Crunch Gym: Super SlimDown: Pilates Yoga Blend

This morning, I got up, handled my email and had planned on going to a 24 S.E.T. class at 10am at the gym.  But, my client conference call ran long… did I skip the gym? Yes, yes I did.  Did I skip my workout?  No!  No, I didn’t!  Cue the parade.  I decided to do my new Crunch - Super SlimDown: Pilates Yoga Blend with Ellen Barrett.  I like Ellen Barrett because she doesn’t talk down to you and she’s perky, but not too perky.  She’s in my Crunch: Pick Your Spot Pilates that I like, too, except now she’s got a sassy new haircut.

I’m glad I tried this DVD, mostly because I want to take a PiYo class at the gym this week and I was nervous, since I didn’t know what to expect. If it’s anything like this, then I think I’m going to enjoy it.  Don’t get me wrong, this DVD was actually quite challenging, but not in a way that would prevent me (or anyone, really) from doing it.  They have modifications that are truly modifications (not like some where they just say “stick a towel under your ass” or whatever).  Granted, I’ve been kind of couch potato-y lately, but I broke a sweat just from the Warrior warm-ups and my abs and outer thighs are going to be telling me all about it later, I can almost guarantee.

I think my favorite moves were the Zig Zag and the Dolphin, mostly because I liked the funky movement of the former and the familiarity of the latter.  I also like anything where you lie on the floor an swing your knees to the side because it feels so good on my back.  Of course, we’re doing ab crunches or “climbing the rope” during that part, too.  So much for feeling good.

There’s a lot of floor work with this, which I really like because it focuses a lot on the core strength.  It’s roughly 40 minutes, which isn’t too bad.  I think I would prefer something I can do in 30 minutes, but the stretching, calming aspect of it is worth the extra ten.

The “class members” didn’t annoy me, like many do.  Sometimes, especially with yoga videos, I get all caught up in how creepy their feet are, scooting around the mat or how Susie Thong in the corner looks like she’d rather be getting a root canal.  You know… anything to keep from paying attention.

I’ll definitely be doing this one again. In fact, I could see me starting the day with this a few days a week, just for the sake of the stretch and getting the blood flowing.  It’s not easy and my feet were cramping a bit, which I know is a sign of a core that’s not tight (trying to balance with my feet instead of my middle), but it gives me something to aspire to.  I’d like to be able to go through the whole 40 minutes fluidly without stopping.

If you give Crunch - Super SlimDown: Pilates Yoga Blend a try, let me know how you like it!

I give this 4 donuts.