Friday, October 14, 2005

Callanetics Review

I mentioned a few posts ago that I started doing Callanetics and said I might post again after I'd done ten sessions, to see how Callanetics' "10 years younger in 10 hours" claim holds up.

It should go without saying that nothing can make you younger--relentless march of time and all that--but Callanetics can firm you up faster than anything I'm aware of. It won't make you fit, it won't make you lose fat, and it won't improve your upper body strength. It will firm you up noticeably in an amazingly short time, though, so the "10 hours" claim isn't mere hype.

I'm doing Callanetics three times a week, and I've now done ten sessions. I've lost about one and a quarter inches off my waist and about three and a half inches off my hips. My underarm area (not the triceps, but where ladies who aren't super-thin get a little roll of fat between their bra and the edge of their arm) has firmed up considerably. (This is odd actually, because I assumed when I started that the underarm tightener exercise wouldn't work and it still doesn't feel as if it's doing anything to that area.) I think the sides of my thighs are starting to slim up. My abdomen is MUCH stronger than when I started. I still can't do the full set of reps on the stomach exercises, but I never thought I would improve this much so fast. All of these results in about three weeks and without the loss of one pound; and to be honest, there were two sessions where I was running short on time and had to cut my session short, so my time spent is well under the "10 hours" of the claim.

Callanetics also lives up to its claim to be easy on the back. I don't have back problems myself, but I have tried to assess it as if I did and as far as I can tell there's no strain on the back. There's more talk about back safety in the Callanetics book; I believe there was even another Callanetics book specifically for people with back problems.

There is strain on the neck, however, when you do the abdomen exercises. Callan Pinckney claims it will disappear after a few sessions, and for me at least this seems to be the case. She does recommend putting your hands behind your neck if it's a problem for you, and of course it helps if you try not to pull with your neck.

As for the other negatives, in the reviews I read before I purchased the DVD, I saw that some people didn't like the instructor's manner or her accent and that they thought the exercises were boring and the looks & musci laughably dated. I like the instructor, think the look of the hair and leotards holds up much better than most '80s area stuff, and don't mind the music (it reminds me of Mister Rogers neighborhood for some reason). As for boredom, well, most exercise is boring, that's why people prefer to sit on the couch watching Andy Griffith reruns; right now I'm too busy trying to improve to be bored by this, but when I start to get bored, I think the great results will keep me at it for quite a while after.

The only other "negative" I can think of is that it seems a little odd to have the relaxing stretches before the final exercises; it may be because of my experiences with yoga exercise, but it just seems the tape ought to end with the relaxing lower back stretch. On the other hand, I love the placement of the ab exercises immediately after the warm-up; with this you don't have to go through the tape dreading the ab part.

Upshot: I definitely recommend this exercise video and the accompanying book. It may be nearly twenty years old and the exercises may seem odd, but it works.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the review! I just started with the "Callanetics for beginners" video and googled for results to keep motivation up.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for yr review too. i was searching for this Callanetics 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours and came upon yr site through the search engine.

Anonymous said...

Hi
I used to do callanetics years ago in my early 20,s and it was brill my bottom was great lol. now at 42 everything has gone south, so i dug out the tape again and have just odered the 10 year younger one. It is the only workout via home work out i have done that really does work, well i have done it 3 times this week and my arms are alot firmer. i will let you know how i get on with the dvd 10 years younger. I really have brought SOOOO many workout videos but this one really does beat them.

Anonymous said...

I've been using Callanetics since high school (I'm 40 now) and have never found anything that works better! It is so relaxing, and every time I do the tape (dvd), I feel like I've done something great for my body! The best!!!!!

Anonymous said...

i recently ordered a callanetics video, i'm currently waiting for it to arrive, can it really be this good?! my mom says 'if its too good to be true, it's probably not true'... this sounds WAY too good to be true!

Anonymous said...

I've been doing Callanetics for about 5 hours now. It is really amazing how fast it works. I come from a dance background but have had health problems for a long time and got VERY out of shape so I wanted something that would really give results. Wow...this is amazing! I am kind of a snob when it comes to exercise videos. This has been a great find!

herbalife said...

Just started 10 in 10 callanetics. My goal is for a slim,lean and tight body like I had when i first did callanetics 13 years ago.

Anonymous said...

It does work! Stick to it and youl'l be pleasantly surprised. I've been a fan of Calens workouts for many years and love the results.
I'm in my mid 50's now and don't follow up as regularly - but its amazing how strong my core becomes once again just after a few sessions! Ruby

Anonymous said...

I did 10 in 10 15 years ago with fantastic results. It got rid of my celulite when nothing else did. I'm 63 now and did my first hour yesterday. I started with the program for people my age. I've always been an active person . Try to also walk everyday. I feel wonderful. Saw an Infomercial using an EXPENSIVE bare with similar movements. That's what got me doing callanetics again. Some of calens stretches are like a massage. WONDERFUL !!!

Anonymous said...

I taught these nearly 15 years ago and its the best! I am 58 and decided to get back on the Barr, so to speak!! Putting a class together and I know it may take longer, cause I am really out of shape these days, but we can all begin again...together :-)

Anonymous said...

They are the most boring exercises in the world to do - and they're surprisingly difficult to master. But they work, big time. If you're patient, in no time at all you will feel tighter everywhere. The dullness of executing them is a challenge, but I can promise you, they deliver.

Anonymous said...

Yes, this workout never gets outdated. It is gentle, but amazingly effective. If done right, (I do the advanced) it has very difficult moves, and as your shape improves, it stays with you for years, even if you take time away from the exercises. I started Callanetics in my 30's, stopped for 20 or so years, picked it back up in my 50's, and I was so enthusiastic to get back that lovely shape, and some of my shape still kept some of the tone from where I left off years ago. Callan Pickney was an amazing person and trainer.