interview with kathy smith on dvd workouts

[Guest guest]

from:

http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2008/01/exercises_wonder_woman_kathy_sm\

ith.php

Exercise's Wonder Woman: Kathy

BEFORE THERE WERE AEROBICS, there was Kathy . The exercise guru

made her first videos in the 1980s and, although the field has

transformed radically since those leotard-loving days, she continues

to show off the clear instructions and approachable attitude that

have been the trademarks of her career. We talked to her about

choosing the right DVD workouts for yourself and her latest two discs.

» EXPRESS: How do you generate new ideas?

» SMITH: I listen to my audience. Everyone worries about their abs,

and no one has enough time. That's where " Tummy Trimmers " came from.

It's the kind of DVD I like, too. I'll go for a hike and then come

home, and I want to do 10 minutes of abs or do a 10-minute stretch.

Over the years, you've had these different disciplines take on the

core, and there's something valid about each one. But one works the

obliques more; another is great for the back. The people with the

best abs are ones who've borrowed from each discipline, and that's

what you can do with these five workouts. " Peel off the Pounds

Pilates " came out of this fantasy I have that I'm a dancer. I love

" Dancing With the Stars, " so I put Pilates into dance moves.

» EXPRESS: How can DVD newbies pick the right title for themselves?

» SMITH: Do a little personal analysis. What are you trying to

accomplish? Do you see yourself as a cardio animal, or are you

looking for something quiet and rejuvenating? The spectrum ranges

from to Rodney Yee. Which one is better is which one

you'll do. You can read reviews online, and on some sites you can

see clips. If you have Netflix, you can order as many as you want,

and if there's one you love, you can buy it. And when you're

shopping, look at the back of the DVD. If it doesn't explain what's

in it, and what level it is, think twice.

» EXPRESS: Why do you think people have kept coming back to your DVDs?

» SMITH: I put the energy and effort in — I'm a research junkie.

When I did my pregnancy and menopause DVDs, I got doctors involved.

When I did a boxing DVD, I found a middleweight champion and went to

his classes to train with him. If you could only see what goes into

these productions. We not only want to make them cutting-edge, but

also really doable for the consumer at home. There are things you

can do in a class because people are coming back every week and

you're there to correct them. We send these out to test groups to

see if people can do them on their own.

» EXPRESS: How has the industry changed during your career?

» SMITH: When I first started, it took five days to shoot a video,

so it was much more grueling. Now, it just takes a day. Also, back

in the old days, it had to be perfection. Now, we can be more

realistic, and I like it more that way. The best part for the

consumer is that they've become modular, so you can customize your

workout. And there's more variety for beginning, intermediate and

advanced exercisers, although there's still room to grow in the

beginner category. It's not just about how to exercise. It's how to

keep them motivated, and that's an area I really want to focus on.

» EXPRESS: Any tips for DVD motivation?

» SMITH: Make it a no-gadget zone. It's too easy at home to pick up

the phone. Create a little ritual with your mat and weights to make

it convenient. What happens when you get to something on the DVD you

can't do? Keep moving, substitute something else. If it's something

you just don't want to do, give yourself an incentive. Tell

yourself, " If I do everything on this tape for two weeks, I can buy

myself something. " I like a manicure as a perk for myself.

» EXPRESS: What's the appeal of a DVD to you?

» SMITH: It's about not having to think about what's next. It's the

music, the energy. I'll cue you to go an inch farther, and you'll do

it. But on your own, you'd work out for five minutes and be done

instead of going for 25. Even me, I know the exercises, but watching

a DVD pushes me further.

[Guest guest]

Nice article, thanks CarolynVennittaOn Jan 20, 2008 5:39 PM, Festival City Concrete/ & Carolyn Visser wrote:

from:

http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2008/01/exercises_wonder_woman_kathy_smith.phpExercise's Wonder Woman: Kathy BEFORE THERE WERE AEROBICS, there was Kathy . The exercise gurumade her first videos in the 1980s and, although the field has

transformed radically since those leotard-loving days, she continuesto show off the clear instructions and approachable attitude thathave been the trademarks of her career. We talked to her aboutchoosing the right DVD workouts for yourself and her latest two discs.

» EXPRESS: How do you generate new ideas?» SMITH: I listen to my audience. Everyone worries about their abs,and no one has enough time. That's where " Tummy Trimmers " came from.It's the kind of DVD I like, too. I'll go for a hike and then come

home, and I want to do 10 minutes of abs or do a 10-minute stretch.Over the years, you've had these different disciplines take on thecore, and there's something valid about each one. But one works the

obliques more; another is great for the back. The people with thebest abs are ones who've borrowed from each discipline, and that'swhat you can do with these five workouts. " Peel off the PoundsPilates " came out of this fantasy I have that I'm a dancer. I love

" Dancing With the Stars, " so I put Pilates into dance moves.» EXPRESS: How can DVD newbies pick the right title for themselves?» SMITH: Do a little personal analysis. What are you trying toaccomplish? Do you see yourself as a cardio animal, or are you

looking for something quiet and rejuvenating? The spectrum rangesfrom to Rodney Yee. Which one is better is which oneyou'll do. You can read reviews online, and on some sites you cansee clips. If you have Netflix, you can order as many as you want,

and if there's one you love, you can buy it. And when you'reshopping, look at the back of the DVD. If it doesn't explain what'sin it, and what level it is, think twice.» EXPRESS: Why do you think people have kept coming back to your DVDs?

» SMITH: I put the energy and effort in — I'm a research junkie.When I did my pregnancy and menopause DVDs, I got doctors involved.When I did a boxing DVD, I found a middleweight champion and went tohis classes to train with him. If you could only see what goes into

these productions. We not only want to make them cutting-edge, butalso really doable for the consumer at home. There are things youcan do in a class because people are coming back every week andyou're there to correct them. We send these out to test groups to

see if people can do them on their own.» EXPRESS: How has the industry changed during your career?» SMITH: When I first started, it took five days to shoot a video,so it was much more grueling. Now, it just takes a day. Also, back

in the old days, it had to be perfection. Now, we can be morerealistic, and I like it more that way. The best part for theconsumer is that they've become modular, so you can customize yourworkout. And there's more variety for beginning, intermediate and

advanced exercisers, although there's still room to grow in thebeginner category. It's not just about how to exercise. It's how tokeep them motivated, and that's an area I really want to focus on.

» EXPRESS: Any tips for DVD motivation?» SMITH: Make it a no-gadget zone. It's too easy at home to pick upthe phone. Create a little ritual with your mat and weights to makeit convenient. What happens when you get to something on the DVD you

can't do? Keep moving, substitute something else. If it's somethingyou just don't want to do, give yourself an incentive. Tellyourself, " If I do everything on this tape for two weeks, I can buy

myself something. " I like a manicure as a perk for myself.» EXPRESS: What's the appeal of a DVD to you?» SMITH: It's about not having to think about what's next. It's themusic, the energy. I'll cue you to go an inch farther, and you'll do

it. But on your own, you'd work out for five minutes and be doneinstead of going for 25. Even me, I know the exercises, but watchinga DVD pushes me further.-- Get Fit! Weight loss will follow