Educational Media Reviews Online

This interesting set of 14 DVDs suggests that many chronic health problems may be remedied by bringing our bodies into proper alignment. The health hazards of our modern lifestyles are well documented, with a lack of physical activity being on the top of the list. Creator of the Aligned and Well program, and narrator of the series, Katy Bowman has applied her knowledge and experience of biomechanics to produce a series of DVDs devoted to simple exercises that can help reduce the symptoms of many chronic diseases including autoimmune disorders, osteoarthritis and diabetes, and improve functional performance of all body systems.

Each DVD covers a different area or function of the body. Some are more orthopedic in nature, such as “Knees and Hips” and “Fix Your Feet,” while others are condition or system oriented for example, “Easy Rx…ercise for Diabetes” and “Smart Digestion.” The format of each DVD is the same: a brief introduction to Ms. Bowman labeled “Meet the Scientist;” followed by another brief segment, “A Biomechanical Diagnosis” where the problems are outlined; the exercises are described and demonstrated in “Rx…ercises” followed by “The Biomechanical Prognosis” where maintenance steps are explained. Ms. Bowman clearly reviews the anatomy, physiology, proper posture and movement covered in a DVD. The cover graphic of each DVD lists a “Gentle Exercise Prescription” for various problems. For instance the “Knees and Hips” DVD lists osteoarthritis, swollen knees, runner’s restoration, joint replacements and hernia history.

Each DVD includes 5 exercises, with a total of 19 different exercises spread out over the 14 programs. The exercises themselves are easy to do and do not take much time—all things that add to the attractiveness of this Aligned and Well series. The exercises focus on stretching and strengthening, and yoga students will see some similarities to their practices. Examples of the exercises are Calf Stretch, Spinal Twist, Legs on the Wall, Hand Stretch, Knee Squeeze – to name just a few. The process and the science behind the program as explained by Ms. Bowman makes sense and provides a nice introduction to the idea of a biomechanical approach to wellness. The DVDs include printable sheets of each exercise, and the disc menu navigation is simple and clear. This reviewer would like to see a DVD extra that includes all 19 exercises together in one place for reference. The DVD does contain 3 extras: Human Physics Lecture with Katy Bowman, the printable exercise program, and access to the Aligned and Well web site, which is worth a visit.

Aligned and Well is but one choice in the huge exercise video market. Its focus on wellness through biomechanics and gentle exercise helps it stand out. The programs are well researched and professionally made, and for those libraries that want a sampling of different types of exercise DVDs, it’s a good choice. General audiences will enjoy these programs and the set will be most at home in public library collections, and academic collections in health sciences that collect patient education materials.