Tae Bo - Power Workouts

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

28 Jul 2006 12:30 PM

Do you know who Billy Banks is? You can hardly have seen television infomercials in the middle of the night in the late 90s without having seen Billy Banks. If you're still not sure who he is, just check out the fitness dvds in your local Target, Walmart or even at Amazon.com. Billy Banks is the creator and presenter of Tae Bo, a fitness regimen that requires participants to go through a series of high steps, kicks and punches.

Performed to intensely energetic hip-hop music, Tae Bo might very well be labeled high cardio-kickboxing. Though it does employ kickboxing, Tae Bo also employs aerobic dance and coordination. It is a lot of fun, but make no mistake - Tae Bo is an intense workout and it can be hard for people with joint pain to perform.

Dancing the Weight Off

The infomercials for Tae Bo began in 1998 and interest levels in the style of workout soared. Billy Banks was to the late 90s what Richard Simmons was to the early 80s. The music, the style of workout and the ability to build muscle strength, tone and cordination along with high calorie burning (135 pound woman can burn 350 to 450 calories per hour) gave Tae Bo the elements many people interested in fitness were looking for.

Not for Beginners

Although there are numerous Tae Bo videos out there including those that introduce Tae Bo, this is not a workout style for beginners. In fact, the exercises and routines require that you stand on one leg, that you kick up from the knee and from the hip. If you experience low back pain, hip pain and other joint pain, Tae Bo can be hard to perform. If you haven't been working out regularly, Tae Bo would not be the workout to begin with.

If you are interested in Tae Bo, it's better to start building up your endurance levels through cardio walking and weight training or other light aerobics workout in order to increase your success rate at achieving Tae Bo and enjoying it.

Currently there are only two ways to trainf or Tae Bo - take a class from Billy Banks or pick up a copy of the Tae Bo DVDs and videos that are available. In my local area, I've not found any Tae Bo classes. I plan to pick up a couple of Tae Bo dvds for beginners in August - so keep an eye here on this blog for some reviews.

Have you ever tried Tae Bo?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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Catherine Ipcizade (5617) 28 Jul 2006 02:21 PM

I've got the introduction video that gives the steps and the beginner video. I love them! Which reminds me, I need to get them out and dust them off and do them again! Thanks, Heather.

Heather Long (16954) 30 Jul 2006 09:08 AM

That's great Catherine! I wish I could get a copy of every single thing out there that interests me, but I've not had the time. Have to let me know how that goes