This is my review on Insanity Max Recovery.

Insanity Max Recovery

First let me ask you a question: How much rest can you get by not resting? Yep. NIL. Let me ask you a second question: How much recovery can you get by not resting? Yep. NIL…again. This Insanity Max Recovery workout video has nothing to do with actual “recovery”; the actual workout is fantastic but recovery it is not. It’s a stretching workout – a very, very good stretching workout. Let me put it like this, if I gave you a bag of strawberries and told you that they were pomegranates, you would know that I am either lying or they were the worst bag of pomegranates you ever had in your life because they tasted like strawberries. Now that I said all that, this is really a very good stretching video. I would prefer it be called Insanity Max Stretch and Conditioning. Why? Because I am a big believer in calling something what it is.

So just like all the other Insanity DVD’s, the basic format is the same: Warm-up, Stretch, Workout, Stretch, End.  However in this video, you actually stretch as you warm-up, which is fantastic. This is how all the videos should be.

Warm Up:

  • Flat-back stretch
  • Runners lung flat-back stretch
  • Hip-flexor stretch – to – runners lunge stretch

Workout 1:

The way this is arranged is unlike my other reviews. Workout 1 consists of continual movement from stretch/exercise to stretch/exercise, according to its associated number. For example you will do (1) 4x, then go straight into (2) for 1x then you will go back into (1) x amount of time then (2) x amount of times so on and so forth. After every exercise we go back to the flat back stretch.

  • (1) Flat back stretch – Just as above you are keeping your core tight when you take both hands to the ground. After the 4th stretch go straight into:
  • (2) Plank- as always hold your core tight (while here you want to contract then release your core).
  • (3) Plank position again this time you are bringing your knee to your chest (Be sure to keep your butt down) this is not a speed drill, slow and deliberate is what we are after…8x, roll up then 14x
  • 4 count triceps push-ups, X3
  • Childs pose stretch
  • Downward dog stretch to plank
  • Plank to runners lunge
  • Runners lung – to – standing lunge – x 12
  • Runners hip flexor stretch – Left side-  this is where your elbow is pushing into your inner knee (left elbow to left knee) (* Keep that knee behind the toe*)
  • Modified runners hip flexor stretch – Left side -this is where you drop that same left arm to the floor and reach straight up with your right arm. (* Keep that knee behind the toe*)
  • Back to runners lunge –to- standing lunge x 12
  • Runners hip flexor stretch – Right side (* Keep that knee behind the toe*)
  • Modified runners hip flexor stretch – Right side (* Keep that knee behind the toe*)

Workout 2: Workout 2 is where you start to work, not necessarily as hard as the other workouts but definitely not a “recovery.”

At this point we have about 25 minutes left in the workout.

We start off in a plank position for Workout 2 then we proceed to a side plank, I think he calls these arm balance holds.

  • Side plank (one arm balance holds) : In Julie’s F.I.I.T. Camp we stagger our legs for better stability, however depending on your preference you may choose to stack your legs. A side plank is performed by coming out of a normal plank and balancing on one arm being absolutely sure that your core is tight and there is a straight line from the top of your head to the bottom of your heels. (* DO NOT DROP YOUR HIPS*)
  • Back to plank – then 2 push-ups
  • Repeat side plank (one arm balance holds) on the other side.
  • Plank to 2 push-ups
  • Repeat side plank
  • Plank to 4 push-ups
  • Repeat side plank
  • Plank to 4 push-ups
  • Repeat side plank
  • Plank to 6 push-ups
  • Repeat side plank
  • Plank to 8 push-ups
  • Childs pose
  • Low plank – a low plank is the same as a normal plank on your hands but this time you are on your elbows.
  • Spider man low planks – A spider man low plank is holding your low plank but then bringing your knees to your shoulders (or as far to your shoulder blades as you can) so right knee to right shoulder and left knee to left shoulder. – The first 4 are slow and deliberate.
  • Childs pose
  • Spider man low planks – 8x (keep your core tight)
  • Childs pose
  • Spiderman low plank – 16x (keep your core tight) Know your limits, it’s ALWAYS better to have great form than to try and do the whole exercise and your form sucks. This set is super slow and done deliberately. It is exercises like that that make me love exercise; it is also these exercises that also tell me that this is NOT a “recovery workout.” If these are anywhere even remotely easy you just aren’t going slowly enough.
  • Chil’ds pose – Rest for 30 seconds

Go directly into downward dog and hold this stretch for 15 seconds. Coming out of your downward dog start walking your hands back towards your legs and come up to a full stance (If you can, keep your hands and feet on the ground the whole time).

Workout 3

  • Start out in a plié stance (I talked about plié pop-up in a bunch of my other Insanity videos, but if you don’t know a plié stance is a stance where your legs are spread wider than your shoulders, and your toes are pointed outwards)  then spread your arms straight out fingers pointed down

Note #1 -*be sure your knees are behind your toes.*

Note #2 – *your stance is your own. Meaning some people may go wider than you and some may not.*

  • Plié pulses – Using your stance above pulse up and down using your quadriceps. The key to pulses is staying aligned and moving only about 3 – 4 inches up and down.
  • Plié ground touches – When you are done with your first set of plié pulses, with your hands still extended out bend to the side from the waist (and at the waist ONLY)  and touch the floor. Meaning if you are bending sideways to your right then your right hand will touch the floor.
  • Plié core lift – coming out of plié ground touches use your CORE to lift yourself back up into plié pulses.
  • Repeat plié pulses – plié ground touches –plié core lift with your other side. (8 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses – plié ground touches –plié core lift with your other side. (8 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses – plié ground touches –plié core lift with your other side. (16 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses – plié ground touches –plié core lift with your other side. (16 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses routine– but this round lift your left heel off the ground. (8 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses routine– but this round lift your left heel off the ground. (16 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses routine– but this round lift your right heel off the ground. (8 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses routine– but this round lift your right heel off the ground. (16 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses routine-  but this round lift both right and left heels off the ground (8 pulses)
  • Repeat plié pulses routine-  but this round lift both right and left heels off the ground (16 pulses)

Seriously this is hard and it is supposed to be, in my estimate this is nowhere close to a recovery workout!

Shake it out.

Workout 4

Start out this workout with some deep breathing stretches just like we did at the start of the video. Next drop down in to a plank position.

Next coming out of a normal plank we go into a low plank

  • High plank – low plank (Military crawls): High plank/low plank is crawling from a high plank to a low plank (elbows to hands) in a controlled manner while keeping your core tight. Try and not rock your body side to side. You are building upper body strength and rocking will help you get the exercise done, but will not help you build strength (which is the purpose of the exercise) and muscle endurance. Right side leading (meaning you are leading with your right hands, or your right hand goes up from elbow to hands first) Repeat 4x.
  • Military crawls – right side leading, repeat 8x.
  • Childs pose.
  • Military crawls – right side leading, repeat 16x.
  • Childs pose.
  • Military crawls – left side leading, repeat 16x. Always remember form over function.
  • Childs pose.
  • Military crawls – left side leading, repeat 8x.
  • Childs pose.
  • Military crawls – left side leading, repeat 4x.
  • Childs pose.
  • Downward dog.

Insanity Max Recovery

Workout 5

Just like Workout 4 coming out of a downward dog walk your hands back until you come into a stance. Then roll up.

At a stance where your legs are slightly wider than your shoulders and your knees are slightly bent, take your left hand and put it on your left hip, put your right arm straight up into the air.

  • Elbow to knee – This is an oblique (side of your abs, the muscle group that extend from your hips up to your lats) exercise which means you are working in the frontal plane. Pretend you are standing in a doorway and all of your movement is controlled by keeping your arms and knees in the doorway.  That means your movements are on the side: Coming from the stance I described above, pull your right elboe to your right knee in a controlled manner, crunching your obliques. Repeat 16x
  • Elbow to knee – Left side leading. Repeat 16x
  • Elbow to knee – Right side leading. Repeat 8x
  • Elbow to knee – left side leading. Repeat 8x
  • Elbow to knee – right side leading. Repeat 4x
  • Elbow to knee – left side leading. Repeat 4x
  • Elbow to knee – right side leading. Repeat 2x
  • Elbow to knee – left side leading. Repeat 2x

Water Break

Last exercise:

  • Hammer – The hammer is the last exercise of this DVD it involves standing straight up with your hands above your head and balancing on your right leg. Next using your abs bring your left leg straight up and both of your arms straight down as if you are hammering your foot. Repeat 16x
  • Hammer – Left leading. Repeat 16x
  • Hammer – Right leading. Repeat  8x
  • Hammer – Left leading. Repeat 8x
  • Hammer – Right leading. Repeat 4x
  • Hammer – Left leading. Repeat 4x
  • Hammer – Right leading. Repeat 2x
  • Hammer – Left leading. Repeat 2x

 

DONE

Cool down stretch- Do not forget or skip this. It is very important for flexibility and the prevention of injury.

So for me this was a *very* good conditioning workout but nowhere close to a recovery workout.

So there it is another “Recovery” video that I reviewed.  I can almost taste the flack I am going to receive for this. After tons of emails and some “comments” about my last Insanity “Recovery” review, this is going to be good. Apparently, I am uneducated, a moron and a million of other negative names in the English dictionary for NOT giving the other recovery video a 5-star glowing, pat on the back, ataboy review, which is 100% unrealistic (and some people wonder why I rank on the first page of Google for people looking for honest opinions of these videos. Most of those people are trying to sell you something).

I suspect these are the sort of people who act like it never rains on their side of the street, live in sitcom land, or lie to themselves and go out and buy a “Participation” trophy because in their mind, there are no losers…So here is the rub, I am an Authorized Beachbody reseller and Coach ;).

Had this been a conditioning DVD I would have given it a 4 out of 5 Charles faces. But since its not It gets a 3 out of 5 Charles faces

 

 

 

 

 

This concludes my review of Insanity Max Recovery.


Charles Lloyd
Charles Lloyd

Self processed fitness missionary and author of most of the ridiculous fitness articles written on Charles Lloyd Fitness.com. I am not really a writer, but a workout fiend who happens to have a blog. The single mission of this website is very simple: Get You In Shape. I have been blessed with the gift of good health and want to share it with you. Join Me.

    7 replies to "Insanity Max Recovery – Review"

    • chook

      good honest review,

    • Sophia

      Ditto! People are ridiculous!

    • ChariD

      Thanks Charles — I’m doing this one later this evening and wanted a sneak peak of what to expect. I figured it wasn’t a true recovery workout, based on the first “recovery” workout earlier in the series. Great reviews!

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    • Damian

      These are the most honest reviews I’ve read.. keep it up man.

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