Classical Stretch by ESSENTRICS: Season 4

As a senior fitness instructor and personal trainer I am always looking for programs to provide the results my clients are looking for, such as weight loss, strength, pain relief, or flexibility. The Edmonde Technique is a worthwhile program and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exercise program that is gentle yet yields results. I purchased the CDs in coordination with the training manual, but the CDs work well by themselves unless you are interested in the anatomy point of view or detailed explanations of the different techniques used in the program as I was.

Never tried an exercise video before but my wife cajoled me into buying and trying it. Glad I did. It focuses on stretching and I needed it (although I didn't know I did). We both have benefited from using it - and we do them (several routines on the video - about 30 minutes each - for different muscle groups) regularly. Everything becomes easier - energy improves - stress drops - aches and pains diminish. We're devoted Mirandaites - she makes it easy.

This DVD is amazing. I saw an episode on PBS in San Diego and I was hooked. Mirada explains her techniques very well and they are super simple to complete and never make you feel you are doing the exercises incorrectly. The bonus is that you perform the techniques so well you begin to see your body transform into a much slender physique.

It took awhile for me to get into these workouts after purchase. A couple of years. I thought the exercises looked lame, stupid, and way too repetitive to hold my interest. Leg lifts. Whoopee. After recovering from a spinal injury, feeling weak, suffering from fibromyalgia, and losing 30 pound on the Pain Diet, I tried to dedicate myself to just a few of these workouts, just to test moving around again. So it's not just leg lifts, when it looks like just leg lifts, or arm lifts, or anything else. I tried to moderate these exercises so that I would not hurt myself, or cause a flare. Even 'taking it easy' left me knowing that I was working things that needed it. Now, I do many of these exercizes in front of the TV, standing, on the floor. It is very easy to incorporate these movements into just about any activity I perform throughout the day. I have my flexibility back, and then some. I am unable to do most abdominal exercises, but have found exercises that I can do, that will leave me with a nice belly burn, and some of that delicious soreness where it counts. Esmonde-White presents as bubbly and friendly. She is not always on top of her cues, and loses count sometimes. That is part of the charm, for me, anyway. There is no obnoxious, overwhelming music or personalities. No one is showing as much skin as they can possibly manage. So, by some of today's standards, these might be boring workouts. They are workouts, however, and I feel like I have gotten what I paid for. I appreciate the focus on exactly what you are doing with your body, and how it is being affected.

I bought this one after buying/loving her "Classical Stretch by Essentrics Age-Reversing Workout Mobility & Bone-Strengthening for Beginners" (which is wonderful!) because I'd heard that Season 4 is also beginner-level. Actually, the workouts here are more quickly paced, more intense, but don't let that discourage you. Stay with it and you'll be up to speed soon. So - lots of great workouts, lots of good information. You can trust Miranda Esmonde-White's workouts will be good for your entire body. BUT ... be aware that these workouts were done in standard-definition video and then upconverted for HD, so the picture is not as sharp as I expected it would be. The audio level (loud/soft) varies noticeably between segments. There are often times when Miranda has to fuss with her earpiece. The videography relied on natural light, which means sometimes Miranda is in shadow. I found these technical aspects distracting the first time through, but truly you're here for the workout, so let it go.

Just the exercise DVD I've been searching for! I'm new to Ms. Esmonde-White's technique, so am a little slow following some techniques, but I feel so wonderful after each session. I'm a retired woman, and lazy in my physical activity, but I don't have to talk myself into working with this DVD. I enjoy the format, and her style, and all that I am learning. As stated, I feel great after each session, and can feel/see changes in my attitude, posture and physical being. I'm very happy I found this.

My wife and I have really enjoyed this exercise program. Short duration but gets a lot done. Combine old style aerobics in warm up with full body moving strectches. Sometimes too fast so we do not recommend this for someone who is not accustomed to exercising. Great program and you can record it on PBS!

I like that she has lots of workouts to choose from on the DVDs, and I can see that the exercises would be quite beneficial; However, I really wish she had included an intro explaining proper form for the different moves. For a beginner, I find the routines a bit difficult to follow, not knowing the proper form for each move. I checked out her website and found some help there, so I'll use the DVDs and hopefully over time I'll get better at following her routines.

Bought this as a gift. I was just told again that they absolutely loved this lady Miranda Esmonde-White. They work out/stretch every morning to her. She is calm and doesn't over work you... great if your trying to heal from an injury. They notice great posture improvment. Along with this gift... I purchased the book Aging Backwards by Miranda Esmonde-White. Apparently she is extremely knowledgable. Together DVD & Book, it made the perfect gift.

Excellent classes! Even with my limited capacity, at this point in time, I feel I can do these exercises because Miranda explains how not to hurt yourself and she explains what one is trying to accomplish for each issue.

I have been doing classical stretch every evening for the past year.i have arthritis in my back and it really helps with back pain.i cant lie on my back but I find the standing evercisesand barre beneficial.the plie squats really help to tone and strengthen the thighs.i bought this dvd as it was older and I hadn't seen it before.miranda explains what you are working on at the beginning of each episode.the series is taped in beautiful resorts in Jamaica.i cant get south any time soon because of the pandemic so I make a pina colada to sip on while I do my workout with miranda and pretend I am in the carribean.

My wife and I find this book very interesting and informative. We both will be following its recommendations and find that it compliments our life style and hope that it continues to keep us active and in good physical shape in the years ahead!

So far I'm liking the stretch program but I'm only on level 3 and have a long ways to go. She is very easy to understand and the movements aren't too hard - even though I'm an overweight senior citizen.