Classic Callanetics

I bought a couple VHS tapes and a book way back when these first came out. Now that they are on dvd I want them for reference because it’s been 20 years since I watched the tapes . Although I learned them from memory I wanted to watch again as they really helped heal my broken body . The nice bonus is how extremely well they shape the body with no equipment in just 2-3 hours a week.

Have to add my kudos for Callanetics. First, though, some background. I'm 44 and have recently (in the last 3 months) lost about 25 pounds with a Paleo diet. I completely changed my eating habits and the weight slid off without really working out...no one was more surprised than me. I'm almost at my target weight, but definitely needed some firming up after not working out seriously for about 8 years. I used to do weights at the gym and lots of walking so I've been in good shape before, but after having my son 5 years ago I got lazy. Most of my weight went to my middle and gave me that lovely pear shape we all love to hate.I HATE the gym, and bouncing around sweating my rear off isn't really my thing. I've tried Hip Hop abs and just felt like a dork, really. Since I'm 5'10" tall, I really wanted a long, lean, toned look without a lot of manly bulk so I started searching for something that would give me that. I stumbled on this Callanetics DVD and vaguely recalled hearing about it in the 80's (ah the 80's...so many good things came from that decade). I liked that it worked fast, and got so many good reviews. Also, I've had back problems (2 herniated discs) so I needed something that would work around that yet strengthen my core. At the price, I figured it was worth a try.The first time I did the workout and finished up, I remember thinking, "I don't think that's really going to do much" because - despite the evil stomach workout that locked up all the muscles in my midsection - I didn't feel I had done anything. Three hours later every muscle in my body was screaming and the next day it felt like I had had another C-section. Seriously. If you're like me and aren't used to working out and you do this prepare to be sore. If you're not, you didn't do it right. The soreness showed up every time for about the first six workouts and now isn't so bad.Now, results...yes, you get them. Here's what I've noticed: After ONE workout (I kid you not) my husband saw me in my underwear and looked surprised. He asked how many workouts I'd done and didn't believe me when I said one. He said I looked different through the sides and hips. I had thought I looked a bit different but figured it was wishful thinking. I still am not sure if that's even possible, but thought I should mention it. Now on my 11th workout (or hour, as they call them), I see some big changes (and so does my husband, who feels he has to give me a daily update on what he sees :). Hips are disappearing, belly flat enough to wear snug t-shirts again, all back fat GONE, rear end greatly diminished (hubby doesn't like that part), legs slimmer and firmer, waist is nipping in, shoulders leaner looking, and posture better. I must say for me the biggest changes can be seen from behind, oddly enough. My back seems smaller and you can see and feel my ribs, plus my rump is smaller. When my husband puts his arms around me he says I feel tiny now. He's impressed enough that he says he's going to start doing it with me, and he has done P90X, Crossfit, and is currently doing a Navy Seals workout routine. But he's still impressed with how fast results came about.I'd also like to add that the dated look of the DVD doesn't turn me off, neither does Callan Pinckney. I find the routine rather relaxing and think that she is the right mix of encouraging without being too "rah-rah" about it. She reminds you again and again to do what you can and never pushes. The workout goes by quickly (I think), and can be lessened to probably 35 minutes or so once you memorize it and no longer need to follow along. This is the only workout DVD that I've ever actually enjoyed doing and will stick with indefinitely. If I start getting bored with it I plan to buy Super Callanetics and mix the two together. I also plan to add walking and hiking into my routine when it cools off here in Texas. With the results I'm getting from Callanetics, I see no need to ever do anything else to be firm and toned.

I bought the DVD last year in May on the strong recommendation of a good friend. She thought I'd like it because I like pilates.Background: I’m “naturally” thin, but soft, and not very shapely. Now that I’m in my 30s that softness has started to sag too - not a pretty picture. I dislike most forms of exercise (and have tried almost all) and also don’t like the “athletic” look for myself. Settled on pilates as a somewhat enjoyable way to keep my weight stable (also something that started to change in my thirties). Took classes 2-3x a week for a few months about 4-5 years ago and then moved over to a DVD at home since then.Enter Callanetics: Do the DVD 2-3 times (Summer 2015), but it’s just plain hard and hard to keep up and that’s demotivating, plus I was feeling super lazy at the time – let’s be honest. In early January (pants getting tighter by the day) I recall there was a book version of the Callanetics workout and feeling particularly demotivated to follow a DVD (any DVD) I pick up the book so I can try it out at my own pace and hopefully understand the movements a little better with more description.The book did the trick for me. I much preferred working at my own pace, the program in the book was harder and I skipped some of the stuff at first and did less than 100 reps of certain moves, but by session 8 I was doing the whole program in the book (I’ve now learned it’s like the DVD – Super Callanetics). After 10 sessions following the book, actually after 8 (so that's 4 weeks), my body had started to change so dramatically that even my husband made a comment about how it was working (and he never makes comments like that).Every part of me has firmed and shaped up (just finished session 13 yesterday). I not only see it, but feel it. This NEVER happened in YEARS of doing pilates! Only 13 sessions and I’m in better shape than I ever remember being in (even all the way back to high school when I wished I could reshape my legs to be more curvy and less straight and did all sorts of crazy calf exercises and lunges). It never happened till now. I’m sorta dumbfounded and really sorry I never heard of Callanetics till my 30s.I’ll admit that now I kinda look forward to the routine because I’m anxious to see how much more I progress after 2/3/4+ months of this.A few things worth noting:- Try really hard to position your body in the right way – it’s hard with some of these moves (they aren’t intuitive), but keep trying or you won’t work the right area and won’t get the results you want (I learned this with a couple of the butt exercises)- Get the book, it really helps explain stuff even if you follow the DVD- And try not to focus on other people’s before and afters, just commit to 10 sessions and make your own evaluationYou won’t look perfect in 10 sessions, but 10 should change your body enough to prove this is like no other program out there.Best of luck.

Es la segunda vez que me pasa lo mismo con el mismo DVD . Por el primero me lo reembolsaron , lo volvi a pedir y otra vez resultó que no se puede reproducir. Solo sale Warning y luego nada. Está vacio No se pueden reproducir

This is an oldie but a goodie. One of my mother's favorite that we have looked for on DVD for years (we had it in VHS). The DVD came very quickly and my mother is already using it. So happy with this! Great birthday present! I liked it so much, I went back and ordered one for myself :).

Anche se è in spagnolo si capisce bene.Ottimo

I bought the video with the book callanetics am/pm. so that I can use the video to learn the exercises and do the am/pm program (that video was too expensive ) . It is an amazing work out.!! I personally find her voice very soothing which I really appreciate as opposed to videos where you feel you have to sprint to perform and the pace leaves you stressed. no guys thanks but no. I have too much stress in my life already. I am fit, not terribly fit but not unfit either. and my job involves a lot of movement. by the end of 30 min I felt that my body used muscles it had never used before! I would suggest for people to take it easy at first increasing the reps slowly if needed. If there is a tension on your neck when doing stomach exercises you might have to be careful with your posture and in no time when abs will be strong any tension on the neck will disappear. I am incredibly happy with this exercise. cant praise it enough. also my feedback on the modern callanetis videos are that do not look so detailed in terms of posture as the original, and the pace is not calming for me. I prefer the original which has a calming quality. you definitely need that as the exercises are at the same time gentle and intense. Its the second day today and I feel aches in muscles that I haven't felt before. also I feel more at ease when walking and feel taller because of the stretching. a friend of mine has done it in the past and swears by it. I feel gratitude to Callan!! I would recommend it to a 16 year old who would like to be fit, and ground herself to a feeling of calmness, and to my 75 year old mother who has no clue about fitness. ah and also in terms of equipment you need a mat for you back and a chair. thats it. and if you find funny the ladies in leotard lycra, Well life is hard, you know? so I don't want to beat myself in the gym, thanks but not for me, I want to drink my morning coffee and exercise watching an 80 year old rocking her bikini body in a pink lycra. That is my taste in life. and wait till the future sociologists discover you tube videos about instructing you about how to offer yourself the glory of moustache-eye-brow

Seit den 90ern mache ich Callanetics. Mal intensiver, mal weniger intensiv und ab und an mit sehr sehr langen pausen. Durchgeführt immer anhand des Buches. Die Übungen haben nie lange auf die gewünschte Wirkung warten lassen. Bereits nach ein paar Übungsstunden bemerkt man das sich der Körper verändert.Nachdem die DVD bei mir eingetroffen war, stellte ich schnell ein paar Fehler fest, die such mit den Jahren in mein Training eingeschlichen haben.Diese konnte ich schnell korrigieren. Die Übungen sind relativ einfach und für jeden machbar (man muss nur wollen, das ist natürlich Voraussetzung)es werden keine großen Muskeln aufgebaut die z.b. die Beine dicker wirken lassen. Der gesamte Körper wird lediglich geformt und gestrafft.Es werden alternativen gezeigt, z.b. um die Übungen auch trotz Rückenprobleme ausführen zu können.Es werden auch Möbel gezeigt, die man alternativ in das Training einbeziehen kann.Ich finde besonders praktisch, das man einfach so loslegen kann. Man benötigt keine besonderen Trainingsgeräte oder sonstiges.Ich habe Arthrose sowie eine beidseitige Hüftdysplasie und führe die Übungen trotzdem gerne und ohne Schmerzen durch. Da die Übungen allesamt sehr langsam und schonend sind.Also: Nur Mut!!!!