P90 Saturday Special

P90 is an update of Tony Horton's first Beachbody series, Power 90 which was released back in 2000. While there is nothing wrong with Power 90 from an exercise point of view, it does appear quite dated and the production values are poor. Hence, creating an updated version for 2014. P90 is geared toward the person just getting back into fitness or for someone who, for whatever reason, can't do high intensity or hardcore workout systems that Tony and Beachbody have become known for producing.

The P90 set includes 10 workouts broken up over 4 DVDs. The program starts with the 3 workouts on the A disc which are the shortest in length and meant to be foundation for the other 2 stages. There are 3 more workouts on disc B, and another 3 on disc C. There is a 4 disc which has the Saturday Special workout. For an additional cost you can purchase the Speed disc which has 3 Speed workouts and Tony's Greatest Hits.

This review is for Saturday Special, although Tony will be the first one to say to do this any day of the week.

Setting & Music: The set reminds me of a cross between a gym and a loft. A wooden floor with benches, weights, resistance bands, other fitness accessories and posters in the background. The music is instrumental with a kind of rock vibe to it. I found it neither detracted nor enhanced the workout. There is a music off option.

Exercisers: Tony works out with 3 background exercisers, 2 women, 1 of who shows the modifications, and 1 man. Everyone is wearing athletic tops and shorts and no one is noticeably mugging for the camera.

Equipment: water and a towel. A mat is optional.

Warm Up : All warm up moves are done for 30 seconds. Exercises include lateral run, press jacks, and twist & pivot.

Main workout : This workout is a cardio workout with a core focus. The exercises are broken into two rounds. There is a 30 second break between rounds 1 and 2.

Round 1: cross crunch kick, twisting lunge, cross climber, seated A twist, H rowers, hook/upper, double duck.

Round 2: circle crunch, knee pull/side kick, sumo twister, forearm side crunch, gump back, up/down cross crunch, worm jumps, twist & punch.

The cool down is short and has a few stretches for the side, hamstrings, and back.

Overall impressions : As demonstrated by Tony this workout is at an intermediate level. The mixture of cardio with core focused moves makes it hard to elevate this to an advanced level, but it was effective in making me sweat and targeting the core.