On the positive side, the extreme age of this content means that it can't look anymore dated than it does now, and may in a few years gain a retro-vogue appeal. For now though, it's disorienting to view a DVD released in 2008 in which the instructor and students are wearing brightly-colored unitards, eye-blisteringly bright white Otomix high-tops, and matching short haircuts, working out to the easy listening sounds of the late 1980s.

Not only is the style of clothing and music jarring, but to anyone familiar with Karen's more recent DVDs it's startling to see her deliver the introductory monologue with a frozen, non-blinking stare. When she's leading the viewer through a stretch she's more at ease, but even here it's initially surprising to hear a disembodied voiceover from someone other than Karen for some of the simpler floor stretches. The need for voiceover, however, is explained by the huge radio mic that Karen has strapped to her back in other segments. Apparently, the radio mic technology of 1991 was not sufficiently advanced to allow Karen to lie on her back and provide instruction simultaneously. Karen and radio mic technology have both come a long way since 1991.

Turning to the workout itself, Pure & Simple Stretch provides a 40-minute stretching routine especially suitable for viewers with limited flexibility. Most of the stretches will be familiar to most viewers from junior high gym class: plain-vanilla calisthenics, free of yoga or pilates movements. Most of the stretches are held for 30 to 60 seconds providing a longer and deeper stretch than can be found in many other workout videos. While the stretches are suitable for persons of limited flexibility, and Karen does provide some options for deepening the stretch, they don't offer the deep stretching found in more modern yoga and pilates-based routines.

The DVD

The Video:
The DVD retains the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio of the original video recording. For standard video shot 17 years ago, Pure & Simple Stretch looks surprising good. There's no risk of confusing the content with anything made using current technology, but it is much sharper than most video of the time.

The Audio:
The disc provides a 2.0 mix which appears to provide identical output to both channels.

The Extras:
The only extra, other than previews for other Karen Voight exercise DVDs and a link to her product website, is a brief video about how to fitness walk. Fitness walking for those unfamiliar with it is the speed walking with flailing arms and odd gait that can be seen in every suburban American neighborhood from Spring till Fall. This brief segment begins and ends abruptly strongly suggesting that it is excerpted from a longer feature.

Final Thoughts:
It's hard to fathom why Karen Voight would re-release this 17-year-old home video workout yet again. Everything about it screams 1991. For viewers of limited flexibility that can look past, or perhaps even enjoy, the dated styles, Karen Voight: Pure & Simple Stretch provides an adequate, if not stellar, stretch routine. However, viewers looking for something newer or more challenging should look elsewhere.