Kathy Smith Pregnancy Workout DVD
Kathy Smith has been around a while in the world of fitness videos, and with good reason. Her calm, authoritative manner, flawless timing, emphasis on proper form, and responsible directions put her entire fitness series a cut above most celebrity workouts. Pregnancy Workout is no exception. Smith and five workout buddies (all of them appearing to be well past the fifth month of pregnancy) demonstrate a good 50-minute prenatal workout, with an ample warmup period, a cardio section that includes sufficient upper-body work, plenty of safe abdominal and pelvic-floor exercises, and an active relaxation period (which some avid aerobicizers may find a bit too long). Smith uses props such as chairs and pillows to allow effective exercise while maintaining an emphasis on safety and comfort.
List Price: $14.98
Amazon.com Price: $12.28 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Denise Austin - Pregnancy Plus Workout VHS
If you're looking for an upbeat, toe-tapping pregnancy workout video, this volume in Denise Austin's Gold Signature Series should fit the bill nicely. Famous for her cheerleader style, Austin--pregnant with her first child here--packs this program with energetic aerobics, helpful posture and breathing tips, substantiated advice, and plenty of TLC. The action begins with a physician's perspective on prenatal exercise and a review of important safety guidelines presented by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Then it's off to a pastel paradise--the workout set--where Austin and two pregnant students smile and prance their way through 30 minutes of low-impact aerobics. As a bonus, the tape includes a follow-up visit to Dr. Giere, who addresses the best approach to postnatal exercise, followed by a 20-minute "after-baby shape-up" routine. Best for the high-spirited exerciser who enjoys a gregarious instructor, this video probably won't appeal to expectant moms who prefer a quieter, more subtle approach to fitness.
Amazon.com Price: $9.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Parental Yoga DVD
The best thing about this prenatal yoga tape is that there is a model for each trimester. Instructor Shiva Rea demonstrates each of the stretches and exercises for the first trimester, and two pregnant women show modifications for the second and third trimesters (they're even dressed in different colors for easy reference). This removes the self-doubt home-exercisers often have about the safety of certain moves--especially in that cumbersome final stage of pregnancy. Using gentle voice-over instruction, Shea and her assistants take viewers through a half hour of meditational stretches using blocks and chairs for support. She follows that up with 16 minutes of floor work: lunge pose, bridge pose, child's pose, plank pose--all with the necessary adjustments. She winds things up with a four-minute guided relaxation on her back--the traditional position--with the second-trimester woman on her side and the third on her side with one leg up on a chair. By including the different adaptations, Shea has made a tape with the flexibility to carry an expectant mom through her entire pregnancy--and beyond, if she wishes.
List Price: $19.98
Amazon.com Price: $14.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
