Workout DVDs, ELLEuk.com

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If you can’t afford a sky-high gym membership or you simply don’t have time to squeeze exercise classes into your busy schedule, then a workout DVD is the answer.

It doesn’t require you to go anywhere, plus you can play it whenever suits you, rather than being confined to someone else’s timetable. ELLE reveals the four best…

Yogalosophy

By Mandy Ingber

Price: £8.47

Stockist: Amazon

USP: A hybrid form of yoga that combines traditional poses with toning and strengthening exercises. Mandy Ingber is Jennifer Aniston's yoga teacher.

Pros: Following Mandy's instruction, the moves are easy to get in to. The poses are held for longer than normal and combined with other strengthening moves such as squats. Even on my first attempt I can feel my muscles burning and getting a good work out.

Cons: This isn't a traditional exercise DVD, there's no upbeat music or studio, instead it is just Mandy and the sea as a backdrop, hence it can be a bit slow in parts.

Verdict: I love this - the simple moves are great for any level of experience, and once you get used to the slow pace it feels really rewarding. My muscles certainly get a good workout.

Tested by Suzanne Scott, Beauty Writer

Body Buff

By Davina

Price: £8.99

Stockist: Amazon

USP: A fast-paced combination of cardio and specifically honed exercises for problem areas.

Pros: The cardio programme is brilliant. The boxing in particular really gets your lungs going. The abs exercises are based on pilates so while they’re low-impact, you really feel like its working.

Cons: Some of the workouts, like the arms and legs, don’t feel as though they’re working you as hard as they should. The different length of time on the exercises feel a little inconsistent too.

Verdict: I enjoyed the variety in the workouts, and the boxing especially brought something different to the usual set of exercises.

Tested by Emma Smith, Beauty Director

No More Trouble Zones

By Jillian Michaels

Price: £6.99

Stockist: Amazon

USP: A circuit mat workout that constantly works to sculpt your upper and lower body, as well as burning calories for a time-saving workout.

Pros: This is super tough. With old school exercises – lunges, squats, sit-ups and press ups, along with exercises I have never tried before, I really felt like I was getting an intense workout.

Cons: Some of the exercises are very advanced and I found I had to sit out on some. I also couldn’t walk properly the next day (although this could be seen as a pro, at least I know it worked!)

Verdict: This workout is really intense but it does get easier, plus I felt like there was enough to work towards that I wouldn’t get bored. The combination of always working the arms with either legs, stomach and bum meant I got a lot done in a short space of time, which is a bonus!

Tested by Amy Lawrenson, Online Beauty Writer

Triple Workout

By Tracy Anderson Method

Price: £12.55

Stockist: Amazon

USP: A workout that works to sculpt a leaner body. You can also follow Tracy from her back as if you were in a class with her.

Pros: Although this is incredibly tough it's also the most energetic, bouncy workout dvd I’ve tried so I feel buoyed to (attempt to) keep going. Because it’s so fast-paced and the moves are quite advanced I can imagine the results would be rapid and very noticeable.

Cons: I found this a very intense workout and be warned, you need some level of dance ability to be able to grasp the tricky and fast-paced workouts. I have none and found some of the moves almost impossible to master at the first couple of attempts.

Verdict: This challenged my fitness and concentration levels like nothing I’ve tried before. It’s incredibly fast-paced and is not for fitness beginners but if you persist and keep going you will see changes to your shape. My quest for tighter legs, bum and tum, here I come!

Tested by Georgia Collins, Deputy Beauty Editor