Today's workout: Barre 3 Total Body Lift by Sadie Lincoln
Difficulty: beginner/intermediate
Length: 41 mins
Concept: Ballet-influenced exercises that exhaust your body's stabilizing muscles -- combined with stretching, core, and upper-body weight work -- provide a thorough total-body workout.
Sadie Lincoln may sound like a character from Little House on the Prairie, but her Barre 3 workouts are apparently the hottest thing in L.A. -- with devotees like Madonna among the legions of celebrity fans. I'm still recovering from a cold and thought this would be a soothing, light workout for a lazy day. Boy was I wrong. And I'm glad I was!
Total Body Lift includes the kind of quad-burner thigh work known to practitioners of the Bar Method. And Sadie wastes no time getting you into it -- my quads were even feeling it on the warm-up. Basically, you stand on tip toes and shift your weight forward so all of your body weight is on your thighs and then you lift and lower until you think you're going to pass out. If you're trembling, that means you're doing it right. And when you stand up, you can literally feel all of the blood rushing out of your thighs. And then you do three more sets. Her glute work was definitely ballet-influenced (focusing on the gluteus medius -- the high outer portion of the butt, rather than the maximus like squats do) and I found it a lot easier to nail the form than in similar exercises in Bar Method workouts.
Sadie says that these exercises work the "stabilizing muscles" -- the ones that don't really get worked with large-muscle group work. She says that's why you tremble and that's what helps you get a lean bod. Thirty minutes after the workout and my quads are still kind of jumpy, so I am inclined to believe her.
Her upper body work uses light weights, but she uses gravity to add resistance, having you bend and straighten to increase the burn. I thought it was pretty thorough, as was the remainder of the workout, which included abs and more lower body. I will definitely be doing this one again.
Pros: Thorough, intense, full-body workout with excellent form pointers.
Cons: You have to really pay attention to form to get the moves right, otherwise you won't feel like it's working.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Ripped Aussie Lass Kicks Ass!
Today's workout: Bridal Body Burn by Violet Zaki
Difficulty: intermediate
Length: 30 minutes
Concept: By combining the most effective fitness techniques, you can maximize the benefits gained in a 30-minute workout.
Violet Zaki is one of my favorite instructors. And even though I'm not getting in shape for my wedding, I decided to try this workout which is part of Exercise TV's 30-day countdown to your wedding day (or something like that). Zaki is petite and sweet, but her workouts are challenging, efficient, effective, and innovative.
In Bridal Body Burn, Zaki mixes the most effective workout techniques, including interval training, strength training, balance and coordination, and compound exercises (where you work more than one body part at a time) to tax both your body and your mind.
Some of her exercises take some getting used to, for example the backwards lunge performed while "rowing" with a dumbbell. But the price of that momentary befuddlement is having your body challenged in interesting new ways by Zaki's totally unique fitness style. And her exercises are safe; Zaki demonstrates beautiful form and provides excellent form pointers throughout (plus a few jokes in her awesome Australian accent).
Pros: Unique exercises that challenge your body in new ways and provide a very thorough workout in a short amount of time.
Cons: Would be better if it were just 10 minutes longer with a few extra-long intervals to really up the cardio. The whole "wedding-day" motif is silly if you're not getting in shape for your wedding (and maybe even if you are.)
Difficulty: intermediate
Length: 30 minutes
Concept: By combining the most effective fitness techniques, you can maximize the benefits gained in a 30-minute workout.
Violet Zaki is one of my favorite instructors. And even though I'm not getting in shape for my wedding, I decided to try this workout which is part of Exercise TV's 30-day countdown to your wedding day (or something like that). Zaki is petite and sweet, but her workouts are challenging, efficient, effective, and innovative.
In Bridal Body Burn, Zaki mixes the most effective workout techniques, including interval training, strength training, balance and coordination, and compound exercises (where you work more than one body part at a time) to tax both your body and your mind.
Some of her exercises take some getting used to, for example the backwards lunge performed while "rowing" with a dumbbell. But the price of that momentary befuddlement is having your body challenged in interesting new ways by Zaki's totally unique fitness style. And her exercises are safe; Zaki demonstrates beautiful form and provides excellent form pointers throughout (plus a few jokes in her awesome Australian accent).
Pros: Unique exercises that challenge your body in new ways and provide a very thorough workout in a short amount of time.
Cons: Would be better if it were just 10 minutes longer with a few extra-long intervals to really up the cardio. The whole "wedding-day" motif is silly if you're not getting in shape for your wedding (and maybe even if you are.)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Yoga for People Who Hate Yoga
Today's workout: Yoga Meltdown by Jillian Michaels
Difficulty: intermediate
Length: 30 mins
Concept: If yoga is too woo-woo for you -- and you hate to waste a workout day on stretching -- this yoga routine will get your heart rate up and stretch your hamstrings, but it won't get you in touch with your inner yogini.
I have to admit I am not a huge fan of The Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels. Her tough-love schtick, aggressive snarl, and militaristic gym-class instructor style don't motivate me. But she does have an awesome body, and many of my hardcore fitness friends say her workouts are really hard, so I thought I'd give Yoga Meltdown a try.
The workout includes a lot of yoga poses familiar to those who've done power yoga -- repeated sun salutations, down dog, and warrior poses. For each pose, you'd repeat it a few times using the weight of your own body, which Jillian claims is a great way to get strong. Unfortunately, you don't actually hold the pose that long -- only 15 seconds -- which didn't really tax my stamina or give me enough stretch. All of this is performed while Jillian barks at you to "rep it out" (meaning do it over and over). Every time she said it, I could hear 1,000 yogini's silent screams.
Yoga Meltdown has a good mix of strength and balance and it works every muscle group. I did work up a sweat, but I didn't feel totally stretched out after doing it like I would have after a thorough yoga routine. The workout is sold on a DVD with another 30-minute workout. Doing them back-to-back might do the trick.
Pros: Easy to follow, minorly sweat-producing; no woo-woo yoga speak; gets the job done so you can cross a stretch routine off your list.
Cons: Poses aren't held long enough. If you have any reverence for the practice of yoga, this routine will rub you the wrong way.
Difficulty: intermediate
Length: 30 mins
Concept: If yoga is too woo-woo for you -- and you hate to waste a workout day on stretching -- this yoga routine will get your heart rate up and stretch your hamstrings, but it won't get you in touch with your inner yogini.
I have to admit I am not a huge fan of The Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels. Her tough-love schtick, aggressive snarl, and militaristic gym-class instructor style don't motivate me. But she does have an awesome body, and many of my hardcore fitness friends say her workouts are really hard, so I thought I'd give Yoga Meltdown a try.
The workout includes a lot of yoga poses familiar to those who've done power yoga -- repeated sun salutations, down dog, and warrior poses. For each pose, you'd repeat it a few times using the weight of your own body, which Jillian claims is a great way to get strong. Unfortunately, you don't actually hold the pose that long -- only 15 seconds -- which didn't really tax my stamina or give me enough stretch. All of this is performed while Jillian barks at you to "rep it out" (meaning do it over and over). Every time she said it, I could hear 1,000 yogini's silent screams.
Yoga Meltdown has a good mix of strength and balance and it works every muscle group. I did work up a sweat, but I didn't feel totally stretched out after doing it like I would have after a thorough yoga routine. The workout is sold on a DVD with another 30-minute workout. Doing them back-to-back might do the trick.
Pros: Easy to follow, minorly sweat-producing; no woo-woo yoga speak; gets the job done so you can cross a stretch routine off your list.
Cons: Poses aren't held long enough. If you have any reverence for the practice of yoga, this routine will rub you the wrong way.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Kinda Crazy Cardioke
Today's workout: Cardioke by Billy Blanks Jr.
Difficulty: beginner/intermediate
Length: 59 mins
Concept: Singing and dancing at the same time requires more exertion -- so your lungs are getting a twofer!
Is Billy Blanks Jr. the most amazing man on the planet? He sings, he dances, he's gorgeous, and he's created one of the zaniest ideas to hit workout videos since Patricia Moreno's IntenSati (where you shout positive affirmations as you move). Also starring his beautiful wife, Blanks' Cardioke has you singing pop hits like "Let's Get It Started" and "Doncha Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me" while you box step and shimmy.
I admit I tried the workout just for the novelty of it. The idea is that if you're singing and moving, you're also expanding your cardio abilities. Even as an intermediate exerciser, I was huffing and puffing. And admittedly, I was a little embarrassed to be overheard, but I got over that because singing and dancing is fun if you like that sort of thing, which I do.
Exertion-wise, I did sweat and I was breathless a few times, but overall the pace of the video is uneven. The warm-up seemed exceedingly long and overly focused on breathing exercises (in through the nose, out through the mouth -- OK, we get it). And some of the segments were just weird -- like the free-form "dance party" that had no instruction, and the final cool-down song sung by Blanks' wife that was intended to be inspirational but was kind of a downer. But throughout, the dance-party vibe was authentic, easy to follow (despite a few poor camera angles), and the karaoke is a clever concept that actually seems to work.
Pros: Really fun, but you have to be into it -- best for former (or current) musical theater geeks or people who hate exercise but like to sing (and enjoy the beautiful specimen of a human being that is Billy Blanks Jr.).
Cons: Blanks' cueing is uneven; there are a few misfires -- like the "dance party" when Blanks shows off some hip-hop dance moves and you're standing there step-touching and wondering if your cardio is dropping too low.
Difficulty: beginner/intermediate
Length: 59 mins
Concept: Singing and dancing at the same time requires more exertion -- so your lungs are getting a twofer!
Is Billy Blanks Jr. the most amazing man on the planet? He sings, he dances, he's gorgeous, and he's created one of the zaniest ideas to hit workout videos since Patricia Moreno's IntenSati (where you shout positive affirmations as you move). Also starring his beautiful wife, Blanks' Cardioke has you singing pop hits like "Let's Get It Started" and "Doncha Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me" while you box step and shimmy.
I admit I tried the workout just for the novelty of it. The idea is that if you're singing and moving, you're also expanding your cardio abilities. Even as an intermediate exerciser, I was huffing and puffing. And admittedly, I was a little embarrassed to be overheard, but I got over that because singing and dancing is fun if you like that sort of thing, which I do.
Exertion-wise, I did sweat and I was breathless a few times, but overall the pace of the video is uneven. The warm-up seemed exceedingly long and overly focused on breathing exercises (in through the nose, out through the mouth -- OK, we get it). And some of the segments were just weird -- like the free-form "dance party" that had no instruction, and the final cool-down song sung by Blanks' wife that was intended to be inspirational but was kind of a downer. But throughout, the dance-party vibe was authentic, easy to follow (despite a few poor camera angles), and the karaoke is a clever concept that actually seems to work.
Pros: Really fun, but you have to be into it -- best for former (or current) musical theater geeks or people who hate exercise but like to sing (and enjoy the beautiful specimen of a human being that is Billy Blanks Jr.).
Cons: Blanks' cueing is uneven; there are a few misfires -- like the "dance party" when Blanks shows off some hip-hop dance moves and you're standing there step-touching and wondering if your cardio is dropping too low.
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