Element: Barre Conditioning

This is a great workout for toning your legs and it has not lunges which is great for people wirh knee issues like me. I have had knee singer and can do all of these exercises.

I am an over 50 exercise shunner in middle-age fair shape. This workout is difficult, but doable even for me, not hard on the joints. As I get more familiar with it, I've been able to concentrate on really isolating and working the muscles. I think it will still be challenging months down the road. This workout is great for the following reasons: you do it barefooted all you need is a mat/towel and a chair peaceful, mellow music set on a grassy cliff with the Pacific Ocean in the background the trainer doesn't yak too much slow, purposeful movement lasts 30 minutes

In the last few months I've been doing a lot of barre workouts. I bought a bundle of DVD's from Barre 3 featuring Sadie Lincoln and I really like her as an instructor. There are two workouts filmed in a gorgeous outdoor setting. Burn & Firm is a lot more challenging than Lengthen & Strengthen. I was sweating up a storm and my legs were shaking durning B & F, whereas L & S was much more gentle. Compared to the Barre 3 workouts that I've done, these have almost no upper body work and I missed that element. Also, the instructions are done via voiceover, in the B 3 workouts they have microphones. I don't like the voiceover as much. This is a good introduction (and a great price) to barre workouts.

Very clear and concise voice-over for the movements, with simple and clear instructions that follow the basic principles of ballet, Pilates and yoga. The poses themselves are offered with modifications and are accessible to all levels of athletic ability. The background music and scenery enhance without distracting and the filming allows the viewer to see the entire movement and understand the finer points of the isolated and smaller ranges of motion. I'm very happy to go through the sections and feel as though Sadie Lincoln knows both her anatomy and how to effectively work the entire body. I cannot wait to find more of her DVD's to add to my personal collection. 'Grace meets athleticism' is indeed accurate in describing Barre Conditioning. Ten stars for this DVD in terms of home workout achievements from this Pilates and yoga instructor.

I bought this because my local gym only offers one barre class a week and I wanted something to supplement it with. I watched the previews and read the reviews but I'm a little disappointed. Yes, my legs did get the shakes (which was great!) and the small movements are very effective but I was turned off by the instructor. It wasn't her presentation as she obviously knows what she's doing and was effective with her cueing. I don't know why but the constant chatter bothered me, especially with the repeated "oh no, the dreaded inch!" comments. She seemed pleasant and the surroundings were beautiful but within ten minutes I was annoyed that she talked so much. I realize and appreciate that she emphasized form but after one or two views that was enough instruction. That said, this is a solid barre routine for a beginner. The class I take is absolutely brutal so I suppose anything else couldn't begin to compare. As other reviewers noted this is not the best arms workout but I know barre isn't known for focusing on the arms (unless you Ballet Body: Upper Body, which is a killer). I do think that I'll use this again on days when I'm sore or tired but the voice-over drives me nuts. The creator of Ballet Body also uses voice-over but it's minimal. I recommend the DVD but beware of its claim that it works your entire body and contains cardio. It definitely does a number on the legs but that's about it.

Each workout is a little over half an hour. The video is shot outdoors with a beautiful ocean view and lovely garden. The music and instructor's voice are soft and gentle. The workouts use small moves with many repetitions to tax the deep muscles. The next day I feel noticeably stronger and more balanced, but not sore. The only thing I don't care for too much is the instructor's emphasis on qualities such as "physique, tone, carriage, and grace" rather than strength, balance, and flexibility. In other words, there is too much emphasis on your appearance. She does talk about athleticism and functional fitness too, though, so it's not too bothersome. I gave it five stars because of the results.

This is the perfect exercise routine for when you just don't feel like punching, jumping, or kicking. It's no/low impact and you don't move around a ton. There is a lot of "holding" of the positions and tiny movements within the holds. This feels like such an elegant workout, and I love it. You will be challenged! There are a few Yoga concepts and exercises included (for example, a seated twist during the cool down). I love the instructor! She is extremely encouraging and pleasant on the eyes, and she lovingly guides you the entire time. She teaches alone with a beautiful ocean in the background. Some people may find her flowery movement descriptions a little pretentious, but I don't. I'm just thinking of my friend, who criticizes many Yoga instructors in Portland for this same reason.

This is a workout routine that is deceptively difficult. Seems like very small movements, but those movements work out the muscles intended. I like it and would recommend it to others seeking a Barre rountine.

This was a really good workout. I like the fact that it was split into two 30 minute workouts. The second workout is more floor based pilates toning session. The exercises are challenging but doable for people with an average level of fitness.

What a great DVD! I enjoy the barre class at my local dance studio, and this Barre Conditioning program is perfect to do at home between classes or while I'm travelling. All you need is a chair and a rolled up towel! Can be done in a hotel room while on business trips! Brilliant! I just pop it in my laptop. The DVD features two different workouts. I love to mix it up from one day to the next, or even do both if I have the time. Sadie Lincoln is very encouraging and has a very pleasant voice. If you have and enjoy Elements: Ballet Conditioning, you'll definitely want to add this one to your workout DVD collection (or vise versa)!

Teils richtig anstrengendes Homeworkout

I LOVE this Barre conditioning workout! I am a new Mom and started doing this workout just over a month after giving birth via C-section. I really wanted to get back into working out but didn't want to start with weights or running as my body was still healing. This workout is amazing! It's helped me get back into shape after baby and is still challenging a few months later.

I give this 5 stars, because this is a really good workout. It makes my legs tremble and ache each time I do it, though I have a rather good fitness level and exercise daily. I still think that it would be nice if Sandie would have added an abs/core and an upper body part to the disk to make it a full body workout.