Cardio Barre: Four Workouts on One DVD

That is if they workout like this! I'm not a dancer and this is my first "ballet" workout so if I butcher the spellings/terms or leave anything out, I do apologize. I'll just say this off the top, if you're into visuals (like me) check this out on youtube before buying. WHAT YOU'LL NEED: Preferred flooring, according to Richard, is carpeted (though on the vid they workout on wood flooring) and should be done either wearing athletic shoes or barefoot (no socks). "Light weights" are needed but no specific size weights are given (I use 3 lbs. and they're perfect for me but those on the DVD look as if they are using lighter weights than I am), so you will have to determine what's best for you. You will also need a barre or a chair (they use a barre, I used a chair). WORKOUTS: This DVD has four individual workouts: Intro (20 min), Beginner (37 min), Intermediate (40 min), and Advanced (52 min) and, of course, builds in intensity as the levels increase (high reps done in 8-counts, number of reps increases with each workout and new moves are introduced). Each workout moves on with the assumption that you have mastered the one before it. They are typically broken down into sections: warm-up, plies, ballet, waist, cardio, barre thighs, upper body, abs, lower back, lower body, and cool-down. (I would break down each workout but that would take forever and this is long enough as it is.) The workouts are a combination of ballet, cardio, and traditional strength training moves. Warm-ups typically include back rolls, shoulder press, side lunge, flat back squats, back, arm and leg stretches, "Walk it out" (little walk in place while holding the barre), outer thigh presses, standing forward crunches, pelvic isolations, and inner thigh twists. Cool downs are just various stretches. BALLET/BARRE MOVES INCLUDE: Grand plies, baby grand plies, grand plies in releve' (that's heels lifted to you non-dancers), grand plies in releve' pulses, plies in first position (heels together), baby plies in first, plies in releve', plie' pulses, conru, arabesques, attitudes, "scorpion" lifts, angled leg lifts and extensions, straight leg lifts, rom . . . something (some swinging leg move), etc. (Heads up! They throw in extra balance challenges--with NO support from the barre/chair--throughout the plie sections. Ouch!!) CARDIO AND STRENGTH MOVES INCLUDE: Torso twist (yep, like in Taebo), press twist, pull twists, 90 degree (or "reach") torso twists. Extended body crunch (extend one arm and one leg and squeeze in), front knee lifts, side knee lifts, extended fly and heel toe combo), tricep extensions, triceps kick backs, modified push-ups. Crunches, oblique crunches, bicycles, outer thigh lifts, inner thigh lifts, ribcage isolations and ribcage reaches, overhead presses, back lifts, back flies, etc. STYLE AND MUSIC: This has a kind of retro `80s feel to me. I personally think the music was picked for pace than for content--kind of a generic exercise music mix. (I generally don't care about music in workout vids, so you'll have to be your own judge.) INSTRUCTORS: Richard Giorla leads the Intro, Intermediate, and Advanced workouts and Kelly Newkirk leads the Beginner workout (you'll see Kelly as a background exerciser in the Intermediate and Advanced workouts). I found both to be very encouraging and they frequently compliment their background exercisers throughout the workout. Kudos! Also they frequently give reminders: maintain good posture, stomach in, etc. OVERALL: This workout is pretty tough! The actual "cardio" section wasn't that challenging to me (I'm a Turbo Jam girl), but the rest of the workout more than made up for it. Don't get me wrong, your heart rate WILL get up and you WILL definitely sweat. While the workout is SERIOUSLY FAST PACED, I didn't feel rushed but I did feel that a few transitions between exercises were too quick (I'm sure I'll pick them up over time). The actual exercise moves, however, were pretty easy to learn. Ballet lingo is used interchangeably with regular words which can kind of throw you at first, if you're a non-dancer. Since these workouts increase in intensity, I feel that I could "grow" with this DVD and I actually like the fast pace--seems to make the time go by faster. I also liked that new moves are introduced in each workout so it doesn't get dull. Also, you can still get a pretty solid workout with the 20 min session if you're on short on time even if you've "mastered" it. I've just been using this for only a about a month and I've seen major changes in my legs, especially my calves (those stinking releves will kill ya!). My flexibility has increased, too. Very, very good workouts! Would highly recommend it!

Omg, I have found the perfect workout. I first saw a Cardio Barre Beginners workout on YouTube and discovered that I enjoyed doing the workout. The first time, I did it with 2.5 pound weights and that was extremely difficult. You only need one pound weights. I have used 16 fluid ounce water bottles for the past 4 workouts and they work fine. I would rather spend money on something else instead of one pound dumbbells. I especially like the no impact cardio you can get from these workouts. This is great for those who live in apartments and worry about jumping on floors and disturbing neighbors ( or being hard on your body or floors), Unlike some other reviewers, I do not find the music to be that annoying. The music is upbeat and goes with the workouts. The Intermediate and Advanced workouts really raise my heart rate and make me sweat. One con: Richard G., the instructor, has on these long pants in the video and it is hard to see what he is doing with his legs and feet. Luckily, there are other exercisers in the video you can follow. My favorite is Kelly. She seems to be the most enthusiastic with the most energetic movements, so if you follow her, you probably will get the most burn. I actually look forward to working out now and have done this consistently for 6 times in the past week. Too early for results but I feel great!

This is my first review ever on amazon. I was really hoping to like this DVD. I admit that it does make you sweat but alot of the movements and transitions seem spastic to me. I would also prefer a different instructor and music. I recently bought physique 57 which I enjoy alot more. Music is better, exercises are similar & done smoothly. Less likely to cause injury. I will probably end up selling my cardio barre DVD's.

I love this workout. I get bored very easily and this is a workout I look forward to doing and don't dread. Richard and Kelly are upbeat, encouraging and motivating instructors. I love that I have been able to advance at my own pace with this DVD. I am up to Intermediate at this point and can't wait to go to Advanced. The background music is a little corny but I can deal. I feel all of my muscles tightening, lengthening and firming up. I think it's brilliant how they have combined Cardio and Toning dynamics into one session. By the end of the entire routine I am DRENCHED in sweat, my heart rate is up there and I feel that I have worked all of my trouble spots effectively. I am doing the video at least 4x a week and eating a healthy diet to supplement it. I can already feel in my clothes I am losing inches! YAYYY! Also I don't use the barre they use in the videos...I just use a high backed dining chair. What's great about this program is you can do it if you travel! On vacation or in a hotel...you just need light hand weights and a chair! EASY! :)

This is an awesome work out DVD. Since there are 4 levels you can start at the one that fits your athletic ability and work your way up at your own pace. The music is great and the exercises are fun. Even if you have never trained as a dancer you can do these work outs. I have been doing the work outs 3 times a week for 2 weeks and I can already feel the difference in my stamina. I would definitely recommend this to anyone trying to tone or loose a few pounds.

I had been doing a cardiosculpt DVD so felt I was ready to try a barre type exercise. I had looked into Fluidity but it is so expensive, and with this DVD all you need is a set of light weights and a chair. I am 59 years old and have had a total hysterectomy, and I was amazed at what this workout did for my legs! I did the beginner version a couple of times and am now on the intermediate, and if you really try to do better each time it never gets easier, at least for me! I have reviewed the advanced workout and I may or may not ever be able to do that one, but I absolutely love this workout! Sometimes I do a little upper body work with heavier weights after I am done, but at first I was too tired. I am a pear shape and needed the work on my legs and thighs. It is low impact also, but they do move fast so need to familiarize yourself with the proper form. Good luck!

I had high hopes for this DVD workout by Richard Giorla, but all it really is is a highly-marketed but not very pre-meditated workout. NONE of the workout participants in the DVD appears to have the high-quality, meticulous form of a true ballet dancer, not even Giorla himself (though he can be forgiven, since he has suffered a groin injury in the past, which caused him to have to retire from professional dancing and find some other form of livelihood...namely, the new "sensation" called "Cardio Barre") or Kelly Newkirk, the instructor of the "Beginner's" routine. The music is overly fast, generic, and obviously chintzy-sounding. The movements would be good if done slowly and with concentration and focus, but instead are jarring, harsh, uncontrolled, and almost vulgar-looking. I know his workouts were inspired by both ballet dance and Pilates, but this workout is a complete antithesis to the core principles ballet, dance, and Pilates: namely, that control, concentration, refinement, poise, and perfect form are what give a movement it's quality and end benefits. All this workout offers is quantity: rapid, flailing, un-focused movements that only encourage one to equate quantity of movement, indiscriminate "throwing" of the extremities, and over-extension of the limbs with a good workout. This workout can yield strength and control if done more slowly and with focused intent; however, the annoying, driving beat of the cheap, techno-trash, night-club background music is supposed to push participants to further "lose control" with their movements in the pursuit of a cardio workout. Giorla should know better (as a professional dancer)that one can also get a cardio workout from ballet plyometrics (i.e. ballet jumps from plie position) and moderate paced lifting of the legs and arms using grace and excellent form in pursuit of aesthetic perfection and isometric stregth. NOTHING on this DVD appeared in the least bit aesthetic; even Kelly Newkirk, a very pretty girl with a lithe body, looked awkward, frenetic, wild, and almost as if in a seizure-like orgy of movement that was extremely unrefined and almost embarrassing to watch. I guess this workout works for some, as Giorla does have a "celebrity" following, but for someone who is familiar with dance already, it is almost a shame that Giorla would really promote that his workout could yield a dancer's body and discipline. This is nothing more than a poorly constructed cardio workout rashly based on real dance conditioning movements and Pilates, but to call it something that could transform someone into a truly disciplined dancer with a lean, long, body is just plain false marketing and nothing short of disingenuous. I only had to watch this video (and the "Ultimate Advanced Cardio Barre" DVD) and browse through his book to realize that this is simply a slick marketing campaign promoted by celebrities and students, and is not a true ballet "barre" workout. I couldn't even get myself to try the workout, I'd be so embarrassed doing it and looking as foolish as everyone else on the DVD. If you really want a true barre workout, Elise Gulan's "Ballet Conditioning" is far less jarring and is more true to ballet form, isn't frenetic, and is a much more classy production. Learning Pilates will also teach ultimate control and quality of movement. This is the basis of the making of a true dancer's body; after all, making things look effortless is what dancers do best, despite how challenging a movement might actually be. This is called grace...and you won't find it here, at all, no matter how hard you look.

This is one of the best DVD's for ballet toning I have ever seen. It is really for everyone to use no matter what level. It's got a good pace. Each excercise movement is short so you don't spend a lot of time on each one and it does not ware you out. The instructor is really good, you get the feeling he is addressing you directly more than in other videos of this kind.