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Kick Off Your Shoes and Work Out

At the end of the last year, I received an interesting DVD that immediately piqued my interest. It was willPower & Grace, a combination cardio and strength workout (my favorite kind) intended to be done barefoot.

You should know that the minute I get home (or to the homes of my family and close friends), I take my shoes off. I like being barefoot or in my fluffy slippers. So doing the willPower & Grace DVD felt totally natural to me.

The program’s creator Stacey Lei Krauss says, “You wouldn’t do push-ups with your arm in a cast, so why would you work out with your foot stuck in a sneaker?”

She believes that to be fit, it has to start with the feet. Makes sense to me.

Krauss leads the 36-minute workout, which is broken up into four minutes of footwork, specifically moving your toes, arches and feet in ways you might never have never have; seven minutes of warm up; 23 minutes of cardio, which includes some yoga-ish stretches and balance poses as well as some good strength moves; and 13 minutes of flexible strength.

No equipment is needed for this shoeless workout, which is always a plus for me. And instructions are provided for three levels of fitness — another plus for me.

However, even at level three, I wasn’t feeling as challenged as I would like. That’s not to say my heart wasn’t pumping. I just wasn’t panting and drenched with sweat with a beet-red face, like I am when I workout out with Bob Harper or Jillian Michaels.

And with the nice yoga-like moves, I can see why this DVD was voted the Best Cardio/Strength Workout to Unwind With by the Los Angeles Times at the end of last year. Being shoeless, I not only felt I was working my feet, but I felt that my feet, toes included, were helping me attain better technique and better balance.

Krauss says her workout builds better posture, balance and body awareness in addition to sculpting, strengthening and stretching. I can immediately see why.

Krauss is a great new addition to the fitness DVD world. I admire her positive energy, her strength of body and mind, and I really liked her descriptive instructions, which reminded me of the way Jane Fonda was so good at describing exercises.

She created the willPower method and she’s considered a pioneer in barefoot training methods. To order the DVD or to find more about the workout, visit willpowermethod.com.

Getting Fit for God

It’s a been a while since I interviewed Jimmy Peña, the man behind Prayfit and Lionsgate’s recently released DVD Prayfit: 33-Day Total Body Challenge. And several things he said stayed with me.

As a Catholic and as someone who works out regularly, I’ve wondered if working out to try to achieve a certain size could be sinful, possibly feeding into vanity or pride.

My boyfriend can tell you how often I’ve said, “I need to go to the gym and work off that mound of chili cheese fries I just ate,” in order to keep my body healthy. But I rarely say, “I need to go to church and say a bunch of Our Fathers to work off the awful way I treated my loved one today,” in order to keep my soul in good shape.

And so I’ve wondered about putting the body before the soul and how to reverse that. But Jimmy said there’s a direct connection between the body and the soul. He said, “It’s not about getting bigger biceps.” Jimmy stressed that taking care of our bodies isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it can be a way we praise, honor and thank God for the bodies, health and life he has given us.

I like that idea.

So I think I’ll skip that donut in the parish center after Mass on Sundays and instead pop in my Prayfit DVD for a solid 33-minute inspiring workout. I’ve already tried it, and it was a good workout for my both my body and my soul, with the addition of “Jimmy’s Prayfit Minutes” and his inspiring words about God throughout.

My DVDs Will Never Let Me Down

After taking an inspiring yoga class with Tamal Dodge a couple months ago (read about it here), I wanted to try other classes but closer to home in Long Beach.

With perfect timing, a nearby gym was offering an online special for 20 classes, which included yoga. I bought it and finally decided to try it out last night. However, upon arrival I was informed the yoga classes had been canceled, but I could take some kickboxing classes the next day.

Needless to say, that news pushed me out of my Zen mood, and I was ready to kickbox someone’s ass right about then. Still wanting to do yoga — and in dire need of some calming meditation — I headed back home confident that my DVD collection would not let me down.

I popped in one of my new DVDs, Deepak Chopra & Tara Stiles — Yoga Transformation: Weight Loss and Balance, just released by Lionsgate.

Classes schmasses. This DVD was just what I needed: a wonderful 50-minute yoga workout with Tara and a pep talk from Deepak. In addition to the invigorating workout, what I love about this DVD are the special features. There are six different featurettes with Deepak explaining various aspects of yoga, mediation and just plain good things to know in life. There’s also a 15-minute meditation practice, of which I couldn’t get past five minutes sitting still. But each time I play this DVD, I’ll have something toward which to work, as well as some inspiring words from Deepak.  

I think I’ll still try those kickboxing classes, but when it comes to yoga, I’ll do just fine with my two DVDs from Tara and Deepak.   

Yoga for Athletes… and Me Too

I acknowledge that I’m no athlete. However, I do like rigorous, plyometric workouts with weight training. And in between those types of workouts, I’ve recently started doing yoga.

And Gwen Lawrence’s Fit Body Yoga from Gaiam is just the workout I’ve been looking for. The disc has three 20-minute yoga segments that are a combination of yoga and strength training (think Jillian Michaels’ Yoga Meltdown), as well as the unique aspect of preventative injury stretches. For more details on the DVD, see my review.

This distinctively designed yoga workout is a perfect match for me to keep from injuring myself during my other non-yoga workouts, which is an increasing concern for me as I hear and feel cracks, pops and stiffness I never before felt in my body.

Admittedly, I’m still a yoga newbie. So, I found Gwen’s poses challenging, and some totally new to me, despite having watched numerous yoga DVDs over the years. I also found these new moves quite refreshing because I get tired of doing the same sun salutations and warrior poses over and over again.

I also liked that Lawrence is not your usual meditative Zen yogi. She doesn’t talk in the slow, quiet manner most yoga instructors do, which personally I can find annoying sometimes. She talks as if she’s just one of your girl friends in your living room instructing you. For someone like me, who took forever to warm up to yoga, this is my kind of practice.

It’s important to note Lawrence’s roster of clients includes the New York Giants, New York Knicks, New York Rangers and Alex Rodriguez. If those professional athletes trust her, surely I can too. And so far, my body is feeling great for it.

A True Stand-Up Revolution

In case you missed Gabriel Iglesias’s show “Stand-Up Revolution” on Comedy Central, Paramount has you covered with the recent two-DVD release. And I urge you to check it out.

The hilarious Stand-Up Revolution DVD features all seven episodes of the show starring Gabriel. Read more about the details in my review.

I’d like to remind readers that Home Media Magazine has been aware of Gabriel, also known as Fluffy, for several years already. We first met him when he came to our Latino DVD Conference in 2007, as a then-rising comedian. He was funny then, and, I think, those in attendance would agree. (The picture at right of Gabriel and me was taken there.)

Now, Latinos, don’t hate me for saying this, but I like that Gabriel didn’t make “Stand-Up Revolution” a “Latino comedy” show. That’s not to say anyone is denying their culture here, but there’s just no self-segregation. Instead, Gabriel has become just as mainstream as any other Comedy Central comic — and he has done it while maintaining his authentic and robust Mexican sabor. Orale, Gabriel!

If anything, Gabriel features comedians who are as wonderfully diverse as his house band, Ozomatli. Having watched the episodes all together, I could see how we are all more alike than different. And isn’t the education of each others’ cultures toward the goal of unity the point? Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but Gabriel made quite a statement choosing Phoenix as the location to shoot his show. It came about after immigration officers stopped his tour bus at a checkpoint there and searched everyone on board (all Mexicans) except for the bus driver (a white man).

Another cool little thing to me is the Ozomatli video included for the song “Hey It’s Fluffy,” which was undoubtedly shot in Long Beach, where Gabriel lives — and where I live too. It made me smile to see Wilson High School in the background, which is right around the corner from where I live, as well as El Sol Bakery, located in my old neighborhood where I used to get my pan dulce.

Amazon Habla Español

Amazon launched its Spanish-language website, Amazon.es, Sept. 14. Orale!

The site offers a huge selection of books, DVDs, video games, music and consumer electronics at its usual reasonable Amazon prices.

Amazon.es also has its local version of Amazon Prime. The new site’s Amazon Premium has unlimited free, guaranteed two- to three-day delivery for an annual fee of 14.95EUR  — that’s about $21. (Our stateside Amazon Prime costs $79 annually.)

The coolest thing to me (and probably my colleague John Latchem): The first product the site sold was Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray Disc to a new Premium customer in Madrid.
 

Just a Few Days Left to Boost Breast Cancer Awareness While Getting Fit

October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is almost over. And so is Anchor Bay Entertainment’s special promotion for the pink organization.

The purchase of specially marked boxes of 14 Anchor Bay fitness titles will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The DVDs are 10 Minute Solution: Best Belly Blasters, Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo, Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Ripped Extreme, Bob Harper: Pure Burn Super Strength, Bob Harper: Ultimate Cardio Body, Bob Harper: Cardio Conditioning, Dance Off the Inches: Cardio Hip Hop, Dance With Julianne: Just Dance!, Element: AM & PM Yoga, Element: Yoga for Stress Release & Flexibility, Jackie Warner: Crunch-Free Xtreme Abs, Jackie Warner: Xtreme Timesaver Training, Pussycat Dolls Workout and The Pussycat Dolls’ Dancer’s Body Workout.

The DVDs are only $14.98 each.

These are some great workouts, some great fitness experts (I am partial to Bob and Jackie), and it’s a great cause. Let’s support it.
 

A Good Mexican Film … From an Aussie

The other night I watched the gripping drama Año Bisiesto (Leap Year), just released on DVD from Strand Releasing. No doubt it was great filmmaking, but it went so much deeper than that for me.

Año Bisiesto tells the story of a young freelance journalist, Laura, who lives alone and works from home. This reminded me of my own days as a freelance journalist working at home in my PJs too, but the similarities between us ended there. Laura is an isolated woman in Mexico City, whose nightly outings end in her bringing home men who use her for the night.

Then she meets Arturo, a sensitive, aspiring actor who shows genuine interest in her and doesn’t rush out the door once he’s finished his business. Their love grows, while at the same time they develop a sadomasochistic relationship. (This reminded me of a more serious Secretary with hints of Almodóvar’s Matador.) Things take a strange and sad turn when Laura asks Arturo to take their dangerous game further to her own demise.

Don’t let the sexy box art here fool you. The sex here isn’t pretty, but it feels pretty real. The entire film felt more raw and real than much of the reality TV out there. There was no artistic photography or fancy lighting, or even any scenes outside Laura’s apartment. Yet, the film couldn’t have been more engrossing, which speaks volumes of the script, the director and the two stars, Monica del Carmen (Babel) and Gustavo Sanchez Parra (Rabia, 7 Soles, Man on Fire).

Noteworthy to me was that del Carmen isn’t tall, thin and fair-skinned. Rather, she has indigenous features, cinnamon-colored skin and some meat on her bones. And yet, she’s not a maid or a cook or a poor person. She’s a smart, working woman with issues just like anyone else — OK, her suicidal issues are probably a little more serious than most.

Also impressive was that this film — shot in Mexico in Spanish — was made by a first-time filmmaker Michael Rowe. Even more impressive to me is that Rowe is an Australian, and he gets the Mexicanness of things right. Granted, he has lived there for 16 years. But I still find it amazing when a director from one country or culture can accurately portray and infiltrate the culture of another. My pal Youssef Delara, a Persian filmmaker, deftly did that with his Latino-themed drama in ESL. And Rowe does it here.

So many times, U.S.-Latino filmmakers get ripped for using stereotypes, overdoing the struggling immigrant story and dragging the Latino genre down. And often, I agree. Why do foreigners get it better than we do? I’d love to see more Latino films like this — but made by Latinos here in the United States. For now, I’ll be looking to see what other Mexican films Rowe makes.

A Yoga Inspiration: Tamal Dodge

I went to one of the most unique — and probably most fulfilling — DVD release parties in my seven years at HMM.

This past Sunday night, yogi Tamal Dodge hosted the gathering for his own DVD, Element: Hatha & Flow Yoga for Beginners (Anchor Bay Entertainment), which recently was released.

The evening started with a yoga class at the Yoga Collective in Santa Monica, Calif., a studio Tamal (pictured at right) opened three years ago. He led the class, which was quite rigorous, and ended it singing his own song with what sounded like a ukele (I couldn’t see because my eyes were supposed to remain closed in meditation).

Following the class, Tamal offered hot tea from Teatulia, a heavenly assortment of dark chocolates and music.

Only 26, Tamal’s been practicing yoga his entire life and teaching for 10 years. He was raised on his family’s ashram in Hawaii. He wrote and performed the songs for the DVD, which, if they’re anything like the song he sang during class, are sure to be soothing and beautiful.

I should note this was my very first yoga class. (I’m not counting the yoga DVDs I’ve done.) I also should note, I had a preconceived notion that yoga studios were these annoyingly quiet Zen-like places devoid of humor and filled with people in bright-colored spandex pants and pretty, matching bra tops with no fat to hide. And after a workout with their bodies glistening, not sweaty, they go out for a vegan sandwich and a smoothie. Meanwhile, I’m the kind of girl who shows up to a workout in old loose T-shirts and shorts. I sweat enough to lose the weight of a small baby, and afterward I go home and make myself chorizo tacos. Talk about bull in a china shop; at least, that’s what I expected.

So I found my nice black spandex pants and a decent tank top, and I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. Even though I don’t have other classes to compare to, Tamal had a soothing energy, an honest smile and a refreshing sense of humor, which is most welcome when you’re bending upside down, muscles shaking and sweat blinding your eyes (or maybe that was just me). I left relaxed and invigorated and ready to start the week.

I can’t imagine how the DVD will capture all of Tamal’s energy, but I surely plan to try it out.

ExerciseTV Snags Some Hot Trainers

Agostina Laneri

ExerciseTV has recently signed a deal with four trainers who should be pretty recognizable. I’m especially excited that two of them are Latinas.

The one I’m most looking forward to seeing is Agostina Laneri, from Jackie Warner's Bravo show “Work Out.” Her new show is tentatively titled “Agostina’s Beginners Bootcamp.” I worked out with Argentinean Agostina, that is via DVD (Workout: One-on-One Training With Jackie), and I admired her physique: She has a solid hardbody yet with feminine curves. (Does anyone dislike when female fitness trainers look like boys?) Even Jackie Warner admired her healthy booty in her own DVD.

There’s also Fernanda Rocha, bringing some Latin spice to the network with her “Brazil Fit Workout” show. You might know her better from “The Real Housewives of Orange County” as Tamra’s friend and fitness instructor.

Formerly of “The Biggest Loser” is Cara Castronuova, who will host the tentatively titled “20 lb. Knockdown,” which will fuse the boxing champ’s ring skills with her “Biggest Loser” fitness training.

And there is one guy in the mix. Celebrity dance fitness instructor Benjamin Allen, who has appeared on stage with Jennifer Lopez, Jack Black and Queen Latifah, will bring his cardio dance moves to your living room.

Production began on all four projects this month, and the shows will hit in early 2012 on ExerciseTV On Demand, various streaming sites and DVD. Can’t wait!