Library Journal Review

Sports conditioning consultant Gray Cook has released a companion video for the book Athletic Body in Balance (Human Kinetics, 2003). This video is not for those just starting an exercise program but for those who already have a workout routine and want to become more efficient athletes. The emphasis here is not on achieving bigger muscles but on the efficient use of the muscles you have. The video starts with five movement-assessment tests for which there are specific criteria to determine if you pass or fail. For the tests that are failed, the video shows exercises that can help you pass after a few weeks of work. The video moves at a good pace, the narrator speaks in a clear tone, and the text on the screen supplements the narration. The video also includes some "core training" sequences to help with general body strength and movement. Most of the video can be done at home without special equipment, although an "advanced core training" section requires a weight stack and pulley system. This video is recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with an athletic training program. Beverly Hills personal trainer Raphael Picaud's Fitnessology focuses on gaining muscle size over improving general athletic ability. The workout is divided into muscle training for different parts of the body; viewers can skip to specific parts using the DVD menu. However, it is often hard to tell how to perform an exercise correctly, as the camera focuses on the muscle contraction and not on the weight or equipment. The exercises are fairly advanced and require the use of a weight room. This is a low-budget production with a single camera and little editing; we seem to be observing just a part of Picaud's personal training session with four different female clients. His French accent is difficult to understand. The video's title leads one to expect a particular philosophy of fitness, but there is nothing new here that is not in many other, better fitness videos. Not recommended. (Picaud committed suicide in 2003.)-Christina Hennessey, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.