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Suzanne Bowen's Long & Lean Prenatal Workout |
 Wonderful Workout |
| This video is great, I really love it. I was very fit and at a normal weight before I got pregnant and have kept exercising throughout. I am now 29 weeks pregnant, beginning of the third trimester, and I have only gained a healthy 15 lbs. This video has a 20 min standing routine followed by a 20 min floor routine and then a 10 min stretch. The standing routine gets my heart rate up. She does yoga lunges, squats and leg lifts while standing. With these, you do arm movements without weights that really make your shoulders burn by the last sets. On the floor, you do 3 tough sets of pushups. These become harder and harder as I have gotten bigger. You also do pilates side leg lifts, planks and table positions. The stretch is really thorough, she takes her time and really does all the muscles well. She constantly reminds you not to overstretch which is good because I have found pushing too hard in hamstring stretches, for example, really hurts my sciatica pain that I have had off and on while pregnant. Overall, a fab prenatal pilates workout! - posted by Micah on 8/12/2011 |
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 Very disappointed |
| I had high hopes for this workout based on the reviews, but for me it fell far short. I am fairly fit, and before I was pregnant was doing intermediate and advanced videos, but I had to do a lot of modifications to make it through the advanced ones. I am now in week 24 and haven't been doing a good job of staying active through the pregnancy, so I expected to find this video challenging, and I really did not. It certainly was somewhat challenging for some muscles due to the number of reps, but it only worked out a few muscles, and I found the standing work extremely boring. It is one person in a plain warehouse-type room, with "relaxing" and repetitive music, and the exercises are endless static reps of a small number of simple moves. The floor work is a little more creative and has good ideas for pregnancy modifications so you don't do any exercises lying on your back or stomach. "The firm: total body toner" is my current favorite workout--it's a good intensity level for 2nd trimester with light weights. Really keeps your heart rate at a good level and works all the major muscle groups. With a few pregnancy modifications as needed, I really prefer it. - posted by Sarah on 7/6/2011 |
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| Great video for late pregnancy |
| I used to work out regularly before pregnancy and kept up a somewhat normal routine, with a few modifications, through my 2nd trimester. When the 3rd trimester rolled around, I really had to slow down so I bought this DVD. I think if you do it early on it will feel too easy but in late pregnancy you definitely get a good workout! One comment - if your belly is very, very big, you might find some of the stretching poses difficult. - posted by Jennifer on 1/10/2011 |
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| NO CARDIO |
| This video has NO CARDIO AT ALL. It doesn't really get your heart pumping. It says this video is for intermediate users - meaning the video is not for beginners nor for people who workout frequently- just in the middle. I disagree, I think this video is for beginners. It goes real slow and doesn't tire you. I used to workout about once to twice a week for 30 minutes before I got pregnant & I started using this video at 12 weeks pregnant. I didn't feel tired nor sore so therefore I don't think it worked out any muscles so it doesn't tone either. Also somewhere on the ad of this video it says this video has sections for each trimester. That is NOT true. They are the same workouts for the whole pregnancy although I think they are do-able no matter at what stage of your pregnancy you're at. It has a section for exercises standing up, laying or sitting down, & stretches. - posted by Yeri P. on 10/7/2010 |
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| Great post-natal abs workout too |
| I left a review during my pregnancy a year ago. I think it's worth mentioning that the post-natal abs segment is really good too! I had tried it a couple months after I had my baby, but wasn't sure if it was safe to do with my ab separation? Well, I still have about an inch separation, but I am starting to work my abdominals again so I got this back out and did the post-natal 10 minute workout and I think it's excellent! I think I will see good results doing this regularly. I felt really strong and felt like my abs were really pulling in and getting flat. It's enjoyable to do, and doens't take any space at all (just enough for your yoga mat if you use one). - posted by Andelyn on 8/6/2010 |
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| Not sure it gets better than this. Highly recommended! |
| I have used this DVD throughout my whole pregnancy (on month 8 now) and absolutely love it. I love the way it makes me feel, and agree with the reviewer that it makes me feel stronger, more in control, and in touch with my growing/changing body. I firmly believe it has helped me with my strength, balance, and flexibility. I haven't had any episodes of having to adjust to my new body, being clumsy, etc. and I feel that has to do with this superior video. It's a challenge without being challenging, and if you start it early on in your pregnancy, you can keep up with it, since you've got a great baseline. Wonderful video and it makes me feel great each and every time I use it. Bonus: I also feel relaxed and any hip pain or tension is gone when I'm done with this workout. Can't say enough good things. I'm looking forward to the postnatal section. - posted by Hope on 8/4/2010 |
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| A real arm burner! |
| This is one of two (out of possibly 10 or more) prenatal workout dvds I tried that I actually like. I am pregnant, not an invalid, and I want to get a decent workout that leaves me feeling I have actually done something while still being safe for pregnancy. This fits the bill. There are definitely some challenging moments during the workout. As I said it really burns the arms using only your own body weight. I am used to lifting heavy weights and it is a challenge for eme to keep my arms up the whole time as Suzanne does. I don't feel it is as intensive for the legs but don't find this to be a negative personally as I have found a FANTASTIC prenatal pilates video that has really kept my thighs and butt under control :) Two different push up segments in the mat section as well as "hover"-type exercise are challenging. The case does say that this is a cardio workout too, which I don't agree with, but not worth subtracting a star over. I do this several days a week along with some Ellen Barrett. This is a keeper. - posted by Melissa on 8/4/2010 |
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| Love it! |
| This is a fantastic video. Excellent cueing and a wonderful challenge. The moves aren't complex and easy to follow. This workout leaves you feeling strong, challenged, and connected to your body. I am still in my second trimester and not too big yet, but I can see how this video will help me with balance in the future as my center of gravity changes. I am looking forward to using this video as long as my growing belly allows. - posted by Angela on 7/28/2010 |
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| Beautiful Workout |
| This was such an amazing video to use throughout my whole pregnancy and always made me feel so good! I always made sure to pause it and drink lots of water when I needed to during the last couple months of my pregnancy. It truly kept me lean (as it is called Long and Lean Prenatal Workout) strong and healthy! It was definitely a more intense video, but I started using it in my first trimester and it kept me in shape for the big day and I had a very easy labor and quick delivery and I recovered very well! I loved this video and may even continue using it! I love Suzanne Bowen and wish she had more complete videos like this that are not prenatal! - posted by Lily on 7/20/2010 |
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| Great, energizing workout |
| This workout focuses more on toning and stretching than cardio which is a nice change of pace. I'm not exhausted after doing it and usually have enough energy to pair it with a nice walk. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because a little more cardio would make it more complete. Overall, I think it's great. - posted by Charlotte on 5/27/2010 |
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