Cardio Fat Burn DVD
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Original price was: $14.99.$6.50Current price is: $6.50.
Blast major calories, strengthen and shape a lean dancer’s body with high-intensity cardio intervals and targeted mat work. An energizing, fast-paced workout designed to challenge and sculpt sleek ballet muscles while revving the metabolism. Includes four 15-minute fat-burning cardio Allegra intervals with killer mat exercises focused on building lean, toned muscles in the abs, arms, butt and legs. Finish it all off with an extended stretch to lengthen the muscles and a cool-down for a body that is elegant, strong and uber Ballet Beautiful!
Core Workout: Get your heart rate up with a quick warm-up and then move into a high-intensity cardio interval followed by a targeted ab workout.
Upper Body: Tone a sleek, strong upper body and elegant posture with targeted arm exercises and a fast-paced cardio interval.
Lower Body: Focused exercises to tone the inner thigh and sculpt long, lean legs with cardio elements.
Total Body Workout: Burn calories and tighten and tone with this full body cardio workout, and then cool down with light stretching.
Run Time: 60 minutes
Level: All Levels
Region: All Regions
*Not for sale in the territory of Japan.
Please note, all DVD sales are final.
322 in stock
54 reviews for Cardio Fat Burn DVD
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Meet Mary Helen Bowers
A professional ballerina by training, Mary Helen danced with New York City Ballet for 10 years before graduating from Columbia University and founding Ballet Beautiful. She personally trained Natalie Portman for her Academy Award winning role in Black Swan along with countless other A-list celebrities, supermodels & millions around the world, delivering authentic, results-driven ballet-inspired training.
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Julie –
5 Stars
“I have several of her workouts and recommend them all. This. Cardio DVD really gets your heart pumping!”
Isabel –
5 Stars
“Graceful and beautiful exercise, challenging but really helps to burn the fat.”
C. Porter –
Brutal and effective
“Its great for adding in more intense cardio with a ballet beautiful rotation.”
Melissa –
Great Cardio Workout
“Great workout, will really get your heart rate going. I love all her DVDs they have changed my body! Thankyou Mary Helen!”
Jill –
Another winner
“Have all of her DVD’sv, this one did not Disappoint! As usual her floor work is incredible with great results!”
Leslie –
Fun, different way to work out routines
“I have incorporated MHB’s series(s) into my routines to give a new umph…ballet moves work to elongate muscles, helping to give a lean, sleek appearance…and results!”
Gabi –
Amazing
“Wonderful workout that goes right to the trouble areas, plenty of stretches, & water breaks. I seen result right away. I will do more of her workouts.”
waylander –
Unique workout
“Works muscles in unique and challenging ways not found in other workouts, even other Ballet Beautiful workouts. Just what this new mom needs to whip things back into shape!”
AnDiSum –
Good
“It’s a tough workout, but Ms. Bowers makes it look so easy. One must go at their own pace until you work your way up.”
nancy –
Absolutely love it
“Love the entire series”
Tanja –
One of the most terrific workouts
“I’ve tried a lot of workouts before I bumped accidently into this and I love it.
This workout is new, fresh, challenging and a really good work out for every little timeframe.”
SS –
Sports bra required
“This DVD kicked my butt! Great workout. Be sure to wear a sports bra, there is a lot of leaping going on…in the beautiful ballet sort of way. ;-)”
Ann –
Simple and effective exercise program
“Wonderful exercises – deceptively simple but a great workout. There are 4 groups of exercises which can be done in 15 min. increments so you can devise your own time and exercise program”
TP –
Absolutely wonderful
“I love the toning, strength building, and intensity of her workouts. Her series is one of the best I’ve used. They are also safe for aging joints.”
Emma –
Ballet Beautiful keeps getting better!
“Another excellent BB workout! I love including this high energy cardio workout once or twice into my BB weekly workout rotation. It’s a fun and challenging – but not complicated – workout for your entire body.”
naniroxva –
Ballet Burn
“Don’t let these short work outs decieve you. They make you work in a way you never imagined. They work on your poise, and muscle tone. They help you get that long lean look. Totally worth the buy!”
Adele –
Fun and effective
“This workout is so fun because it makes you feel like you are dancing! It is certainly effective in getting the heart rate up, and it is also broken up into a nice mix of exercises that are challenging but manageable.”
E –
Great workout
“This gives you a very good work out! You don’t have to know much about ballet, but the first time I tried it some of the stances were a bit awkward. It does get better the more you do it!”
kjma –
Super fun workout
“I love the Ballet Beautiful workouts and this one is another great addition. Mary Helen combines toning with spurts of cardio mixed in and makes 60 min. and a healthy workout fly by fast without putting strain on my body– thank you!!!”
Monekay –
Low impact fast results
“This video took me 20 yrs back to ballet lessons. It worked my body so hard that I had to remember just how conditioning ballet is….this video will definitely tone your body fast! Yet doing so without high impact movements….love it!”
Renee B –
Wonderful Fitness Program
“I was in Ballet as a child and loved it. I have been looking for a way to bring it back into my life and stay physically fit as well. This combines my love of Ballet and the workout that I have wanted.”
New Mom –
I love all of her DVDs
“I’ve done yoga, pilates, weights, you name it, I’ve done it. I eat very well and stay around 115 at 5’7″. However it’s been difficult for me to add muscle and toning to my slender frame whilst maintaining a sleek look. This does it beautifully.”
Lunches for Oona –
Great
“This workout will kick you butt!!! Im a former dancer and after a few years of not dancing i decided to start up with these again! i forgot how much work it was! its a full body work out and she keeps you going, you dont have to be a dancer to do this either”
rpauly –
Great strengthening and tonning workout!
“amazing workout, its a lot harder that you would think. Its great for toning and strengthening and a good compliment for a strength training program. This will make your calfs very sore…all your body parts really! I try to do this one hour workout twice or three times a month. Her other DVD’s are super great too.”
Emily –
Love Love Love these workouts from Mary Helen Bowers
“Love Love Love these workouts from Mary Helen Bowers!!! No equipment needed and you get an awesome workout from the comfort of your own home! I can feel the burn with every workout!”
srf –
I love this DVD and Mary Helen Bowers
“I love this DVD and Mary Helen Bowers! I feel like she is my own personal in home trainer! This DVD is a must for anyone wanting to tone and lean out. My body has completely changed by using this DVD and the MHB Total Body Workout. You will not be disappointed! Get it already!”
Diane –
Love it!
“I’ve been doing this video for only 2 weeks along with the ballet beautiful sculpt & burn video. This video is great because you can do it all at once or break it up into 15 minute sessions. Sometimes I like to do my normal cardio routine at the gym and then go home and do one of the 15 minute sessions.”
Melissa C –
Excellent workout, very fun and challenging!
“These workouts are exactly the kind of thing I used to do in dance class to workout. They are not dance routines, if you are looking to dance this is not what for you. However, it is an excellent workout! I highly recommend them to everyone. My husband tried to do them with me a few times and said this is really hard. I love MHB!”
songbird –
My Favorite Killer Workout!
“This is by far my favorite of Ballet Beautiful workouts. Great cardio intervals, the arm and thigh segments are fabulous. Wonderful stretch segment to cool down. All in all a killer workout!”
Jessica D –
Ballet Beautiful is working me toward the Physique I always wanted
“I work out a lot, I used to compete in figure competitions. However, these Ballet Beautiful workouts are giving me the physique I’ve always wanted. I highly recommend all of Mary Helen’s workouts.”
Tess –
Ballet Beautiful
“Wonderful workout video. Really challenges your body. I would suggest only doing one or two reps of each move and build from there. The difficulty is in the repetition and you can build to it. Her voice is calming and soothing as well, making it tolerable to listen to no matter how many times you do the video. Also, there is an option to do the workout without her voice. Nice touch!”
saintrt1 –
Intense and effective
“This ballet workout is very much like all the other ballet beautiful DVD’s. Lots of repetitions done fast to the count of 8. You’ll get result fast but I found it hard to maintain the correct posture during the exercise which resulted in back neck and shoulder pain.”
Emily –
Tough but do-able.
“I’ve used the Ballet Beautiful workouts for some time, her first DVD and her book and I’ve purchased segments from her website. I really like this video because it truly is cardio and really gets you going. I use this in rotation with a lot of work outs I have and this is one of my favs because it also feels like it goes by quickly. She’s not annoying or over chipper, she gets out of breath with you and I don’t feel like shouting obscenities at the screen, I would call that a win.”
balletlife –
Recipe For Beautiful Toned Legs
“If you want to have lean long legs (particularly the lower legs) you will want to do this workout at least once a week, coupled with Ballet Beautiful Body Blast Ballet Beautiful Total Body Workout [HD ]. The first time I tried this video my legs were sore for 2 days. Since I bought this Ballet Beautiful: Cardio Fat Burn I have toned and slimmed my legs considerably. This workout is exhilarating and makes me feel stronger when I am done. I highly recommend this DVD–it has helped me get a stronger and toned physic.”
Cyn T –
Cardio and Toning? Sign Me Up!
“It’s not an overwhelming workout, but it’s definitely one you feel. The cardio is working, and just keep your limits in mind when you start, because 20 minutes later, you’ll be realizing you probably should’ve held back a little on your enthusiasm. It’s very similar to the Total Body Workout in the series, so the moves will seem familiar, but there’s a bit more emphasis on getting your heart rate up with the use of your arms while you tone muscles. I can definitely feel a difference in the body after two weeks, even if I can’t see it just yet. You’ll get what you put into this one!”
Trish :-) –
Your arms will burn!
“Even though it says cardio, the cardio portion is short. I got more out of the toning portions. The arm section is killer! Even with no weight, your shoulders will burn. The legs will also leave your thighs and buns on fire.
I found the core section to be the least difficult, but I do Pilates daily, so maybe my abs are stronger than my arms/legs.
Overall a great toning DVD and I would highly recommend.”
Felicia –
Great Cardio! Feel Like a Ballerina
“This workout is no joke! Mary Helen’s Ballet Beautiful really gets my heart rate up! I’d say the heart rate is comparable to a good jog. Perfect for fat loss, toning, and muscle endurance.
It doesn’t look hard, but even just keeping your arms moving with her will make your shoulders burn.
As an ex-gymnast, current gymnastics coach, and someone with a little dance experience, this DVD is perfect for me! It would be harder for someone without dance experience, but nothing that cannot be mastered. Like Zumba, the technique will come with practice but the main thing is to keep moving! Be forewarned, though, that this is a high impact workout with a lot of jumping.
I’ve never felt more like a ballerina!!
Would recommend.”
Natalia V. –
Really good one
“I own all of MHB’s DVDs and this is one of my favorite ones. Finally something active and challenging. I actually decided to do as i call it: ” BB 30- day challenge” just to see how effective the programme is. I am at day 15 and i see incredible results. No, i did not loose any weight, but thats not my intention. My leggs and bottom never felt stronger. I can actually feel muscles there, my bottom lifted up. Sometimes i combine this aerobic DVd with MHB’s traditional bridge series workout.
Bottom line: it works wonders! And fast, if you do it 4-5 times a week. If you want loose weight id suggest to add something more aerobic, like swimming or a treadmill, perhaps.
Money well spent!”
Couscous –
Another winner
“Obsessed with the other two ballet beautiful dvds so I had to give this a try. It’s really good and i’m loving it. No dread about doing it which is how I usually feel about cardio. This is not the hardest cardio ever but at this point I’m not a cardio junkie anymore. I much prefer to do yoga and barre so this one works for me.
The moves are pretty basic. Took probably the second time through to get all of the footwork accurate. Provides good bursts of cardio then you break out into toning abs, arms and inner thigh. If you are familiar at all with the other dvds the toning has some similar moves with new stuff as well. I find that the hour goes by real quick.”
Just Some Person –
One of my favorites
“I’ve done all of MHB’s workouts and this one by far is my favorite. The cardio intervals are such that they can easily be modified to be lower impact (which I need). After just a couple times following this one I felt a tremendous improvement in my posture. Anyone who has done yoga will recognize the stretches here (such as parrot, child’s pose, and seated twist) and appreciate them after the intense leg work. Highly recommend this (and all MHB) not only because it’s extremely effective in giving you the long, lean, toned body but also because it’s easy to modify for those who need it.”
RaineyDay –
Beautiful, Successful, HARD!
“I bought this one along with the Body Blast and Total Body Workout. WOW am I ever amazed at how SORE I INSTANTLY became. The workout itself is probably the most soothing-awful workout ever. The beautiful classical music and the moves remind me of ballet class in high school, but the workout WORKS so WELL that you WILL hurt immediately if you’re out of shape, and probably even if you aren’t. I have a particularly hard time working out the muscles between my shoulder blades and this workout along with the others takes care of that without issue. I even went out a bought some ballet shoes, the first I’ve had since I was 16 years old. 🙂 Long story short, I really really love Ballet Beautiful! It’s the most feminine workout I’ve ever done along with being the most satisfying and successful workout I’ve ever done. Who needs boot camp when you can pas de chat your way back into a slim waist line? :)”
Mari M. –
And yet another one… 🙂
“Another “big hit” from Ms. Bowers. I love the allegra intervals and that they are at the beginning of each segment so you can get your heart pumping before you go into the target mat work.
As usual, the music is compatile and she is so beautiful and lovely to watch. I always watch the DVDs first from the couch before beginning them and by the time I am done watching, I am ready to give it a shot. It does take some practice getting used to all the fancy, but neat and cute, footwork, but it’s well worth it to learn the steps. Just rewind and go back over all the trouble parts you may have and nail them. Eventually, you will master the intervals and do the cardio non-stop and with perfection.
My guy likes to watch me and says I actually look like I’m dancing… am I really dancing? LOL! I wish! 🙂 Well, maybe I am… *heeheehee*”
Christine –
She’s gonna kick your booty
“My friend Leanne told me to get some of these DVD’s and so far, this one is my favorite. I’m 47 and love really hard workouts; the harder, the better. The past 3 years, i’ve become hooked on barre classes. I consider myself strong but i was begging for mercy during the tricep portion of this. I was yelling at her, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW!?” It was that hard. I finished it but not without cursing. Same with the inner thigh section. The “Allegra intervals” were challenging too but i added 2 pound weights in each hand to up the calorie burn.
“Swan Arms” isn’t on this DVD but that’s another section where i could not believe how hard it was! After 2 minutes, i was like, “OK~she can wrap this up now…” and i had 13 more minutes to go!
This is a great workout DVD for anyone~men and women and especially for those of us who think we are really strong…!!!!”
Janine –
I don’t know how she does it without breaking a sweat!
“This is my first DVD I tried from Mary Helen Bowers and I just bought my second one today. If you don’t have time to do all four workouts together I would recommend grouping two at a time so you can get your heart rate going. There are two “cardio” segments where you basically do a lot of more traditional ballet moves. It is not low impact as you do some jumping but I have knee problems and it didn’t make my knees hurt the next day (but my muscles sure felt it). She makes it look so easy. My roommate was watching the TV while I was doing it in the living room and said “she looks like a feather when she jumps up and down.” The other two segments are for arms (mostly triceps) and legs, where I felt it mostly in my inner thighs. Both of these are done while on the floor so I definitely recommend using a mat–this also helps absorb some of the shock on your joints during the “cardio” segments.”
Stevie W. –
Wow.. Over My Head on Some Sections: Start Slow and Be Prepared to Rewind & Repeat.
“I am writing this as I have recently bought another cardio workout (2x 30 mins sections) along with section workout. This is NOT an easy workout. It’s very hard to do this — particularly the ab section when I haven’t been able to stretch before .. and there is no real prep/warm-up for each workout. Some of each workout includes real ballet moves and that’s what I expected. I am not a ballet dancer… I am ok with Pilates and Barre workouts.. but this is much harder than the hardest Barre workout or Pilates workout that I have done. It assumes some knowledge of ballet. Start slow. work into this. I would tell you the 2x 30 cardio dvd is easier to learn.. and it’s not slow but it’s not as fast as this one. I WILL get this one down.. it’s going to take a while!”
TulipToes5 –
which I think is a great thing! Downside is that it can get old …
“I did this for a few months last year, and it kicked my butt. I was very thin when I started this video, so my goal was to tone muscle and not to loose weight. My calves became larger and muscled very quickly because of how much I used them in the entire set of exercises. I got a lot of compliments about how I looked healthier after using this DVD, which I think is a great thing! Downside is that it can get old fast and I felt like certain muscle groups got more attention than others. Music is great, though, compared to a workout DVD’s usually high tempo pounding of trendiness. I will say that I would not recommend this as a low impact workout! It is hard on the knees because of so much jumping in place, and if you are sensitive to jolting in your abdomen, then I do not recommend this. This DVD is for the already fit who want to change up their routine.”
Sarah H –
Great Addition to a workout DVD collection
“I bought this DVD at the same time as I purchased Ballet Beautiful: Body Blast and Ballet Beautiful: Total Body Workout. This was my least favorite of the three, but still very good.
The DVD is broke into 4 different section that you can play back to back, or individually. Each section has a cardio portion to start with, followed by one of Mary Helen Bower’s signature floor exercises.
I really enjoyed the floor exercises, and was impressed with how they were almost all completely different from the comparable strength exercises in the other two DVD’s I had purchased. You will near exhaustion before she queues a break, but the moves are very simple and regardless of your level you can get a great workout.
I found myself not looking forward to the standing up cardio portions of the DVD. I was never really out of breath (which I do workout around 5 days a week, so am in good shape), and the movements were not as easy to follow as the moves she uses during the strength portions of the DVD.
Overall, the DVD was a good purchase, especially for the price. Even if I do not love the cardio portion, the new strength moves made the purchase worth every penny. I would recommend buying this if you already own Ballet Beautiful: Body Blast and Ballet Beautiful: Total Body Workout.”
Debi W. –
OMG this was fun
“I just finished my first try today,This was harder than i thought it would be. I am not that overweight (15lbs) but i must be out of shape completely, the cardio sections i could not finish, though i tried , and i always try to do the whole tape , If you are a begginer or just needing to get back in shape, this will be hard at first but you can and should work up to the challenge, I had alot of fun trying to do it all, the toning sections i could do mostly 🙂 I am not a fan of running but if you are this wont be too hard for you I’m sure, But Fun i had alot of Fun doing this workout and i will be doing this 3 x a week till i can master it, then i will trade off with tracey malletts ballet tape just for a change which i also cannot even begin to do all the way, Mary Helen is so sweet when she is instructing but the counting that she did on the first 2 workout dvd’s is mostly gone, she starts a count down then doesnt finish, which was new to me, I personally like her counting, I am very happy i bought this one. this was better than i thought it would be, now im contemplating acquiring the sculpt and burn dvd as well,”
blu –
Healthy Cardio and Toning !
“First of all , there is no annoying music just light upbeat piano that does not drown instructor voice. I find this Cardio Fat Burn fun while keeping the mind calm, positive ! The cardio keeps your heart pumping at a healthy level. The toning is done on a mat. Ex: cardio 8 mins. mat 10 mins. then cardio again. minutes chose are not precise. Cardio , then stomach toning on mat. Cardio and the arm toning on mat. Cardio and then leg toning on mat. et cetera . This helps burn fat , and lengthen and tone muscles. Being dedicated to the ballet beautiful dvds will have your body feel more graceful in movements. I have used over 6 months.My muscles are lengthened and toned which keeps you feminine not bulky. Huge change in posture and confidence within . I am feminine , toned , happier , and alive ! If you have issues with your thighs , also try Body Blast dvd and Total Body Workout. TBW: butterfly bridges. BB: both leg workouts. on leg workouts, modify if the burn is to intense. Eventually you will get there. It took me some time without having to stop and rest. Also , instead of 4 reps. each. Do 2 reps and rest. continue when she starts other leg.”
KittyD –
Challenging workout with a minimal space requirement
“I became a fan of BB exercises, and this DVD did not deviate from the general style. If you have tried one of the other BB videos, I don’t think you’d like this one either.
Why I like BB in general
My whole life, whenever I tried workout videos – I was disappointed. One either needed a lot of room for jumping around, or I wasn’t challenged. I tried BB one cold Winter night when getting dressed to go to the cold gym didn’t sound fun. So I figured that I have nothing to lose by doing a video off Prime. 5 minutes into workout my muscles were burning, and I was a weekly exerciser. Since then every video of BB that I’ve tried I liked.
Why I like this DVD
I would describe this one as an interval training: usual BB workout is mixed with bursts of jumping. While majority of the BB videos are low to impact on your knees, I consider this one to be a medium impact. So for those extra sensitive to knee pain – proceed with caution.
While a lot of moves are the same as in other videos, there are still a couple of new ones. However combination, repetition and flow of the workout is sufficiently different from others, so that I don’t find myself bored.
And just like other BB workouts – you need only a mat and a space large enough for your mat!”
Namz –
Muscles burn, heart rate increases only a little
“Some background: I’ve lost inches since I started Mary Helen’s Ballet Beautiful workouts- Body Blast and Total Body Workout- about 6 weeks ago. I was a Jillian Michaels fan for about two years until I realised that no matter how much I worked out with her dvds, my body had reached a plateau. Jillian had made me fit, but she had also bulked my thighs and butt, and there was no way she could fix that. Soon after starting the BB dvds, my body shape changed so dramatically, without doing the crazy weights, cardio and high intensity intervals of Jillian’s dvds, that I knew I had found the type of exercise my body was supposed to be doing. Mary Helen is so incredible- she makes your whole body look long and lean, like a ballerina’s.
Cardio Fat Burn is a great addition to the dvd range, but it definitely does not push you to the extreme in relation to cardio. The title is somewhat deceiving, as I’m sure people will buy it thinking it will give them a killer cardio workout. It doesn’t, but it’s still an amazing workout. Sections in the workout are similar to the mat work in her other dvds- abs, arms and inner thigh. These sections are, like those in her other dvds, unbelievably challenging. You will be groaning by end of most of the reps as your muscles are completely exhausted. In between this mat work she gets you to do the ‘cardio’ allegra intervals, which are basically ballet jumps and skips. These are fun, and they do make you sweat, but you don’t feel your muscles burning like you do in plyometrics, etc. It’s for this reason that I think she really should have added more mat work to target the butt and outer thigh, as these muscles are only moderately worked in the allegra intervals. After this workout, I make sure I also do the bridge series from BB Total Body to work these muscles properly.
The difficultly level of this workout is very high, only because of the mat work. Like I’ve said in other reviews of her dvds, I have no idea how a beginner could last even five minutes into Mary Helen’s workouts. That said, the allegra intervals are perfect for beginners, even though the leg work may take a little while to master (I speak from experience!). The whole workout is about 1 hour long, and includes a comprehensive warm-up and cool-down, something her previous dvds have sorely lacked (pun intended). I really cannot wait to see what Mary Helen does next.”
Sara –
Effective Routine, best as a whole.
“It took me a month to decide how I felt about this DVD. After trying all the other Ballet Beautiful dvds, I finally got around to doing this one enough times to get a good feel for it.
The allegra intervals are great. I kind of hate running, so the intervals of standing work mixed in with mat work make this doable for me. I know I can make it through the cardio segments because the mat work is not far away.
If you are like me and have 0 dance training, just mirror her movements and ignore the directional commands. You’ll get the hang of it if you are patient with yourself.
You have the option of doing the 4 different chapters alone, which I have done, complemented with other Ballet Beautiful dvds in the past. However, to really get the most out of this specific workout, it would be best to do a few chapters in a row. That way you get to do a few cardio intervals, considering that each chapter contains only only cardio interval paired with one mat routine, if I remember correctly. The mat workouts include core, arms, and inner thigh exercises.
I feel like this workout really does lengthen and extend the muscles, reaching areas that are otherwise neglected in a lot of other routines.
The music in this video is more upbeat than others, which is nice. Mary Helen Bowers is pleasant to listen to and fun to try to imitate throughout the workout.
This DVD, unlike the others, has an extensive warm up and cool down, unlike the others. Sometimes I pause in the middle for an extra stretch. All the stretching keeps me feeling long and lean for the rest of the day.”
helluvagoodnews –
Sweat Like A Pig, Look Like a Fox!
“This is a high intensity cardio DVD. This is especially helpful for women who are more serious about losing the actual weight rather than the toning/sculpting of her classic DVD. I always sweat like a pig whenever I do this, which is great, considering I’ve been using this for almost three months. There are bits and pieces of some strength training in here, but it’s not as intensive as her Total Body Workout one. You will be jumping with Mary, and she will be so nice to you while you are sweating and crying. If you want my suggestion on losing weight, I suggest you do this DVD and the Sculpt & Burn Cardio Blast, a low-impact cardio DVD together. Remember that strength and weight training helps with overall body fat and size, while cardio helps with lowering your number on the scale. You need both for successful weight loss; you cannot do one without the other! Cardio without strength/weight training can make you lose weight, yes, but then you’ll still be flabby and become “skinny fat”. You can do strength/weight training without cardio, and while you’ll become firm and toned… you might not like that your number on the scale isn’t budging. You need both, as well as eating a clean diet.
This is a wonderful DVD, I am so happy to have found Mary Helen Bowers, and she makes me feel good about being a woman, you know? I never appreciated the hypermasculine aura that I’ve seen in the gym scene, and maybe I don’t want muscles or to ‘bulk up’. Mary’s workouts will NEVER make you bulk up or make you look odd. I love her so much for that. Zooey Deschanel is one of her clients, and she always looks so feminine yet in shape, you know? :-)”
Leanne –
A very fun addition to the Ballet Beautiful collection!
“I just got done doing this workout for the first time — and loved it!
I’ve had wonderful results using Mary Helen Bowers’ Ballet Beautiful Total Body Workout and Ballet Beautiful Body Blast workouts together (which I liken to the results that many get from Tracy Anderson’s workouts, in terms of the lengthening and tightening that you get), and had been eagerly awaiting this new one, which I pre-ordered from Amazon a few months ago. (In my reviews for those two other DVDs, I’ve mentioned the positive results I’ve gotten from doing Mary Helen’s workouts in the past; when I was doing just those two workouts and no cardio, I lost several inches.) I’m really pleased with this new one, and know that I’ll be using it a lot!
When you go to the main menu, you have the option of playing either the entire workout or individual chapters. Whether you choose the individual segments or the whole thing, you also have the option of playing the workout with Mary Helen’s voice + music or just with the music. This is a nice feature since the counting on her other two DVDs can be a bit repetitious after doing the workouts a few times.
The individual segments (if you choose to do them one at a time) are:
* Warm-Up (about 8 minutes)
* Core Workout (about 11 minutes)
* Upper Body (about 16:30 minutes)
* Lower Body (about 13 minutes)
* Total Body (about 11 minutes; this is really the last cool-down stretch)
The entire workout comes in at 62 minutes, and all you need to do the workout is a mat. The music is classical piano music, and it’s more upbeat than the music on her other workouts, which is nice since this has a cardio focus.
The workouts are filmed in the bright, white loft that is similar to the backdrop used in her other two workouts. Mary Helen uses ballet shoes to do the workout, but you could probably be barefoot and be fine. (I use the Capezio Women’s Daisy Ballet Shoe when I do Mary Helen’s workouts to feel a bit more ballerina-like! 🙂 )
The cardio segments/bursts (what Mary Helen calls “Allegro intervals”) on this are mixed in with mat work, so it’s not a pure cardio workout, where you’d be doing cardio for an entire hour. On the back of the DVD case, it mentions that these are designed to be “high-intensity cardio intervals,” but they aren’t as intense as other HIIT or cardio workouts. That being said, the cardio bursts still got my heart rate up during all of them. The cardio moves that she does all have a ballet focus, and include things like leaping in place and doing hopping plie lifts. Mary Helen will have you doing a few minutes of these cardio bursts, and then you’ll get on the floor and do a toning segment that focuses on a body part (abs, arms, or legs), before moving into the next cardio and toning segment.
If you like ballet-inpsired workouts, I’d also recommend Leah Sarago’s Ballet Body DVDs or Tracy Mallet’s barre workouts. While Leah’s and Tracy’s workouts have a more athletic feel to them, they focus in similar ways as Mary Helen’s workouts on lengthening and developing lean muscles.
Overall, this is a nice cardio workout that will fit in nicely with her other two Ballet Beautiful workouts! I always feel graceful when doing her workouts, and love how lean and lifted I feel afterwards!”