I’m on Day One. I don’t know if I’ll really make it to Day 30. But I wanted to give the method a shot. And hey, the library carries it for free! I can try before I buy.

Here are the cons: The cardio video segments have absolutely no instruction. Anderson jumps around in front of the camera, and just as you get used to one jump, she changes to another and another. Through most of the video, you feel like you’re just trying to catch up. Then, Cardio Segment One and Two look exactly the same. So similar, in fact, that I had to stop the video and return to the menu to make sure I picked the right segment. As I’ve noticed in all the clips I’ve seen of Anderson, she doesn’t like to talk or look away from the mirror and she doesn’t apologize for it. In fact, a mirror is one piece of required equipment, so you can watch yourself too. I didn’t understand the connection to skin tone either. Apparently, by doing the Anderson Method, your skin will clear up. I wasn’t sure if she was referring to cellulite or making a claim about coloring. And the diet consists of your choice of soup, salad or green kale shakes. (And you better have a solid craving for fresh cracked black pepper because it’s in everything.) I mostly disregarded this section.

The pros: I do have a deep respect for Anderson’s devotion to research though, if it is as she says. I just wish I knew more background about the research itself. It’s so very hush hush secretive, and I’m not sure if it’s because she doesn’t want people to copy her method or because the evidence is so paper-thin that we’d all disregard it. I do enjoy the matwork, even if I’m incapable of doing 50 reps of each at the moment. I don’t think I would commit to doing the Anderson Method solely, because of the nonproportioned focus on the same sets of muscles over and over again. However, I would incorporate many of these moves into my regular routine.

I can’t quite put my finger on the dance-y stuff that seems off, but it just doesn’t look like any sort of real dance to me. I think the focus is mainly on dynamic heart-pumping movement and less on dance steps. And I’m not convinced that I shouldn’t do anything that’s not part of the Method. (Hello, faithful running addict here.) But I would take bits and pieces of the Method to incorporate into my own workout system. And I would love to try one of Anderson’s studios (for much less than the staggering $900/hr), which look more like Cirque du Soleil practice halls than gyms. After all, who doesn’t want that teeny tiny Anderson body?