Rating: 
Summary: Salsa or Exercise?
Review: I didn't buy this video with the intention of learning the salsa, I got it to excercise!!! I love Minna's other videos, but this one is too much dancing and not enough of just exercising. I have been doing aerobics for years and I had a hard time with this one!!! They should call it a dance video.
Rating: 
Summary: editing nightmare
Review: This video is a great workout no doubt about it, but until you have it memorized be prepared for miscues due to poor editing. The fact that they shoot the upper half of Minna's "back-up dancers" when Minna is cueing the legs is really frustrating. Once in the toning section they even cut to one of the back-ups doing an excersize off cue which messes me up everytime. Other than that the video offers two great sections for toning and aerobics, and Minna has a great personality that makes you want to stick with it.
Rating: 
Summary: A workout you have time to do!
Review: Last New Year's I bought a bucketful of exercise DVDs after extensive research reading reviews such as these - but most of them I did once or twice and relegated to the "okay but not really what I'm looking for" pile. Both of Minna's DVDs (this and "Balanced Blend"), I'm happy to say, reside permanently in slots 1+2 of my DVD changer... The Toning segment is the best, concentrated short workout I've found - it's easy to find time for a 30-minute workout! The moves are easy to follow, and the cueing is excellent (with the exception of one girl in the background who throws you off when the editor cut in some B-roll). You can use the same handweights throughout, without needing to switch weights. The best part is that each exercise flows seamlessly into the next, without those long-winded pauses in between to explain what you're about to do. I would have liked a few more minutes of ab work as there are no obliques (35 mins would still be a quick workout), but if you're looking for a maximum full-body toning workout that's fun (i.e., it's over before you know it), then this is it. The Cardio segment isn't my favorite, though it does help that you can just wiggle your hips and wave your arms to the fun music and not really have to concentrate too hard - just do something similar and get your heartrate up! (And it is a nice change from Minna's five million squats in the Fat Eliminator routine on Balance blend, which is also a great 30min toning routine but quite grueling at times!) Both segments on this DVD feature girls in the background that look like they are enjoying themselves (without any annoying "whooping" sounds a la Donna Richardson). And Minna's personality is about the best there is; always a pleasure to listen to and watch.
Rating:
Summary: Minna Emergency Workout
Review: Minna is a good instructor-trainer. This DVD has two main workouts that are about 25 minutes. She has a cardio and a dance routine. Some days I combine both for a full workout. In the cardio, she combines weights with toning. Minna is real focused and makes sure your form in each exercise is correct.
Rating:
Summary: Annoying Cardio Segment
Review: The first 30 minutes is a salsa inspired cardio segment that was choreographed so poorly that I was actually embarrassed to see myself do it! There is way too much hip swinging and general grooving for a rhythm challenged exerciser like myself. I like my moves a little more athletic, and preferably ones that actually will break me out in a sweat!! The toning segment, on the other hand, was interesting and a little more challenging. If you do a different cardio tape, then switch to the toning segment on this one, you would be a lot better off. It's a good thing I really don't have anything I need to get in shape for in 6 weeks, or using this dvd I would be doomed!
Rating:
Summary: Fun and effective!
Review: I like Minna's style and her easy going demeanor. You can do this video either dance style or common aerobic style and I like the option. I'm not a dancer but after a few weeks I could do the moves and get into the groove. The 2 segments are well balanced and done together hit all the major trouble spots. When I started I did either the aerobics segment or the toning segment each day and as I felt better I did both until now I do the whole DVD as a warm up for other more site specific exercises. Excellent beginner DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Horrible!
Review: As an intermediate exerciser, there is no workout here! The only reason Minna has a little sweat on her at the end is because of all the jumping jacks she does. The aerobic workout does NOT even have a beginning stretch. I was so bored I couldn't wait for it to be over the first time around.
Rating:
Summary: Better workout if you are coordinated!
Review: Which I am not, so I kind of made up my own moves. The tape is divided into 2 sections, a dance/cardio routine, and a weight routine. The dance section consisted of mambos, cha cha's, and a whole lot of dancy type moves. I can hardly keep both of my feet straight, much less complete a dance routine, so I found myself improving most of the dance routine. If you are coordinated, you will definately get more of a workout by following the tape exactly, rather than just dancing around like I did. Minna does not make you feel bad, though, if you are uncoordinated, she does tell you to follow along however you can. This is termed an 'emergency tape', to get you ready for some big event at least 6 weeks out. Supposedly if you do this tape 6 days a week for 6 weeks and modify your diet, your body will change. This obviously isn't true for just this tape, any workout that you stick to for that intensity and length will change your body. Don't buy this tape thinking it is a miracle, buy it because you want a non-conforming aerobic workout, with a not so tough weights section.
Rating: 
Summary: Cheese
Review: The cardio work out on this DVD was very, very cheesy. I finished the cardio portion the first time I watched the DVD but probably won't use the cardio workout again. The routine was just too goofy. For those of you who don't mind doing corny moves, the steps were simple and I still worked up a sweat. The toning workout was great. The combo of moves was awesome. My heart rate was high enough that I won't need to do cardio the day I use the toning portion.
Rating:
Summary: get the tape!
Review: I got this tape after I became pregnant and could no longer comfortably jog and bike. Let me tell you, as essentially an exercise fanantic, it's good. Most tapes I'd tried were way too easy, and I thought this would be no exception. In fact I bought it so it wouldn't be super hard, but would keep me active during my pregnancy. It's really sneaky -- you think you're getting a light workout but actually it's kicking your [rear]! After my baby was born ( a healthy boy) I found my muscles had better tone and I was six pounds lighter than before my pregnancy -- and I did not diet, and I did not exercise as much as I did before. Get this tape it's deceivingly low key, but very effective.
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