The Clareverse

Enough about what I’ve been reading - here’s a review of a workout DVD: Carmen Electra’s Fit to Strip 2*.

Carmen Electra could kick my ass. Every time I do this DVD workout I’m sore in strange and obscure muscles for days. Actually, I can’t say I do the workout because I’ve never gotten past the second section - the one that ends with Carmen saying “And my butt thanks you too! Right, ladies?” I had the DVD for months before I even realized there were other sections.

Besides being a decent workout, the DVD is pretty funny. Carmen gives a cheerfully vapid introduction, makes silly comments, and tries to do all the moves in as sexy a manner as possible. She’s so earnest. She cracks me up every time. The trainer, Michael Carson, is a good sport, and watching him respond to Carmen with affable courtesy is amusing in itself. While following along I usually exercise my sarcasm as well as my thighs and abs. I also get in a few reps of eye-rolling.

I’ve tried a few fitness DVDs and this is the only one I own. The combination of funny and strenuous makes it great for a quick workout when it’s too rainy or cold for running.

*There’s no stripping on this DVD. No “dancing” either.

Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences proposes that each person has varying levels of each of several types of intelligence: linguistic, logical-mathematic, musical, social, etc. People who have a lot of bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are coordinated, graceful, and have good muscle memory. I am not one of these people, as may be seen in the following examples:

1. While following along with the fine fitness DVD “Carmen Electra’s Aerobic Striptease”, I fell over while attempting to grab my ankles and shake my ass at the same time.
2. While following along with the comcast on-demand program “Bellydance Sweat 1″, I had to pause the TV eight times to figure out how to
   wave my arms at the same time as moving my feet.
3. A few weeks ago I tried to do the Mambo Shuffle and ended up dancing around randomly like some kind of dance floor anarchist.
4. Every time I’ve ever played a sport, ever.

That’s why I like running; it’s impossible to get physically confused. Left, right, breathe, repeat. Got it.