Power 90 Master Series Review

The Power 90 Master Series is another set of workout videos from Beachbody featuring Tony Horton as the trainer. I purchased these videos about a year ago after completing the Power 90 Boot Camp (check out my Power 90 Boot Camp Review) also from BeachBody. The Power 90 Boot Camp was a great workout program, but after the 90 days were up I was ready for something new (and more challenging). At the time, the P90X workout seemed too extreme so I was looking for something “in-between”. Fortunately, that’s exactly what the Power 90 Master Series is.

This program includes 6 DVDs each containing one complete workout. Tony Horton leads all the workouts with two assistants, usually one guy and one girl (if you’ve seen the P90X videos some of the assistants will look familiar). There’s a bunch of warmups and stretching both before and after each workout. One of the big upsides to this program is that, like the other Beachbody workouts, it works well for both men and women.

Also like the other Beachbody workouts, the overall production quality of the DVDs are excellent. The workouts are well edited and each has a timer on the bottom so you can clearly see where you are in the workout and how much time is left. They also give you the option of playing with or without the music, and without or without cues. Tony gives tons of cues and one of the assistants usually demonstrates either a more difficult or easier version of the exercise. Following these workout is not a problem.

Unlike the both the Power 90 Bootcamp and the P90X series, however, there’s no calendar or set schedule for the workouts (i.e. no 90 day countdown or workout plan). Plenty of folks have complained about this on the internet since that was a recognized strength of both the other programs. I generally liked to alternate resistance with cardio so I mixed up the workouts based on what I felt like doing each day. That being said, I do wish that Beachbody would have provided one or two recommended “mixes” of the workouts.

All the workouts include the warmup, the workout itself, and stretching. Since there are so many workouts and new exercises, I definitely recommend watching each video before starting your first workout. The DVDs included are:

1. Sweat 5-6 (47 min): This video picks up right where Sweat-3-4 ended on the Boot Camp. It includes both yoga and aerobic exercises. There are a couple exercises at the end that were tough to do the first time through (“how did they do that?”).

2. Sculpt 5-6 (45 min): Like Sweat 5-6, this video picks up where Sculpt 3-4 left off. You’ll need barbells (or bands) or varying resistance. Tony goes through each exercise and explains them completely and covers choosing weights etc. for men and women. This is the only completely resistance video of the group, so I found myself doing this one more frequently.

3. UML (40 min): This workout is “Upper Middle Lower”, which basically means the exercises cycle though targeting each section of the body (upper body, abs, and legs). Though intended as an overall resistance workout, it’s not nearly as intense as Sculpt 5-6. A good workout when you’re in a hurry or a little too tired for Sculpt.

4. Cardio Intervals (57 min): This video is unlike any other P90 workout I’ve ever seen. The exercises themselves aren't that unique (they’re all cardio). The method, however, is different. This workout is based on interval training which is an increasing level of effort for each exercise. Each exercise is one minute long and is split into 20 second increments. The first 20 seconds is light effort, the next 20 seconds is medium effort, and the third 20 seconds is all out. The result is a really fun and different workout that I really enjoyed.

5. Core Cardio (49 min): This workout focuses on the midsection and is the closest to an ab workout in the series (there no Ab Ripper in the videos). More than just crunches, however, these exercises also are aerobic and combine for an interesting workout. It’s tougher than it sounds.

6. Plyo Legs (49 min): The toughest of the bunch. This video reminded me a lot of Plyo X in the P90X workout - though with a bigger focus on working the legs. Plenty of plyo/jumping moves that other workouts have used with a healthy dose of squats thrown in for good measure.

Probably the hardest part of the program is figuring out what to do when. As I mentioned above, I focused on alternating cardio with resistance for six days per week with one day off. Since I already had the Power 90 Boot Camp DVDs as well, I also usually threw in the Ad Ripper after the cardio workouts.

My results were just as good as with the other P90 workouts. Consistency is the key! One of the things I really need in my workouts is variety. The main reason I fall off a program is that I get easily bored. Having so many options with this video series was great for mixing up my workouts and fighting off boredom.

Pros

• Great variety of workouts.
• Excellent production quality and on-screen timers.
• Works well for both men and women.
• Great results if you stick with it.

Cons

• No provided schedule or workout plan in the program.
• Some equipment required (minimal).
• Mainly cardio-focused - not enough resistance workout variety.

At just under $60, the progam isnt really cheap (like The PIt Workout), but it’s a great value when you factor in all the different workouts that come with it and the high quality of the videos themselves. My wife and I have moved on to the P90X workouts (check out my P90x Workout Review), but we still come back to these workouts frequently - especially the ‘Core Cardio’ and ‘Cardio Intervals’ - for a change of pace. You do need some equipment, but it’s all relatively cheap and easily available at any sporting goods store.

As with any workout program you should consult your doctor before starting.