Search - Michelle Lemay's Spirit Flow: Alive in Your Body on DVD

Good stretches, but VERY slow pace & may bore you

Lena, LMT | Nassau, NY | 08/18/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a 48 min workout with a 2 min verbal intro & ends with a 10 min verbal guided meditation.

This is set with just Michelle on a 5 X9 carpet on a sky blue blank stage that makes her look like she's floating in the sky. The music is basic synthesizer beat that is ok, but boring. Ocassionally when she says to "relax" or "let go" the words will be displayed in white like clouds. Best way I can describe the pace & look is it as a 1960s "peace" video. It's sweet, but a bit over the top.

The stretches in the 48 min are good, head circles, core circles & flexes, horse stance, lunges (w/no hands, held for a long time), triangle, bridge, stand forward bends, butterly, sitting forward bends, wide-legged forward bends, wide legged seated side stretches, single leg stretches, crunch, laying twisted back stretches, etc. The same ones most dance or aerobic exercise dvds do as a warmup & same ones in most yoga dvds. There was only 2-3 stretches that I'd never seen before for opening up the hips, but since I'm flexible, I only moderately felt it.

The pace is what bothered me the most, each stretch pose was done for a few seconds, then let go out, then back in, the let go, then back in for 1 to 2 real minutes & sometimes longer. It seemed very drawn out & boring. The stretches could have easily been done in 20-30 min & people can pause or rewind or redo it if they need more. Most people don't have a whole hour to watch a dvd just for stretching.

There were no modifications for those who need this dvd the most, those with restrictions or chronic injuries. Though some of stretches seem a bit advanced & some require good balance & strength like the lunges, bridge & triangle poses.

There was about a 10 min bonus stretch from her "7 essential stress relievers" that you would expect to be different, but was the same exact neck & core stretching done in the beginning of this dvd."

These stretches really work!

jleereaves | Milledgeville, TN | 04/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This routine is very slow and relaxed, but it really gives each of your muscles a great stretch! There are several body stretches included here that I have not used before. I have been doing yoga for almost a year, but this routine still made me sore! Michelle is a little less personable here than in her class on FitTV, but that doesn't really take anything away from the benefits of this workout. I highly recommend this DVD."

Flowing Stretches

Rebecca Johnson | Washington State | 06/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Michelle LeMay's unique nurturning style relaxes and rejuvenates the body. Her warm Norah Jones/Rachael Ray type personality radiates on screen as her soft voice leads you through a series of stretches designed to release all your tension as you float away on clouds. Yes, clouds. There are clouds and a magic carpet. As the carpet floats in a calm sky of fluffy clouds, Michelle LeMay returns you to the world of peace.



Her calm voice leads you through a series of beautiful healing stretches that feel like a movement meditation. She begins the routine with a simple set of standing stretches and then moves into a lunge series and postures you will recognize from yoga. A yoga mat may be useful while doing poses like triangle. Throughout the workout you start to feel your body relax into the rocking motions and deep stretches that melt away tension.



Where other instructors teach you to stretch and then hold the stretch, Michelle LeMay rocks and nourishes the body. You move from side to side in some of the leg stretches and I enjoyed the spinal rolls, bird of paradise and careful pacing. Her cueing is more like guidance and her energy is subtle and healing.



You may also want to look for her DVD: "Rejuvenating Core Stretch" Both have a similar feel and mood.



~The Rebecca Review

"

Very relaxing and gentle stretch DVD for everyone!

MC | 03/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw Michelle on Fit-TV and was very impressed. So I purchased the DVD, and the benefits I've received have far outweighed my expectations. Her technique really works, and I find myself getting more flexible and limber each time I do the stretches. I also feel so relaxed and serene afterward. I definitely recommend buying the DVD!"