Baby-N-Momerobics/Daderobics

After watching special-interest videos for five years, I admit I've seen some pretty pointless productions. This one ranks right up there. Laura Brown, a Pre-Natal/Post-Natal Coordinator at the Sentara Health and Fitness Center in Hampton, VA is the creator and hostess for this very long, very demanding, and pretty strange aerobics workout. The press release proclaims that "this is the ONLY video on the market that the parents can actually do aerobics and use their infant at the same time!" Despite the wretched syntax, the claim is most likely true, and it should be noted that the word "use" in the sentence above is meant literally. The aerobics workout consists of the usual footwork, but the upper torso--which when utilized correctly is instrumental in the important breathing aspect of aerobics exercise--is nearly stationary, since one is cradling an infant. This is roughly equivalent--with no disrespect intended to children--to doing disco with a sack of potatoes. After this strenuous session, Brown and her demonstrators lie down and do some floorwork, using the baby for a weight. One woman, whose child wanders off, wiggles the arms and legs of a teddy bear back and forth (the benefit to either her or the bear is not clearly understood). Good production values, good music, rather silly idea. Not recommended. (Available from most distributors.)