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DVD Crunch - Fat Burning Pilates
"Calorie burning cardio plus Pilates-based toning," promises this 40-minute Crunch program, which combines Pilates-influenced standing and mat exercises. In the cardio section, instructor Ellen Barrett uses Pilates terminology (e.g. "standing imprint") as she adapts Pilates moves to rather repetitious standing exercises--mostly squats and leg lift variations--which work the core muscles of the abdominals and back as well as legs, thighs, and buttocks. The moves are sometimes slow and rarely "travel," so your heart rate might not stay elevated, although your lower body and core muscles will get a good workout. The toning section consists of Pilates mat exercises which work abs, back, thighs, and buttocks. One exerciser demonstrates easier modifications. The background music is dominated by a lively drummer who keeps the workout upbeat and enthusiastic. --Joan Price
I think it was a good light workout, I agree that the heart rate won't get too elevated.
The camera kept focusing on the drummer in the background way too much, I thought his presence was totally unnecessary and actually kind of funny. And the camera often also focused on a waist up shot of a group member when they were doing a lower body move.
When you're trying to follow the moves, you need to see the whole body of the instructor...
But overall it was a good moderate workout.
Girl's Fitness
I'm taking a girl's fitness class, and we're using this tape. It doesn't matter how old you are (referring to the 16y.o. who complained further down) to use this tape. I've tried other tapes, and they're so fast and complicated, I don't get them, get frustrated, and give up. This tape is easy, but you feel it the next day. I have rather weak arms, and did they feel it the next day. This is probably a 'beginner' tape, but for the time you use it, it's worth it. I'd suggest doing it with a group, it's fun, and it makes you stick to it. You're gonna sweat with it for the cardio part, and the mat part you'll feel until you get stronger. Another great ab tape is 'Curl'.
Enjoy!
More "Low Impact" Than "Fat Burning." Suited For Beginners.
As someone who owns dozens of exercise videos and who hates to exercise, this was my first experience with a Pilates-based workout. Here are, in my opinion, the Good/Bad points to this workout:
*Good: The atmosphere, the participants, the instructor, and the music are great.*
- The instructor is attractive, personable, clear, and not annoying in any way.
- It starts immediately. The instructor doesn't waste time with introductions or drawn-out instructions or "consult your doctor" warnings, like you see in so many other workout videos.
- The music is excellent, a rhythmic Caribbean style. There's a good-looking guy in the background playing bongos to the tune. I really like that!
- The choreography is easy. If you've ever used exercise videos before, you should find these steps very simple.
- The first half is semi-aerobic, reasonably good for getting your heart rate up before the matwork (but not enough to be considered a cardio workout - see "Bad" below).
- The supporting participants are women who are pleasing and most of their smiles seem genuine, although there are a couple forced-looking smiles now and then. There's even one woman who seems like a "regular" girl, not a buff athlete (but of course, they hide her in the back). There is one girl who really bugs me, but that's just me.
- One of the participants does a "modified" position of some of the stretches, which is helpful for beginners.
- The stretches are gone through pretty quickly. Right when you're starting to feel some burn, we move on.
- The whole thing is only about thirty minutes and it goes by really fast.
*Bad: The aerobic section is mild. The matwork is too brief.*
- I would consider this to be NEITHER cardio or Pilates. I do break a small sweat, and I suppose any exercise is going to help you burn fat, but I definitely wouldn't have called this "Fat Burning" since your heart rate doesn't increase by much. If anything, this is Low Impact. Additionally, I haven't done any straight Pilates workouts, but I understand that they're very challenging. This is not.
- Now that I've been using it steadily for a few weeks, I feel there are some moves that are too simple and a waste of time - not cardio and not muscle toning. For example, at the beginning of one set, she has you stand there with your hands on your hips, and simply tap one foot out...in...out... in. I feel this movement would be something more suited for someone looking for an *extremely* easy exercise, perhaps elderly folks or people in physical rehabilitation.
- Since the matwork goes so quickly, I wonder how effective it really is. Granted, no one wants to do agonizing ab work until you're dying, but at the same time, it seems like just when you're getting into a stretch, the instructor moves on. For most of the matwork, this instructor counts only eights beats and does not have you repeat the move.
All in all, I'd say this is a good video for a beginner, someone NOT looking for a challenge, or someone who wants to get in a daily workout but is lazy (like me) and doesn't like to break much of a sweat. It does give you some exercise, and you do feel your abs the next day. At least in the beginning.
*UPDATE: After using it for a month or two, the thought of doing the very boring and much too light "step-touch" routine has made me stop using it. It's just not enough - not enough cardio and not enough Pilates. If I've talked myself into working out, dangit, it's got to feel like a workout!*
This Pilates workout's subtitle, "Pick Your Spot," sums up its flexibility; the three 10-minute segments each tone the abdomen, rear, and thighs using Pilates-based exercises. Crammed into each segment are up to 10 exercises. "Belly" features the 100, criss-cross, twist, and mermaid; "Butt" includes swimming, double leg kicks, and leg circles; and "Thighs" offers the frog, front kicks, and leg lifts. While each segment is too brief to challenge veteran exercisers, viewers are free to hit the pause button and add reps. Plus, a 10-minute bonus total-body Pilates workout proves more demanding than the individual segments. L.A. Crunch instructor Ellen Barrett does an excellent job of initiating newbies to the regulated breathing and core muscle control needed for the exactness of this... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 24 September 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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I was cautious with this purchase... I hated Pick your Spot Pilates (by Crunch).
This is a great video! The music is great (one song is from the firm ^_^) I noticed a lot of ballet moves in this one! Ballet is great when it comes to toning!
The instructor is lively and excited, as are the people in the background. I love seeing multiple people doing the exercises "correctly" at different levels. It helps me adjust my movement/stances at my own pace.
The music was fine--- The instructor stayed up with the rhythm of the music. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Ellen Barrett DVD Release Date: Released the 07 September 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This DVD is the best money you could ever spend on yourself. For the price of about two Big-Mac meals, you can learn to burn from one of the best instructors on the planet. I was very sore after only three workouts. But my energy level started to pick-up quickly, my mental alertness, my "enthusiasm" (if you know what I mean, ladies!) and overall health. I've lost weight, gained great muscle tone, and look "hot" according to my husband (and two of his best buddies!). Hey, that's worth the money, no? More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 02 January 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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As a person who doesn't like to do any strenuous exercise this is a perfect workout. It isn't too easy and it isn't too hard. I still get a good workout but I don't get the painful stitches in the side that I get with running or stepping ect. The joy of yoga is a great way to start and the fat burning yoga is a very fun and fast paced workout. I love it More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Sara Ivanhoe DVD Release Date: Released the 23 October 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This intermediate-to-advanced video from the trendy gym Crunch will work all your muscles, including your heart. The intense half-hour workout is divided into seven-and-a-half-minute segments. Instructor Susan Hitzman and her class of young, perfect hardbodies (showing off incredibly tight, sculpted midriffs) demonstrate strengthening moves that combine upper- and lower-body muscles, for example, doing an overhead press with weights and a squat simultaneously, varying the rhythm for intensity. And, of course, it wouldn't be "boot camp" without pushups. "Remember, I would rather you gave me 4 excellent pushups than 12 sloppy ones!" Hitzman announces. By the end you'll be begging for mercy, because each segment has progressively harder pushup variations, including some you've never tried.... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 27 April 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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