REVIEWS
STRONG, STRETCHED AND CENTERED
"This sweat-inducing workout is designed for moms-to-be who want to stay in tip-top shape during pregnancy. The cleverly designed Pilates routine features nonimpact, standing moves that lead directly to challenging floor work. A bonus postnatal Pilates mat workout focuses on strengthening and toning abs after baby."
Fitness Level ***/***
"It makes you feel dancerlike and fluid, even if you're not. it's challenging and easy to follow."
"best for: trimming tummy. from pilates to crunches. i get bored so the variety was perfect."
"the exercise band stimulates pilates gym machines to get you stronger and firmer in less time. these routines also tone your arms ang legs."
| YourExerciseDVDs |
| Release |
 Release(Ruah)
2009
What is it?
A 50-minute Pilates and Yoga-based toning and flexibility workout. Your instructors are Leah Sarago and Suzanne Bowen.
Who is it for?
Intermediate exercisers. Expect some challenges. You will need a mat.
What to expect:
Often
you know what to expect from an exercise DVD by who the instructors
are. So when I saw Leah Sarago and Suzanne Bowen featured on the back
of the DVD box for Release, I knew I was getting an expertly-instructed workout that was going to make me work.
And it did — every part of my body got a challenge. The DVD is divided
up into four different segments: the first 15 minutes warms you up with
a standing routine that focuses on building strength and endurance in
your lower body. You hit the mat for the next 15 minutes of arm and
core work — lots of moving planks and slow push-ups. Next up is 10
minutes of core work, mainly abs and back, and finishing up is a
10-minute stretch/ cool down. While most of these Pilates and Yoga-type
moves don't seem too difficult at the beginning, Sarago increases the
difficulty by adding pulsing motions or bringing you back for a second
set (when you've already fatigued your muscles during the first!).
Bowen appears in the first two segments and shows easier modifications
(she found out she was pregnant when they were prepping the DVD — not
to say that this is a pre-natal workout. It's too difficult for that;
only Bowen's expert level of fitness enabled her to participate). You
don't do any heart-raising cardio or lift any weights with this
workout, but there are moments when you will be breaking a sweat. You finish this DVD feeling stronger, more flexible and relaxed.
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| YourExerciseDVDs 10 Minute Solution: Pilates Perfect Body |
 10 Minute Solution: Pilates Perfect Body(Anchor Bay)
2008
What is it?
Five challenging 10-minute Pilates workouts, each one with a different focus. Suzanne Bowen instructs.
Who is it for?
Intermediate exercisers — this one is definitely not for wimps! You had better be up on your Pilates moves, because you will find some surprising variations here. You will need a mat, and for the arms segment, a pair of light (1–3 lb.) dumbbells.
What to expect:
If you know anything about Pilates, you know that even with mat exercises, any worthwhile DVD will not be a "light" workout. That goes double for this one. Get ready for some uniquely challenging moves, some muscle burn and soreness the next day. Bowen starts things off with 10 minutes of core work that includes a variation on the Hundred that I've never seen before and a killer bicycle move. The more precisely you can perform the "Buns & Thighs" section, the better your results will be (that's why this DVD is for intermediates on up). Usually Pilates routines don't do all that much for the arms, but Bowen really works up a burn, and with nothing heavier than 3 pound dumbbells (to be honest, I actually had to pick up a pair of lighter weights for a few moves — something I never do!). The "Perfect Silhouette" segment uses Pilates and ballet-inspired moves to tone your whole body — this is another one where precision really counts. Don't consider the final stretch sequence a mere cool down; this is flexibility training at its best. Bowen is a wonderful instructor — good cueing, and she has come up with a very creative series of exercises. If you know your way around a Pilates mat, this is the one DVD this year you won't be able to live without!
YourExerciseDVDs' Ten Favorite Exercise DVDs of 2007
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 10 Minute Solution: Dance Off Fat Fast(Anchor Bay)
2008
What is it?
Five 10-minute, dancey exercise routines. Four of them are cardio and one is ballet-inspired sculpting. Leah Sarago instructs.
Who is it for?
Beginning and advanced beginning exercisers who enjoy dancing. While the steps aren't too difficult, you may be lost if you have two left feet. Intermediates will probably want a more intense workout, unless they really need a light day.
What to expect:
If you've spent any time reading my cardio dance reviews, you know two things about me: 1) I love cardio dance DVDs and 2) I suck at learning complicated choreography. (Being a walking mass of contradictions is my second career.) Every time I get a new cardio DVD in with the word "dance" in the title, I wonder just how long it's going to take me to learn it well enough to review it. This time I was in luck — the moves were both fun and so easy to learn that I got the whole workout (all 5 10-minute routines) down in just one pass. True, I cheated my way through a couple of steps, but I had 'em down by the second time I did them. Sarago is a cheerful, fun instructor who cues nicely and who puts together standard moves in creative ways. "Simple Slim Down" is your basic cardio dance routine, with big moves to get your heart rate up; "Flirty Fat Burner" puts a cute-sexy spin on the moves; "Fat Blasting Flashback" is full of retro disco fun a la Saturday Night Fever; and "Cardio Swing Dance" goes back yet another couple of decades into the 1950s for some lively, kitschy dance steps. The 10-minute segment that finishes the DVD is "Dance Sculpt," which tones your lower body with ballet-style plies, arabesques and more (and don't think your arms get off easy — they're usually mid-air so you will feel them working).
These beginner-level routines are only moderately intense, so if you're looking for something that'll leave you totally winded and make you sweat buckets, you'll have to find another DVD. On the other hand, if you're not ready for heavy cardio, or if you want a light day, you'll have lots of fun (and trust me, the sculpting segment is tougher than it looks). As with all 10 Minute Solution DVDs, you can pick and choose how many segments you do — or do them all. Since they are so brief, you don't get much stretching, so you might want to tack that on at the end of your workout. My one teensy complaint is that I think it would have been more festive if Sarago had some background dancers to join in these entertaining routines. But I'm being picky here — I'll definitely be reaching for this DVD next time I've burnt myself out from tougher workouts.
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workouts, you have the option of doing one routine, programming in multiple segments, or going for all five of them for your daily exercise fix.  |
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* To read the entire article click on timesunion.com. Suzanne Bowen and Leah Sarago placed in one of the top three picks in their fitness video category. |
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I feel I'm a pretty strong person physically in many ways. I mean, I workout after all, on a regular basis, so you would expect it. Well, Suzanne Bowen and Leah Sarago of Barre Body Method proved me wrong! Okay, so I still think I'm in pretty good shape, but clearly, I don't do enough cross training. I'm sort of stuck in my routine right now and I like it that way. It's what keeps me working out and not complaining, so I'm sticking with it even with the recent most humbling experience.
Suzanne and Leah will be my guests on the show this coming Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. CST. They have two great DVDs out there for the busy person with little time to work out. They're Ten-Minute Solution DVDs (which you'll find out more about during the show and on my guest page at www.becomingthinwithin.com) give you an option of doing only one very powerful ten-minute workout (if time is short) or combine two or five of the ten-minute workouts to create a customized lengthier workout for days you have a little more time to give.
Additionally, they have created the unique Body Barre Method of training that combines Pilates, Dance, Yoga and creativity to give you a great yet tough workout. While you don't have to know dance to be in their private (by appointment only) and exclusive training sessions here in middle TN, you should prepare to have someone pick you up after the workout because you won't be able to move your arms to steer the car of lift your big toe to push the gas pedal.
Okay, maybe it isn't that bad, so your husband can stay home and clean the house and teach the kids Calculus while you go workout, but make no mistake, this is an all-over body workout that will have your legs trembling in exhaustion while Suzanne yells, "Don't worry about your legs shaking; let 'em shake; just keep holding your position; now, let's increase the intensity." Gulp!
Now, being the big-bad counselor and weight loss talk show host that I am, I HAD to show my stuff and keep pushing through with a smile on my face all while my legs were cursing me and promising to make going to the bathroom a VERY difficult chore from this day forward, but I gave it my all. And yes, my legs have made me resort to a free-fall to the toilet when going to take care of business reminding me of the previous day's torture.
So, while I was able to complete the entire class and truly enjoyed every minute of it, I am quite sore and thinking I need to add in more cross-training to my routine. Suzanne and Leah were great instructors, so go to www.barrebodymethod.com and find out more about this class in Franklin, TN and see if you too can resort to a free-fall to the toilet after you take the class!
