Fitness Tips,  Reviews

Figure 8 Fitness Review – Dancing Like Nobody’s Watching (and Getting Fit in the Process!)

figure 8 fitness review

Prior to Figure 8 Fitness, my experience with “dancercise” was limited to talent show competitions with my sixth grade BFF, and Richard Simmons’ legendary Sweatin’ to the Oldies videos which I used to do for fun with my parents as a kid in the 90s. (Yup, dating myself a bit here.)

So I have to admit, when I first started seeing Facebook ads about how Figure 8 Fitness was helping people dance away the pounds, I ever-so-briefly had visions of Dancing in the Street and candy-striped dolphin shorts. 

And after finishing more intense HIIT programs from Bodyboss and Jillian Michaels (My first of the latter was the 30 Day Shred) I naively assumed this program would be too easy for me.

Nevertheless, I decided to try it out just for something different, and although I haven’t completed the full 8 weeks yet, I couldn’t wait any longer to bring you this Figure 8 Fitness review.

Because I was very, very wrong about it being too easy!

** My blog posts contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission on purchases you make after clicking on those links. (At no extra cost to you!) Full disclosure here. **

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post and I am not in any way associated with Body FX or Figure 8 Fitness. This is an honest review based on my own thoughts and experiences with the program. 

What is Figure 8 Fitness?

Jaana Kunitz is a former ballroom dance competitor and the brains behind Figure 8 Fitness. The program is designed to target your core through dance moves inspired by Latin dance, including merengue, salsa, pasa dolbe, and jive.

It takes 8 weeks to complete the program and is split into 3 phases: Learn, Burn, and Sculpt.  You can watch the exercise videos online, on the Body FX app, or on DVD. 

Equipment Required

The program only requires minimal equipment, which makes it ideal for working out at home. The only equipment you may need is some resistance bands like these and an exercise mat for some of the sculpt exercises. 

Also, you might consider investing in some dance sneakers because I find that regular runners are a little bit clunky for executing some of the moves. (Although still doable!) I actually only just found out that dance sneakers exist, and ordered a pair of these bad boys from Amazon! 

 

Slow Man dance sneakers from Amazon
Slowman dance shoes from Amazon

They have a split sole which is why the arch looks so high, but its apparently quite lightweight and makes it easier to execute steps.

Plus they are super cute. I can’t wait to try them!

Program Cost

At the time of this writing, Figure 8 Basic costs $47 USD for lifetime access. They also throw in Figure 8 Express, which contains a series of shorter workouts, at no extra cost. This payment gives you access to the programs via the Body FX app and their website, but if you want physical DVDs you’ll need to pay an extra few bucks for the shipping. 

The only other program I’ve tried so far that was a one-time-only payment and not a monthly subscription is the Bodyboss Method. Their online edition costs roughly the same but is a 16-week program instead of 8. Comparatively then, Figure 8 is a little on the expensive side based on the quantity of material you get.

But not outrageously so. And of course, the quality of the material is another matter!

Layout/Format

Getting Started

Upon purchasing the program, you will get a welcome email from Body FX with your login instructions.

That first email is pretty important as it also tells you where to start and find the workout schedule. 

Otherwise, logging into the platform for the first time is confusing and overwhelming. (I mention this because I have a tendency to blow off welcome emails as I’m impatient to get to the good stuff.)

The Platform

You can stream the workouts from your computer, laptop, or tablet by logging onto your account on the Body FX website. 

The Body FX dashboard is a bit basic. The guidebooks, progress tracker, and schedule are all at the bottom. But you kind of need to hunt around for the video you’re supposed to do next, as they are only roughly in chronological order.

There’s nothing interactive about the platform. The schedule is just a plain PDF. There are no calorie burn meters to fill up, or ways to rate workouts, or any fun ways to customize the program at all. Figure 8 is a little behind the times on the technical aspects of an online fitness program.

The App

Figure 8 Fitness does also come with an app, but I hardly use it as I don’t see the benefit over streaming it on my computer. An app on your phone is great for some fitness programs, but when the workouts are in an uncut video and the moves are this complex, I only want to do them workouts using a larger screen. 

Besides which, there’s nothing about the app which entices you to use it. Even the schedule and guide PDFs just redirect you to the website. The only advantage I can see is that you can download the workout videos so if you are doing the workout somewhere you don’t have wifi you can download it ahead of time.

The Videos

The workout videos are usually around 30-40 minutes long with a couple of shorter ones mixed in throughout the program. 

There are a couple of videos that offer modification tutorials, and those are helpful. But I thought it would have been nice if there were more mini videos that broke down some of the more complicated moves. Or, at the very least, timestamps so that you can quickly get to where you want to be, if you wanted to practice a certain section. The schedule actually has you do half of one video on one day and the rest on the next, which made me wonder why they didn’t just make it into two videos. 

There are also a couple of videos that offer “back view” versions of the workout which I thought were great because it’s easier to learn the steps by mirroring the person in front of you.

The Community

Body FX does have a Facebook community which is a great place to share your struggles, progress, and wins with other people who are doing the same program. I have been a member for a few weeks and I must say it’s a very supportive and encouraging group of people.

Definitely worth joining and participating to help you stay motivated throughout the program. 

(Related: How to stick to your new fitness plan long enough to get results) 

The Program

The program itself is a small collection of videos, about half of which are shorter tutorials, modifications, and tips. As it is an eight-week program, this means you are repeating the same workouts multiple times.

I feel this is both a good and a bad thing. It’s good because the moves do require a lot of practice, and they are fun enough that you won’t mind doing the same videos a few times.

But I would think that for the long term you might eventually get bored. In other words, it’s not the kind of program you would repeat back to back. (Like I often do with BodyBoss.) 

With so many competing fitness programs offering dozens, sometimes thousands of unique workouts, Figure 8 is the kind of program I could see you coming back to once or twice a year, or to occasionally supplement a cardio session with. 

Figure 8 is part of the Body FX platform, and there are a wide variety of other fitness programs available. I did get a 30-day all-access trial membership to all the programs, which includes Figure 8 Ultimate, Jaana Rhythms, and several other programs.

But continued access to these programs is all at an additional cost. 

A Few Notes on Figure 8’s Nutrition Guide

I pretty much never do a thorough review of a fitness app’s food plan for the simple reason that I never follow them. And this Figure 8 Fitness review will be no exception. 

The thing is, I have never been a fan of restrictive diets and I have yet to find a food plan that doesn’t involve time-consuming food prep and meals that everyone in my household will appreciate. 

That said, I did take a gander at Figure 8’s nutrition guide out of curiosity. 

It’s not exactly a light read. There are pages of text before you get to the nutrition blueprint, and there’s nothing really convenient about this diet. The sample meal ideas did not seem appetizing at all.

For example, one suggested breakfast consists of eggs, lentils and broccoli with olive oil. In what world do these three items go together?

There’s also a pretty long list of restricted foods, including milk, beets, carrots, salt, rice, and cheese.

All in all, this is one of the most boring and inconvenient diet plans I’ve come across yet, and I feel like you’re going to need to be really committed in order to read through everything and stick to it.

But again, this is the opinion of someone who only loosely tracks calories and macronutrients so feel free to take my thoughts with a dash of (forbidden) salt. 

My Personal Experience with Figure 8

I’m only about halfway through the program, and so there are a few videos I haven’t tried yet, but I’m definitely far enough in that I can share my experience and results so far. 

For some background, I have been working out pretty regularly for over two years and at this point, I’m not looking to lose more weight, but to maintain and tone.

The “Learn” Phase

This first four days of the program is the “Learn” phase, in which Jaana teaches you the basic moves. These tutorials are still workouts! I was definitely sweating by the end of the one-on-one sessions, at any rate. 

The first thing that struck me was how complicated some of the moves were. I always thought I had some rhythm but Jaana put me to shame in minutes. 

Each move has three components: footwork, hips, and arms. Jaana teaches you each layer of a move starting with the footwork and working up. 

Of course, the ladies in the video make the moves look effortless, but I found it really tough to coordinate all three layers simultaneously, especially at tempo. 

It’s like bimanual interference, but with your whole body. 

By the end of the 4th day, I wasn’t too confident in my moves and found myself wishing there were a few more tutorials or easier dance drills to work through before jumping into the deep end that is the “Burn” phase.

I did end up repeating a couple of videos but then I pushed on, figuring I would focus on footwork and hips and not worry too much about the arms.

The “Burn” Phase

For the first week of alternating between the Dance Drills and Cardio Learn workouts, I’m pretty sure I was getting 90% of the moves wrong.

Regardless, I was sweating like a beast by the end.

You will be sore after these drills. I’m a lover of ab exercise and already have a relatively strong (if not particularly toned) core. But I still got sore abs from these exercises, particularly in my obliques. (Which is fantastic because that’s always been my trouble spot with traditional HIIT exercises.)

But what really surprised me was how sore my arms got. The cardio and dance workouts contain no dumbbells, pushups, or any kind of resistance work typically associated with upper body workouts. But the intensity of the arm movements is such that it will tone your biceps and triceps.

My legs also got a (figurative) run for their money and felt as tired as they did when I used to do 10-15k runs. 

The calorie burn is insanely good and I found it comparable to HIIT. In fact, my calorie burn was considerably higher than when I spent the same amount of time on the stationary bike.

I think part of it is that you’re constantly mixing up the workouts so you can keep the higher intensity for longer. 

The dance drills and cardio workouts are about 40 minutes long, but the workouts are so fun and engaging that I really was having fun and the time just flew by. 

Jaana’s energy and enthusiasm is fun and contagious. (How she can shout nonstop instructions while dancing with abandon for 40 minutes straight is just mind-boggling.) I found myself smiling and even laughing at times, which has got to be a first for an intense cardio workout! 

The “Sculpt” Phase

I haven’t actually tried these workouts yet but I’ll update this review when I do. I did take a sneak peek and it looks like Jaana takes things up a notch yet again, as well as adding in a couple of workouts that zone in on your arms or legs. 

This is where the need for resistance bands comes in, but you can probably make do with dumbbells. (This is my plan, anyway!)

So, Does Figure 8 Fitness Work? My Personal Results

Again, I didn’t have much weight to lose and so for me, it’s more about maintaining and toning.

And I haven’t finished the program yet but I will say that I have already lost the few pounds I put on from my holiday slump, and I am noticing a tad more definition in my arms again. My core hasn’t changed too much but I think that’s only because I’m at the point where I need to focus more on diet if I’m going to “get shredded”.

I will say that my obliques are feeling considerable firmer!

So yes, Figure 8 Fitness works. These are effective, full-body workouts and if you commit to the program, you will certainly see results. 

Not only that, you’ll learn some dance moves you’ll be proud to bust out at weddings and other celebrations. #win.

Figure 8 Fitness Review Summary

Does Figure 8 Fitness Really Work?Overall, Figure 8 is a fantastic, fun fitness program that will definitely help you get in shape. I’m enjoying it so much that I will definitely be coming back to it for the dance drills and I might even make it my primary form of cardio. 

Never have I encountered such an effective workout that is also super fun to do! 

I adore Jaana’s teaching style and energy, as well as the warm and encouraging Body FX community on Facebook.

One minor shortcoming is that it doesn’t utilize today’s technology to make the program as easy to use as it could be. Ten years ago it would have been a non-issue, but it’s 2020 and there’s no reason to be limited to basic videos and PDFS strewn throughout your dashboard. 

Lastly, these exercises are incredibly rigorous with a pretty steep learning curve. Although they do offer modifications to make it easier, I could see how it might be a problem if you have certain knee or back problems to be mindful of. The moves are challenging and some people may find it too hard in the beginning. 

But it’s worth the effort to stick to it. 

I may not be ready to join a Latin flash mob anytime soon, but I will certainly enjoy practicing these fun dance moves and getting fit in the process!

What did you think of this Figure 8 Fitness review? Do you have any questions about the program or comments about your own experience with it? Let me know in the comments!

Pros

  • Ideal for exercising at home
  • Workouts are fun
  • Exercises torch a lot of calories
  • Great Facebook community
  • Bonus access to the Figure 8 Express program
  • Minimal equipment needed

Cons

  • Pretty steep learning curve 
  • High impact might not be ideal if you have back or knee problems
  • App and web platforms are a bit clunky, glitchy, and outdated
  • Less variety in workouts – lots of repeating the same videos

Fast FAQ!


What is Figure 8 Fitness?

Figure 8 Fitness is an 8-week program created by Jaana Kunitz designed to target your core with cardio exercises that incorporate Latin dances like merengue, salsa, pasa doble, and jive.


What does Figure 8 Basic cost?


At the time of this writing, the program costs 47 USD.


Is any equipment required for these workouts?


Very minimal equipment is required for this program. An exercise mat and resistance bands are used, and you might also want to opt for a pair of dance sneakers.


Does Figure 8 actually work?


Yes, Figure 8 Fitness works. These are effective, full-body workouts and if you commit to the program, you will certainly see results.

Corrie Alexander is a former ISSA-certified personal trainer, home fitness advocate, and founder of The Fit Careerist. A proponent of personal growth and a self-proclaimed fitness app-junkie, Corrie shares tips and product reviews with the goal of helping others on their own fitness journey.

66 Comments

  • anna

    Hi, thanks for your detailed review, very helpful indeed.

    I have a question, which so far I’ve been unable to find the answer…I live in Europe, with Region 2 dvd access, so I probably can’t make use of the dvds in the package. If I buy it, can you tell me if I can access the programme, downloads etc on a Macbook Pro, with normal internet access? I haven’t got any of the devices or app access mentioned on the buy figure 8 website.

    thanks

    • Annita

      Hi Corrie,
      Thanks for your review, very useful. I wasn’t too sure if i should give it a go with figure 8 but the advert looks so fun, i thought it’s too good to be real. I easily get bored with workout, but as you mentioned Jaana is a good entertainer and you had great fun with her and the workout, i might give it a go. Thank you. Annita

    • Pauline Midwinter

      I bought the dvd from Jaana, and I live in England. They work absolutely fine! Great review. I’ve been doing this sporadically for a while now and really enjoy it.

  • Pirjo Tuusjarvi

    Hi Corrie
    Your review was very helpful, thanks a lot :). After reading it and getting information enough, I got courage enough to order the course.
    Be safe and stay healthy 😊
    Pirjo from Finland

  • Rosie

    Hi Corrie

    I have two questions –
    (1) Would this dance workout be bad for the knees?
    (2) Is it true that downloading is a problem? I noticed a lot of frustrations and complaints in this regard and I cant seem to find any contact on Jaana’s website

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Rosie! Honestly, these workouts are pretty high impact and if you’re not careful I could see them causing a strain on the knees. However, they do offer modifications and lower impact variations. But if you have knee problems I might be wary of this program.

      I have heard this complaint too. I have never tried downloading the workout videos myself. I always just stream them from my computer and for the most part, I haven’t had any issues. Although sometimes I have to refresh the page once or twice for the video to come up. There was also one time when the video playback was a bit choppy.

      In my opinion, BodyFX could really use some upgrades in the technological aspects of their platform. But in my experience, it hasn’t been bad enough to hinder my workouts.

      I hope that helps!

    • Susan hornsby

      I have what my family calls “cheerleader knees” which means I overdid it for years with my knees! When I start a workout that I can feel is going to do a number on my knees, I simply double down on the turmeric/curcumin vitamins. They are magic!

  • Sarah

    I found your review after Figure 8 popped up on my Facebook feed. The main question I had that hasn’t been answered anywhere is: how much *space* do you need? Do the dance moves travel or do you mostly stay in one spot?

    I live in a tiny (TINY) NYC apartment, so space is super limited, but this seems like something I would really enjoy.

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Sarah! That’s a really good question. I think you can do these workouts with fairly minimal space but there is some “walking” to the side, as well as forwards and backward. I’m sure you could just take smaller steps or even just stay in place if you need to.

  • Sharon

    Thanks being contemplating about this figure 8, but I have knee problems.
    Your review was really helpful and very resourceful.
    Thanks for your time in putting this all together.
    Regards

  • Busy Liz

    Thanks very much for the very complete and thoughtful review, summary, and overall recommendation! Sadly, I have serious knee problems, but your review encouraged me to try it anyway, esp. since modifications are given. Keep up the great reviews – its a terrific service to the rest of us who don’t have your insights and extensive experience with these programs!

      • Mélissa

        Hi Corrie, I went ahead and paid for the Figure 8 program and am pleased to find Low impact modifications which I need for some of the moves. I also bought the DVD which has the all the workout programs except for the modifications and rear view workouts.
        The pace of the movements are very quick and I find that challenging when one is also trying to master the actual move.

  • Mar

    What a great review, thank you! I do have one question. Once you are done with the 8 week program, do you still have access to the videos online or do you need to pay again to access them after the 8 weeks?

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Mar! You can buy the program and have lifetime access, or you can get a BodyFX subscription which you pay for monthly, but you get access to all the BodyFX programs, not just Figure 8.

  • Megan H

    Thanks so much for this review! It was very thorough and helped me decide if I wanted to order Figure 8! I appreciate a real and honest review!

      • Emily Orchard

        Hi Corrie, thanks for the review. Ads for figure 8 keep popping up in my Facebook feed and they have got me intrigued. I live in a block of flats with wood floors so running/jumping that appear in regular high cardio are a no no.
        The ads feature people mainly stepping. Having doing some of the workouts yourself would you say there’s any jumping or anything likely to impact my neighbours? Thank you!

        • Corrie Alexander

          Hi Emily, thanks for stopping by! There are some moves that call for jumps but you could do the move without the jumps. They offer no-impact modifications for pretty much all the moves.

          I think you would definitely need to be careful/mindful about keeping the noise level down but I don’t think it’s impossible. I hope that helps 🙂

  • kerrylee

    Hi Corrie, thank you I really liked your review it’s helped me to decide to go ahead and buy the program. I’ve kinda lost sight of my abs! It’s been on my mind to do Figure 8 Fitness to find them again but was unsure if the program would work for me. After reading your blog and the questions & answers I feel sure I’m on the right track. Cheers and thanks again for the insight and encouragement to better health and well being through sharing excellent content.

  • Janyce Ketcheson

    Hi Corrie,

    Thank you for the review! Very helpful, however I am still a little confused. If I purchase the DVD’s I understand I receive lifetime access but to what exactly? I saw in one of your comments you said you can pay to have a monthly subscription to all of the BodyFX programs. That is where my confusion is could you please clarify. Thank you!

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Janyce 🙂

      Yeah, it is a little confusing. The way I understand it, you can buy the program as a one-time payment and have a lifetime of streaming access (which is what I did). If you want the physical DVDs you actually have to pay a bit extra for those. (At least that was the case at the time I got the program a few months ago)

      The monthly subscription is for BodyFX, which includes several other fitness programs aside from figure 8. So if you pay for the monthly subscription, you get streaming access for all the programs. But if you just pay the 1-time payment, you just get access to Figure 8.

      I hope that helps.

      • Kim

        Hi Corrie,

        Great review. I was wondering about the music. What type of music do they use fir the videos. Music can really put me off or drive me crazy…. or increase my enthusiasm!!

        Thanks. Kim

        • Corrie Alexander

          Hi Kim,

          I’m glad you enjoyed the review! Great question about the music. It is Latin style music to go with the style of dance moves, so consistent with Salsa, Jive, Merengue, etc. I enjoy dancing to them! But it really comes down to personal preference. 🙂

  • Katerina

    Hi Corrie
    Thank you for the great review. Really useful. Just a quick question, did you do the exercise every day and how many weeks have you followed to date?
    Many thanks

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Katerina, The program is 6 days a week for 8 weeks, but I usually only work out 4-5 days a week and still saw results. When I finished 8 weeks I switched to another fitness app for most of my workouts, but I’m still doing the cardio drills twice a week for my cardio!

  • Miche

    I just signed up last week and am loving it. I’m 58 and have fibromyalgia and bad ankles and I haven’t had problems doing the workout, and just improvise if I need to. It’s going to take me a while to get the moves down but I’ve always wanted to do dance so I’m not in any hurry. I’m getting and great workout and feel my body toning up already. I was a trampolinist and hate exercise because it’s so ridiculously boring but this is a lot of fun. I asked my husband many years ago if he’d do ballroom dancing with me but refused, but I think it would’ve been a wonderful thing to do for date night. I’m am trying very hard to stick to the food plan, not finding it restrictive at all. I find just a balanced plate of meat/fish and veggies or salad is great but it’s pretty much what I always eat. I had to change some of the foods out for the breakfast because I can’t stomach eggs every day, but it is easy replacing the portions with other foods. I’m hoping it will help my fibromyalgia, as I’ve never tried a macronutrient diet and I feel like it makes sense. Anyway I think it’s worth the money and find the simple interface perfect as I’m not tech savvy at all.

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Miche, thanks for sharing! Food plans are definitely a matter of personal preference and very cool to hear it is working for you! And I hope it helps with your fibromyalgia. I’ve always loved ballroom dancing too and I feel like this program kind of gives you a taste of that at least. 😀

  • Renae

    Not sure if you knew, but the Body FX app is also available on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire stick. I actually just purchased the firestick recently for the very purpose of being able to do these workouts on my tv instead of off my phone or computer. The firestick was only $40, and between that and the yearly subscription (around $100, I think) for all of Body FX’S work out programs, I find it to be a very affordable price for finally finding a exercise program that is actually fun to do, and doesn’t make me want to die. I just wanted to point that out, since you mentioned earlier the accessibility issues.

    Thanks for your review! It helped clinch my decision to try this program and I definitely do not regret it!

  • Liana

    Thank you for your review. I’ve been doing Figure 8 for a couple of weeks now. I’ve gained a lot of weight the past couple of years – the last few months especially. However I used to Zumba like a madwoman and thought Figure 8 wouldn’t be too difficult.

    Thank you for being honest about how tricky it was for you (a fit and healthy weight person!) at first. I’m lying in bed aching all over after a Figure 8 workout earlier today – it’s a good, healthy ache! I’m definitely finding it harder than I expected but enjoy it enough that I want to stick with it. I’m seeing improvements everyday and am looking forward to mastering all the moves.

    I’m taking my time with the videos – repeating them to get more competent with the moves. I stick to the low impact steps and my normally sore knees are actually benefitting from the activity.

    Thanks again for your honest review. It has really helped me!

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Liana, I’m so glad this helped you. 🙂 Yes, I thought it was important to note that it’s totally normal to struggle with the moves in the beginning.

      It sounds like you’re well on your way with the program – Congrats on your progress! You’ve totally got this! 😀

  • Tricia

    Thank you for an honest review. It sounds like you’re a fit person to start with so I must admit I’m a bit undecided as to whether to go for the programme or not, it seems like it’s a full on cardio program and that daunts me because i’m a 60 year old woman that has gradually put on weight these last few years to the point of being firmly overweight. I need to lose approx 2 stone to feel comfortable again although weight charts would probably say I need to lose 1 1/2 stone. My main interest is firming up my core, I feel it’s really in need of it. Please can you tell me whether you think the figure 8 exercises would achieve that goal? Especially if I did the lower impact moves, yes, cardio is important to me but all out gut busting cardio has never been for me anyway so I can’t see myself sticking to it if I’m intimidated by the cardio. Is it possible to go at your own pace and concentrate on the moves? Maybe just do the practice videos until I’m sure I’ve got the moves right. Thank you again for your down to Earth yet positive review. It’s helped but I still need that last push to get it although it’s been in my mind for months now!
    Best wishes, Stay safe,
    Tricia.

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Tricia! In my opinion, the short answer is yes, I think it can help you achieve your goals. But I won’t lie, it is pretty high-intensity cardio. And though the program does start off at slightly slower-tempo drills, they still feel fast when you’re new. I honestly think that most people feel a bit overwhelmed at the beginning because the moves *look* easy but then performing them takes more coordination and practice than you’d think.

      However, the program does offer modifications and suggests that you focus on one “layer” at a time (feet, hips, then arms) until you can do them all together.

      I found the difference between this kind of cardio and other forms (like running or spinning) is it feels more fun – it’s dancing after all! If you view it as a way to get your body moving and give yourself permission to fumble and have fun with it, it will seem less intimidating. 🙂

      And I also feel there is absolutely nothing wrong with modifying the moves or even cutting the workouts in half until you build up the endurance to do the whole thing. Hope that helps!

  • Judy

    Thanks for this Corrie. It has helped me figure out if it’s something I want to do, or even could do!
    There aren’t many independent reviews of the programme out there – I’ve been looking all day.
    You’ve managed to answer my practical questions too – eg I wasn’t sure if I needed to buy the basic dvd – I don’t think I do. There’s an extra 20% off in the UK just now, so I think I’ll go for it 🙂

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Marie! Yes, I’ve been using the dance shoes from Slowman for a few months now and I like them. They are extremely lightweight which I find makes it easier to do the footwork. However, the split sole does take a little getting used to! 🙂

      Exciting that you’re starting and hope you like it as much as I do!

  • Maria

    Hi Corrie,
    Thank you for your honest review , I read all the Q&As and they helped me understand better but I am still a little confused. I am thinking about getting the one time payment program and add the DVD with my purchase, I know I have to pay extra for that ( about $9.99 ).
    My questions are :
    May I use the DVD only and work at my own pace ? Between work, house, husband, kids homework and kids after school activities; I hardly have time for myself.
    If that is possible , I don`t have to stick to an 8 weeks schedule ? And have to give updates to Figure 8 website ?
    Do I have to sign up to Figure 8 website anyway even if I am planning to use the DVD only ?
    I looked for it on Amazon but it is out of stock, I only see it on facebook when I click on it , it redirect me to: buy.figureeight.fit
    It is that safe to buy from ?
    I hope you can answer all my questions please .
    God Bless

    Maria

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Maria, glad you liked the review! You can purchase the program online for a one-time payment, and pay extra for shipping of the DVD. (They do try to get you to sign up to the monthly subscription for all the BodyFX programs with a 30 day free trial, but I’m pretty sure you can opt out of that.)

      Honestly, I did not pay extra for the DVD so I can’t attest to what the experience is like to use the DVD or receive it through the figure 8 website.

      However, regardless of whether you use the website or the DVD, you can definitely go at your own pace if you want! Of course, the schedule they provide is designed to give you the best results in the least amount of time. But that doesn’t mean you can’t tweak it to fit your lifestyle – I certainly did.

      Just remember that as with any fitness program, you get back what you put into it.

      I hope that helps!

  • Carol Weber

    Okay, I’m sorely tempted. I won’t decide to do this until I’ve talked myself into committing to it, and that may take a few days, LOL! One huge question is on the issue of shoes. For a variety of reasons, I *always* work out in bare feet on my rug in front of my TV where I use Chrome to cast my laptop’s video. I’m confident I can cast the videos, but wondering why I couldn’t just do this in bare feet. Having to wear shoes would be a deal breaker for me. Thoughts? Thanks!!

    • Corrie Alexander

      I think you could do this in your bare feet – although some people find it hurts their feet to exercise without shoes. I myself have always had kind of sensitive feet and need them to have proper support in whatever sport I’m doing, but you may not find that’s the case for you. Sorry if that wasn’t overly helpful – I think it really does come down to a matter of preference! 🙂

      It is a really fun program, you just gotta get through those first couple of weeks while you’re learning the moves. 🙂

  • Liz Steventon

    Thank you for your review. I’ve seen many positive stories on Facebook & decided to find reviews as I just need some exercise & I love to dance so it sounds like a win win for me. Worth a try. Thank you again.

    • Eleanor

      Hi Corrie
      I’ve just come across your website and review of Figure 8. Thank you for posting such a thorough and honest appraisal. I have purchased the programme, but have yet to begin as I am totally confused about where to start and the sequence to follow for best results, as the guidance on this is very poor. Can you help bring a little clarity please? Many thanks.
      Eleanor

      • Corrie Alexander

        Hi Eleanor, thanks for stopping by, and glad you found the review helpful! I agree the format in which they offer the videos is a bit confusing. From the BodyFX dashboard, click on Figure 8 Basic. There you will see all the videos for the program. At the top you’ll see hyperlinks to a few PDFs. One of them is the Figure 8 Schedule. This will tell you which videos to do on which days.

        I hope that helps!

  • Alex

    Hi!
    Thanks for leaving this very informational and helpful review of figure 8! Because of your review I decided to purchase the workout! I must say that I was very skeptical bc I’ve tried many other workout plans and they are too advanced for me so I give up it the first few days. After reading your review I knew all the pros and cons and it was up to me to either purchase or move on from it! I did buy it bc from seeing the trailer videos I thought that I could do the moves lol I am 250lbs and have a lot of belly weight to lose! However, I haven’t worked out In years! I hate gyms and cardio workouts that are challenging. So I decided to give figure 8 a try knowing that I can at least move my hips lol I am a BIG FAN OF DANCING WITH THE STARS and always wanted to learn the d@nce styles, so I was excited to know that Janna was in cooperating these dance styles in the work out! Before I purchased, I googled if I could stream the videos on my TV. I found out that YES I CAN! I had to download the body flex app on my ROKU TV OR FIRE STICK, and log in with my email and password that they make you sign up with on your initial purchase. In the app, they will ask you to sign in. Sign in with your email and password and now all the workout videos that you purchased from figure 8 is now available on your TV thru ROKU OR FIRE STICK! YAY! I am not sure if this is something that is just now available in 2021, bc your post was dated 2020. However, if you purchase figure 8 now, you can definitely stream all the videos on ROKU and for stick, and apple TV as well! So now I can work out on my TV in my living room! I just did my first workout tonight and I found it simple and easy to follow. I find it easier if you just move like you are dancing the salsa, merengue, pasa doble etc. Instead of trying to do step by step want she is showing, bc in the end she is just giving you a slower version of these dances to let you understand how to move your body. So if you know a little bit of how to move your hips and legs for these dances, everything else will come naturally! Also, you don’t need to keep up with her, just practice first until you get the steps then move on to the faster cardio. All in all I believe that if you keep at it, you will still see major results even if you don’t get all the steps right! Just dancing and moving alone makes you sweat and burn major calories! Just keep your own pace and learn as you go and you will find yourself dancing and moving like she does in no time!

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Alex, thank you for sharing your experience with Figure 8 so far! Great tips here and that’s awesome that you’re finding it easy to follow! Also that is awesome about being able to stream, I believe I did read that before but I always stream from my laptop just because there’s no TV in my workout room lol. Thanks for reading!

  • Katrina

    Great review! Loved the humour in it, too. I’ve had Figure 8 for more than a year now but am only doing the whole 8-week shebang now. I’m on week 3. When I’m done with the 8 weeks, should I do it all over again right away or pick a different workout for a few weeks, and then hop on the program again?

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Katrina, it’s up to you! As long as you still find it challenging, you can repeat it and still get benefits from it. But I find mixing it up is a good way to keep your body challenged (and keep the routines from getting boring!)

  • Astrid

    Hi Corrie, thanks for your review. I have been curious about this program for. Fre months now. I am on noom and am having success lising weight but want to step up my fitness game and move more and tone up. I love zumba and am pretty good at Latin dancing through multiple different Latin classes over the years. My question is, once you buy the basic program and have access to it online, will you always have access without further repayments? I noticed someone said they bought it a year ago and are now just starting it. Thanks!

    • Corrie Alexander

      Hi Astrid, yes, there is a one-time payment you can make for access to Figure 8 only and you get it forever. But they also have a monthly subscription to get access to *all* the programs on Body FX which is different, and that is paid monthly.

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