FITNESS ZONE
INSANITY ASYLUM: THE COMPLETE REVIEW – Part 3
Here it is, Part 3 of 3 of the Asylum Review! After feasting on the souls of nearby strangers I acquired the strength, determination, and plain insanity required to bring it all to you.
RELIEF : 25 Minutes
Relief is an entirely do-able 25 minutes of stretching and working out the kinks. It’s not like Yoga X or has any difficult isometric postures that work up a sweat. There’s no ultimate goal to turn you into a human contortionist, just taking some time to give your beaten muscles a break. So by all means dress up in your Sunday best and go for it.
That’s actually what I like about Relief. Shaun understands that you’re fried and need a serious rest or you’re just not going to make it to the end. You won’t work up a sweat, but you will attack the areas that have been beaten which are your legs and backside in particular.
GAME DAY : 60 Minutes
Oh $#@! What was I thinking???
If all your nightmares could combined then Game Day would be it. It’s the BoogeyMan, Freddy, and Margaret Thatcher in a thong all combined into one sinister beast.
Game Day is a routine that normally doesn’t begin until week 4, but I jumped ahead for the sake of this review. This workout wastes no time and begins straight up with the 1-Mile Run with a short stretch between sets. After that there are moves based on track, tennis, soccer, swimming, skating, football, rock climbing, and baseball. In terms of a humorous sidenote: Alishe gets the DP Medal for Bravery for giving Shaun what he so rightfully deserves after the brutal football drills. But it’s all in good humor!
The goal for this routine will be fighting the urge to stop. The speed-skater drills was a battle of wills that I’m sorry to say I did not win…this time! This DVD is a deadly combo of high-speed/high-core that will look like an ugly, three-eyed mess until you get your skill level up with the Asylum program as a whole.
OVERTIME : 13 Minutes
Wait…you actually have more in you? I hate you. If the end of the Game Day workout is a pat on the back for your muscles, then clearly Overtime is meant to be the “psyche!” followed by a sucker punch.
Overtime is an extra 13 minutes of intense plyometric punishment in the event you’ve completely lost your senses. It involves nasty jumps, squats, ladder drills, jump-rope, and a surprise punch in the face with pull-ups and push-ups.
For the sake of you all I went for it right after the Game Day workout, which is how it is intended to be done. My Power Jumps were getting ugly and my Bear Push ups looked like I had a ten shots of tequila and David Hasselhoff’s salami sandwich.
This is absolutely a great little bonus workout in the event you have that little something extra in you that needs to get out. The only downside is that, well…um...Shaun T looks like he’s working out in his underwear. Yeah, I know, they’re running shorts. I’m just sayin’.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Insanity Asylum does indeed live up to its hype. It was branded as a multi-sports training package for those who are already super fit. Those who are merely good-fit ( which I humbly class myself ) will still gain much from it. We just may require a few clicks of the pause button to get through it alive.
Production value is top notch and as perfect as it comes. The music is similar to the original Insanity and in some case uses the same music that has been remixed. I’m a rock n’ roll sort of guy and even I really enjoyed the sound in this sort of environment. The pace is also what you would expect in this sort of fitness package.
But what about Shaun T?
I remember my previous review of Insanity where I commented that Shaun spent much time telling viewers to dig deeper and go for it, but not much else. Yes, he still does that but he’s more of a coach now making note of the finer details. With each passing DVD series Shaun is morphing into a complete, total fitness instructor/coach and is certainly going to be the future face of fitness at Beachbody. He’s confident, serious, and funny when necessary but never over the top. And damn…I swear he’s getting in exponentially better shape every time he makes a new series. I don’t have a 3-D TV, but each time he takes off his shirt to show his abs I instinctively duck.
If you’re a graduate of either the first Insanity or P90X then I highly recommend you go after Asylum as another weapon in your fitness arsenal. It’s meant to be a 30 day regimen that breaks away the monotony of your other programs. And even though I’m just a couple weeks in, I’m certainly seeing how this can accomplish so much that Insanity or P90X misses. Just understand that there will be a period of adjustment when you’re learning and mixing co-ordination and speed. It’s not for everybody, and the program loudly admits that. But for those of whom it is meant for, it is gold. A well deserved 5 Feathers out of 5
Brooke Forystek
May 8, 2017 at
Hey there! I know I’m SUPER late to commenting on this post, but I am about to finish Hammer & Chisel and looking for a new program! Some background on me: I was an athlete in high school (graduated 6 years ago), then gained 50-60 pounds through college. Over the past year and 2 months, I’ve lost those pounds plus some – about 70 lbs in all, all through doing beachbody programs (21 day fix, 21 day fix extreme, Insanity, 22 MHC, PiYo, Insanity Max: 30, Core de Force, and now working through H&C) and following the 21 day fix portion container nutrition program (which, by the way, I am IN LOVE WITH!).
I LOVE Shaun T and his workouts – he is by far my favorite, and I LOVE H&C (I really like Autumn, too, as a coach/instructor, but hated 21 Day Fix Extreme). I am considering doing Asylum because the now-cardio-junkie in me is ready for some kick-butt cardio, but my main goals right now are to really tone up and add some muscle in my entire body. I also really do want a challenge! Asylum sounds great for ALL of that. My only hesitation is that I sincerely prefer a workout that is 30 minutes, up to 45 minutes MAX (meaning if there are 45 minute workouts, I want a few 30-35 minute days, too!!)… are there any other programs you’d recommend doing instead of Asylum just based on the length/meeting my goals (or any other recommendations based on the info I’ve given you), or do you really recommend giving Asylum a try??
Thanks, Parrot! Throughout my whole weight-loss/fitness journey, I always turn to you as my first (and often only) reviewer to choose my next program. I AM a beachbody coach, but not a super active one, and definitely SEE and ADMIT the downfalls in certain programs, lol (I hated 21 DFX and Core de Force… blechk!) – and seriously appreciate your honesty and commitment to being entertaining, honest, and helpful! You rock!
Dysfunctional Parrot
May 8, 2017 at
Asylum is an excellent progression, but if you really want to stick to 30 minute then perhaps try Stronger by Nicky Hollander. Although not by Beachbody, it definitely has a Beachbody feel to it. Plus bonus…it’s free!
If you can talk yourself into going another 10-15 minutes, I think you’d really be happy with what Asylum can do. It’s about as good a home “track-and-field style” workout as one can expect to get.
Brooke Forystek
May 8, 2017 at
Thanks!! From reading through other comment sections, I was starting to consider Stronger, as well. I’ll look into both – maybe I’ll just have to challenge myself to Asylum!
Yisrael
March 10, 2015 at
Mr. Parrot, I love your site, even your non fitness posts…
I completed insanity,lost a considerable amount of weight and am looking to loose more. Do you recommend I do another round of insanity (after my body has a recuperation period of course..) or can I accomplish the same weight loss with the asylum? ( I wouldn’t mind a change as insanity is very repetitive… however losing weight is more important to me )
Thank you ,
just a plain old bird.
Dysfunctional Parrot
March 10, 2015 at
Insanity can be hard in the knees if done for too long. I’d either go to Asylum or Max 30. Max 30 is pretty intense, even by Insanity standards!
Yisrael
March 15, 2015 at
Thank you. I think I will go for Max 30
mermaid
September 26, 2014 at
My dearest DP,
sending much love & gratitude for all your hard work and sharing. It is such a refreshment to come across someone who communicates on my ridiculous level, and not meaning to blaspheme, I’m just wondering if Batman himself would be able to do so? I can’t seem to conjure the image…and since your batman training has clearly been extensive and successful, I’m thinking you may even be one up these days…? what colour is your parrot-mobile? anyway, with a great respect for your experience and knowledge I was very much hoping to seek your council.
I am two weeks off finishing my first round of insanity, and am wondering what to do next? I am a 24yr old female surfer, but started insanity to get back in shape after being ill for a long time (lost muscle tone and put on weight). I have had good results, lost weight and toned up, maybe even too much muscle in the legs especially?!
So what I would like next, is to lean down a little more (still a tiny bit too lose and abs to reveal) and keep my fitness up, but I don’t really want to bulk up anymore, if anything lean up the leg muscles especially. I’m after that ever elusive and sought after ripped but lean female look.
I’m worried that tony Horton is too much muscle not enough cardio, I love watching MMA (then walking around thinking I could go all Ronda Rousey on anyone at anytime) but am afraid UFC fit or Tapout XT is a step down from insanity? Is this so? Should I just go into Asylum? I can do all the Insanity workouts but I know about it when I’ve done em! Does that mean I’ll be ready & able to tackle Asylum?
I was also wondering, once I’ve lost that little bit I’ve got to go, and leaned up a little more, which program do you recommend for maintenance, if say, I’m just happy to stay at cat woman level and not Batman or Bane level?
Hope these questions are not too how long is a piece of string, and hoping very much to hear from you soon, as I am looking to order the program asap, after consulting you, our wise oracle and jedi master.
thanking you again kindly,
mermaid.
Dysfunctional Parrot
September 28, 2014 at
Think of Tony Horton as a means to overall, well rounded fitness for everyday life.
Shaun T is hard core interval training that will give you cardio like an Olympian. I find the best solution is to mix workouts from both,
Now as for cardio, it would be hard to get better than Asylum and thus far I have not seen anything that comes close to the butt-kicking Shaun can dish out. The only problem is that you occasionally have to step away because the body needs an occasional break from that much concentrated punishment. Tony allows you to stay in the game without wearing the body down.
My solution is that I mix it up. On any given week I’ll do T25, P90X, Body Beast and Asylum. I don’t really have a hard-and-fast schedule, I just try and avoid the same body part two days in a row and go for it!
Scooby
March 24, 2014 at
For a high school athlete soccer player looking for speed, agility and overall athletic fitness-balance etc. Do you think p90x3 would be a good option or Insanity Asylum? The person is working on T25 now.
Dysfunctional Parrot
March 24, 2014 at
For great cardio and track-style training, I would go Asylum hands down.
Shari
August 16, 2011 at
I LOVE your reviews! I have done all of these workouts that you have reviewed. I am currently doing The Asylum and love it!!! Everything you say in your review is spot on!!!! I can relate and laughed so hard!
Dysfunctional Parrot
August 25, 2011 at
Hope you like what I'm going to try and review next…Hip Hop Abs!! Oh man, what an experience that's going to be!