The Movie

Me, doing Tai Chi? For some reason I never gave this ancient Chinese art of relaxation a second thought before now. It seemed slow, boring, and useless in a society where tempers are short, and attention spans are shorter. But after saying, "what the heck," and giving Scott Cole's Tai Chi workout a try, I can honestly say I'm a believer.

There are already a few reviews of Scott Cole's wonderful Tai Chi series up on this site, so I won't spend time rehashing what has already been said. In short, Tai Chi is a form of exercise that allows you to flow with our natural surroundings. It's unhurried, methodic, energy-directing movements help us become one with our inner energy, or "chi." When the positions and movements are learned, you begin to let your inner energy flow in a natural, and spiritual manner. In hopes of not sounding hokey, you just feel better after doing a Tai Chi workout. It's that simple.

Scott Cole is good at what he does. He's comfortable in his art, and he's equally comfortable describing these workouts to newbies such as myself. His direction is clear, concise, and never leaves you feeling lost or panicked to keep up. We travel back and forth from two distinct settings: The first being his personal studio. Here he teaches us the various postures and movements that are used in each workout. After the movements are learned, we venture out to the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, where Scott putts everything together for a complete workout.

In Discover Tai Chi - AM & PM Workouts, we learn two distinct workouts, the first being a morning workout that prepares us for our hectic day to follow. The second is designed to help us shake away our daily stresses and prepare for a night of relaxation and rejuvenation. Both workouts feel appropriate for their intended missions and both are easy to learn for veterans and beginners alike.

The thing I like best about Tai Chi is that you can feel the benefits immediately. The very first movements instill a feeling of repose and give you confidence that the rest will do the same. I can tell that when I memorize the routines, I will truly reap the benefits of a clear mind, and a healthy body.

AM & PM Workouts is a wonderful workout video that is easy to follow and easy to pick up. The background settings and music are the perfect vehicle to experience this kind of physical relaxation. Scott Cole is a fantastic instructor and never makes you feel stupid or inadequate. He loves what he teaches, and it shows. If you have even the tiniest inclination to try Tai Chi, Scott Cole's Discover Tai Chi series is the way to go.


The DVD

Video: AM & PM Workouts is presented in 4:3 full screen. The picture is clean, and crisp and is perfectly fine for a the workout DVD that it is. There is definitely a little bit of pixelation present in the picture, but it's not bothersome. You can find a lot worse in other workout videos, so this one was a pleasant surprise.

Audio: Surprisingly, this DVD has a 2.0 track, as well as a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. The 5.1 audio track was a welcome addition because the music that accompanies the workouts surrounds you, and helps put you in the right frame of mind. The dialogue from Scott Cole is always clear and easy to understand. You really can't ask for anything more in a workout DVD.

Extras: Here we find a few special features that are nice to have. The two main additions are the Morning Mediation on the Beach, and the Evening Meditation on the Beach. Both offer instruction to go along that help demonstrate how to meditate and relax in a soothing and physically expressive way.

Also included are Hawaii Workouts to Music. These are the workouts that we learn in the DVD, set only to music. These are nice features to have after you learn all the movements and are confident to try the workouts on your own without instruction from Scott. This is where the 5.1 audio track really comes in handy. Also included is a photo gallery with various picture of Scott posing in certain Tai Chi postures.


Final Thoughts:

I never thought I'd be able to perform a move called the "monkey-bear" with a straight face, but low and behold, I can, and I love it. Scott Cole's Discover Tai Chi - AM & PM Workouts is a wonderful workout DVD that really does deliver. It's easy to use, and easy to like. Come on, if I can try it, so can you. Highly Recommended