Functional Training That's Simple, Effective and Fun: Rev4 DVD Review

Hey There!
So, I've been doing some research on different products on the fitness circuit. (No pun intended.) I recently watched, a pod cast from Chalene Johnson's "Build Your Tribe" series. I love this podcast! Well, Chalene has lots of guest speakers on her show and the speaker for this episode was Natalie Jill, of NatalieJillFit.com. This single mom and entrepeneur turned to functional training after gaining weight, and suffering from a back injury, and while Natalie Jill is in stellar shape, she says that fitness has helper her live life better because everyday tasks are so much easier! I can definitely agree with that statement! I was super impressed with her response team. They seemed as warm in their emails as Natalie is in her dvd's. Natalie also has numerous ebooks on fitness and healthy eating which you can learn more about on her website.

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I was so excited to review the Rev-4 Dvd. I know that many of my readers spend lots of time on the road and or do not live near gyms. These workouts are also a great length to get you through the holiday fitness slump, because who wants to start from scratch after New Years'?

Here's my review of this pretty nifty dvd:

Equipment: mat/towel and or dumbells

The dvd has 4 workouts, plus a warm-up and cool-down safety tips, and bonus material.

Warm-up: Natalie takes you through dynamic stretching and heat-building exercises that get your muscles primed and ready for the following workout and help prevent injury. She also modifies movements as needed.

Full-Body
These intervals of compound movements work your entire body, and provide a little bit of a cardio component. Squats and lunges are used, and there are push-ups and plank variations. Natalie is great at teaching proper technique, and explains which muscles are used in each exercise.

Lower Body
Natalie takes you through some effective and fun lunge combinations, and some isolation exercises and gets your heart pumping. Add weights or bands for an even bigger burn. I definitely felt my quads, glutes, and hamstrings on fiyahhh!!Just when you think you don't have any more muscle left to burn, she has you cranking out 3 more reps! I loved the way she taught hip extensions, it was a little different from how they're shown most of the time. There are some plyometric movements, like skater hops,  but nothing too scary. Really, you could crank up the intensity as much as you want here.

Upper Body
Watch out! Dudes, this workout will make you sweat! Natalie is my new arm inspiration. This all-bodyweight workout is no easy-peasy workout. Your abs and arms will feel the burn. Those sliding push-ups will make your arms burn and pump up your heart. This is where I personally need to be challenged. I like that she uses rotating side planks, but does them at a mid-range tempo, which emphasizes doing them with correct technique.

Core Crusher
Let us give thanks...for planks! This core crusher really uses your entire body. Natilie explains how to modify each plank variation and pushes you through those core intervals. This one definitely pushed my limits, but it was fun. I love the up-and-down planks in this.

Cool Down
Don't skip it, just don't. This will help prevent excessive cramping, and help you wind down from that awesome workout you just had. Static stretching after a workout also aids in preventing joint injury and severe muscle imbalances.Static stretches help cool the body down and help you to slow down and unwind. Stretching after a workout may also improve joint mobility for future workouts.

I definitely liked the Rev-4 dvd and would recommend it for beginner to intermediate exercisers. I would love to see a dvd for more advanced exercisers, but I love that she uses bodyweight-only in the videos. I think a lot of people injure themselves in the beginning by not focusing on proper form and technique and reach for heavy weights, which you can add to many of the exercises in these dvd's  as you progress. Hey, if you've over trained using heavy weights, like I have in the past, then you understand the importance of taking it back to the basics and really focusing on that mind-body connection. NatalieJill knows her stuff, and I love her philosophy for training for functional fitness. If you're looking for a quick workout to get you through the holidays or a gift for your fave fitness buff, then this is a great option!

Get moving! 

-  Julie