Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Here is a break down of the DVD:
Total playtime: 37:27 (on the DVD they say 45 minutes, but it is not that long)
WARM UP AND UPPER BODY (9 minutes):
Barre-style knee high march
Abdominal variations with ring between thighs
Forearm plank (20 seconds)
Straight arm plank (20 seconds)
(She says 30 seconds for the planks but they aren't that long)
Side plank both sides
Pushups (she does them all with knees on ground - I modify the hands-wide version and do as toe pushups) -
- 2 counts up / down, hands wide (4)
- Single count, hands wide (16)
- 2 counts up/down, hands narrow (4)
- Small pulses (10)
Child's pose
Tricep dips (7 single count, 17 pulses)
Standing upper body work with ring for resistance
Standing side stretch
Shoulder stretch
THIGH WORK:
Knee dancing holding ring in hands (hip tucks)
Parallel leg plie on toes with ring around legs, just above the knees
Knees turned out plie with ring between thighs
Stretching (just over 3 minutes)
GLUTE WORK:
Ring placed between back of knee and heel, lifting with bent knee
Straight leg pulses, ring drops
Leg bent, out to the side using side of ring pushing on the leg for resistance
Figure-4 standing stretch
ABS / LOWER BACK:
Ring between thighs (sitting higher than c-curve)
Legs straight, one raised overhead
Reverse curl with ring between thighs, toes touching
Cobra
Locust variation
Cat/cow
STRETCHING: 2.5 minutes, very brief.
COMMENTS:
Carrie's style is pretty straight forward - she doesn't show a lot of charisma. This didn't bother me, but for someone looking for a really "fun" workout, this might bother them. She doesn't give a lot of tips on form, or sometimes the tips are so subtle I didn't even realize they were there until I had done the workout a few times. If someone is completely new to barre work and prefers a lot of instruction on form, this might not be the best choice.
The ring that Pure Barre sells on their web page to go with this DVD seems to be a little too big for some of the thigh work. When placing the ring around my legs for the parallel leg plies, I had to move the ring higher up on my leg than what they say on the DVD or I would have been trying to do it bow legged. This wasn't a big deal and the exercise was still effective. When doing plies with legs turned out, the ring is too big to place between my legs. I substituted with a yoga block as they have recommended on some Core Fusion DVDs I had. A playground or exercise ball would also work fine as a substitute.
While overall I really liked the use of the ring, in portions of the glute work it felt as if they were trying to design the workout around the ring, instead of using it where it seemed to make the most sense. For the first portion where you place the ring in the fold on the back of the knee, this seemed really awkward to me as the handle of the ring is so small. I substituted with a small ball and this seemed to work much better. (Update: As I've used Lowry Lofts 2 a couple times now, the ring in back of the knee has kind of grown on me. It still can flop and drop to the floor on me sometimes. One day I tried a ball in back of one knee and the ring on the other side, and I did feel the ring a little bit more.)
Also, I didn't really "get" the bent-knee portion where you push against the side of your leg for resistance. After trying it that way several times I dropped the ring later and actually felt the exercise much more as I was able to concentrate more on form and working the muscle, and less on pushing against my leg. I believe on the Lowry Lofts 2 DVD they do not use the ring for the similar exercise.
Finally, the stretching at the end is so brief that I just skip it completely and do my own stretches.
Although there are some issues that I mentioned above, overall I really do like this DVD. It is a fast paced, no fluff workout. It was easy to modify for the issues I mentioned. I do plan on using this on an ongoing basis as part of my Saturday rotation.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Pure Barre: Lowry Lofts 1: Ballet, Dance, & Pilates Fusion Workout (2011)
Lift your seat, tone your thighs and arms, flatten your abs, and burn fat in record-breaking time with the Pure Barre Technique DVD series! The Pure Barre: Lowry Lofts Volume 1 DVD is for the beginner to intermediate Pure Barre enthusiast who wants the most effective workout possible. This 45-minute full body workout will not waste your time as Pure Barre is the fastest, most effective way to change your body, producing results in just 10 sessions. Pure Barre creator Carrie Rezabek leads you through a system of exercises targeted at the parts of the body that need it most. You begin with a warm-up to help melt away fat and shape the upper body. Carrie then guides you through specific isometric movements that target your legs, seat, hips, and abs. Each strength section of the workout is followed by a stretch section, which will help you achieve the slim look of a dancer. All you have to do is use this DVD two or three times per week and you will be amazed at your narrower, leaner new physique. While no equipment is required, both an exercise mat and a small resistance ring are suggested for use with this DVD.
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