Sue’s Morning Stretch: Tracie Long packs toning, cardio into ‘Staying Power’

Tracie Long and her team are familiar names from The Firm days. Now she’s back on the home workout scene with a new series, Longevity, which includes “Staying Power.”

Long uses a medicine ball (the smaller, handheld version) and lights weights in this medium- to high-intensity workout that toggles between conditioning and cardio.

She does a good job of explaining not only how to position your body but why you’re doing it that way. It was good for me – and maybe it’ll help you, too – that she reminds often to use your core; that resulted in a better workout, I thought.

In different moves, for example the V step, you may think you’re just using your legs, but Long reminds that if you’re doing this right, you’re getting in good shoulder work, too.

She begins each segment with a few simple moves and then adds variations until you’ve built a routine that’s repeated.

Long covers it all – back, legs, arms, abs, bust and butt – in this 50-minute workout. She gives a lot of moves that aim to tone the inner thighs. In moves like the sumo squat she demonstrates how by getting lower you’re giving your thighs an excellent workout.

“Staying Power” also is good at reminding that it’s the quality, not speed of our movements that make a difference in conditioning. Long points out that a small range of motion is fine, but one must just be sure to control the moves.

At each segue a message appears telling you what equipment – if any – will be needed. That’s helpful.

“Staying Power” is set up as a 50-minute workout, but it also has a feature where you can play each of the three conditioning chapters separately. That could prove helpful on days when time is tight.

DETAILS

Longevity: Staying Power by Tracie Long

Time: 50 minutes

Suggested retail: $14.98

Words to live by: No impact; just work.

– Sue Ontiveros