I didn’t know there were videos that actually get you to walk for exercise, right at home, in front of your TV or computer! As it happens there are dozens and dozens of these – and they’re quite effective.
Walk expert Leslie Sansone has a huge series of walking videos, each of them introducing variations in method, time, “distance” and muscle use. I’ve tried two of these, “Muscle Mile One” and “30-Minute Walk”. I must say, I totally enjoyed both!
This is how it works. There’s practically nothing to learn. The basic movements are a) marching in place, b) a side step (out-together, out-together), c) a gentle kick forward, d) kick back, e) knee raises and f) a few varieties of arm reaches.
So why do you need the video? Well, because instructors like Leslie get you to damn well move.
Check out this deskside walk, for instance:
Very nice concept, except in offices like mine, everyone would stop working to stare. They would then proceed to give each other blank stunned looks that clearly say “What’s WRONG with her?” You’d have to record the audio from this clip and take ie somehwere where no one can see you – and I can’t imagine many places in an office where that could be. Still, it’s a nice concept.
It’s easier of course to do this walking session at home And for that you have a big variety of videos to pick from. Leslie has one that breaks up the walk into morning and evening sessions. She also adds an abs and lower body mini workout to these. She has videos in which she changes the movements. For example, “Walk and Kick:” She also has some in which she uses various bits of exercise equipment, like light weights, resistance band or medicine balls. I tried the one with light weights yesterday and enjoyed it thoroughly.It was a quick 15-minute 1-mile walk and for me, it worked like a warm up. I need to look for one of the more challenging ones.
Leslie ups the challenge using different intervals for the step and by varying the temp. There are segments where you’re doing a light jog, and then you slow it down to normal again. Then you could be doing a few different arm reaches wih weights, and then you go back to normal walking. The tempo of the music can double each segment until you’re jogging. It’s not very listenable or motivating music, but you can’t use your own because you won’t be able to do the tempo changes. And no one will keep telling you when to change moves.
The nice thing is you actually don’t have time to get bored. She does a very good job of keeping you motivated and just as you begin to wonder if it’s too much of one step, you change. The cuing is excellent and you quickly get used to her jokes when you know that this is doing you good. So far, I’ve found msyelf more than willing to finish the session and quite eager to take it up the next day.
This light bit of cardio can be very nice for those who don’t want to bother learning any complicated exercises and just want to quickly get moving. When it’s time for more challenge, work with a tougher video or move on to other exercises like aerobics or pilates or dancing. But do-along walking is the quickest.
I particularly enjoyed wearing the right gear for this. It helps get you in the mood. I wore tights and a spaghetti thingy and my Nike shoes and did my hair in a swishy pony tail. That made me feel very sporty indeed. Loved it.
Here’s Leslie’s 5-Mile Walk.
Sounds great Mala!
Mild cardio is something I’d like to try too.
Now to bellydance:
Have you seen the new WDNY covers?
I just saw these with the content descriptions:
Elisheva
http://www.worlddancenewyork.com/product.php?proid=90&catid=7
Looks and sounds fantastic IMO! Have to FINALLY start working with my WDNY tribal beginner ones, to graduate to something like this in uhm 3 years ..
Two I am particularly looking forward to:
http://www.worlddancenewyork.com/product.php?proid=89&catid=27
Joint mobility – sounds great particularly for those with past joint trouble.
And this one SALSA solo and for beginners:
http://www.worlddancenewyork.com/product.php?proid=88&catid=30
It s said to be really beginner, which I HOPE because 1. I’m a klutz at Latin dances, SO bad, 2. I will never get my Anatolian husband to do salsa :-s
Oh my, I completely overlooked that Elisheva trailer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdA5JEfPx6M
I’ve seen the Elisheva video. While her technique is solid, and I believe one could learn lots from her DVD, I just don’t find this performance to be particularly inspiring.
By the way, Dina, since you specialize in Egyptian bellydance, what did you think of Ranya Renee’s dvds?
I’m thinking of moving to Berlin next year, because it has a great arts scene and cheap rents. I have friends who love it and are moving there already.And I checked, and they have a fine kathak teacher in the area. Thoughts?
Berlin is the city soo many young people go to from the German speaking countries. It is the one young city with a wild metropolitan scene, arts, vibrant city life etc.
Even many French or Italian people go there. The one European capital with low rents and cheap life.
Go for it!!
Do not expect the “typical” Europe – London, Rome, Paris, Vienna, Prague.. these cities are expensive.
If you are satisfied with a capital that has less history and less pretty architecture, but prefer the club and arts scene – Berlin is perfect for you.
Also most people speak English in Germany anyway – something you could not as easily expect in Paris.
How cool I would have to make my long due trip there when you live there, and please come see Vienna, I will show you around
I – LOVE – Ranya’s dvds.
Hm me “specializing” in Egyptian dance is a bit exaggerated. I somehow cannot past a very basic beginner status
at least not yet! 
Dina! I’ve just discovered a new dancer – I think she’s more cabaret than Egyptian, but what splendid technique! And her costume is to die for – just what I’d get if I had the cash. Her name’s Saida – she’s almost as complex in her style as Sadie, but without the stripper vibe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTqZB1B_vqA
Oh, Saiida is a lovely dancer. She has many DVDs, with musician. Mario Kirlis. And all of them come from Argentina, so they’re tough to buy! They’re also in spanish. But each move she makes is a treat to watch.
Elisheva is going to join Neon and Sarah Skinner in the last of the Luscious series, coming up someday in the not too distant future.
hi girls how are you?
I agree Saida is a fantastic dancer – very cabaret, and very much her own style (dramatic, ballet infused etc).
I enjoy watching her, yet I am not sure her style has fully grown on me yet. Like in this particular video I do not like the behind-in-the-air-shimmies
Saida is interesting biography wise too – she is one of the few cabaret style dancers who is Arab. I think both of her parents are from Syria, migrated to Latin America.
I own two of her dvds, and they came with show dvds too! Silly me hasn’t watched them yet
(I guess because of Spanish shyness although I recently discovered with Amir Thaleb dvds, which are FANTASTIC!, that a little SPanish knowledge suffices already).
AWE I am sad to hear there is only one more Luscious coming up!! And that my favorite Blanca is not going to be on it!
But glad to hear that it is not taking too long, and I’m pretty curious for Elisheva