Walk it Off with George! Champion Walk & Sweat
Reviews from VideoFitness
I’m reviewing this workout after previewing and doing it once each.
General workout breakdown: This walking video lasts about 33 minutes. The base steps include walking (or marching), side steps, step with a heel in front, the “Foreman shuffle” (three steps and a tap), step knee, heel curl, wide march, out out in in, and lunge (more of a tap out to the side or back). The video ends with a cool down and stretches for the calf, hip flexor, and hamstring. Joanna’s right in assessing these videos: there’s not much in the way of arms, which isn’t a bad thing if you’re brand new to exercise since there’s less to concentrate on. The pace is along the lines of what I would consider a moderately quick stroll, so it’s not too fast.
Level: I’d recommend this to beginners. Exercisers at the beginner / intermediate crossover point through low intermediate could exaggerate their moves and add light hand weights to make this a decent workout for them, too. I consider myself at least at the high intermediate stage with respect to floor aerobics, and this video is too easy for me, but it was just right when I was sick and wanted to get off the couch.
Class: 2 men and 7 women join George and Petra. Three of the exercisers are of a plus size frame and are featured prominently here, but what I love is that the “thin” background exercisers all look realistically fit, not the type of skinny that you only get with genetics. The background exercisers demonstrate variations when there are some. Petra will preview some new moves, and she and George generally will stay with the basic moves when there are options to increase the intensity.
Music: upbeat music with a good beat: some of it’s pop music (recognizable, but nothing I could name), some of it’s standard exercise video stuff.
Set: interior studio space with muted lighting. A big sign in the back proclaims this is “George’s Gym,” and there are various pieces of boxing equipment, lockers, etc., lining the walls.
Production: good picture and sound. The camera shots were more or less helpful, but I wish the camera wouldn’t do so many close ups of people’s upper bodies, since this is a walking video, and I think it’s best if the camera always shows the instructor when there’s a new move.
Equipment: sneakers.
Space Requirements: Ideally you should be able to take two medium-sized steps to each side and forwards and backwards, but if you have less space, just stay in place.
DVD Notes: There are no chapters on this DVD, so have your remote handy to fast forward through the Warnings, GoodTimes logo, Walk it off with George! intro, and George’s description.
Conclusion: This is intended to be the second video in the Walk it Off with George! infomercial set, and I’d agree that it’s the second easiest in terms of intensity and complexity. I’ll pass this along to someone who’d use it more, as there are other videos that suit my current level of fitness and interest in choreography better.
Petra leads the workout. She cues decently, usually given you enough notice of move changes, and mirror cues (i.e. when she says “left,” she means your left). She’ll preview the more complicated moves (like step with a heel), but then she’ll show the less intense variation of a move, too. Her British accent is easy to understand. She’s a bit over the top here in her enthusiasm and constantly reminds you that you’re walking it out with George.
George is primarily here for encouragement, although he occasionally offers tips on posture or cues a move. George also throws in a joke or two about his days as a boxer, picks on some of the background exercisers, and banters back and forth with Petra. For someone who showed such amazing dexterity in the boxing ring, he’s not the most graceful when it comes to the dancier moves, but that’s part of what’s endearing about him.