Review: Top Trainers: Latin Sensations

Today's Review: Top Trainers: Latin Sensations
Susan Tuttle, 2010

This dvd has two 25ish minute Latin dance workouts on it. The menu also offers an intro & a c/d that you can play all or select a workout. Susan works out w/ 5 b/g exercisers in a cool set w/ a nice sunset painted background. One b/ger shows beginner modifications. You will not need any props for this workout. The music is Latin themed and nice & upbeat. Each song has its own little dance routine so there is very little TIFTing.

Workout 1: Moves include- V step w/ hip shakes, shuffle step w/ arm rolls, shimmy, hoola hoop, merenge, mambo chacha, circle step, hip shakes, kick ball change, tango, etc.

Workout 2: This workout incorporates the core into your dance moves. Moves include: knee pulls, ham curls, V steps, pivot, travel salsa, torso twist, twist & step, mambo triple step, twist & knee pull, double fist pump w/ a cardio lunge, hop out, hip & heel-toe, single & double hip shifts, etc.

I would rate these w/o's beginner in intensity and maybe high beginner in complexity- I had no trouble catching onto the moves. I wore my weighted gloves & belt to up the intensity and enjoyed myself. Susan is a great lead- she has an upbeat personality and her cuing was spot on! I would recommend this dvd for beginners or to anyone who likes to dance to use for a lower key workout. I had fun "shaking it" with Susan and crew!

Top Trainers Shed 5 Fast Review

Today's Review: Top Trainers: Shed 5 Fast

Lindsay Brin, 2009 ***** (4.5 of 5 stars)

This dvd is part of the new Top Trainers set. It has two 30 minute workouts. The second more challenging than the first. Lindsay leads w/ 2 backgrounders who show advanced & beginner modifications. The set is a nice wooden platform with a pinkish background & "studio set" type of lights. You will need dumbbells for this workout.

Workout One: This workout alternates strength segments and cardio kickboxing segments. After a warmup you move into the first strength set. Strength work includes knee strikes, pliet w/ shoulder raise - french press- and leg sweep, crunches w/ leg extensions, tricep dips, pliet into lunges, V sits w/ punch, pliet w/ inner thigh lift and shoulder work, and pliet w/ a torso twist. Cardio work is pretty low impact and includes jabs, hooks, knee strikes, speed bag twist, knee pulls, cross punch, roundhouse kick, front & back kicks, and jumping jacks. Concludes with a c/d.

Workout Two:  This workout also alternates strength & cardio kickboxing. Warmup and cooldown included. Strength work includes: plank shifts, pushups, squat w/ military press, lunges, one legged (balance) tri kickbacks, palm tree (core & shoulders), punches for the core, knee pulls, plyo knee pulls, KB swing w/ a hop, shifting tricep planks, side plank w/ a hip lift & twist, boomerang (twisting planks), bikes

Cardio includes: side to side jabs, kick & squat, knee pull kick combo, ab cranks, hi & lo jabs, speed bag w/ ab crank, hi & lo speed bag, side knee pulls, and jacks.

I would rate this workout a solid intermediate, but follow one of the mod's for a more or less challenging w/o. Lindsay is a great lead- great cueing- great demeanor. This dvd is versatile- choose one of the two w/o's for a 30 min strength & cardio w/o or combine them for 60 minutes of fun work! She really hits the core in this & does a fantastic job of sneaking in core work to both the cardio & strength moves. Enjoyed the kickboxing and got in some great strength work.

Review: Top Trainers: Your Best Body Circuit

Today's Review: Top Trainers: Your Best Body Circuit
Michelle Dozios', 2007 **** (4 of 5 stars)

This is a 57 minute cardio & strength interval circuit workout led by Michelle in a set with wooden floors & accents. She works out w/ 4 b/g'ers- one shows beginner modifications. The dvd is chaptered so you can play all or select an interval. It also includes a 35 minute express version. You will need dumbbells and an exercise band for this workout.

After a nice warmup you move into the first cardio set. You complete that and move into your strength work. Each strength set focuses on one or two muscle groups and she does a good job of burning out the muscles! You repeat the same cardio set, leading with your other side. I would say Michelle really focuses on the upper body in the strength work but includes one set of lower body strength work and includes a nice ab/core section before the cooldown. There are some nice combo moves that she puts together very nicely because the poundage worked for all moves involved. I was able to heavy up pretty nicely in this w/o.

Cardio work includes: step touch, skater, knee pulls w/ a punch, jump rope, jacks, power lunges, cross country skiing, power jacks, kicks, rocking horse, jogging, and other athletic type cardio that is easy to catch onto but will really get your heart pumping nicely.

Strength work includes: side lunge w/ row & bicps, band rows w/ pliets, pushups w/ knee drops, chest press, band tricep extension, band chest press, dip & row, band curl, wide band row, seated band row, band tri extension, band pushups, chest fly w/ leg extensions, pliet w/ a twist & shoulder raise, dips w/ military press & abduction, band shoulder raise, a squat series, and a lunge-pliet-glute extension w/ a knee lift.

Core work includes: side elbow plank with leg lift, crunches & crunch variations, oblique work, and she uses the band to up the intensity in some of the moves.

I would rate this a solid intermediate that gave me a great workout! My upper body is NICELY worked, def felt it in my core, got a bit of lower body work, along with a great calorie burn. This w/o is easy to up the intensity by adding some more impact and really heavy-ing up. Or follow the beginner mod and bring it down a notch. Michelle is a great instructor & I really enjoyed this workout! Great cuing, great energy. I received this dvd as part of the Top Trainers set to review.

Top Trainers: Angie Miller Strength & Core Fusion Review

Today's Review: Top Trainers: Strength & Core Fusion
Angie Miller, 2007

This is a 68 minute strength workout that will REALLY get your heartrate up! Angie works out with 2 b/g'ers in an open area with pink pillars & curtains in the background. One exerciser uses no step and shows beginner modifications. You will need a step, dumbbells, and tubing for this workout.

The dvd is chaptered very well: warmup, dumbbells, band, core, and cooldown. You can combine all for a 68 minute sweatfest or select a workout. The dumbbell & tubing segments are great combined but are complete done alone on time crunched days. I used medium weights for this because there were plenty of reps and lots of good combo moves and plenty of good balance work. This workout is NON-stop! She does not waste any time and really keeps the heart pumping.

After the warmup you move into the dumbbell strength work that includes a nice squat series adding an oblique knee pull and bicep curls, dips off the step with bicep curls, curtsy dips off the step w/ an oblique twist, step squats w/ hammer curls, deadlifts, deadlifts w/ balance leg lifts & an oblique twist, and side lunges w/ a row & tricep kickbacks. ~30 min

The tubing work includes: band squats, pliet w/ tricep kickbacks, a nice donkey kick series w/ plenty of variations, and she concludes with pushups and pushup- side planks. ~20 min

The core work includes: standing side reaches & side bends, V sit w/ knee pulls, crunches, oblique crunches, lower ab leg pulls/ extensions, side plank hip lifts, oblique knee pulls (lying on side), and finishes w/ supermans. ~10 min

I would rate this a high intermediate workout-my heart was pumping, my muscles were burning, and I was sweating up a storm! Angie's cuing is spot on and you will always know what weight to use & whats coming up next, having said that she is very chatty in this workout. I really really liked the work in this dvd and look forward to trying more from Angie. As you know- I LOVE strength work that also gets my heartrate up, and I was SWEATING in this one! Great AWT workout, unique moves, fun but tough. I received this dvd as part of the Top Trainers set to review.

Top Trainers: Mission Possible Review

Top Trainers: Mission Possible
Christi Taylor, 2005

This is a 52 minute step & floor cardio workout that is part of the new Top Trainers set. There are 2 b/g'er working out with Christi on a small set w/ a curtain around the perimeter. You will only need a step bench for this workout. The dvd is nicely chaptered: briefing, warm up, step, multi impact, cool down & stretch, move master, and bloopers.The music in w/o one is very good!

Both routines are built add on style. Some of the step work includes: lunges, knee ups, L step, basic step, rocking horse, repeater knees, turn step, V step, and turn shuffle. Some of the floor work includes: ham curls, step touch, grape vine, step ball change, pony, knee pulls, and mambo.

Christi is a great lead with good cuing. I would rate this a solid intermediate workout that could easily be modified up or down. This dvd is super versatile: you can do a 21 minute step workout, a 20 minute floor workout, or combine both for a real sweatfest! Add the warmup and/or cooldown for a complete 56 minute workout. As the name suggests, the choreo in this is pretty easy to catch onto, yet not just the same old boring stuff. I still had to pay attention but was able to follow along- a great mix if you ask me! I received this dvd as part of the Top Trainers set to review.

Review: Top Trainers - Quick Blast Total Body Calorie Blast

Today's Review:  Top Trainers - Quick Blast Total Body Calorie Blast 

Tracey Mallet, 2008 **** (4 of 5 stars)

This dvd offers seven 6 minute workouts, is chaptered, and offers a variety of premixes as well as "play all" and play individual segments. Tracey works out with 4 b/g exerciers, one showing beginner modifications. The set is open with hardwood floors and some colored windows. You will need a variety of dumbbells (they use 1 set but I recommend multiple).

There are three 6 minute cardio strength interval workouts ("Cardio Blasts")-all of which I REALLY enjoyed. I love combining cardio & strength. Tracey alternates 1 minute of cardio w/ 1 minute of strength and you repeat the segment 2ce in each "blast". This is a quick moving workout and she doesnt waste any time! There are three 6 minute "mind body" segments that include core, pilates, and yoga work. There is also a bonus ab blaster routine. Tons of variety here.

Cardio Blasts: The segments include pliet wood chop combo, cross country skiing, tricep extension with a rear leg push,  curtsy-side raise, knee pulls, jumprope, pulse squat-hops, power side steps, flamingo balance move w/ a bicep curl, and a modified plank with a row.

Mind Body Blasts: A is yoga inspried, B is core focused, and C is pilates inspired. The moves include: A) cresent pose, warrior, triangle, down dog, plnak, upper back opener, & dog splits.B) knee twists, chest lift butterfly crunches, single leg extension, criss cross, flutter kicks, and a pilates leg series. C) chair pulses, side plank leg lift, double leg stretch, dolphin kick backs, leg pull front, & cat cow w/ leg pull.

Ab Blast: The bonus ab section is done on the floor and includes moves such as: circle crunches, frog leg pulls, snow angels, double leg lifts while lying on your side, side plank w/ a twist, and high plank into down dog.

I would rate this an intermediate workout. While Tracey is not my favorite instructor I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this workout. LOVE the format- Im a huge fan of 1 min cardio/ 1 min strength workouts. I also liked how there was no wasted time, it got my heartrate up nicely & was easy to modify up (if desired). Loved the versatility of the 6 minute w/o's and the premixes on the dvd. I received this dvd in the Top Trainers set for review purposes. 

Review Top Trainers: The Ultimate Body Shaper

Today's Review: The Ultimate Body Shaper (Part of the Top Trainers set)

Stephanie Vitorino, 2009 ***** (5 of 5 stars)

This dvd has two 30 minute AWT (aerobic body shaping) workouts, a seperate 5 min warmup and 6 min cooldown, plus a bonus 6 minute ab workout. Stephanie works out with 2 background exercisers in a nice open room with hardwood floors and her V Body logo in the background. There is a small countdown timer in the corner. One workout is a high step and one is a mat (mostly standing strength with some intensity bursts). You will need a high step or fanny lifter and 2 sets (or more) of dumbbells for this w/o.

This workout is, what the Pink Firms should be IMO. It has enough strength work to count as a strength day but it gets & keeps your heartrate up with cardio bursts & intensity intervals. Fun, effective, NO dread factor but still a booty kicking workout!! I will definately be buying myself a copy of this one.

The 1st workout is 30 minutes of nonstop strength + cardio work using the tall step and dumbbells. There are a lot of moves that use multiple muscle groups-they are all paired nicely so the poundage works for all components of each move. She does some straight cardio (high knees jumprope, etc.) and a lot of the strength work will get your heart pumping as well- squatting off the high step while doing a frontal shoulder raise, tricep dips off the box, a back V raise, etc.

The 2nd workout is a "mat" workout. Its a strength workout with 1 min intesity intervals throughout. She incorporates a lot of core and balance work in a lot of the exercises. A side raise while in tree pose, a twist while holding the dumbbell, squatting low holding the head of a dumbbell, a "toss the laundry bag over the shoulder" type move, a TOUGH roll back and then jump up move, and ends with a few minutes of lying ab/ chest work.

The ab workout is 8 of Stephanies favorite core moves and includes crunch, plank, and spinal work variations. Stephanie works out alone in this segment.

There were a lot of unique moves in this that were fresh and not at all awkward like some "new & exciting" exercises can be. She really packs a lot into each of these 30 minute workouts and the pace is right on-no wasted time but I didnt feel at all rushed or frenzied. I also like that the w/u and c/d are seperate as I usually do my own and skip those anyways.

This is an ntermediate that you can make a bit tougher by modifying or using challenging weights. I would say its not a beginners workout. Stephanie is a wonderful lead! She is very motivating and has great form pointers & reminders throughout. There is even the *cutest* feature on this dvd-a miniature Stephanie runs across the bottom of the screen from time to time (only 4-5 X total) with a pointer or form reminder! Its not distracting AT ALL! You do have the option to turn it off if you choose though. LOVE the workout, love Stephanie as a lead!!!! I received this dvd as part of the Top Trainers set to review.

1.7.11: Have You Seen the New Top Trainers Set???

Today: Exciting reviewing news: I received the awesome Top Trainers dvd set! It includes 11 dvds from some of the industries TOP Trainers, including: Jennifer Galardi, Stephanie Vitorino, Tracey Mallet, Michelle Dozois, Ilaria Montagnan, Susan Tuttle, Christi Taylor, Angie Miller, Lindsey Brin, and Ellen Barrett. So expect some awesome reviews!!!! Below is the review for Jennifer Galardi's Ballet Body.


The really cool thing about this set is that is comes w/ an AWESOME rotation! I will admit I have NEVER followed a rotation that came with a kit before- because honestly, other rotations have never made a lot of sense to me- upper body 2 days in a row, 4 days with no strength work, 3 rest days in a row, etc. You get my point. Well NOT the case here. The Top Trainers rotation works up in intensity and w/o minutes but starts at a very reasonable place. I'm very excited to follow along their 30 day rotation and can def foresee great results with doing so! Love the variety and can definitely see how this could "shake things up" and confuse my muscles & body. Check out the site here, they have some other cool fitness finds as well. The set also comes with an exercise band, fitness guide, and a 30 day free membership to ediets.com

Today's Review: Ballet Body (part of the Top Trainers set)
Jennifer Galardi, 2009

This dvd has 5 seperate segments that you can do individually or string together (play all). The total w/o time is just over 60 minutes including warmup and stretch. Jennifer works out in a nice open set w/ hardwood floors and pinkish windows in the background. There are 2 background exercisers-one shows beginner modifications. You will need one set of light/medium dumbbells for some of the sections. She recommends not wearing shoes-so I didnt! Love that. The music varies from upbeat classical to almost African sounding-it was all appropriate for each section and I really liked it.

Warmup: This is a very active, fluid warmup that gets the blood flowing nicely. It includes a solid pliet series and also works the arms because you are holding them out ballet style. You get some nice flowing stretching here as well. You could do this section on its own as a light w/o IMO.

Strength: You start with a close stance pliets, pliets variations & relevettes. Then she moves into some standing ab work that I really enjoyed-it was very different than what Im used to! Felt very effective! She does standing ab scoops, side bends, and portibra all with a ballet flair-very active and fluid. She moves into a tough curtsey dip with oblique squeeze sequence that I particularly enjoyed! Then she grabs her dumbbells for rotator cuffs work, V raises, bicep curl variations, and a behind the back tricep squeeze. 

Balance: She starts the standing leg work with a mini rondejon with a glute sqeeze and moves into what, to me, felt like standing table work. From there you move into a plank-tri push-up-down dog series and finished with some tricep pushups that really fried my triceps. This section closes with some unique table work.

Floor Barre: You start with some lower body work done on the floor and move into a rollup (V sit) core exercise, leg raises, and rolling into a ball. My arms were also being worked in a lot of these moves (in this and other sections as well) because you are holding them out. You do some lying inner and outer thigh ballet type moves and finish with some killer standing leg lifts. 

Stretch: The stretch was very nice and welcome! It was done lying and was definately dance inspired. 

I would rate this an intermediate workout but I am no expert on ballet or barre. Collage rates it intermediate/ advanced. It was an awesome change of pace from my normal workouts and we all know variety is not only the spice of life-but our bodies NEED it to progress. I just adore Jen as a lead and I really enjoyed this workout. It didnt make me want to die but definately felt effective-great formula for success. I received this dvd to review from Healthy Fit Bodies as part of the Top Trainers kit.