Cannot get to the gym? Pop in a DVD!

One of the best things about exercise DVDs is that they can cater to your personal fitness level.

by Scott White — 

Ever since Jane Fonda got us moving to her aerobics  in the ‘80s, workout videos have been a part of most people’s exercise routines at one time or another. Of course, we have moved to DVDs, but the selection available today is so varied that no matter what your exercise preference, you can find a DVD to match it. Workout videos are a great tool to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Incorporating workout DVDs into your fitness routine is helpful in many ways. We all know how challenging it can be to make the time to exercise. Getting to the gym is a virtual impossibility for many people. But everyone has a TV, and DVDs are available right in your home, any time, day or night. Having a variety of exercise videos on hand at home makes it difficult to make excuses for not exercising. You can work out whenever you’ve got a few spare minutes, at your own pace.

One of the best things about exercise DVDs is that they can cater to your personal fitness level. If you are just beginning a program and are not in great shape, you can find many workout videos for beginners. Once you gain endurance and stamina, you can move up to a more advanced level. Also, many cater to those with very specific fitness needs, like senior citizens or pregnant women.

Using an exercise DVD during your home workouts can also help you avoid injury. Many exercise videos are offered by fitness experts. It is beneficial to have a professional show you how to exercise correctly, and workout DVDs can provide that professional guidance.

Any good exercise program will contain a warm-up and a cool-down. These are very important in order to avoid injuries, yet many people would not include them in their exercise routine if they were not right there on the video. Also, many specific types of exercises require precise movements, and the instructor on a workout DVD can demonstrate the correct form for each exercise.

If you are self-conscious about working out at the gym, feel awkward trying to learn new moves or are simply uncomfortable having other people see you exercise, a quality workout video provides the benefits of an exercise class without having to exercise in front of other people.

Exercise DVDs can keep you from getting into a fitness rut. With a variety of videos on hand — yoga, kick-boxing, aerobics, Pilates, dance, walking, boot camp — you can keep from getting bored. If you are tired of one, put it aside for a while and try something new.

If you have kids, exercise videos can help you instill a love of fitness in them. If they see you exercising, they are more likely to be active themselves. In fact, ask them and they may just join in with you. Some exercise DVDs are created especially for kids, and you can participate too.

Lastly, exercising at home can save money. Gym memberships are very costly, and the number of people who have gym memberships but never set foot in the gym is ridiculously high. It is estimated that 50 percent of people who sign up for memberships either go infrequently or not at all. For many people, that’s a huge waste of money.

However, for the small investment of just $10 to $25, you can own a great workout video. For four times that amount, you can have enough variety in your home video library to help you reach different fitness goals, and all the help you need to start moving and get fit.

Scott White is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist in Scottsdale, Ariz. For more information about nutrition and fitness training, visit www.personalpowertraining.net. swhite@personalpowertraining.net or 480-628-1607.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 26, Number 6, December 2007/January 2008.