Billy Blanks: Billy's Bootcamp: Basic Training Bootcamp

In my ongoing quest for a better physique, I tried the above mentioned workout. Its awesome. Sure its just the beginners level and the later levels might be even better, but right now, at whatever stage I am at, I could not do all the exercises for as many repetitions as he encourages you to do.
The best part of the workout is that he keeps talking and pumping you up, pushing you to the limit. The workout is, as I said earlier, really neat and works almost all your major body parts.
Though he does recommend using the 'Billy Blanks Restraint Cord' during the workout, you can do without it. There is one girl in the background who does not have the cord and you can watch her move if you don't have one either.
You don't realize you spent 55 minutes working your body out at the end of it. (Unless your sweat speaks.) I still do not feel the complete post-workout effects as its just been about 4 hours and I am sure about those coming in tomorrow.

Thinking about getting the next dvds in the series once I can get all the exercises on this disc under my belt.

Warning : Its Billy B'L'anks not Banks! Googling the words 'Billy Banks' is not what you want to do in public.

My first 'Tai Chi ' attempt

I decided to try my hand at the acclaimed Tai Chi way to physical and mental health. To check it out, I got the 'Tai Chi for beginners' DVD and went through the 24 forms that Dr.Lam showed and explained via the videos.
I really liked it. The smooth fluid movements did not seem difficult to watch or perform individually. But once I started doing the various forms in a rythmic motion, I literally felt my muscles being worked out and the 'Chi' as it is called. The best part of it was the control on the breath.
The DVD introduces the Qigong (pronounce ' Chi - jong ' ) style of Tai Chi.

I have watched a few other excercise routine videos and discs before and this one is totally different. There are no glamorous bikini clad models here (helping you concentrate on the excercise hehe.. ). But the development team certainly has thought about what they are doing. While explaining every excercise, they have atleast one person facing the camera and one facing the other way. This prevents you from forgetting whether you were doing the right or the left side. It also , kind of takes you into the group making it easier to follow the steps.

I certainly would suggest taking at least a peek at the disc before ignoring it totally. Hey, if its not your style, you can always switch it off :D !

I am not sure if Tai Chi can improve your muscle mass, but I am certain that if done correctly and consistently, it will improve the form of both the body and mind. Its breathing techniques are quite similar to those in yoga and the overall philosophy idea behind the excercises also feels the same.

Shape your abs

A recent DVD I viewed. Its quite good. The instructor, Tracy York, has done a great job of putting together some great excercise routines and more over, explaining them nicely.

Its not advertised as one of those 'lose 90 punds a day' workouts. But after about a month since I started following Tracy's tips, I certainly feel (and see) the difference.

I would recommend this to all of you who seriously and consistently are trying to improve your mid-section. Happy work-outs!

Avatar : The last airbender - Book 2 (Earth) Disc 3

A sequel to my last post about Avatar : The last airbender, this post is to express my joy and satisfaction after watching the 3rd disc of Book 2 - Earth. Got my disc on 29th May and just closed the DVD player window that was running this disc.

The 5 episodes on the disc were great to watch. Certainly 2 and half ours of my life well spent. I am certainly not going to describe the episodes and give away the plots. But if you are an animation fan, be sure to watch this disc. It has some great animation sequences (especially in a few fight routines) and totally worth searching for.

Have fun! Go Aang! (and Soka and Tof and ofcourse the beautiful Katara)