Lotte Berk Method For Beginners - Basic Essentials [DVD]

I tried this DVD for the first time and was quite impressed by how challenging it is for a beginner like me. The exercises are not difficult to perform, at least a few times, and I found myself having to stop and rest a few moments, but then getting right back into the routine the instructor and her two companions were doing. Not once do you pick up a weight, go to a machine, or start using a resistance cord, but by using the weight of your own body and moving in certain ways, you WILL surprise your muscles (and yourself) by putting every part of your body through some pretty tough paces. If you are a beginner with at least a little familiarity with Pilates and/or yoga, this helps. If you are determined to stick with a workout that is challenging but still possible to learn and master, and if you really want to do something that will transform your body if done faithfully, then these exercises are for you.Stretching is emphasized as an essential component to any workout that taxes the muscles, and you will be immediately doing exercises to stretch and relax the muscles you have just worked. This also gives you a chance to get a short break from the vigorous muscle strengthening moves. Even in an air-conditioned room, you should be prepared to perspire quite a bit.The only props you will need are the back of a sturdy chair (to use in lieu of a ballet bar) and a small towel to assist in your leg stretching moves.What I especially appreciated is the fact that although you are striving to achieve greater flexibility and strength, you are not trying to make yourself look like a female bodybuilder or even a heavily muscled female athlete. Some women love the look of "six-pack abs," bulging biceps, and veins that protrude through the skin. That, plus a skin tone that makes some women in fitness magazines look like they've smeared barbecue sauce all over their skin is definitely not for me. The Lotte Berk Method is for women who want to be fit, healthy, young and attractive well past middle age, but also thoroughly and unquestionably FEMININE. If you want to look like a graceful and lithe dancer and not some androgynous freak, I highly recommend this workout. I intend to try the other DVDs in the Lotte Berk series too.

Ok, I admit - the instructor is hilarious. I think she studied acting from the Paul Harvey….School…of Acting. Either that, or William Shatner's. She can be condescending, if you take her that way (although I don't know that she means to be) and speaks in staccato, with sudden intense direction aimed right at the camera. So, you get past that. The fact that she looks like Erin from the Waltons helps too. I can't deny her cueing is on target, and the fact that she breathes "Your feet! Are they pointed out? Check! Check now! For the love of God, check!" you know, i'm ok with that because she's forcing me to, well, check. I love this method. If I thought I'd get an all over workout, it's all I'd do but in reality I know you have to mix it up and add more cardio. I am seeing results and will continue to do this every other day, as suggested. Interestingly I don't love another one of the DVDs but this one I enjoy, so it's a matter of personal preference - and it's ok for beginners but I would think even intermediates will find this a good workout to throw in from time to time, given the glute, thigh and ab work. She's great about stretching, too. I do skip the warm up, I just don't like it, but the rest makes a great 20 minute workout that can stand alone or, when I have time, throw on another DVD and do 10 or 20 minutes (Jessica Smith's Ballet Workout has perfect complimentary 20 workouts, and I also like Core Fusion's 10 minute workouts so you can pick the workout you feel like you're lacking today). Maybe not for everyone but I hate exercising and this I don't hate.

Lotte Berk Method For Beginners - Basic Essentials The instructor was so irritating and condescending to the point of distraction. It was very hard to concentrate on the precision movements when I just wanted to rip her head off for constantly saying, "Can you tuck? Can you lift your leg? Can you do that? Can you?" The movements themselves were rather easy and required way too few reps, so it wasn't an issue of "can" at all.I have no motivation to try any of the other DVD's because of this woman's poor attitude. Even the DVD editors themselves offer a "workout with music" option on the DVD so that you can tune out this woman and focus on the moves. However, the workout itself was not challenging at all, so it's just not worth it!

A great addition to learning Barre! It's ideal to use when traveling.