FAST-FORWARD FITNESS : EXERCISE VIDEO MARKET BOOMS WITH SEEMINGLY ENDLESS VARIETY.

Byline: Sandy Coleman Boston Globe

Maybe it's because they allow you to work out in your underwear without people staring at you. Maybe it's because they keep you from having to hide in the back of an aerobics class behind those women whose body parts are still exactly where they should be.

Whatever the reason, exercise videos these days are as hot as a midday power walk in August. There are a slew of them and the variety of offerings is staggering.

Things have moved way beyond the '80s when Jane Fonda first donned leg warmers, exhorted a nation to ``feel the burn'' and charged $89.95 for the pleasure. No more just ``Sweatin' to the Oldies'' with the short shorts-clad Richard Simmons.

Now you can hula your way to a smaller grass skirt with ``Hula for Health.'' Beat fat and learn to kick butt at the same time with ``Kung Fu Step'' or the ``Chuck Norris Lean and Mean Workout.'' Butterfly your way to a phat form with the ``Jamaica Me S'wet'' workout that features funky dance-floor moves set to a reggae beat.

There's tai chi, belly dancing, yoga for kids, aerobics with soul, Christian-oriented workouts (``Hallelujah! Aerobics for Body and Spirit''), workouts with classical music, salsa, hip-hop. Don't even ask about the lingerie-oriented workout ``Sexercising.''

Naked yoga anyone? There's a video for it: ``Nude Yoga Workout.'' Bought the size 6 bridal gown because it was on sale although you know you're a size 16? To the rescue: ``Cathe Friedrich's Get in Shape for Your Wedding.''

There are so many workout videos that there is a catalog to keep up with them, ``The Complete Guide to Exercise Videos.'' Nine years ago, the guide listed only 147 videos. Today, it features some 325 of the latest videos from the company's total inventory of 1,000. Among them are videos by the original industry leader, Jane Fonda, who continually reinvents herself in the workout world.

The current production boom, say fitness and video experts, is a reflection of how people's obsession with the body has ballooned in the past 10 years; how a fast-paced world has increasingly diminished the amount of time people have to spend in gyms; and how savvier marketers have learned to tap into the diversity of exercise enthusiasts.

The change in exercise styles says a lot about the collective turning away from that old adage: no pain, no gain. No longer will we just get on the floor and suffer through fun with Jane. Now, we can take the heavenly route with instructor La Vita M. Weaver, whose video ``Hallelujah Aerobics'' has ``hallelujah steps'' like ``At the Cross'' and ``The Bow.''

Step One: The Christian Rock. ``What makes this the Christian Rock?'' the instructor asks, rocking her legs forward and back. ``We add the love ... it's arms across the chest, and over your head. ... Now, I'm going to repeat the key phrase. It's love. God is love. And, loves, loves everyone. March!''

Recognizing that not everyone works at the same level, videos have taken strides away from the one-size-fits-all mentality. Videos now seem to be ``more ageless,'' said Jill Ross, director of customer relations for Collage, the Minneapolis company that created the video guide. ``At one time, aerobics were geared to 26-year-old women, and when you were 30 you didn't mind if it all fell apart.''

Trends in videos reflect those in health clubs and outdoor workouts, said Pamela Miller, fitness editor for Self magazine.

``One of the big changes over the past few years is a move toward mind/body videos. ... Things sort of magically break down by decade. We spent the '80s beating our bodies up and now we're spending the '90s making them feel better.''

Along with an escape from stressful lives, people want more from their workouts. They want to get into shape and learn a skill, said Miller.

Apparently, consumers are insatiable: Some of Collage's customers - they include residents of Japan, Australia, Switzerland and Singapore - have ordered 50 and 60 videos for their personal collections, according to Ross.

The customers are predominantly 28- to 48-year-old women. A small percentage - an estimated 7 percent - are men. Selling for around $20, the videos are more affordable than a gym membership.

Amy Tilly, 40, of Scarborough, Maine, swears by her videos because they have made keeping in shape a practical and easy chore.

``You can really keep up with the state of the art of what's new in fitness without going to a gym, without really leaving your home. And you can stay in shape all winter long,'' Tilly said.

The mother of 5-year-old triplets and a 19-month-old toddler began mail-ordering videos about eight years ago.

When she needed to recover from pregnancy, she used ``Kathy Smith's Pregnancy Workout.'' When she wanted strength, ``In Shape with Rachel McLish'' pumped her up.

Although she liked going to aerobics classes, she finds videos suit her needs best because she prefers exercising at odd times of the day, like early morning.

And, ``I like the privacy aspect,'' said Tilly.

No doubt coming down the road will be spinning videos based on a new stationary bike routine.

With an industry full of people eager to make videos - from supermodels such as Kathy Ireland to former Olympic medalists such as Florence Griffith Joyner - the possibilities are as endless as the number of out-of-shape bodies.

Besides, the obsession with health and fitness escalates every day. Notes Ross: ``When I was a new bride in the early '70s, people drank martinis when they got home from work.''

Now bottoms up has a whole new meaning.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo: (1--Cover--Color) NO SWEAT

A vast and varied arra y of workout videos makes it easier than ever to exercise at home - unobserved and on your own schedule

Gus Ruelas/Daily News

(2) no caption (Videos)

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News

(3) No longer featuring just leotard-clad hardbodies on an aerobics floor, the latest crop of exercise videos, including ``Hula for Health,'' cater to a variety of skill levels and interests.

(4) If dance-floor moves to a reggae beat sounds like your thing, try ``Jamaica Me S'wet.''