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Crunch: Burn & Firm Pilates

Equipment used
Dumbbells
Magazine reviews
Fitness March 2005
See 2 other videos they reviewed
Fitness March 2005 Perfect for the time-crunched, this workout blasts off flab and sculpts muscle in one heart-pumping 46-minute routine.

Crunch: Burn & Firm Pilates

Level:Begin/Inter
Aerobics impact:Lower
Aerobics choreography:Basic
Toning emphasis:Total body
Toning Emphasis
Upper body: 4 minutes (13%)
Lower body: 5 minutes (17%)
Upper/lower: 14 minutes (47%)
Abs: 7 minutes (23%)
(includes toning in blended aero/tone segments)
Instructor:Ellen Barrett
Instructor profile
Customer rating: (average of 23 customer ratings)
Staff favorite
  
Item #7355 $14.95In-stock: Yes
Time graph for Crunch: Burn & Firm Pilates

Fast-paced cardio that smoothly incorporates Pilates-inspired concepts and movements. Elevating your heart rate with lots of “four-limb movements,” you’ll burn fat as you focus on balance, control and core strength (e.g. a step-touch sequence that includes Pilates-style arm routines and ab contractions). It all ends with a solid series of traditional Pilates matwork. Both the aerobics and floorwork use light dumbbells to add intensity and improve body positioning. Ellen Barrett’s Pilates-conscious instruction features easy-to-follow “visual imagery” cues (e.g. “imagine your hips are in cement”). Requires 1 to 3 lb. dumbbells. ©2004. DVD has: Chapter menus.
Customer Reviews (or write your own review)

Crunch: Burn & Firm Pilates

Great!
This is a video I would recommend to anybody who is just beginning. You are working every single part of your body. The music isn't the best. I think that she could balanced the matwork with when you are off the floor. - posted by Lori-Anne Laing on 6/7/2008
Ellen Rocks, but this is not a beginner workout!
After a hiatus from exercise, I am back in beginner status. I tried this video for the first time yesterday, and while I enjoyed it, it was definitely above my current aerobic fitness level. As other reviewers have noted, there are *lots* of plies, and even though I kept them shallow, my heart rate still went careening over 80% of my max target range. I did use lighter weights instead of the recommended three pound weights because I still wanted to get some of the toning benefits, so maybe I'll try again without weights for an aerobics-only workout. I want to keep trying, because I loved the moves and Ellen Barrett's instruction. Just wanted to give a heads up to other beginners like me. I look forward to getting fit enough to be able to do this workout without having to modify and staying in my target heart rate range the whole time. Interesting tidbit - Erin O'Brien of "Strong Body Ageless Body" is an exerciser on this video. - posted by Amanda on 4/6/2008
Good Workout
I really like Ellen and the way she cues and motivates. The workout was good enough to keep up the heart rate for someone at an beginner/intermediate level such as myself. I always feel the results the next day especially in my thighs. - posted by Elisa on 3/23/2008
Ellen is a great instructor!
I found Ellen to be a breath of fresh air. Her cuing is excellent, she's encouraging but not "perky" and she was clear on how to do the moves and where you'll feel it if you're doing it correctly. I'm pretty new to using exercise videos (about 3 months), but this was not too tough for me. I felt it the next day, but it didn't kick my butt. I like to pop this one in when I'm feeling lazy. - posted by Aundrea on 3/20/2008
Love this one!
I love this workout--the three--pound weights work well for me. I finish feeling like I've worked hard, and have stretched out. This is my second or third Ellen Barrett DVD, and I'll be looking for more! - posted by Trixie on 3/8/2008
Really Good!
Suffering from a cold I found myself wanting to do a nice calm workout. I decided to try this one. I really liked the instructor right off the bat! Nice voice and easy to follow. I have one bad knee and I was surprised that it never hurt me once! The music is nice and I felt great during this workout. This is a good for people who don't have alot of room. I am a beginner/intermediate level and I was sweating pretty good because you have to control all your movements. I can't wait to do this one again! - posted by Helena on 3/7/2008
Excellent addition to my collection
Using weights in this workout definately brings it to a new level. Ellen is fabulous - she is a master at creating and executing workouts that flatter the female physique. As with any exercise, the body will "grow immune" to the same workout. I would recommend relying on multiple exercises so the body is challenged day-by-day. This video fits in wonderfully with my Ellen Barrett collection, and I use it in combination with my own routines. I get positive results each and every time I do it. Good luck! - posted by Jacquie on 2/20/2008
Strictly for Beginners
I bought this video and thought it might be good for a light day. Wrong! It is so repetitive and simplistic that I couldn't even get my heart rate up at all. I didn't enjoy that most of the DVD is based on plies- I love plies but found that there was just not enough variety in the movements. This DVD might be good for someone just breaking into exercise, but it is definitely not intermediate. - posted by Bella on 1/31/2008
Enjoyed it!
I enjoyed this workout very much. It is for days that I do want to do toning and some light cardio, but don't want to jump around or pound heavy weights.I enjoy Ellen as an instructor. She is very articulate, but not too chatty and cues well. This was my first pilates dvd as I usually like to move more with my exercise, however, I was pleasantly surprised and hope to do more pilates moves in my routines. Thanks so much. - posted by Marsha on 1/30/2008
Not impressed
I thought this workout was ok. I really think this video is too short. She spends nearly 10 minutes warming up for a 48 minute video. I also thought 3 lbs weights were too light. I moved up to 5 lbs. Overall ok... but it should be 20 minutes longer - posted by Jillian on 1/27/2008
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Reading a Time Graph
X
Each workout shows a time graph of the workout sequence, from beginning to end. For example, this workout starts with a 10-minute warm-up and ends with a 10-minute stretch. In between, you'll do aerobics, then toning, then a cooldown.
sample time graph
Segments that include both aerobics & toning
Some workouts combine aerobics and toning. If the aerobics and toning are done at the same time, you'll see a "blended" graph. If the aerobics and toning are done in short, alternating intervals, you'll see an "interval" graph.
sample time graph
Chapter menus
X
You can play only the individual workout segments you want by picking them off a chapter menu (one at a time).
Level
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Beginner: Just starting out, very overweight or haven't exercised in over six months.

Intermediate: Active in sports, dance or any regular exercise (2 to 3 times per week).

Advanced: Very active in sports or consistently work out four or more times per week.

Aerobics impact
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Lower Impact: Both feet never leave the ground at the same time. This minimizes stress on your knees.

Higher Impact: Includes movements like jumps, hops and skips. Very high-impact is called plyometrics.

Mixed Impact: This alternates or combines the above styles.

Aerobics choreography
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Basic: The easiest to follow. It ranges from simple walking-style marches to sports and athletic movements.

Complex: More intricate combinations and patterns. They're ideal for people who like to dance.

Moderate: More interesting than Basic, less dancy than Complex.

Toning emphasis
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Upper body: Arms, chest and back.

Lower Body: Legs, thighs, hips and buttocks.

Abs: Abdominals (stomach), core and sometimes lower back.

Total body: Tones all three of the above muscle groups.

Floor aerobics & toning
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Definition: Includes two workout activities. The aerobics segments are fast-paced standing movements like marching, dancing and jumping. These segments require no equipment. The toning sections are slow, controlled movements working against a resistance. These may include Pilates and weight training.

Benefits: The combination of both activities provides a balanced workout. The aerobics burns calories, strengthens your heart and increases stamina. The toning builds lean muscles, increases your metabolism and makes everyday activities easier.

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