Crunch - Burn & Firm Pilates

I've recently given 5 stars to another fitness video on Amazon and seriously thought it would be quite a while before I find another one I just can't seem to complain about. But Burn & Firm Pilates has definitely swept me off of my feet.When I first saw Ellen I gotta admit I didn't like her at all. I just thought she didn't look like someone I would wanna look like after doing this tape. It took me a few times of doing the workout to actually grow and like her - but I really have. I realized she was cute and natural, which qualities so many other instructors lack. I still don't feel like she's giving it her all - then again, I understand she needs to stay relaxed enough to actually be able to talk. Because running out of breath IS what you should expect when you are doing the fat burning routine with ALL your might. There's one lady in the background that does slightly easier versions of the exercises, but if you don't feel challenged enough, you can easily find ways of breaking into even more sweat. Like, I use heavier dumbbells (by the way, a couple of dumbbells and a mat or carpet is all the equipment you'll need, no fancy steps or such), when it comes to the mambo section, I do the lounges from the very beginning and I do "Shave the head" with both dumbbells. The cardio section is a little over 20 minutes long and I keep sweating like crazy even though I weigh less than 100 pounds.The mat workout could be longer - it's less than 10 minutes. The exercises seem effective enough, but I always feel like I could go on, so I usually just do one of those time-saving 10 to 15 minute sculpting workouts right after the mat section on this tape.I usually care a great deal about background people on tapes and I couldn't say one bad thing about the ones on this one. They differ in age, built and color and they basically just look like those people at Ellen's daily classes must look like.One more thing for those new to Pilates: this was my first Pilates tape and as far as I can tell from what I'd previously and have since learned, the exercises on Burn & Firm might be Pilates-BASED, but they don't excatly have a lot to do with what you see in books. However, it IS a great workout routine and you will definitely feel the change in your body if you stick with it.

This was my third Crunch workout, the second with Ellen Barrett whom I really like. I have been a fulltime living room athlete since about 1988 finding it easier (and safer) to stick with than the jogging I used to do. I have been through Jane Fonda's aerobics (good at the time), the Step workouts (Cher Fitness was the most fun and a great workout, yes with THE Cher herself), and mostly I did all the Firm workouts from Volume 1 (my favorite is still Volume 2 with Janet Jones-Gretzky). I also did Tae Bo for awhile, which I really found boring too quickly. For the past few years I have been doing Leslie Sansome's Walk videos and Zumba workouts, both of which I really like.I found it this video easy to follow, almost predictable which is a good thing for me (I don't need fancy steps after exhausting mental gymnastics at work)but challenging physically. I have great lower body strength though anyway and though I have not been working out for 8 months or so I was still able to do it. There are many plies and lunges but nothing works your legs and butt better than those two exercises, which is why everyone hates to do them but loves the results. I love the intervals and the light weights and well as the pretty moves of some Pilates moves. After just 3 weeks back on it (every other day) my quads and glutes are already shaping back up--actually I could feel the gluteal muscles I so missed coming back in just a week. This is a full-body weight workout if you don't need heavier than three pounds for upper body--which I don't having an hourglass shape. I like that it is done in 30 minutes or so and then when I have time I do a dance or walk video just to burn more calories and then finish with Ellen's floor work which I love also. Yes, Ellen does keep reminding you to tighten your abs which I find works them really well--but then I'm not going for a 6-pack just strength and tone.I would like to add this. Through all my years of working out I have never lost weight with it, only gotten strong enough to carry around all the excess weight I have piled on since I got married in 1987 and stopped jogging at my husband's behest. You can get strong and fit with any of these workouts but you will not lose weight. It's not about that.

About me so you have an idea of my level: I would place myself in the higher beginner/intermediate catagory, I like Jackie Warner, I work out 5 days a week and mix a body specific weight routine every other day with 20 minutes jogging outdoors or 45 minutes jogging pace at level 7 resistance on the eliptical on my cardio days. This just gives you an idea of where I am physically when I give this review (I wish more people would say where they are so I have a better idea of what they believe is easy, moderate or difficult in comparison to their level).Now on to the video, I loved it, it sailed by and before I knew it it was done. I constantly check time on ANY video I have done and yes I did it with this one as well but by the time I first looked it was almost over... surprise. Yes, I agree with some when they say it is not intense, however, it was refreshing and I felt amazing afterward. I felt so invigorated I went for a 1/2 mile jog with the dog afterward. Not because I felt I needed it but because I felt so energized by the video. It was a refreshing change from feeling wiped after the gym, focusing on nothing more than a shower. I did feel it a bit in my legs the following day. This is a squat intensive video or plies(sp?) which is another nice word for modified squat. Though there were weights for arm work, I had to up the weights to really feel anything as the majority of the focus is on the lower body. I was so surprised that I enjoyed the mat portion which fortunately for me is short, aprox. 10 min. I usually hate mat work but with continued use of this video I can see myself coming to like it (at least her version of mat work). I recommend this video for anyone!!!!!!

This is one of the best workouts I’ve ever done. It’s very easy to follow, there are no jarring routines but you will be sweating by the end of the cardio workout. The mat workout is also very good.

The only equipment you need for this workout are; a pair of trainers, a pair of light handweight (I use 1 1/2kg or 3 lb, like the instructor does) and a mat to protect your back when you do the short matwork and cool down section at the end. There is a modifier at the front of the class who does not use any weight to show easier options.The instructor is very skilled at pilates and verbal cueing so you will not be lost any time throughout the workout.The warm-up starts without weight and includes moves such as wide leg and narrow leg plies which you will be doing throughout the workout. You will definitely being hot and sweaty at the end of this section.The main workout using the weight throughout. The arm movement always compliment the legs. However, if you are a little uncoordinated you will pick it up as the choreography is simple and the sets are long. Matwork moves such as the Swan and Leg Circles are modified for standing work. As you do moves such as a lunge your arms are doing a bicep curl.The matwork at the end combines ab work and stretching for an effective cooldown.If you are looking for a cardio-toning workout for those days where you want to take it a little easy or have never done pilated before and want an effective introduction, this is the workout for you.

I love Ellen Barrett's pilates workouts. They are a good fat-burning and flexibility option for days where I need something a bit less intense. Fun workouts and easy to follow. The Burn and Firm Pilates workout is my favourite.

Love this workout, my last DVD got wrecked, purchased this one as a replacement and halfway through the workout it freezes and will not continue to play

I've been working out with more than six Juiilan Michael's DVDs. They are so great but sometimes I felt a bit tired. So I tried this DVD and it's perfect for me. It suggests easy but exciting pilates so it would be more useful for the begginer. However, I cannot figure out why Amazon charged me $19.98, even though the price was shown '$14.98' on the leaflet in the DVD. Ecxept for this issue, I'm satisfied with this DVD.