Lotte Berk Method For Beginners - Basic Essentials

I tried this DVD for the first time and was quite impressed by how challenging it is for a beginner like me. The exercises are not difficult to perform, at least a few times, and I found myself having to stop and rest a few moments, but then getting right back into the routine the instructor and her two companions were doing. Not once do you pick up a weight, go to a machine, or start using a resistance cord, but by using the weight of your own body and moving in certain ways, you WILL surprise your muscles (and yourself) by putting every part of your body through some pretty tough paces. If you are a beginner with at least a little familiarity with Pilates and/or yoga, this helps. If you are determined to stick with a workout that is challenging but still possible to learn and master, and if you really want to do something that will transform your body if done faithfully, then these exercises are for you. Stretching is emphasized as an essential component to any workout that taxes the muscles, and you will be immediately doing exercises to stretch and relax the muscles you have just worked. This also gives you a chance to get a short break from the vigorous muscle strengthening moves. Even in an air-conditioned room, you should be prepared to perspire quite a bit. The only props you will need are the back of a sturdy chair (to use in lieu of a ballet bar) and a small towel to assist in your leg stretching moves. What I especially appreciated is the fact that although you are striving to achieve greater flexibility and strength, you are not trying to make yourself look like a female bodybuilder or even a heavily muscled female athlete. Some women love the look of "six-pack abs," bulging biceps, and veins that protrude through the skin. That, plus a skin tone that makes some women in fitness magazines look like they've smeared barbecue sauce all over their skin is definitely not for me. The Lotte Berk Method is for women who want to be fit, healthy, young and attractive well past middle age, but also thoroughly and unquestionably FEMININE. If you want to look like a graceful and lithe dancer and not some androgynous freak, I highly recommend this workout. I intend to try the other DVDs in the Lotte Berk series too.

Ok, I admit - the instructor is hilarious. I think she studied acting from the Paul Harvey….School…of Acting. Either that, or William Shatner's. She can be condescending, if you take her that way (although I don't know that she means to be) and speaks in staccato, with sudden intense direction aimed right at the camera. So, you get past that. The fact that she looks like Erin from the Waltons helps too. I can't deny her cueing is on target, and the fact that she breathes "Your feet! Are they pointed out? Check! Check now! For the love of God, check!" you know, i'm ok with that because she's forcing me to, well, check. I love this method. If I thought I'd get an all over workout, it's all I'd do but in reality I know you have to mix it up and add more cardio. I am seeing results and will continue to do this every other day, as suggested. Interestingly I don't love another one of the DVDs but this one I enjoy, so it's a matter of personal preference - and it's ok for beginners but I would think even intermediates will find this a good workout to throw in from time to time, given the glute, thigh and ab work. She's great about stretching, too. I do skip the warm up, I just don't like it, but the rest makes a great 20 minute workout that can stand alone or, when I have time, throw on another DVD and do 10 or 20 minutes (Jessica Smith's Ballet Workout has perfect complimentary 20 workouts, and I also like Core Fusion's 10 minute workouts so you can pick the workout you feel like you're lacking today). Maybe not for everyone but I hate exercising and this I don't hate.

I have been doing intermediate pilates & yoga DVDs as my main form of exercise for about 5 years. I decided I needed something new to lose 5-10 pounds, so I turned to the LB Method. I have been doing this Basic Essentials DVD every other day for almost 20 days, and it delivers the results it promises. I've lost a solid 4 pounds of fat so far. My waist is noticeably thinner, and I finally have that hourglass look. I found that with pilates I could get a flat stomach quickly, but missed that curvy waist LB is able to sculpt. My thighs were pretty muscular to begin with, but LB has helped to build more lean muscle & burn the fat off. I'm looking forward to really shaping up my thighs with the advanced LB DVDs. Last week I bought some 28 size pants in my favorite brand, and I have been a solid 29 for at least 5 years! Dude, this workout is no joke. I also like it b/c you get serious burn, but don't feel exhausted afterwards. My only criticism is that I'd like some more arm exercises in the workout, but I can still use my pilates moves to get those biceps bulging. I noticed some other reviewers weren't into the instructors' style. I just wanted to say that I am totally into it. The main instructor makes me smile b/c she's so intense without being screamy or fake. I suppose in the end, everyone likes different things, but my vote is a YES for these wild-haired ladies. I feel right at home working out with them :)

A great addition to learning Barre! It's ideal to use when traveling.

Lotte Berk Method For Beginners - Basic Essentials The instructor was so irritating and condescending to the point of distraction. It was very hard to concentrate on the precision movements when I just wanted to rip her head off for constantly saying, "Can you tuck? Can you lift your leg? Can you do that? Can you?" The movements themselves were rather easy and required way too few reps, so it wasn't an issue of "can" at all. I have no motivation to try any of the other DVD's because of this woman's poor attitude. Even the DVD editors themselves offer a "workout with music" option on the DVD so that you can tune out this woman and focus on the moves. However, the workout itself was not challenging at all, so it's just not worth it!

I really love this workout!! it gives you a great overall body workout with lots of stretching worked into it. Perfect for beginners of any discipline. And its so relaxing!! Not like those "pump you up" videos that try to get you moving and you just end up out of breath and its not so slow that you'll fall asleep. This is a great video for those who are just getting back into the swing of things and need something that's easy to follow and that you actually WANT to add to your daily routine. I would definitely suggest this to anyone!! So buy with confidence and enjoy!!

I know a lot of people wrote about the creepy and strange demenor of the lead instructor and I would have to add my voice to that. About the instructor: She was wierd and creepy always staring into the camera and and sqinting her eyes to inflect more intensity at times. Her tone of voice was very condesending and she doesn't explain the excerises very well. She pretty much just says "we are doing it perfect so just watch us to learn the proper form". But the problem is, it didn't ever show any good camera angles to see the form. About the workout: Its ok but I think there are better ones. There is not a lot of variety and most of the movements are not anything new or innovative. I don't think I will be using this one much since there are so many others that are better.

I like the exercises but the voice of the instructor gets on me. Maybe it's just me, but she speaks to the camera, (us) as if we are totally juvenile and uneducated. Not sincere.