The best things in life are free, but you can give them to the birds and bees… I want DVDS… that’s what I waaaaant….

So, some of you may know that I love to work out. Its in my blood- my people have been cardio junkies and jocks since the dawn of time (well, at least ever since my mom set foot on a tennis court or aerobics floor or my sisters rocked the cross country running, soccer, yoga and now zumba world).

In different levels of commitment, I’ve been on tennis, soccer, golf, cross country running, track and field, softball, and basketball teams. I spent college almost completely inert, and then after a completely non-tragic accident my senior year- took up yoga. Since then, I’ve added kickboxing, weight lifting, and plyometrics.

Working out relieves my stress. It regulates my sleep. It helps my digestion and (ahem) cramps once a month. It clears my head, helps me come up with ideas (for blogging, for writing, for… life…), and helps with my allergy/shortness of breath issues.

Working out rocks. But I don’t care to go to a gym. I don’t drive much, I resist PAYING to work out, and I get grossed out by the sweaty dudes who go to try to pick up chicks.

Enter: Workout DVDs! A few favorites:

1. Amy Bento: (kickboxing) She might be my favorite. I have three of her kickboxing DVDS. THREE of them. They are all fun but intense, have music that’s cheesy but with a decent beat, and she looks like Tea Leoni, which always keeps me staring at her to make sure she isn’t… her. My favorite is the Cardio Kickboxing Surge Core Training.

2. Sarah Ivanhoe: (yoga) I might be secretly in love with Sarah. I asked for a box set of her DVDs for Christmas about 4 years ago, and momma obliged (thanks mom!) She has the best voice, explains breathing well, and I always feel fantastic afterwards. It might be “yoga lite,” but I love it. And for celebrity lookalike number two- she looks a lot like Marisa Tomei. I can look at that for 20 minutes!

3. Rodney Yee/ Mariel Hemingway: (yoga) This dynamic duo has a cute rapport, calming style, and intense stretches. I feel legitimately stronger after these ones. I also like that Rodney interjects little bursts of arm movements/ Tai Chi moves to get your blood pumping. Yoga can get a bit stiff and sleepy at times otherwise! Plus I like his surfer voice.

4. Jackie Warner/ Jillian Michaels: (strength training) I like Jackie’s circuit training (the hamstring moves just kill me) and Jillian’s Boost Metabolism Circuit. I’m usually about ready to kill someone when she does the superman- back moves. My back is not strong, but by gosh I’m trying to change that… These ladies both make me feel like a powerful beast, and I like it…

5. Sharon Mann: (multi) So I picked up a rogue kickboxing/ weights combo DVD from the library. “Who is Sharon Mann?” I thought. I did the kickboxing routine, and it was so much fun (cheesy, but true!) that I couldn’t believe the 20 minutes were over. It felt like 3. She has funny spastic 80s backup crew, super flexy awesome legs, and says things like “this is the way to do it if you’ve had FOUR OR FIVE KIDS!” Gotta love working out with a soccer mom. I like her plyo, I like her boxing, I like her weights/ strength, I like her aerobics, I like her circuits. She’s peppy and obnoxious and wears pigtails. Sold.

So… what else is out there? What am I missing? My sister has shown me a few zumba moves but I’m not sure if there’s a good DVD out there for that… or any good boxing DVDs I should try? (I don’t have equipment)

How (if you do) do you work out? Do you run or do team sports? Go to the gym? Do DVDS? Mix it up? Share with me!

Meri