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The 11 Best Fitness DVDs to Get Into the Best Shape of Your Life

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By Corinne Sullivan and Alexis Jones
best workout dvds
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Between working, cleaning, and trying to cross out dozens of items from your ever-growing to-do list, getting in a good workout is a priority that can often fall to the bottom of your to-do list. It doesn't help that gym memberships can be expensive and fitness classes can be time consuming — but luckily, you can get fit without ever leaving home. Online exercise classes and fitness apps have made it easier than ever for busy women to squeeze in a workout, and if you want something you can follow along with on your TV screen, then fitness DVDs are the way to go. The best at-home workout DVDs will give you a great workout from the comfort of your home (and for a whole lot less money than hiring a personal trainer).

Though exercise is typically associated with weight loss, you can incorporate fitness into your life for any number of reasons. A regular workout routine can help you feel energized, empowered, confident, and strong — and yes, working out can even be fun, if you find the right routine for you. From yoga to strength training to 10-minute workouts, we've rounded up the best fitness DVDs you can buy right now to help you tone up your body, along with some tips on what to look for when buying exercise DVDs.

The best fitness DVDs to buy in 2022

  • 1
    High-Intensity Cardio and Tone

    best overall fitness dvd

    Strong by Zumba High-Intensity Cardio and Tone

    $25 at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    90-Day Challenge

    best HIIT fitness dvd

    Mark Lauren 90-Day Challenge

    Read more
  • 3
    Gentle Yoga Plus Pilates

    best low-impact fitness dvd

    In Wellness Systems Gentle Yoga Plus Pilates

    Read more
  • 4
    Blissful Barre

    best barre fitness dvd

    Hip Shake Fitness Blissful Barre

    Read more
  • 5
    Yoga for Beginners

    best yoga fitness dvd

    Body Wisdom Yoga for Beginners

    Read more

    Read more about the best workout videos and fitness DVDs on the market.

    1
    best overall fitness dvd

    Strong by Zumba High-Intensity Cardio and Tone

    High-Intensity Cardio and Tone
    1
    best overall fitness dvd

    Strong by Zumba High-Intensity Cardio and Tone

    $25 at Amazon
    Credit: Strong by Zumba
    Pros
    • provides a full-body workout
    • fun and motivating
    Cons
    • may be a bit tricky for beginners

    This is definitely not your mom's exercise DVD. Body positive and music driven, this high-intensity workout from Strong by Zumba offers a 60-minute fitness routine where music is the ultimate motivator — and if you're crunched for time, then you'll love that it includes a bonus 20-minute workout, too.

    2
    best HIIT fitness dvd

    Mark Lauren 90-Day Challenge

    90-Day Challenge
    2
    best HIIT fitness dvd

    Mark Lauren 90-Day Challenge

    Credit: Mark Lauren
    Pros
    • includes a total of 24 workouts
    • provides 3 different levels of difficulty
    Cons
    • intense workouts can be discouraging for beginners

    Complete with 24 bodyweight workouts, this high-intensity interval training program from Mark Lauren is way better than a gym membership. You'll start your 90 days of guided training sessions with intense anaerobic exercise, followed by a period of rest, which repeats until the three months are over.

    3
    best low-impact fitness dvd

    In Wellness Systems Gentle Yoga Plus Pilates

    On Sale
    Gentle Yoga Plus Pilates
    3
    best low-impact fitness dvd

    In Wellness Systems Gentle Yoga Plus Pilates

    Credit: In Wellness Systems
    Pros
    • low-impact, but challenging and effective
    • increases flexibility, mobility, and strength
    Cons
    • more focused on Pilates than yoga

    Whether you're pregnant, a new mother, recovering from an injury, or a beginner to fitness, you'll love this low-impact routine taught by fitness guru Jessica Smith. It pairs yoga with Pilates to improve your core strength, balance, and flexibility, and all you need is a mat and chair.

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    4
    best barre fitness dvd

    Hip Shake Fitness Blissful Barre

    Blissful Barre
    4
    best barre fitness dvd

    Hip Shake Fitness Blissful Barre

    Credit: Hip Shake Fitness
    Pros
    • includes 8 barre fitness workouts
    • provides 2 different levels of difficulty
    Cons
    • may be too difficult for beginners

    This two-disc set from Hip Shake Fitness combines Pilates, yoga, and simple ballet moves to get your limbs toned and muscles shaking. While you may not be jumping around or sweating up a storm, your body will ache all over by the end of this routine — in a good way, of course.

    5
    best yoga fitness dvd

    Body Wisdom Yoga for Beginners

    Yoga for Beginners
    5
    best yoga fitness dvd

    Body Wisdom Yoga for Beginners

    Credit: Body Wisdom
    Pros
    • includes six DVDs for a variety of levels
    • each disc has a different focus
    Cons
    • could be too slow for those with more yoga experience

    This set of six beginner yoga DVDs includes tons of expertly taught routines that zero in on all the areas you might want to target. Each disc has a different focus — yoga for beginners, for strength and flexibility, for weight loss, for stress relief, for inflexible people, and for every body — but they all help create a toned body, as well as a calm, focused mind.

    6
    best for toning

    Prevention The Toning Transformation

    Amazon’s Choice
    The Toning Transformation
    6
    best for toning

    Prevention The Toning Transformation

    Now 17% Off
    Credit: Prevention
    Pros
    • provides an easy-to-follow 8-week program
    • workouts are quick and effective
    Cons
    • requires some light weights

    If you want to tone your butt, belly, and thighs, then try this series of six 20-minute workouts. Led by personal trainer Sarah Kusch, The Toning Transformation from Prevention plan allows you to work out in your home with just a few small weights and an exercise mat.

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    7
    best fitness dvd for fat burning

    Cathe Friedrich Afterburn

    Afterburn
    7
    best fitness dvd for fat burning

    Cathe Friedrich Afterburn

    Credit: Cathe Friedrich
    Pros
    • designed to speed up your metabolism
    • low-impact while still providing a great workout
    Cons
    • requires dumbbells

    Any fitness routine taught by the legendary Cathe Friedrich is going to get you sweating, but her Afterburn DVD (which is part of her low-impact series) is one of the best. Utilizing low-impact HIIT cardio and metabolic weight training, Cathe's fat-burning workouts can help you lose weight safely and effectively.

    8
    best fitness dvd for cardio

    Zumba 101

    Zumba 101
    8
    best fitness dvd for cardio

    Zumba 101

    Credit: Zumba
    Pros
    • great for zumba beginners
    • fun, effective, and well-paced
    Cons
    • music may feel repetitive after a while

    Zumba is a great form of exercise for everyone, no matter your fitness level — even if you think you have two left feet. Taught by Zumba creator Beto Perez, this DVD provides two 30-minute beginner Zumba workouts that'll teach you the four core rhythms and get you doing cardio, core, and muscle work, all while having a good time.

    9
    most fun fitness dvd

    Hip Shake Fitness Tone N Twerk

    Tone N Twerk
    9
    most fun fitness dvd

    Hip Shake Fitness Tone N Twerk

    Now 17% Off
    Credit: Hip Shake Fitness
    Pros
    • includes 6 toning dance workouts
    • provides 2 different levels of difficulty
    Cons
    • a bit too much downtime while choreography is taught

    Twerking originated out of the bounce music scene of New Orleans in the late 1980s, and in addition to being a fun dance move, it'll give you a really great booty workout. Zumba fitness instructor Nicole Steen teaches these six empowering workouts, which are great for a variety of dance levels and especially fun for women — though, of course, people of all genders can enjoy them.

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    10
    best fitness dvd for flexibility

    Tangoflex Revolutionary Flexibility Training

    Revolutionary Flexibility Training
    10
    best fitness dvd for flexibility

    Tangoflex Revolutionary Flexibility Training

    Credit: Tangoflex
    Pros
    • great for beginners and more advanced students
    • increases flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination
    Cons
    • music is a bit repetitive

    Looking to improve your balance, posture, and flexibility? Then you'll want to check out this two-disc training program from Tangoflex, which is designed to get you leaner, limber, and stronger with one 50-minute full body workout and several shorter routines, including one that can help relieve back pain.

    11
    best fitness dvd for seniors

    Vitality 4 Life Simply Seated Energize Series

    Simply Seated Energize Series
    11
    best fitness dvd for seniors

    Vitality 4 Life Simply Seated Energize Series

    Credit: Vitality 4 Life
    Pros
    • improves strength, stamina, and posture
    • safe, effective, and engaging
    Cons
    • may not be great for those with lower back issues

    Those with limited mobility who still want to get a fun workout will love this chair exercise program from fitness instructor Curtis Adams, who has over 15 years of experience developing effective senior workouts. His exercises can help you gain strength and improve your circulation, and most importantly, they're fun!

    What to look for when shopping for fitness DVDs

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    ✔️ A range of difficulty levels: Whether you're a beginner to fitness or you've been working out for a while, you'll want to find an exercise program that caters to a variety of experience levels. The best fitness DVDs will offer at least two different difficulty levels, as well as plenty of opportunities for modification, so that you can feel as confident as possible, no matter how much experience you have.

    ✔️ An assortment of routines: If you're investing in a fitness DVD, then chances are you plan on watching it more than once. For that reason, you'll want to make sure that your selection offers several different routines and exercises. That'll keep you feeling engaged and entertained rather than bored by too much monotony.

    ✔️ A knowledgable instructor: A fitness class is only ever as great as the instructor leading that class. Before purchasing a fitness DVD, make sure the instructor leading the workouts is certified, experienced, and knowledgable about what they're teaching — and make sure they seem like someone who'll keep you feeling motivate, too!

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    Are fitness DVDs effective?

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    Just like with any workout, a fitness DVD can be incredibly effective if you're willing to put the work into it. As long as the routine isn't so challenging that you're discouraged or so easy that you're bored, you can get a fabulous workout from home if you commit, push yourself where you can, and follow your instructor.

    How long should a fitness DVD workout be?

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    According to the CDC, you should be getting 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio activity at least five days per week (150 minutes per week) and at least 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity three days per week (75 minutes per week). Of course, because this isn't an ideal world, you may only have time to squeeze in a 10- or 15-minute workout a day. That's why it's best to choose tapes with a variety of class lengths, so you can do as much or as little as your schedule and body allow.

    Which fitness DVDs are best for weight loss?

    line break

    Different exercises perform different functions. Yoga and Pilates are great for strengthening and toning, while cardio and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are best for working up a sweat. If losing weight is your primary goal, then it's best to go with a DVD that focuses on metabolic weight training or low-impact HIIT cardio, though all of these exercise DVDs can help you get closer to your fitness goals.

    Headshot of Corinne Sullivan
    Corinne Sullivan
    Editor

    Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé. 

    Headshot of Alexis Jones
    Assistant Editor

    Alexis Jones is an assistant editor at Women's Health where she writes across several verticals on WomensHealthmag.com, including life, health, sex and love, relationships and fitness, while also contributing to the print magazine. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University, lives in Brooklyn, and proudly detests avocados.

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