How important do you think looks are to

[Lynn M.]

For me, I don't care if the instructor has a pretty face or even so much that buff of a bod. The one thing I am picky on is the instructor's voice and how what he/she says during the workout.

I can't stand a whiny, screechy voice, esp. if I'm doing the home workout early AM.

I used to have a couple of Denise Austin vids from way back when. The workouts were decent for my fitness level then, but I just dreaded listening to her voice... It was so irritating. Nails on a chalkboard....

Cathe does a great job with sound on her workouts...love her voice and her inflections and she doesn't say anything annoying.. Definitely an underrated plus!

Lynn M.

 

[carres1973]

the success of an exercise DVD? I cannot think of a single instructor who's unattractive. In fact, I can't even think of a single unattractive background exerciser.

I'm curious as to what you guys think--there's an instructor at my gym who's trying to film a w/o & let's just say she's not the cutest thing in the world. She has a good bod, but nothing like Cathe's. Also, she seems to have no idea what she's doing--she doesn't understand the world of home exercisers, but since I'm not a "professional" she has no interest whatsoever in my input.

I think she's gonna put out a lotta money w/no ROI.

Laura - I didn't used to think looks mattered to me in a DVD instructor. However, I recently tried an instructor that many on here and VF like. I could not get past the looks and body composition of one of the background exercisers. It was very distracting for me!

OTOH, I have instructors at my gym that aren't great looking but kick my butt in the class. I guess I am more tolerant of "real" people as opposed to "TV" people??

Unfortunately, I wonder if people like the instructor at your gym need to learn the hard way.

Carrie

 

[RapidBreath]

I've seen bad home workouts

Yeah, I have seen workouts that were done with bad exercises, ugly instructors, etc. But, you have to keep in mind I think that Ms. Cathe is super cute and now I'm spoiled.

 

[nancy324]

To be totally honest about this, for me an exercise instructor must look lean and cut. For example, I don't think Jari Love is particuarly "attractive" (I honestly think she's too thin), but when I do her workouts I feel that it is possible to stay very lean while developing muscle, and it inspires me. There is a personal trainer at my gym that a lot of people use, and while I'm sure she has some nice muscle on her body, I can't actually see it because it's covered by fat. I think it's just the way she's built, and I know she's middle-aged like me, but I will not work out with a personal trainer whose body does not inspire me. It doesn't help that I'm leaner than she is either. Rationally, I know it's probably just a happenstance of genes, but emotionally it just doesn't work for me. I've got to see lean and cut.

Of course, personality is very important too. Jane Fonda is my physical idol (did you see her in Monster-in-Law looking better than JLo as the bride??), but as an instructor she's like a drill sergeant with no sense of humor. The right attitude and personality are crucial.

 

[diane57]

I have a preference which is the opposite of Nancy's. I tend to prefer instructors who are NOT super lean, but are healthy and fit looking. Seeing the muscles is not crucial to me. I think this is because I am happiest and also very healthy at about a size 12, and so I like to see instructors that are larger than the norm because I can relate to them. My reasons for working out have less to do with wanting to be thinner or more defined, and more to do with preserving my health and just having a fun hobby. For this reason I really like Gin, Nekea Brown and Rhonda Cook. I think Seasun Zieger is a wonderful instructor but I just can't relate to somebody so very lean. I also tend to get bugged by instructors who lose a lot of weight when they looked just fine before, like Jari, because I think it encourages the idea of "the thinner the better" which I think is not always true.

 

[shelsmaha]

About Leslie Sansone I think she appeals to someone that wants a nice friendly motivator. She is pretty and nice. Not a body like Cathe's but to some they might be intimidated by that? (Cathe's great bod)

I love the quote about Danielle!!! Ha made me think of working out with her...scary for sure!!! Can't wait to see what those darn housewives are up to tomorrow!!

 

[JeanneMarie]

I don't care what the instructor or background exercisers look like! Not only that, I don't care about the music, the set, or the clothing.... any of that!

ALL that matters to me is that the workout be something I want to do, and something that works for me.

I don't spend much time looking at the TV screen when I work out. I cue on the audio, the voice of the instructor telling me what to do (after I've learned a workout I mean). If a workout gives me the results I"m loking for, it just doesn't make any difference to me about the instructor. After all, I want to look like me, not the instructor!

Nancy, I watched Monster-in-Law on TV the other night. You are right! Jane Fonda looks absolutely amazing! She's still got it!

 

[LauraMax]

I don't care what the instructor or background exercisers look like! Not only that, I don't care about the music, the set, or the clothing.... any of that!

ALL that matters to me is that the workout be something I want to do, and something that works for me.

I don't spend much time looking at the TV screen when I work out. I cue on the audio, the voice of the instructor telling me what to do (after I've learned a workout I mean). If a workout gives me the results I"m loking for, it just doesn't make any difference to me about the instructor. After all, I want to look like me, not the instructor!

Nancy, I watched Monster-in-Law on TV the other night. You are right! Jane Fonda looks absolutely amazing! She's still got it!

You know, I thought I felt that way too, but now I'm not sure. I def. want my instructor to be super-fit--even though it gives me a complex it inspires me as well. Everything else I don't much care about.

Re. Jane Fonda, while she does look fab I think she's getting a little (more?) nutty. Who saw her on the Colbert show last year?

 

[JeanneMarie]

Re. Jane Fonda, while she does look fab I think she's getting a little (more?) nutty. Who saw her on the Colbert show last year?

Laura, I didn't see her on the Colbert show, but I've always thought she was a bit nutty! She still looks good though!