Element: Ballet Conditioning [DVD]

I was going to wait a few weeks and write a review about my results after using this workout, but I decided that seeing as I am on a 1300 calorie diet, have already lost 3 stone and currently also do yoga and taebo every week, that any results seen on me can not be fully credited to this DVD. So here is my initial review.I tried the workout today for the first time. It is about 50 minutes long, which personally I think is an optimum amount of time for a good workout. I wore my heart rate monitor with build in calorie counter; a good quality and reliable one. For about a third of the workout my heart rate was 'in the fat-burning zone'. I burned 292 calories on my first attempt - I did all of it without stopping except the very last set of Ab work (it killed me!). So that is a calorie burn of (say) 300 calories on a 9 stone female in 50 minutes - not hard core, but this DVD is about toning not cardio, so 300 calories was a surprise.Here are what I consider pros for this DVD:It is hard work and you will feel the burn, my legs were like jelly after 15 minutes, I did manage to continue though.The instructor is easy to watch and follow, she has a lovely tone and a way about her which I find pleasant.The workout is steady paced (it isn't stop/start/stop/start filled with commentary). So you don't lose any momentum which is important in a tough workout because if you lose momentum then you may just stop and give up.It doesn't require much space - just enough to lift a leg to the side - most of it is done on one spot.It is not condescending and does not require any ballet experience (just a lot of effort).The cons:There are none at all!One last note: a few reviews have stated that they felt their arms were neglected. I have to disagree on this. Having to hold my arms in a levitated position for nearly an hour is hard work. I had to drop my arms and shake them every so often because my shoulders were burning so much!This is without a doubt an all over low-impact yet intensive workout. I felt great after completing it and look forward to having a long lean body in a few weeks. Even though I do yoga and Tae Bo (which is kick ass) this workout targeted places that my other exercise DVDs haven't reached. I'm a very happy customer (and as usual, good prompt delivery from amazon).

I have alot of experience in dance, ballet conditioning and similar exercise methods such as Tracy Anderson etc. I bought this DVD most recently because i felt my muscles had plateaued somewhat and after having read the reviews it sounded pretty hard - just what i was looking for.... And i have to say that i was not disappointed! This workout, does not look tough, but it is, and the beauty of ballet conditioning is that you can continue to improve through 'your point and extension'. I would say this may be a little much for a complete novice as you do ideally need to have a certain degree of balance and strength in order to do the moves well and understand how to push yourself. But if you want to create a dancers body, sculpt and elongate your muscles, this is a brilliant method for that. I also find the teacher's voice very relaxing, as is the backdrop (which makes me want to go on holiday!) it's well thought-out and well scripted. I alternate this with Tracy Anderson's Mat workout DVD which also gives great results. With both DVDs however, my only main criticism is that they don't stretch the muscles after working a specific group - So i stop the DVD when i finish a section and do this myself!

I am practicing Pilates for some years now, on a daily basis and I've been frantic about the 10-minute DVD series, particularly those of Suzanne Bowen. Those of you who know the series and use them in their practice would probably experience the same perplexity I felt when I first watched this film.The very first feeling is that you are watching an workout filmed in slow-movement, which may seem really dull for a person used to a certain speed and endurance in her training. Then you try it and you discover that in spite of all your previous training, you are not even able to reach the end of the first chapter and that your legs are burning and the pain in your thighs won't leave you for several days.I have never practiced ballet in my life and I never felt sorry for that until I became addicted to this DVD. However, it took me over 6 months of constant practice to be able to do the entire workout at once and only from that moment on you start to understand and realize the full benefits of it. It is probable that only from that moment on a more correct practice is being developed - and for this reason I consider that this DVD is not suitable for beginners (who might mistake the apparently sluggish rhythm with a beginners' program). As a matter of fact, I came to believe that this DVD would serve best those who have a Pilates previous experience and some knowledge on breathing techniques as well as the specific Pilates stamina. The dancer-trainer's guidance throughout the program is quite minimal and quite obviously meant for those with previous training. They would indeed benefit the most.It took me all this time to realize the achievements in the body of such an apparently simple gesture as the one she calls "tendu" - which looks just like stretch of the leg. Such simple stretch of the leg has a similar effect though with the one a plank position gives - an overall active body in a standing position, and this reads in strong legs, flat abs and a powerful yet slender body.In time, an incredible strength develops in your legs; but long before that, an overnight transformation occurs to your back and belly, who start working in some magical synergy and you discover that you're taller - although it's just the fact that you're now sitting with a straight back and withdrawn abdominals. In time, the workout also induces a sense of grace and elegance into your movements and in this respect the dancer/trainer is really inspirational.So, to conclude: the workout is tough, is highly effective and it gives such "side effects" as grace and a wonderful feeling of calm and self-control. And even a desire to start attending a real ballet course!

No me encantaron las rutinas. Me da la impresión que la instructora piensa que los que realizamos estos ejercicios somos igual de capaces que ella y no es así. No soy extraña al ejercicio, hago yoga, corro, caminata, trail, en fin, no soy una "couch potatoe" pero me pareció que este video es un poco presuroso en demandar ciertas cosas para principiantes en la danza, como yo.

Dvd reçu dans les temps, c'est un dvd qui est plutôt axer sur le travail des jambes et fessiers, les exercices sont assez difficiles mais pas inaccessible. Après le travail des fessiers, vient une séance sur un travail intense des abdominaux qui est assez difficile . Je pense que ce dvd est dans l ensemble une très bonne routine, pour qui veut retrouver ou garder la ligne. Je recommande vivement ce dvd

A little about me: I bought this DVD because I was seriously out of shape. I have a little dance/ballet experience, but not much. I also have scar tissue around both my knees and if I do too much I definitely feel it. However, having done ballet in the past I also knew that it's one of the best ways for getting in shape, so I was excited to find this DVD.The first time I did it, it was pitiful. I managed about 20 minutes before I gave up and laid on the floor pouring sweat for a while. The next time I did about half the reps of everything and skipped a couple of the hardest exercises, but made it through to the end. That was 6 weeks ago, and I've been doing Ballet Conditioning at least 3x a week since then. Just in the last few weeks I've finally worked up to doing all the exercises in the recommended reps, but even before that I noticed definite changes in my body. My saggy butt moved back where it belongs; my pants are noticeably baggier (especially my thighs); my tummy is losing fat, gaining definition, and developing some impressive ab muscles; my arms and shoulders are also gaining definition and developing muscles without looking like a muscle-man. Can I chalk it all up to this DVD? Probably not. I alternate this with  Quick Fix: Stability Ball Workout  (my "lazy" days) and go for daily walks, but I think this deserves much of the credit for my recent 10Lb weight loss.Even though the workout is almost an hour in length, and physically demanding I never get bored with it, and like Elise Gulan says several times throughout it, the more muscle strength and flexibility you gain the more of a workout you get. I love her as an instructor because she's not at all obnoxious; no irritating cheerleader-y pep talks, and excellent cuing. She's definitely encouraging, but it's not fake or overdone.One thing that I have noticed is that some people say this is tough on knees. I'm far from being an expert, but I can see how if you're not doing the exercises correctly it could be very painful. If you're turning out into first position from your knees instead of your hips, or not using your muscles to control your landings during the jumping section it will definitely hurt. That may be the only way in which having a little ballet experience pays off, but I don't think it's that hard to learn.I do have one complaint about this DVD: I wish the beginning warm-up was a little longer and had a greater variety of stretches. I did just the stretches contained on the DVD the first half dozen times I used it, and it was fine; I didn't hurt myself or anything from lack a longer warm-up. However, I know my body well enough to know that's not enough for me, so I spend about 10 minutes doing stretches before I even start the DVD. I find that doing that allows me to get much deeper into the workout. But that's my body and of course everyone's is different, which is why I'm not knocking a star off over it. Overall though this is definitely my favourite workout, and I highly recommend it if you're looking to tone your muscles and lose weight. Quick Fix: Stability Ball Workout

EXCELLENT overall workout for total body conditioning. VERY effective at toning and developing lean, long muscles and lengthening/streamlining the torso, arms and legs - great for posture. Intermediate-level workout; good for any age group; male or female. Her dialogue is simple and clear; her voice is soothing; video taken in a garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean - beautiful scenery. You only need a mat (and an extra blanket to cushioning for the abdominal work if needed); this is done barefoot. There is a 5-minute section of jumps but they're slow and controlled; there are no fast, aggressive movements throughout, so no need to worry about injurying or irritating joints/existing injuries. There are no pauses/breaks between excercises - she flows from one movement to the other. I would DEFINITELY recommend this video for anyone looking for a total overall workout designed to streamline and develop long, lean body shape.

ich habe die dvd vor mehreren monaten bestellt und mal nen paar wochen damit trainiert,dann lange pause und seit 2 monatentrainiere ich regelmässig 3x bzw. 2x pro woche.ich muss sagen,am anfang hatte ich ca.eine woche muskelkater-jetzt nicht mehr,aber es ist dennoch weiterhin anspruchsvoll für mich als nicht-profi=habe nie ballett gehabt und bin mehr oder weniger!sportlich.es ersetzt ja nicht das korrigierende auge eines lehrers,aber es ist eine schöne mischungaus bbp,die arme trainiere ich xtra mit t.anderson(ähem,will die arme einfach nicht in die luft halten bei den übungen!).positive ergebnisse an mir kann ich auch verbuchen,auch nach erst 2 monaten training.preis ist super,elise gulan ist sehr anmutig und ihre stimme ist sehr angenehm.hintergrund ist auch schön-obwohl ja für mich nur halb-wichtig.die musik ist gut-irgendwie passt da alles gut zusammen.ich kann diese dvd echt empfehlen.