on core/ab work, so I used this one after that one. I try to mix it up and do something different constantly, but I like this one for an easy day-realizing it may not be for everyone.

If you want to save your knees and thus your way of life, this is the workout!!! I feel like God led me to this workout after going to 3 orthopedic surgeons and a physical therapist. I know Marisa may just do this for a great looking body, but these are the muscles I was told I need to strengthen to save my poor knees!! If we strengthen the quads, IT bands, etc, we are able to keep the pressure off our knees and the knee cap stays in place with strong muscles! In Jim Johnson's book "Treat your own knees", he speaks about standing on one foot for proprioception. The moves in this video are totally in line with my physical therapist!! Wish I'd had this workout years ago! Never knew that such teeny tiny movements would do so much! I'm used to jumping up and down and using heavy weights! This truly is changing my life! Thank you thank you thank you. I think I'm going to buy this dvd for all my friends and family because it's so important to strengthen the muscles around the knees, quads and hips so that we have many happy years walking around and being active!! :-)

Watched this DVD once and will never use it again. First it is a big fuzzy - a technical issue perhaps. But more importantly Marisa is annoying as an exercise instructor. She keeps asking her trainer stupid questions (which I suppose are aimed at educating the viewer on how certain exercises should be performed, but it gets old after a while). The trainer is incredibly focused on a very specific small muscle above the knee and cannot stop talking about it. Personally, I don't have issues with flabby knees and it was a bit odd to pay so much attention to this body part at the expense of others.Many exercises require you to go across the floor and presuppose that you are working out in a studio that's much larger than eg my living room.The DVD says you can play all three workouts together for a smooth combined workout. Not so - the exercises are very repetitive and it makes no sense to do the combined workout unless you like doing the same thing over and over again and hearing about that knee muscle 10 times.I absolutely hate this program and would give it zero stars if I could. I was planning to buy her hooping workout but after this one, no way.