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Post by Karla on Jan 5, 2024 21:13:51 GMT
Triple Threat
Margaret Richard
Year Released: 2005
Triple Threat is taped outdoors. Its a park like setting. All the leaves on the trees have beautiful colors and some do fall on Margaret and her workout area. Margaret works alone in this workout. The music is appropriate nothing spectacular. Volume One is 60 minutes. Volume Two is 60 minutes.
The DVD includes Vol.1 Upper Body and Vol. 2 Lower Body.
The DVD is also chaptered for easy access to each exercise.
The DVD is chaptered as:
Volume One
Segment One
Rotation 1, 2 and 3
Segment Two
Rotation 1, 2 and 3
Volume Two
Segment One
Rotation 1, 2 and 3
Segment Two
Rotation 1, 2 and 3
Margaret includes a Warm Up and Cool Down.
The exercises covered in Volume One:
Warm Up
Group One:
Pectorals, Triceps, Biceps
Group Two:
Deltoids, Back, Obliques
Cool Down
The exercises covered in Volume Two:
Warm Up
Group One:
Abs, Outer Thighs, Inner Thighs
Group Two:
Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Glutes
Cool Down
By the third rotation you'll be feeling the exercises. She does change the exercises so your not doing the same thing over and over. If I had to compare the intensity in Triple Threat I would compare it to Sculpture.
While it is a longer workout being 60 minutes just for upper body and 60 minutes for lower body. The time goes by fast and there is no dread factor with Margaret. I feel she is very efficient. Both workouts flow well. The scenery in Triple Threat is by far her best ever in any of her workouts.
Instructor Comments:
Margaret has a friendly and easy going demeanor. She always encourages you to up the weights and to walk for cardio.
Sundari
08/21/2008
There were so many characteristics that I enjoyed about this video, but sadly, I couldn’t figure out how to make them work together. For me, the question was not merely whether the workout was best categorized as building strength, increasing endurance, or promoting functional fitness, but whether it was effective for accomplishing any of those goals. Despite its many assets in all three respects, there were too many important drawbacks to overlook with respect to each of these goals.
• Structure:
Each of the two workouts (vol. 1 is Upper Body, vol. 2 is Lower Body) consists of two 30-minute segments, each of which contains three circuits for the same three body parts (hence the name “Triple Threat”). This format is ideal for building strength because it allows time for the muscle to recover between sets. At this time the only other workout I’ve found which does this is P90X, and I’ve been looking for more options for the sake of providing greater variety. However, Margaret specializes in endurance training, which isn’t the ideal use of this format. Although she uses slightly heavier weights than usual, they’re still relatively light (8-10lbs.), as they need to be for the number of repetitions that she does without resting (~30 bicep curls just in segment 1, not counting the extra pulsing reps). I’m not sure how well it would work to modify this to use heavier weights with fewer repetitions because of the duration of each set. Another detail to note is that Margaret typically uses different exercises for each segment, so technically the workout isn’t really multiple sets separated by exercises for different body parts. Each circuit does revisit the same muscle groups in the same order, though.
• Exercises:
o Margaret chooses an unusual combination of muscles to group together in each circuit, which I could enjoy for variety despite being puzzled at her selection. For example, part 1 of Upper Body is pectorals, triceps, and biceps, while part 2 of Upper Body is deltoids, back, and obliques. As two 30-minute workouts, this results in an odd rotation. I’ve seen a push-pull split (chest, shoulders, and triceps on one day, and back and biceps on another day), as well as a large-vs.-small muscle group split (chest and back on one day, shoulders and arms on another), but not something like this. Lower Body is somewhat less unconventional, since it’s divided into abs, outer thighs, and inner thighs for part 1, leaving quads, glutes, and hamstrings for part 2.
o The workout is also unusual for the variety of exercises that it uses. For example, it includes one long sequence for the rotator cuff, which is often neglected in other videos, plus some static lunges for the hamstrings, which is different for Margaret. There are also lots of standing oblique exercises, but I prefer to work my obliques while lying on the floor. The variety of exercises here does come at a cost: Margaret uses upright rows, rhomboid pinches, and supermans to work the back, where I would have preferred (at least some) standard lat rows and rear delt flyes (and no upright rows) for a safer and more complete workout.
o Some exercises seem to promote functional fitness rather than traditional strength or endurance (e.g. another sequence for the deltoids includes more circular motions). While I enjoy and appreciate these exercises tremendously, I’m uncertain how to incorporate this particular mixture of moves into my exercise regimen. Afterwards, I feel like I’ve almost done some of each type of strength training, but none of them thoroughly.
• Production quality:
o This has one of the most beautiful sets I’ve seen on a workout video simply because of the lush autumn colors. For this reason alone I was seriously tempted to keep it.
o The sound is extremely quiet, which is suitable for the lovely jazz music in this workout but which means I need to remember to turn down the volume afterward lest I accidentally blast my eardrums with whatever I may play next.
The verdict? In spite of the excellent structure of the workout, it’s not optimally suited for building strength. In spite of the wonderful sequences for exercising the shoulders in their full range of motion, it still has too much focus on isolation work to truly promote functional fitness. Its best bet is (unsurprisingly) increasing endurance, but other videos (such as All My Best or Sculpture) meet this goal more effectively. I’ll admit I was very sad to see this one go, but I simply couldn’t justify keeping it in my collection at Margaret’s prices.
Instructor Comments:
Margaret is calm, graceful, and pleasant as always, yet in this video she seems somehow distracted, sometimes pausing uncomfortably long to search for words.
KickDancer
07/22/2005
First of all, you're outdoors, it's fall and the colors are lovely. Margaret is working out on a wooden platform in some park; the sun must have been behind some thin clouds, but it was still lovely. She's wearing a dark green top and long dark green pants, black shoes. The music is light, cheery, sort of soft jazz (my best guess). I sort of missed the Spanish-flavored music of Fitness Becomes You, but this was nice.
I've only done the Lower Body segments, so I'll give you my impressions, quickly, roughly, but hope this helps. Here goes:
I started with Segment #4: I wore 2.5# ankle weights...oh dear!
Quads: these are similar to the ones Debbie Seibers does in Shape It Up, and just as much leg burners. My quads were screaming.
Glutes: pelvic tilts with knees shoulder-width apart; you can hold an 8# dumbell as MR and I did.
Segment #5:
Hamstrings: table position and endless lifts on one side...
Glutes: more pelvic lifts with knees and ankles together...whew!
Hamstrings: kill the other leg.
Segment #6:
Hamstrings: MR has you do something that reminded me of something from Cathe's ME and my glutes were on fire! You do one side...
Quads: plie squats and the lady made me realize how the quads figure in this one:)
Hamstrings: the other side. So both cheeks are really hurting...
Then I backed up and checked out Segment #1: No ankle weights...MR explains why.
Abs: crunches...nothing really new here..
Outer thighs: leg lifts...you've seen these before and they're still not fun. You do one leg...then
Inner thighs: you do the other leg (you don't change your body position around). Karen Voight did something similar in GWW.
Segment #2: No ankle weights, see #1.
More abs.
Outer thighs: the other leg...
Inner thighs: the other leg...
Segment #3: You can wear ankle weights now.
Abs: I don't really recall these too well, but I think they were tougher with the ankle wts. on.
Inner thighs: remember the inner thigh work (lying on your back) from SS's Tone It Up??? Well, here they are again...still tough.
Outer thighs...why can't I remember them...maybe I don't want to:)
Now I've only done these just this evening and I expect to be in agony tomorrow (keep trying to stretch muscles out, to ease the stiffness already coming on), which is okay...I love Margaret, she is so comfortable to workout with. She has lovely music and settings and her choice and blend of exercises intrigues me. She doesn't work one area to death...keeps it moving around. Before you know it, you've been working out the full hour! Her little comments are esp. endearing to me...the kinds of things I'd say myself I guess:).
I can see myself using this one quite a bit, along with Fitness Becomes You. The little chunks or segments of exercises can fit into any schedule (you may have to work one leg one day, the other the next???) and then add on some cardio and stretching...and voila! a nice workout session for the evening (in my case:)). Enjoy!
Instructor Comments:
Margaret is low-keyed and lady-like and it's so nice outside...but she knows how to get you in touch with whatever muscle group she has you working to agony! I really like her little aside comments (my fav is still the bit about tapping her foot to the music...another workout:)). Of all the instructors I've worked out with, I think I'd be most comfortable with Margaret.
Lydia Jasper
02/07/2005
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Post by Karla on Jan 5, 2024 21:14:38 GMT
Raising the Bar
Margaret Richard
Year Released: 2000
I am in the minority again in not liking a popular video. This is my first body bar video and I like using the body bar a lot. (Which is good because I just bought four of them!) And I have other Margaret Richard videos that I like a lot. But this one did not appeal to me very much.
My gripes:
- The price. (ok, now that THAT is out of the way!)
- The Warm-up: Graceful, dancy and practically useless.
I am not now or ever have been a ballerina. Let me just do
a nice athletic warm-up that actually warms me up. I
usually do my own warm-ups with her videos.
- Upper body: Uninspired.
- Lower Body: I disliked pretty much all the lower body stuff. I hate the inner thigh side-step foot-dragging thing. The standing outer thigh lifts with the bar stress the supporting leg so much that it is half dead when it is time to change. The kneeling quad work looked like a recipe for knee pain. I did wall sits.
- Abs: Not much instruction about exactly what you are supposed to be doing.
- Cool down/Stretch: There is little stretching during the video and the end is more ballerina stuff. I did a stretch tape.
Instructor Comments:
Margaret does lot of yammering about nothing. I wish she would have spent more time giving better instructions instead of bagging on Clare Dunphy. Sure, Charlene Prickett talks a lot, but it is usually about the exercise or fitness.
Alta
06/01/2002
Margaret's Raising The Bar was produced by Greg Twombly so it is a typical CIA production. I ended up buying the Upper Body Sculpture too and the production of RTB is a lot better than that one. It also seems more modern (or newer). There's no background exercisers in UBS either.
But RTB has Clare Dunphy and Tonya (who's a background exerciser for lots of the bodybar tapes & Plyo videos) as background exercisers. The plyo videos are also executive produced by Sherry Catlin just like the bodybar videos. The background is the same as the one used in Christi Taylor's Happy Hour Hi/Lo and Stepping Zone. So it's not the dreaded red backgrounds.
The last cool-down song in RTB is an instrumental version of a love song in Phantom Of The Opera. It sounds so pretty. The other songs are also instrumental type music. I recall hearing Evita.
Here's the order of the program in RTB: warm-up, pectorals, triceps, biceps, deltoids, back, calves, outer thighs, inner thighs, hamstrings/quads, quads, gluteals, abs, and cool-down.
I remember most of the exercises but not all of them. This video is like a body pump video because you do lots of reps of each exercise but there's not lots of variety. Like other bodypump type videos, I end up using a barbell and two sizes of bodybars. I feel that I get a tougher workout than just using one size bodybar. I do this with Keli's bodybar videos too. Margaret has some unique exercises in this video. Here's the ones I remember:
Chest - bodybar presses (similar to barbell presses) in different counts so that it makes it more interesting than doing lots of reps. I used a barbell and next time, I'm going to use a step underneath so that my elbows don't hit the floor. All other exercises also use different rep counts. There's also some pulsing in some of them.
Triceps - lying bodybar tricep extensions, then you do the same movement but only lifting one arm at a time
Biceps - two-arm bicep curls but you hold the bar vertically (I think this mimics hammer curls), one-arm bicep curl still holding the bar vertically. Holding the bar vertically is sure tougher than doing the move horizontally.
Shoulders - shoulder presses, she also does this where you lift one arm up at a time so that your bar is diagonal and it ends up being alternating presses, front bodybar raises with one grip overhand and the other grip as underhand, front raises with both palms facing down
Back - bent-over rows with overhand grip then underhand grip
Calves - calf raises
Outer Thighs - standing outer thigh raises with bodybar on leg for extra resistance. This exercise is killer. My supporting leg worked just as hard as my working leg. Even Clare Dunphy needed to rest during this exercise. Margaret said you can do the lifts on the floor. So I did that the next time and it worked a lot better.
Inner Thighs - Moving plie squats. The first time I did this video, I thought she was going to do standing inner thigh lifts. For sure, I was going to go on the floor if she did that. But she did moving plie squats for inner thighs instead. This is similar to what Cathe does in Pure Strength Legs where she warms us up with plie squats using the bodybar. Remember she did moving plie squats with the bodybar instead of stationary plies.
Hamstrings/Quads - one-legged squats, regular squats. Margaret doesn't use the bodybar for squats & one-legged squats. She holds it for balance. I put the barbell over my shoulders to work my legs more.
Quads - You're on your knees and you lean back keeping your back straight (yoga position). I didn't really feel the work on my quads. I think I was doing the exercise wrong. So another time, I did lunges instead of the exercise she does for quads. But then I didn't know when to change legs and I didn't want to count reps. Next time, I'll just do deadlifts since I need more work on my hamstrings than quads. The squats work the quads anyway.
Butt - lying bridge work with one foot over other leg and body bar on foot while other end of bodybar near shoulder
Abs - For the abs, you also use the bodybar. It's almost vertical with one end touching the ground and your arms are holding the other end. You do crunches.
I give this video a thumbs up as a substitute for bodypump type videos.
Instructor Comments:
Margaret is either in her 40's or 50's. I'm not sure. But she's in great shape. She gives plenty of form pointers. She usually does videos that has lots of reps. She also has a dry sense of humor. I would buy more of her videos if they weren't so expensive.
Helen Stephens
02/25/2002
This is a very good workout using the body bar. The setting is taken from the Body Bar videos and one of the background exercisers is Clare Dunphy. I enjoyed the video a great deal, probably because I like Margaret so much. She looks great and seems like a fun person. Her personality is natural and somewhat chatty, but not to the same degree as Charlene Prickett.
The workout was quite challenging for the most part. My arms got a great workout, especially while lying on the step and performing chest work and triceps work with the bar. She has a signature counting method of 2 down, 1 up (or visa versa) - which is off of the traditional 32-count mode of most sculpting/aerobic workouts. For some reason, it works and does not bother me. Margaret's cuing is much better in this video, but she still occasionally begins a new exercise without advance notice so you wind up missing one rep.
I did not like two of her exercises. She uses a chair for support and rests the bar on the outer side of the foot while you perform abductor/thigh lifts. This felt awkward and uncomfortable and I would prefer doing them on the floor (she does make this suggestion). She also performs a series of exercises while on her knees where she takes the body back in a slant and upright again. I remember this being a contraindicated move when I was first learning how to teach body sculpting and aerobics. This was a move you were never to do because of the pressure on your back and the force it puts on varicose veins. Since the inception of the Pilates and Yoga movements though, I find myself doing many exercises that used to be termed inappropriate (straight legs, full circle neck rolls, full sit-ups - or rollups in Pilates etc.)
Another Vfer and I discussed this and she said she would do lunges during this portion of the workout and I concurred (thanks Helen!).
I would recommend this as an excellent addition to the Body Bar series of workouts, as it covers the whole body and ends with a pleasant stretch. If you have not discovered Margaret Richard yet, this is a good video to begin with.
Janet O
06/03/2001
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Post by Karla on Jan 5, 2024 21:15:27 GMT
Strong & Limber for Life
Margaret Richard
Year Released: 1997
This DVD has two workouts, sculpting, Strong for Life, and stretch, Limber for Life.
STRONG FOR LIFE:
You can do two 30-minute workouts or combine them, which is what I prefer doing. This was shot on a set that Margaret jokingly refers to as “…my beautiful Mediterranean villa by the sea.” It’s a painted backdrop that looks like it came from Ricky Ricardo’s Copacabana. The music has a Spanish / salsa flavor with wonderful acoustic guitar. Often, Margaret can’t stand still and subtly moves to it while exercising.
Program A
Warmup consists of simple but fluid moves.
Chest: Many reps, as usual, of pec flies done at varying speeds and heights, i.e. full range, half way down, pulsing. Simple but effective.
Triceps: While still on the floor, you bring your arms back by your ears, not straight up as most instructors do for triceps, so your straightened arms are at a forty-five degree angle. You raise and lower your dumbbells full range, pulse and halfway. My triceps were fried and I was only using five pounds.
Biceps: palms up for all moves, done with arms in front and arms at sides, full range, pulsing and halfway for many reps.
Standing quads: Squats and pulses that seemed to go on forever. A simple move but it killed my quads because of the many reps. Margaret used a balance bar but I didn’t.
Down to the floor for hamstring and glute work. In her workouts, Margaret very often works one leg, then does bridge work to rest the lower back before doing the second leg. This makes things tougher because, after doing one hamstring (which also works that glute) you are pre-fatigued on that side for the bridge work. Then when you do the other leg, that one is pre-fatigued by the bridge work. It seems like a very effective way to work those muscles.
Cool down for this section, which I skipped because I was doing the entire workout.
Program B
Warmup – again, I skipped it because it wasn’t necessary if I was continuing on.
Back: Upright rows pulling elbows back to squeeze your upper back. Next set of reps -- hold dumbbells in front of you, palms facing and pull elbows back, squeezing your back muscles. Lastly, extend arms in front chest high, wrists crossed and raise and lower eight times.
Delts: Lots of variety here. Starts with a signature Margaret delt move – extend arms at shoulder height to the side, bend at the elbow, dumbbells up and facing forward, then bring forearms together in the front so elbows and wrists meet. A unique sweeping move, where your arms are extended straight out to the side, shoulder height, then you sweep one dumbbell across your body at that same height, toward the other arm, then do the same with the other arm. Extend dumbbells in front of you, palms facing, waist high then bring elbows back, arms rounded as if surrounding an invisible beach ball. Arms extended to side at shoulder height, pulsing palms up, then palms down. Her delt work is always tough.
Calves: Margaret’s standard calf raises with feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed outward for many reps, then repeat with feet parallel. You are not allowed to let your heels touch the floor. I held a pair of 5 lb. dumbbells because I want to increase my calf size. Margaret held onto a bar for balance.
Abs: Standard crunches, but you raise and lower your body in stages – middle, upper, middle lower, and Margaret forbids you putting your head and shoulders on the floor because you have to keep your muscles contracted throughout. At one point, she has you (your legs are bent with knees up) lift up the toes of one foot as you raise your upper body, then alternate with the other foot the next time you come up. I don’t know the purpose of this because I didn’t feel anything different than usual. Then she isolates lower abs by having you put the bottoms of your feet together with your knees open like a frog.
Outer thighs: Lying side leg lifts and pulses with thigh weights. Not easy but not as tough as some of her other DVDs.
Inner thighs: Lying on your back, with your hips resting on the back of your hands, lift your legs perpendicular to your body and move them in and out to the side. I kept the same weights on as for the outer thigh. This wasn’t very difficult and I much prefer her lying side inner thigh work on other DVDs, which is much tougher with leg weights.
Cool down.
LIMBER FOR LIFE
There are six five-minute stretch chapters. You can’t do just one because none of them works the entire body. However, the wonderful music (“Music of the Angels”) makes this a very relaxing stretch and I easily do the entire half-hour even though I am not a stretching fan. It’s shot on a deck of a Florida beach house and I love outdoor workouts.
The DVD comes with a looped stretch out strap. I found it a bit awkward, especially for lying quad stretches where you are on your stomach with the strap pulled up over your back and shoulder.
Instructor Comments:
Margaret is the only instructor who can consistently get me to exercise for an hour or more. She makes a tough workout seem effortless, even while I'm breathing hard and my heart is pounding. My only complaint is that in the Limber for Life stretch chapters, she cues too late, which is a problem when you are lying on the floor and can't see what she is doing.
videofit
02/22/2009
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Post by Karla on Jan 5, 2024 21:17:54 GMT
The Body Electric Workout
Margaret Richard
Year Released: 1990
The Body Electric Workout is a 60 minute total body workout led by Margaret Richard, host of the PBS exercise show Body Electric. It was originally released on VHS, but is also on DVD on her two-DVD Classics collection. Joining her are five “dancers” from her show: Joe, Jules, BeNisa, Jane, and Donna. However, only four are present for each segment. The set is the 1990 Body Electric set, and the music is original music written for the workout (a jazzy pop/R&B sound, with most songs including vocals!). You will need a mat, and light weights (Margaret and crew use three pound dumbbells). I use 5 lb. Dumbbells for the tricep and bicep work, and 3 pound weights for the deltoids. For the floor work, ankle weights can be used to increase the intensity.
If you’ve never done Margaret’s workouts, her workouts use light weights and high repetitions. She doesn’t count reps, but works the muscle to fatigue in a time frame of about three to three-and-a-half minutes per muscle group. A variety of rep patterns and tempos are utilized for each section, including singles, “power pulse” (pulse twice while in the contraction), pulses, slow rep speeds (up 2, down 2; up 3, down 1, etc.), and alternating. Before working each muscle group, Margaret briefly goes over the form for each exercise before beginning.
The workout is as follows:
-Warmup (nice graceful movements and dynamic stretches)
-Pectorals (pushups and pushups with back stretches)
-Triceps (supine tricep extensions, a.k.a. skull-crushers, using weights)
-Biceps (standing curls, both to the front and to the side)
-Deltoids/Shoulders (standing pec deck/butterflies, standing chest presses, and a unique scissor move I haven’t seen before)
-Abdominals (crunch variations)
-Outer thighs (floor work: side leg lifts, shoot-outs, and clams)
-Inner thighs (done in a supine position, legs over hips, open and close legs in various patterns)
-Hamstrings (all fours work: hamstring curls, bent leg raises)
-Gluteals (bridgework, or supine gluteal tucks; including knee presses)
-Hamstrings (all fours work done on the other leg)
-Quadriceps (standing plie squats and stationary lunges)
-Cool down (a series of graceful arm movements, but no stretches are performed)
Although the exercises are fairly standard, the high repetitions, various rep patterns, and Margaret’s twist on some of the exercises will make your muscles burn. I really enjoyed the music, which is a nice jazzy pop and R&B mix. Most of the songs include vocals, which is a nice change of pace from the typical instrumental music found on most workout videos. The form pointers before each exercise didn’t distract me, as I used them as much-needed stretch breaks before moving on (since Margaret doesn’t stretch in the cool down). However, some may find these pointers distracting each time you use the workout. The only things I don’t like about this workout are the abdominal work (too crunch-heavy and focuses primarily on the upper abs) and cool down (no much-needed stretches are performed). This workout can be found on Margaret’s Classics collection (a two-DVD set, which also includes three of her other older workouts). While the setting and outfits are dated by today’s standards, this classic workout is useful even today, and I highly recommend it for all fitness levels.
Instructor Comments:
Margaret is a very friendly, personable instructor who gives excellent form pointers and cueing for each exercise. She shows her sense of humor a little better here than on the Sculpture workouts.
Garrie A
02/21/2017
Workout Type: Muscle Toning
Workout Length: warm up - 4 min.+ Upper Body 13min. + Abs - 3min. + lower body - 33min. + cooldown and stretch 3 min. = Total 58min.
Fitness Level: Beginners, Intermediate, or Advanced (Shows Form before each muscle group, excellent for Beginners, Stretches after each muscle group, and is very very tough for Interm. and Adv. since someone is always doing the more Advanced moves.)
Equipment: Dumbells or upper body weights, leg weights (if desired) step to lay on (if desired) knee pad, mat
Set: Body Electric Neon signs in the background, blue background with pink brick design, multi-level floor with curves built in.
Cast: 3 women , one man
Attire: pink lycra suits of different lengths, she wears body color pantyhose.
Effectiveness: I used my 15, 12 and 7 lb. Dbs. and 5 lb. ankle weights and it gave me a thorough workout.
Music: original music by Brian Neary (good beat, beautiful vocals)
Presentation: Very good presentation, and well thought out. Not simple,and lot's of fun for a weight tape!
Warm up and Stretches: 3min.
Upper Body weightwork: 13min. Shows Form before each muscle group
Pushups - Margaret and 2 girls do modified position on knees, Jow and Jewel do Advanced full body.
8 3-count, then alternate 2 with stretch, then 10 2-count.
Triceps - Lie on back, lift handweights 14x then alternate 4 per arm then palms facing up.. stretch triceps.
Bicep Curls - set of 8 then alternate, then set of 8 then 3x verrrryyy slow, 4x extend arms to side, then 8x
then alternate arms to side then 5x.
Deltoids - Lift arms in circular motion, to frontal then up to military and down to L position ,that is, reaching hands to ceiling, then down 4x.
open and close arms in L position repeat everything.
scissors one arm up while other goes down, add leg if desired. Stretch
at 15min. Abwork - 3min.
2 sets of 8 2-count crunches, then 4 faster then elbow to knees. etc
at 22min. Lower Body weightwork
Outer thighs - 12 side leg lifts. then 16 2-count then 24 pulse at top, then 16 extend and retract
both feet together in air lift knee up and down - 24x then 10 normal lifts .. Stretch ..
other leg ... stretch...
at 31 min. Inner thighs.
lie on back, hold legs vertical then open and close both, then fold at knees in and out, then together and apart.
at 36 min. Hamstrings. on fours.
straighten and bend one leg back 30x
hold leg up and straighten and bend foot, 2x then flex and point foot.
at 41min. Gluteals (aka. Bridgework)
at 47 min. Hamstrings other leg.
at 51min. Quadriceps -
squat 1/3 of the way , then static lunges that are not deep.
at 55min. - Cooldown
at 58 min. End
Total Rating: (Same Rating and Comments as Give me Strength.) As a weight tape it is excellent, you do all muscle groups almost... I have to give it a 9 1/2 out of 10 because it advertises total body but omits delt flies or lat rows or rear delt lifts.. If you add these on your own you have a truly thorough workout like I did. BUT I also give it a half point higher because it teaches the form before each muscle group... therefore accessible for Beginners. and has Stretches after each muscle group. and a thorough one at the end. More thorough Lower Body work...
Instructor Comments:
Instruction: Margarets' hair is short, curly, full and flirtatious-looking. Her personality shines, and her smile
conquers.
Sunshine
07/05/2003
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Post by Karla on Jan 5, 2024 21:18:34 GMT
Fitness Becomes You Volume 2
Margaret Richard
Year Released: 2004
These two volumes are very nicely done. The two are made so you have the option of doing just 20 minutes each or doing the whole workout. Each 20 minute Program has its own warm up and cool down. Both volumes are chaptered with Programs A, B, and C.
Volum Two 60 minutes contains:
Program A:
Warm Up
Biceps
Triceps
Deltoids
Pectorals
Cool Down
Program A was taped at Canandaigua Inn On The Lake. This program had different exercises than Vol. 1 Program A. Margaret works alone in this one.
Program B:
Warm Up
Abs
Outer Thighs
Inner Thighs
Cool Down
Program B was taped at Body One Studios. Again the exercises were different than Vol. 1 Program B. Margaret also works along with Heidi in this one.
Program C:
Warm Up
Calves
Quadriceps
Hamstrings
Gluteals
Cool Down
Program C was taped at Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens. Margaret is alone here and the exercises are different than in Vol. 1 Program C.
The pacing, the flow and the scenery make this DVD a good one.
Instructor Comments:
Margaret is very pleasant and enjoyable. She smiles all the while so you don't realize how hard she is working you out.
Sundari
08/20/2008
This video consists of 3 20-minute workouts, each with its own warmup and cooldown. #1 covers biceps, triceps, deltoids, and pectorals. It’s very good, and you can definitely feel the work. It includes rotator cuff work, which is lacking in a lot of workouts. #2 is abs, outer thighs, and inner thighs. I spent most of this one watching the clock. The ab work is traditional and very un-special. It also doesn’t include obliques. The outer thigh work was good but a little repetitive, and each side is worked unequally. I did like the inner thigh work which you do lying on your back. #3 is calves, quads, hamstrings, and glutes. This section was “okay.” The seated quad extensions were really good. This video is much better than Volume 1 of the series. Margaret is more relaxed and natural, and the exercises more interesting. But even so, there were only a few parts of the whole thing that kept my interest, so I won’t be keeping it.
Instructor Comments:
Annie S.
09/19/2004
I have Fitness Becomes You on DVD. I am reviewing Volume 2, which is a one-hour workout divided into 3 twenty-minute sections (A, B and C).
Section A is filmed outdoors with Margaret alone on a chair. It starts with a warm-up in the chair and consists of various upper body exercises. Margaret does a long series of biceps exercises without stopping, and uses 10 pound weights. I'm an advanced exerciser and normally use much more weight for biceps, but I had to drop down in weight because I found the long set of high reps to be very tough. The reps are done slowly, so that you really get deep into the muscles. Next comes (slow)triceps dips off the chair (I used my Fanny Lifter) and then seated triceps presses, and Margaret does a variation on the usual overhead triceps press by turning the hands with the palms facing back, and does many reps slowly (she uses 8 pound dumbbells). Again, I usually go very heavy with triceps, as that is one of my strongest muscle groups, but for this, I had to drop down in weight. Margaret is very strong! Next came some exercises for the rotator cuff of the shoulder, and deltoids, done lying on the floor. There is one exercise where you lie on your side with your arm straight in front of you holding a dumbbell and you lift your arm up and down---it is really tough! I thought it was a creative variation on the lateral shoulder raise, and in that position, you can't cheat and it isolates the deltoids. My one criticism is that she doesn't do the same number of reps for both sides. There is some chest work done supine, which was mainly flyes done at different tempos. This upper body workout is suitable for all fitness levels; beginners can use light weights, and advanced will be challenged using heavier weights.
Section B was filmed indoors in a fitness studio, with Margaret and a younger female participant. It focuses on lower body. It is done on the floor. Margaret does various exercises for the abs, outer and inner thighs. The exercises for the outer thighs will cause fatigue (and will tone you)---Margaret uses ankle weights---I didn't use ankle weights and my outer thighs were fatigued by the end. My only criticism is that Margaret does not do the same exercises on both legs. All the movements are controlled and Margaret repeatedly gives form tips, such as keeping your abs contracted.
Section C also focuses on lower body, and is filmed with Margaret alone in an outdoor setting, with a chair. There is also some floor work. Margaret does exercises such as leg extensions seated on the chair (for quads). I felt that this section was a bit easier than the previous two sections.
My general impression of Fitness Becomes You, Volume 2, is that it is a good total body workout. It is appropriate for the beginner exerciser, since Margaret gives many form pointers and the exercises are easy to follow. It is good for an advanced exerciser who wants to get in a total body workout or who wants a slower and more mellow approach to strength work. The music is instrumental and pleasant, and is low-key. This is not for people who like music with a strong, pounding beat or fast tempo. I like the outdoor settings, but I found the lighting and sound quality to be less good than the section that was filmed indoors (which had very good lighting and sound quality). My only other criticism is that there were a few voice-overs during which you could still hear the original soundtrack.
I think Margaret is an inspiring instructor. Although she is a woman of a mature age, she is strong and fit, and continues to pass her vast knowledge on in the form of videos (and TV shows). This workout is more low-key than some of her earlier workouts, but it is appropriate for all fitness levels, and consists of safe and effective exercises. I give it a B+ overall.
Instructor Comments:
Margaret Richard is one of my favorite instructors because she is an experienced fitness professional who uses excellent form and constantly gives form tips and explanations. She is very pretty and fit, has a warm smile, and a low-key personality. I like that she puts her heart into everything and is sincere about her desire to help people become fit. She is graceful and her love for music and dance is obvious.
Abbe
07/31/2004
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Post by Karla on Jan 5, 2024 21:19:20 GMT
Home Improvement
Margaret Richard
Year Released: 1988
Workout Type: Lower Body floorwork + Biceps and Triceps
Workout Length: Warm up - 5 min. Lower Body work - 36min. (including Abwork) Triceps and Biceps - 9min. Cooldown and Stretches - 4min. Total time - 54min.
Fitness Level: Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced... Her moves are slow enough to allow Beginners to keep up, Intermediate and Advanced can add weights to add intensity.
Equipment: ankle weights for legwork if desired. Dumbells for upper body. mat
Set: 2 large pillars, blank pinkish wall, and large Body Electric sign.
Attire: Lime shirt, and lycra outfit, everyone in lycra.
Cast: Margaret and 4 students. (3 female and 1 male)
Effectiveness: Excellent lower body work, left me sore!
Music: Jazzy with a beat.
Presentation: This workout flows, she doesn't rush you from one move to the next but it progresses well.
She also adds quick stretches here and there after the different muscle groups.
Warm up: 5 min. her signature flowing movements that combine small dance movements.
The Workout: She doesn't use any ankle weights for all legwork. I used 5 lbs and it clobbered me!
Begins with Abwork which includes the bycicle move.
Hamstrings and Glutes:
She gets on all fours and extends one leg back
Extends and straighten leg 24x
then lifts lege up and down in bent position - 16x
then pulses at top 16x
Extends and straighten leg 12x
then lifts lege up and down in bent position - 12x
then pulses at top 20x
Lay on back - Bridgework
other leg
at 26min - Outer Thighs
Lift and lower 26x
pulses 26x
lift and lower 10x
extend straight leg lifts 12x
pulses 24x
small circles 12x
circles opposite direction 12x
pulse kicks 40x
lift and lower 8x
pulse kicks 40x
on elbow in and extend 10x
at 37min. Inner Thigh
The position- Lay on back legs straight up.
open legs to side and close
then 4-count in open position
then pulse outs.. repeat all.
Upper Body: Begin with Biceps. She uses 3 lbs ... I did first set with 12 and then had to go down to 7lbs. (tough!)
both arms - 12x 2-count
alternate arms 20x per arm.
double arm 12x 3-count at top
open arms to sides 12x
Triceps:
French Presses 6x both arms
alternate arms 3x
kickbacks 12x 2-count pulse in back.
alternate kickbacks with 2-count pulse in back
kickback with a twist 8x
arms behind you bring them up the back and then to kickback position.
alternating.
2 arm French Presses
Kickback with 2-count
alternate kickbacks
arms behind you bring them up the back and then to kickback position.
then alternate
then French Presses
then alternate French Presses.
at 50 min. Cooldown and Stretches
at 54 min. END
Total Rating: Those who want thorough Lower Body work, without lunges or squats will love this workout.
It is not an upper body workout and doesn't say it is. For what it is, it achieves its' purpose.
I rate it 9 1/2 of 10 , only because the outfits are dated. But I highly recommend it for those who like floorwork.
Instructor Comments:
Instruction: Margaret wears her hair shoulder length and curly in this one. She is smiling and you can see she is enjoying herself. There are pop-up windows here and there that give instruction without slowing down the
workout
Sunshine
07/05/2003
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Post by fatkat555 on Feb 6, 2024 14:38:42 GMT
Kelley Coffey-Meyer
More Than Just Strength
Heavy Up and Move
I did More Than Just Strength, Heavy Up and Move tonight. This clocked in at about 32 minutes a well. I really like these! I admit I didn’t go my heaviest because I never do my first time out of the gate with any new workout. This little workout can be pretty tough if I go heavy.
Sometimes you can feel slighted by no ab work, but between heavy sets Kelly uses the time to do standing abs combined with low impact moves. So no standing around.
I’m extremely happy with this dvd.
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