BodyRev

Rolling out to clubs and homes nationally just in the last couple of years, the BodyRev is an intriguing device like none other. A weighted system the user holds with handles that rotate to allow full range of movement, it can be used in workouts for upper body, lower body, cardio and abs.

Its system of three weight “plugs” has an incredibly well-designed safety feature that forces a two-step twist and pop to remove it or return a weight. With all three plugs, the system weighs about 10 pounds, but can go as low as about 4 pounds.

The creator, Alden Mills, a former U.S. Navy Seal and “professional trainer” (although we could find no definition of what that meant), shows us how fit he is in the first “Essentials” workout that is actually a series of four, 15-minute workouts, one each for legs/lower body, arms, cardio, and abs/core.

Now things get interesting really quickly when Mills starts teaching. Nicely clear in his verbal instructions, his exercise regimen definitely adheres to the old-school, jock-like, boot-camp forms, with lots of fast movements, unsupported and weighted forward leans, and torso twists – many of which raised eyebrows around the SNEWS® offices because of the danger to anybody with back issues or potential back issues. Never on the Essential DVD we used did he issue any warnings verbally about the level of physical fitness you should have to safely perform many of the moves (we say, intermediate and preferably even beyond that), never did he explain ways to modify something if a user had a bad back, hip or knee problem, never did he note that X exercise should perhaps not be done if a user had some orthopedic issue, and never did we hear him remind people to do things like tighten their abs, breathe or relax their shoulders.

That said, we did see lots of creative avenues and intriguing exercises that could be done well, partly because of the rotating handles allowing good arm, hand and shoulder positioning. Granted, some of the movements could just as well have been done with a regular ol’ hand weight, and the abdominal/core exercises could be mostly done with a weight plate or hand weight.

Of course, we know everybody likes something new, and Mills is an excited instructor who could turn others into believers too – if they are advanced enough.

SNEWS® Rating: 3.5 hands clapping (1 to 5 hands clapping possible, with 5 clapping hands representing functional and design perfection)

Suggested Retail: $100 (BodyRev, Essentials DVD, plus diet and workout guides); $142 (adds a carrying case); and $160 (adds a carrying case, and Abs workout DVD)

For more information: www.bodyrev.com