Jari Love: Body Rock!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this workout since the description of it both here on Amazon and on Jari's website were pretty vague. Since I have all seven of Jari's previous workouts and really like them, though, I pre-ordered this workout since I always like what she does. This workout definitely marks a new direction for Jari -- and it's a good one!Basically, there are four premixes on the main menu that you can choose from: the Complete Workout, the High/Low Workout, the Dance Workout, and the Weights/Abs Workout. If you choose to do the Complete Workout, the entire thing comes in at just around 65 or 70 minutes long. The idea behind the Complete Workout is that she has you do 2-3 minutes of high- and low-impact routines and 3 minutes of dance moves that are alternated. In some of Jari's more recent workouts, she alternates weight and cardio segments, but in this newest workout, you do all your cardio, and then you do the weight and ab work at the end, once you've finished your cardio. From what Jari said in the intro to the workout, the idea is to bust through any weight loss plateaus and shake up your routine a bit.There are some aspects of this workout that are definitely new for Jari. The warm-up section only has her -- with none of her usual backup crew, and it felt sort of rushed to me. Also, the biggest surprise to me was that the Dance section isn't led by Jari -- it's led by a woman named Angie who has her own crew of backup dancers. There are no male background exercisers in this workout, which was another surprise since Jari usually includes at least one male.From what Jari also said in the introduction to this video, the Weights segment is designed to be an update of Slim and Lean, and I found that the exercises in this section definitely did remind me a lot of Slim and Lean. Instead of doing compound moves where you work legs and an upper body part at the same time (which Jari's last few workouts have been like), this workout focuses on just working one body part (chest, shoulders, etc.) at a time in isolated moves.Also, since the weights section moves pretty quickly, Jari doesn't explain form. For that reason, I wouldn't recommend this workout for beginners, but would suggest getting one of Jari's earlier workouts so you can learn proper form.Here is a breakdown of the Complete Workout:--Warm-Up (just Jari by herself)--Salsa section (led by Angie and her crew of backup dancers)--Alternating Knee and Heels (hi/low led by Jari and with her usual crew)--Latin section (led by Angie again; builds on earlier Salsa section)--Jacks (led by Jari)--Jazz dance (led by Angie)--Guitar Knee (led by Jari)--Disco section (led by Angie)--Heel Kicks (led by Jari)--Funky dance (led by Angie)--Knees Up (led by Jari)--Hip Hop (led by Angie)--Heels Up and Cooldown (led by Jari, but Angie joins the Jari group)**move into Weights and Abs section (this whole section is just led by Jari)**--Squat/Hamstring track--Chest and Triceps track (the chest track is one of the hardest on any of Jari's workouts!)--Back and Wide Back track--Biceps and Shoulders track--Abs--Stretch and CooldownAs far as the weight exercises go, a few of the weight moves are from her previous workouts, but one of the things I really like about Jari's videos is that she always comes up with new weight moves, and this workout is no exception.The dance and hi/low portions were also a lot of fun to do! I had to push myself in a few of the dance sections to get my heart rate up there, but it was a fun change from the last few Jari workouts that use the step for the cardio sections. In fact, there is no step used for this workout at all, which makes set-up nice and easy.Some of the music is from her previous workouts, but it wasn't too noticeable. The music for the weights section was great!The biggest negative I see with this workout is that if you do the Complete Workout (which is how I intend to use it), your heart rate drops between each dance and hi/lo aerobics segment since the segment ends, and a screen comes up that tells you what's coming next. It doesn't flow very well, so I found myself doing jumping jacks or jogging in place to keep my heart rate up. There also isn't a lot of explanation by Angie in the dance segments, but she only has you do two or three moves in each section, and I found that as long as I was moving, I got my heart rate up -- even if I couldn't keep up and look as graceful as the dancers!Overall, this is a fun new workout. If you like Jari's other DVD's, then you will probably also really like this one. I've gotten great results from using her workouts for four to six weeks at a time (getting more definition and losing body fat), and I can see myself using this one a lot. Despite its negatives, I still give it five stars since others may not think that the problematic areas I noted are problematic.I'll also try to update my review after I've done it a few more times.UPDATE ON 2/5/10: After doing this workout a second time, I realized that the break segments between the dance and hi/lo segments really aren't too long at all -- so my heart rate did a nice job of staying up there. In fact, the hi/lo segments are tough enough that the dance segments provided a nice recovery. One big negative, though, is that the hi/lo segments just start in midstream; this was probably meant to keep your heart rate high, but it was odd editing since some segments started with Jari and the background exercisers in the middle of a move. Jari's hi/lo sections were also classic "old school" hi/lo aerobics: lots of knee lifts, jacks, etc. Two of the background exercisers and Jari are modifying and doing the low-impact version in each segment.Jari's warm-up is still much too fast for me! I felt like she was going at warp speed. Also, in her hi/lo sections, there are five back-up gals, and the set/screen almost felt too cluttered with six people in front of me. Like another reviewer said, the set and outfits are still really dark on this workout, but that doesn't bother me too much. I do prefer the brighter set and clothes on her earlier workouts, but the darkness isn't too bad, and I've gotten used to it in her last few workouts.I also agree that the weights portion is where this workout really excels. I loved the techno music, and this section of the workout felt really high energy. True, this section is short (about 30 minutes long), but I really loved it and can see myself doing this section a lot on its own if I want a quick weight workout. There isn't as much focus on the legs as there is in Jari's other workouts, but my legs really felt the hi/lo aerobics sections, so I felt like they got a good workout overall.Other than that, it was still a fun workout the second time through, despite the few negative aspects of it. For me, this had good "fun factor" and I can see myself doing this one a lot.

I am a huge Jari Love fan. I love her style of workout and encouragment. She is for sure one of my favorite trainers. I am continusly surprised at the price of her DVD's, I would pay twice what they cost. She is an amazing instructor - she really knows what she's doing. I particularly enjoy her website and all the helpful hints she provides. She is great!!!!I dont have all of her dvd's just yet but I do have 3 including this one and cannot wait to get the rest of them.I also waited for awhile before commenting on this dvd. I wanted to do it for awhile and be sure of how I really felt about it. I can say that I do think Jari's other DVD's are more effective. I have Ripped and Chisled and Get Extremly Ripped 1000 and I cannot tell you how much I love them and what great results I get when I am eating properly. Excellent, Excellent! One thing you will hear again and again in the fitness world is that you must have variety to acheive weight loss, toning, definition goals. Variety is what shakes things up, keeps your body guessing so that you dont get into plateau. I think that is the great thing about this DVD. It is different than Jari's other DVD's and most other DVD's and I love that she took a chance and did somethnig different and it really does work.Warm Up: I agree the warm up is really fast. I didnt like it at first but after doing it several times I really like it! I feel like it wakes me up and gets me going. I love Jari's energy. I like that she did something different by warming up along. It feels like she is training you personally. I love her comments at the beginning here to give the workout all you have.Hi/Low Cardio portion: I agree that the cardio is not as intense as some other dvds, you have to really put your back into it to get and keep your heart rate up. But Jari acknowledges this at the beginning of the DVD in the warm up section to put your all into it. The thing is I found when I do work harder it is a very good workout. Like someone said at first you are kind of thrown off with the old school moves that seem really lame at first but then as you do it a few times you get into it and its fun! I still dont like that when you go from the dance to the cardio part they are in the middle of the moves. The choreography is also awkward at times but I like that Jari doesnt try to be perfect or make her crew seem like they are perfect they are just like us just in WAY better shape then most of us :).Dance portion: I sometimes will not do the dance portion bc I just cant keep my heart rate up enough and it doesnt feel like a good workout. But it is fun and you can actually learn some cool dance moves. My husband and I are taking a dance class and doing these moves actually helped me! I love that Jari had a professional dancer lead this instead of doing it herself. She is humble and awesome what a smart move to get into the dance workout dvd's and yet stay in her element of expertise. I love that!Weight and ABs: As everyone said this section is stellar and more closely matches Jari's other DVD's yet you dont feel like you are doing the same old moves. She knows how to incorporate variety to keep her clients bodies guessing and that gets results!Trust me this lady knows whats shes doing. So instead of being dissapointed because its different. I applaud her for giving us something different to add to our workout collection. It is not her best work but it is good and I am happy that I pre-ordered it.

I bought this dvd 2 weeks ago, after buying another Jari dvd.I started to think i had made the wrong choice when i first put it on and saw the dance workouts!! HOw wrong could I have been. Sandwiched between the more slower pace of the dance workouts is a high intensity cardio blast.The weights and abs workout is also brilliant and leaves you feeling like you have had a session with a personal trainer.Also wanted to mention the music in weights and abs which is fab!! A dark, drum and base sound track which i found really aided my concentration and pushed me to keep up with the people on the dvd.Overall a must for anyone who wants real results.

cardio and strength, gets the heartrate up and toning at same time, i think jari is very good, i have few of her dvds, but they are quite expensive to buy.

this is a great DVD the workout is brilliant. I have got most of Jaris DVDs ans she is a qualified trainer not some celebrity who has not got a clue what they are doing, she certainly is one of the best and I wwould recommend her DVDs to women and men who want to work hard but see results

This is another great workout from Jari Love and her Team. I have had and used this dvd for over 3 weeks now , and been doing the workout 3-4 times a week and already I can see definition in my arms and have lots several inches from my tummy. Worth buying and make sure you buy hand weights to use as the weights help to burn more calories. I have the Reebok 3kg and 2kg dumbbells. I will keep doing it as I'm so pleased with the quick results. It is intense so be ready to sweat and work hard but the results are worth it as you slip into those clothes !!

This is the second cd of Jari's that I have purchased. I love the weights and abs part, although I'm not too keen on the other workouts on the cd as I have absolutely no coordination and tend to stay away from dance type workouts.