One of the most important benefits of Tae Bo is that it’s a complete exercise plan, covering both lower body areas – hips, thighs and buttocks – and the upper body muscles in your chest, arms and shoulders. The name itself exemplifies this – “tae” (meaning “foot” in Korean) representing lower body movements, and “Bo,” being an abbreviation of the word “boxing,” pointing to upper body movements.

One of the main assets of Tae Bo is that it also covers core muscles, such as abs, obliques and spinal erectors, offering a complete muscle workout. It is known to build strength and make for a great cardio workout as well – combining dance moves and aerobics with martial arts and boxing workouts. So good for you and so much fun!

If you’re looking for a workout to help you burn calories more quickly, you’ll find that one of the major benefits of Tae Bo is just this. It has been shown that an average person weighing 150 pounds can lose as much as 700 calories after a 1-hour Tae Bo workout session.

There are currently several trainers that have developed enhanced versions of the original Tae Bo workout plans developed by Billy Blanks in the '70s. These have been designed to be easier to follow, and with the help of DVDs and easy to use visual references, you’ll find you can quickly get into the fun. But to be honest, out of all newer versions I've tried, I still love Billy's videos the most. He has this contagious "good vibe" about him that makes me keep going no matter how loudly my muscles are screaming!

Speaking of motivation, one of the most important benefits of Tae Bo is that it's really hard to get bored of it. The moves are so engaging and fun that an hour of working out flies by without you even noticing it. Plus, as a bonus, if you go for Blanks' original videos, the workout clothes he's wearing in some of them will surely put a smile on your face.

Another great advantage is that you can perform your Tae Bo exercises practically anywhere you are. There is no need for complicated or expensive workout equipment, and you can easily do regular sessions at the gym or in the comfort of your own home.

While increasing your confidence, strength, flexibility and endurance, Tae Bo also integrates self-defense moves that, together with all its other benefits, can be an introduction into simple techniques to fend off possible assailants. You could say that Tae Bo is the “fun way” to get acquainted with basic self defense. However, the key word here is "basic," as this is still designed to be just a workout, not a martial arts class.

Experts consider that most of the advantages of Tae Bo far outweigh those of basic aerobic exercises or jogging. Have you tried out this dynamic type of workout for toning or weight loss? What do you think are its most important benefits from the ones mentioned above? Or have you noticed any cons of Tae Bo?