Kathy Smith and Jillian Michaels: Different Strokes

Kathy Smith and Jillian Michaels:

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Not all exercise videos are created equal and we can say the same thing about the instructors that create them. One might think that one aerobics exercise video is like all others but this is not the case. Many aerobic instructors have their own style and two popular instructors that demonstrate this point are Kathy Smith and Jillian Michaels. Kathy Smith, for example, has been making fitness videos for decades and her style is comfortable and relaxed. Jillian Michaels, on the other hand, approaches working out as something that should feel like a challenge and if it does not feel challenging, it probably is not being performed correctly. Two videos that illustrate these different but effective styles are Smith's Build Muscle, Shrink Fat and Michaels' 30-Day Shred.

Style is the most noticeable difference between the two instructors. Kathy Smith falls into a group of aerobics instructors that err on the side of safety. This is not a bad thing and, for beginners, it is a very good thing because she explains you how to pay attention to your heart rate. In her video, she emphasizes keeping track of the heart rate. This workout is 54 minutes long and it does raise the heart rate. The workout is divided into two levels. Smith is extremely careful in explaining how to calculate one's heart rate and she also stresses the importance of not allowing the heart rate to get too high. She suggests slowing down if one feels as though they are working too far above the target heart rate. Michaels, on the other hand, has a disclaimer at the beginning of her video that explains safety measures, drinking water and other issues. She does not waste time during her video to talk about tracking the heart rate nor does she seem worried about it. Part of this stems from the fact that the video is short and it is intended to be intense. However, Michaels seems to assume that users of this video will know certain things and take certain precautions without being told to do so. Michaels' approaches aerobic training with a slightly different attitude than Smith. She believes that pushing oneself is the only way to know and then exceed limitations. Her exercises are straight from physical education class. She does not sugar coat any aspect of her video and she even says, "This may look like it's easy but I bet you're figuring out right now that it's not" (Michaels). She also admits that most of the exercises are not fun "but when it's all over and you look like this, it will all be worth it" (Michaels). Smith is not as tough on her audience as Michaels.

Intensity is another area where the two aerobics instructors differ. Smith's video is very thorough with instruction and there are some difficult moves. In fact, Smith and Michaels have some of the same moves on their tapes, such as the side plank raises. One difference between how the moves are executed is intensity. Michaels does not want the individual to stop during the workout. Because the workout is approximately 27 minutes long, she emphasizes that stopping defeats the purpose of working out at all. She says, "If you want a 20 minute workout that's going to work, you're going to have to earn it" (Michaels). She does not encourage resting, like Smith does when the heart rate gets too high. Instead, Michaels tells her audience she wants them to "feel as though you're going to die" (Michaels). Michaels believes in an intense workout and she tells the viewer that time is precious and they should make this workout count. "You've got to make the body do what you want it to do . . . it's mind over matter" (Michaels). Michaels is far more intense than Smith.

Another area where these instructors differ is the concept of the audience. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Michaels' approach to working out and training others, even if it is via video, is her concept of the individual. Michaels pulls no punches and she does not give her audience any breaks. Perhaps a part of this stems from the fact that she has worked with obese individuals for the past ten years and she knows that most people can exceed far more than they think they can. She understands that most people are held back by their own limitations. Her role, at the ranch and in this video, is make the individual realize that he or she is capable of more than he or she knows. Michaels knows the only way to get people to realize this about themselves is to challenge them to do just little bit more every day.