Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I'm looking to supplement my workouts and also I'm going to be traveling soon so I wanted something portable and fun to take.

I was looking at collagevideo.com yesterday and a few caught my eye but I'm overwhelmed.

New York Pilates seems interesting.

And I'm not really committed to a particular method so if it is a mix of things, I'm good with that. Just wanted to try something different.

The Element Ballet Conditioning workout is awesome and TOUGH. It is straight ballet stuff, though, and more toning than cardio, although it always makes me sweat like a beast.

I'm in love with Xtend barre, so any Andrea Rogers DVD's are awesome... her Xtend DVD doesn't come out until next year, though... I think she has a few other pilates/ballet based ones, though (10 Minute Solution DVD's they're called, I think?). Once Xtend barre's DVD comes out, it will be a mix of cardio, ballet, and strength training, like the classes are.

I also love the Ballet Body Workout by Jennifer Galardi.
The Physique 57 workout, I've been told, is really good and also challenging.

This type of workout is my favorite!

I like the new york city ballet workout.

I have the NYC Ballet ones and I don't think I'll ever be able to do them. Maybe I can give/trade them? I have the 4 workout series of Lotte Berk Method. I really like the Muscle Eats Fat workout from that set.

oh my goodness, I'd LOVE the NYC Ballet ones! Well, I've never done them, but I love the NYC ballet style, and their workout. Is a barre required? Let's chat. I don't have DVD's to trade, but I could pay or trade with a care package/swap! ??

Lotte Berk is the pioneer. She is who everyone based all of their barre methods off of!

I bought a couple to try out and I did buy the one with Andrea Rogers with the ball. I'm not sure if I like the ball. Maybe I inflated it too much. I did 3 of the 10 minute segments to try it out. I like some of the stretching aspects, and only 1 move I couldn't do (hello legs over head - yeah). My abs are sore from my last 2 days of weight lifting and I could definitely feel them during the workout. I liked the standing routine a bit better than the floor routines.

I don't have her DVD's- I just do her Xtend barre workout 3-4x/week.
So, it's probably the same idea, but I'll just ask- do you use 1 or 2 lb weights?
If there is an arm sequence: my best tip for you to maximize her arm series is to keep your arms as straight as possible during the entire sequence. If you can't keep them straight and you get fatigued, drop the weights; don't sacrifice form for weight. We do a crazy 10-15 min arm sequence for Xtend and it is so challenging... I might just now move up to the two pound weights.

Yay! I'm glad you like it! I've been doing Xtend for two months now and I still have difficulty with some of the ball moves. I'm sure it's not the exact same thing (I'm pulling off of a ballet barre and doing all sorts of squeezing) but I'm sure it's along the same lines, as it's her method. ??

Anyway, it's great that you are sore! Yay! (I mean, if you like that sore sort of thing... I do.)

Oh it doesn't have weights in the workout and I don't think I own anything less than 5 lbs. I'm not sure if the workout would make me sore although I didn't do the 'core' one but it helps me realize my soreness so I'm sure its doing something. There was definitely a part where you hold your arms for long periods of time :)

I really like Ellen Barrett's pilates workouts. One of them is called pick your level: weight loss pilates and another i've tried is crunch: super slimdown

I rarely exercise, but I feel really good after I do these and she gives you options for doing easier or harder versions of the moves. she's also not obnoxious and the videos are on netflix watch instantly!