The benefits of exercising at home with a fitness DVD are endless: With no travelling to and from the gym, you carve out more minutes for working out (faster results, anyone?). Plus, you can throw on any old outfit that’s comfortable and breathable. And there’s virtually no prep time—just fill up a water bottle, slip on fitness shoes (or go barefoot, if appropriate) and fire up your DVD player or computer.

Perhaps the biggest boon, however, is that many of today’s fitness DVDs are divided into mini workouts—some as short as 10 minutes—so it’s easier than ever to fit fitness into your day. You might even find, as I did, that you’re so energized after completing one segment that you press “play” on additional ones for more of a fitness boost and that critical calorie burn. On the flip side, if you need a rest, you have the freedom to press “pause” and come back to the DVD later.

To help you zero in on the best fitness DVDs led by credible instructors, I reviewed 45 of the latest offerings. Using my 18 years of experience and knowledge as a certified fitness professional, I short-listed eight of 
my favourite titles (including one 10-disc program) for a variety of interests, fitness levels and abilities. They’re all new—released in 2010 or 2011—and available for purchase at Canadian stores or websites. If you aren’t exercising regularly now, check with your doctor before starting a workout program.