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.
Awesome workout
What a workout! I've only used this a couple of times but this is my favorite DVD to work out to now. Ellen is so encouraging and keeps reminding you to check your form, but not in an annoying way. And she makes the movements easy to follow. The movements looks simple, but if you remember to keep everything tight and controlled, it really is a total body workout. I would definetly recommend this video to a beginner to Pilates (like me) or to someone more advanced, since her instructions and reminders dont get in the way of the workout.
Standing Pilates Balance Challenge with Weights
Ellen Barrett takes instruction to new levels of perfection in Crunch Burn & Firm Pilates. I've rarely seen an instructor not only challenge me to my limits, but also keep me informed as to the next exercise so as to keep me in total harmony.
While doing this workout the first few times, you can modify most of the exercises by not using weights. When you do start using the weights it is invigorating and your heart rate will definitely be elevated to a fat burning zone.
There are quite a few completely unique exercises I have never seen in any workout. The "swan extension" is an artistic exercise you accomplish with two weights in hand. You almost feel like you are dancing with weights in some of the segments. Side raises with weights and lots of raising the arms and moving side to side raises the intensity.
Previous experience with Pilates and Ballet will make this workout especially intriguing for intermediate students of both. Ellen Barrett will often alternate between balance and control and then at times require you to balance while controlling the weights and movement of your arms in two different directions. The balance challenges in this workout are exciting and the hand-held weights make you feel much more powerful.
Warm Up
Standing Pilates
Standing Pilates with Weights - 3 segments
Mat Work
Cool Down/Stretch
What will you need?
1 Mat or Towel
Two 3-pound weights
My only question is: "Why such a short stretching session after such a high intensity workout?" The place I felt this workout the most was in my lower back and the stretching seemed to mainly focus on the upper body. My knees seemed fine during this workout even with the lunges because Ellen makes sure to remind you to turn out your toes and to check to make sure your knee is not going over your toes.
If you are looking for a perfect warm up, high intensity cardio routine and progressive challenges, I think you will love this routine. The footwork is fairly easy with the coordination level being more challenging for your arms so you get a great arm workout.
Also recommended:
Crunch Fat Burning Pilates
Crunch Pick Your Spot 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... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 09 September 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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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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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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I found that I didn't really get a good workout because I was too busy trying to follow the moves. The lead dancer was the stiffest of the bunch and very fake in her enthusiasm. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jennifer Galardi DVD Release Date: Released the 07 September 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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