Customer Reviews:
Good Mix of Core, weights and Aerobic.......2007-09-09
I thought I'd outgrown all weight training dvd workouts but this one delivers. Even if you are advanced you can work up a good sweat, and the core work will give you a lean torso, no bunched muscles like regular situps can. I'm all for six pack abs -- on someone else. I just want trim and flat. This workout makes me sweat and has just enough of a challenge to make me want to do it again. The 12 minute bonus segment is innovative and coomands concentration to do it well. Good workout.
Matrix Method Ultimate Sculpt.......2007-08-06
Kathy kicked up a notch! This is a good challenging workout. It is not as much fun as LWTLW 1&2, but I'm looking forward to the results she is promising (she hasn't let me down yet!) The focus is on functional movement; working arms abs and legs all in one motion. You twist and lift as you would throughout your day carrying groceries, cleaning house etc. If I were a beginner I'd be a little frustrated because it is hard, but Nancy and the other "beginners" are there to show the modified versions if you are determined. A plus for those who hate crunches, there are NONE in this workout. There are LOTS of new movements focusing on the core and waistline and you do feel it working. I definately recommend this workout.
I love this video.......2007-07-04
This is a really good video, some parts I just cant do, like the pushups, but while they are doing them i just continue on w/ the last product. I dont have a lot of time and even when I do i dont really want to work out becuase I am lazy :) but it really works me out good and I like it a lot. If you do it right you start sweating in minutes and by the time 10 min is up its a good work out. I have never regreted buying it. I think the people are annoying so i always have the mute on and crank up some music, it works good :)I have a feeling i will be using this for a while now.
Kathy Smith.......2007-05-14
This is a great challenging workout! I finally found a workout that adds something different. You can tell the same day that you have used muscles that had been neglected.
Excellent workout!.......2007-05-13
This is a very well rounded excercise video. You get to work out every piece of your body, and there is enough variety to keep you interested. Kathy does such a great job. She's not overly enthusiastic and has a great presence. The core workout is great!
Description
Now there is a better way to have that special bond you always wanted with your dog. Learn how you can get results in a short time, using praise and treats. A truly interactive DVD, which reveals many of the best-kept secrets of positive dog training. Two top Los Angeles trainers guide you step by step, through simple, gentle techniques that produce amazing results. You'll learn training without ever laying a hand on your dog. Master the magic of clicker training, used for movie animals. Discover easy fixes for common behavior problems, and much more. Your dog will learn all basic and other essential commands. Watch progression in real time. See puppies as well as adult dogs among the 20 different dog breeds featured: Beagle, Yellow Lab, Golden Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier, Malamute, Boxer, Poodle. Most of the dogs have not had previous training.
DVD Contents
BASIC COMMANDS: Sit! - Down! - Stay! - Come! - Heel!
OTHER ESSENTIAL COMMANDS: Leave It! - Give! -Wait! - Gentle! - Name Recognition - Touch! - Go To Bed!
BEHAVIOR ISSUES: Housetraining through Crate Training, X-Pen, Baby Gate, Ring Bell.
Also: Door Behavior, Jumping Up, Nipping.
BONUS MATERIALS: Car Safety, Rewards & Consequences, Leadership, Come!-Important Tips, Clicker Training, Play Toys, Training Treats
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Dog Training From Beginner to Intermediate.......2007-06-13
I found this DVD to be excellent in presenting the kind of material that I needed to communicate effectively with my dogs. I applied the techniques and they worked almost immediately. In addition, it is a methodology that I and my dogs feel comfortable with and it seems to increase our bond together. I would recommend Laura Bourhenne's and Nicole Wilde's DVD to anyone who needs a simple, effective and enjoyable method of shaping their pet's behavior. In my opinion anyone who rates this DVD lower than at least a 4 is either a competitor or has absolutely no clue about dog training methodologies.
Hank J., N.J.
Best source of training I have used........2007-06-09
I hired a trainor (very expensive) for my newly adopted dog and didn't like his methods. He used a choke collar which clearly hurt my dog so needless to say I couldn't follow his method.
I watched this video and loved the methods that Nicole and Laura used. They are very gentle (and I stress that). Each segment is short and easy to follow and remember.
I would highly recommend this video to those that want a gentle method and something that is easy to follow. Best thing is that if I forget something I can go back to it without having to pay an additional charge
I give this training video a thumbs up!
Unprofessional, sometimes confusing, often silly!.......2007-06-04
"Honey, I just got Pinnacle Studio software. Let me grab the camera and we can make a dog training video. Why don't you call Marge next door if she wants to be famous, she can be in it too. You guys are a hoot together!"
That is how it came off- unprofessional and silly. They would have benefited from having a script to follow rather than adlibbing it.
The actual training information was really confusing. I got the sense that the dogs were doing what they were doing for the treats and not really learning anything. They say not to bribe but there is no section on how to wean them from doing for treats and doing as they are told.
Education theory includes positive and negative reinforcement (included here) as well as positive and negative punishment (excluded from this book). Effective training integrates all four approaches.
Not what I was expecting.......2007-05-25
I wanted a video on positive dog training using a clicker, so members of our dog rescue could learn about it and see it done. We are all experienced dog owners and handlers. First I purchased Karen Pryor's clicker training video. While Pryor's video presented the material well, the video's production quality left much to be desired. Wilde's video seemed more up to date and the write ups promoted it as a great teaching tool. Wilde's video presents very basic lessons using a clicker. This video is suitable for the novice dog owner, and the short lessons are an especially good way to show children how to interact with their new dog. However, the video is designed for the novice owner. This is not a video for the experienced handler interested in learning about positive dog training and use of a clicker on a deeper level.
Annoying .......2007-05-07
Even if it works...these people are annoying. I am all about positive training but I'm surprised I made it throught the whole video.
BUT...it was informative and useful.
Average customer rating:
- Racism Ruins Everything
- How Low
- Funny, Great Movie
- So High That I Can Kiss The Sky...
- How High... hells yeah
|
How High
Starring:
Method Man ,
Redman ,
Obba Babatundé ,
Mike Epps , and
Anna Maria Horsford
Director:
Jesse Dylan
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000063RQO
Release Date: 2002-05-21 |
Amazon.com
Grab your favorite munchies, kids. Red and Meth, that dope-addled dynamic duo, are going to Harvard! And while it's not an episode of Masterpiece Theatre, How High is destined to become a guilty pleasure of the cannabis crowd. The plot's a familiar one--take the basic selling points of any Cheech & Chong movie (a pair of shambolic protagonists who smoke lots of weed while slinging slang and driving funky, '70s-style cars), graft them onto a generic "raising hell on campus" teen movie scenario, and shake vigorously. The result is a prosaic effort that does contain some all-too-brief moments of genuine humor. Red and Meth, a.k.a. Redman and Method Man, may look like the world's oldest freshmen, but both offer genial performances, especially Method Man, who imbues the character of Silas with a dog-eared gentleness that raises him above the film's leaden script and plasticine directing. --Rebecca Levine
Customer Reviews:
Racism Ruins Everything.......2007-08-22
I saw this film for the first time last night. Two of my friends insisted it was very funny and I needed to see it, so I did. The beginning of the movie showed promise, and I expected it to be something in the vein of Half-Baked. It wasn't. Except for a couple laughable moments, How High is nothing but an incredibly racist piece of trash. I am white and found the movie endlessly offensive. I'm disappointed that my friends (also white) enjoyed it at all.
There is no question that many films have been made that disparage black people and I in no way approve of that, but two wrongs do not make a right. Every white character in this movie was either a racist jerk or a complete moron. I'm so tired of seeing these films that treat all Caucasions like wimpy, thoughtless idiots, sending a message of black superiority. Everybody just needs to stop this kind of nonsense. It's fine to have a racist character in order to make a point, but this story had absolutely no heart and was utterly dispicable!
I remember hip-hop culture becoming trendy when I was in my early teens. Everyone started wearing the baggy clothes and talking like an ignorant gangsta. I even did it for a while, but soon got over it. The people who act this way need to grow up. Life is too short and important to waste being fake. So many black folks seem to detest other black folks who speak clearly, are educated, and successful. They say that these people have compromised their own culture and are "acting white." What?! You cannot act like a different race! I have all the respect in the world for anyone who wants to make something of themselves and doesn't resign themselves to drugs and violence. Also, know that blacks who are proper and respectable HATE blacks who embrace the stereotype of lazy pot-smoking loserdom.
You may think I am taking this movie too seriously since it was intended as a comedy, but I don't think so. My purpose in writing this review is to say that racism of any kind is not funny. I hope Method Man and Redman realize that before making another picture.
How Low.......2007-04-06
Dont get it confused. I love Redman and Method Man. I think Blackout was the best rap collaboration album ever made but this movie sucks monkey balls! Their Beavis and Butthead style of humor is not funny its just sad. The only scenes that are funny involve the guy pimpslapping people with baby powder on his palms. The rest of the movie is minstrel theater at its unforgiving worst. The lowest point in the film is where they dig up a dead guy, grind up his body in a blender and have somebody drink it for them because they actually thought that drinking his remains would make them smart(Who wrote this script? The Gayans Brothers?). If you like corny humor ala Half Baked this ones for you. If not then use this one as a projectile for rabid pitbulls. Red and Meth should stick to what they do best(MCing) because this chittlin circuit masterpiece and that lame s***com is not going to fly with their fans!
Funny, Great Movie.......2007-02-14
What a movie, this is the best type of comedy, over the top, pushing the envelope type comedy. You gotta love Meth and Red in this one, they flip Harvard upside down. One Work, Brilliant
So High That I Can Kiss The Sky..........2007-02-12
One of the better Stoner Comedies of this generation. Of course it doesn't top Half-Baked (What will?) it certainly vies for second place. Cheech and Chong will always be the godfathers of dope comedy, but every generation needs treasures to call their own. If you don't already know what this movie is about; Two stoners, Jamal and Silas, meet before taking the THC's (Test for Higher Credentials) and smoke the ashes of Silas' former buddy which brings him back from the dead so he can help them get high scores. With perfect scores they can choose any college to transfer to and for some reason they choose Harvard. But no matter where Red and Meth are, you know they are going to be themselves. As soon as they step foot on campus the dean is on their case, as well as a volunteer safety officer and their nerdy roomate. But they manage to skake things up, and even find some cuties to share a spliff with. Overall a great movie worth viewing again and again. All of the cast is outstanding and well casted.
How High... hells yeah.......2006-09-09
This college professor lives right around the corner from me. One day we were talking about movies and I told him about one of my favorite guilty pleasures, How High.
I told him it was about this guy who sprinkles his dead friend's ashes into a growing marijuana plant, and when he smokes the plant he can see and speak with ghosts that help him cheat on the SAT and get into Harvard. Then I told him Spalding Grey was in it. My professor friend was like, "wait, what's this movie called again?" I guess there's a little something here for everybody who enjoys the absurd.
Spalding Gray really did have one of the funniest cameos I've ever seen. Another thing I liked about this comedy was the way our heroes Jamal and Silas help those around them. When they first meet their roommates I was all, "no way these guys are going to get along," but then they pull it off. Actually, Jamal and Silas save all of their friends. Instead of trying to be what they think they're supposed to be, their friends become who they really want to be.
So why laugh with How High? It's all of the seemingly random, silly little details they put in there. Those really get me every time. The pork chops-a-chunky commercial. The dialogue between the pimp and the assistant pimp. Redman thinking that maybe he's a ghost and trying to walk through pedestrians. Everything that I Need Money does in the background. Everything Justin Urich says is actually pretty funny. Actually it's all pretty funny. Watch the deleted scenes on the DVD. I remember there being some dream sequence that takes place inside I Need Money's gold tooth, and that was really funny.
If you like a little of the absurd in your comedy, then you may enjoy this flick.
Just keep in mind that the story is about succeeding on your own terms, getting what you want and having some laughs along the way. The story isn't so much about a realistic portrayal of how different socioeconomic and ethnic groups relate on a college campus. Fair warning.
Average customer rating:
- wish I could give it more but it is not EMMA
- "Friend's B-4 Lovers"
- very good movie
- 2.5 stars
- This movie is for the original rap kids that grew up with the hiphop culture..............
|
Brown Sugar
Starring:
Queen Latifah ,
Wendell Pierce ,
Ralph Tresvant ,
Nicole Ari Parker , and
Sanaa Lathan
Director:
Rick Famuyiwa
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005JLON
Release Date: 2003-02-11 |
Amazon.com
One of 2002's most underrated films, Brown Sugar offers more than you'd expect from a conventional romantic comedy. The love story between Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) is the least interesting part of the movie; the costars have delightful chemistry, but their hookup is a given. What's refreshing is the way the story draws a parallel between Dre and Sidney's longtime friendship (they meet as kids in a 1984 flashback) and the evolution of hip-hop music from urban roots to dubious mainstream acceptance. Dre's a disillusioned producer at pop-fueled Millennium Records, married to a beauty (Nicole Ari Parker) who cheats while embracing her coveted status quo. Editor of an influential music magazine, Sidney's tentatively engaged to a basketball star (Boris Kodjoe), but these loves are obstacles, and Dre and Sidney are meant for each other. In bringing them together, Brown Sugar allows for human mistakes, intelligent solutions, and the kind of three-dimensional behavior that romantic comedies typically don't provide. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
wish I could give it more but it is not EMMA.......2007-09-01
Sanna Latham is so lovely that this old cyncical white commie wishes he could jump through the screen and propose to her. I loved "Something New" not in the least because it played with cliche's. This film while good, does not have the originality. Or rather it reminds me a bit a Jane Austen's Emma--where two characters have been in love since the start of the book--not really knowing it--but discoverng it close to the end. In "Emma" Mr. Knightly says to her "I believe I have loved you since you wee thirteen"-- well something like this is going on in this movie.
Another point: "Brown Sugar" isn't really about hip hop the way "Save the Last Dance " is. I love the energy of hip hop dancing--but give me Etta James Mack Rice Wilson Pickett Clarence Carter--( same thing is happening in country music Willlie Nelson and Merle Haggard) any day. I have mentioned in another review "A Family Thing" is the best movie about black white relations I can recall. It ends with a song by Aretha Franklin--I dismissed that at the time but now I think it means something. I miss VOICE in hip hop. In any case I don't think this movie really is about hip hop as I said. Miss Latham I would have you marry me but in any case why not try a movie with Robert Duvall or Morgan Freeman. Or Something classical?(pardon the pun) I think you'd be great in Antigone.
"Friend's B-4 Lovers".......2007-03-29
This was a good movie with a great story line. This movie also teaches us that friends make better lovers. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you should check it out. It also reveals some of the "First *REAL PIONEERS* of RAP". They make special appearances in this film. So check it out.
very good movie.......2007-03-21
I had seen this movie once a few years ago when it just came out, and it is an interesting story. Has of course a good soundtrack and storyline. The acting is good and Taye Diggs is always pleasant to watch, as are the other actors. Good flick.
2.5 stars.......2007-03-12
Alright. So I had intended to see this movie upon its release way back and just really never got to it. A week or so ago it was playing on Oprah's Oxygen network and I was very happy that I would finally be able to see it. Overall, it was alright. So then it was on again the next day and I couldn't stomach watching it again.
It may be called Brown Sugar, but the plot moves slower than molasses. It is way too predictable and sweet, with very little substance. It wasn't even all too interseting the first time around and I couldn't stand seeing it a second time. There's a reason why these movies are on TV, people. No need to purchase the DVD. As soon as I saw it once, I had gotten my dose and wanted no more.
This movie is for the original rap kids that grew up with the hiphop culture.....................2007-01-01
Being a preteen in the early to mid eighties meant seeing the hiphop culture form right before your eyes. As you get older you realize that music that you loved as a kid is a part of your psyche and being. And sometimes the culture and your life correlate so much that it's hard to differentiate. The older you get the more life changes but you'll always have those great hiphop moments that pulls you back and puts it all in perspective.
Average customer rating:
- 1 star for DMX
- My Boyfriend Loved It!
- But Why is it Called Belly?
- Depictive of life in the Ghetto
- A gun shot in the Belly.
|
Belly, Special Edition, Version 2
Starring:
DMX ,
Nas ,
Hassan Johnson ,
Taral Hicks , and
Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins
Director:
Hype Williams
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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ASIN: B0000YEE6M
Release Date: 2004-01-20 |
Customer Reviews:
1 star for DMX .......2007-07-13
Before viewing this film, I did take into consideration that it was a hip/hop film; hot hip/hop artists at their prime, a notorious music video director and a very upbeat and urban soundtrack to boot did sound pretty promising. However, the film's lackluster script, extremely corny dialogue, over the top editing, and poor narrative by Nas was almost unbearable if not stomach-turning. The only acting that seemed plausible was DMX, (Thats not really saying that much). Instead of releasing this movie theatrically, it easily could of been a 93 minute music video on Mtv. On a positive note, I appreciated the vibrant colors and newly remastered dvd transfer; it incorporated bright greens, saturated blue's and washed out reds. (Jamaica scenes manifest this description the best) the editing coincided well with the soundtrack for the first 20 minutes but quickly deteriorated along with the horrific acting. I wanted to see an actual film, not a eternal music video. I understand Hype Williams wanted to incorporate his music editing elements to the table; however, it suffered in the long run. Now to the acting, Nas as a lead role was hurtful and corny to watch on screen. its not like These hip/hop artists are being asked to portray complex characters, more or less themselves. Nas's poor narration just barely ties the rapid paced and unrelated scenes. Dmx, on the other hand, was the only actor who seemed like maybe he actually did some auditioning before the film; Dmx's deep scratchy voice is powerful and coincides well with his volatile demeanor as well as profession. As far as the incomprehensible-gibberish speaking Jamaican drug lords go, I think Al Pacino did it best with his Cuban accent. Enough said. For hip/hop aficionado's or fans of any of these artists should view this film, however, it should be taken with a grain of salt. But then again, seeing these other 5 star amazon reviews makes me have second thoughts about other people's tastes..
My Boyfriend Loved It!.......2007-02-19
I was so happy to find this for my boyfriend, I had shopped at several local video stores on search of this DVD, which is my boyfriends favorite movie. It was delivered quickly at a great price and we are very happy.
But Why is it Called Belly?.......2006-11-26
The American Dream is an appealing myth, no doubt. The idea that anybody can come from anywhere and strike it rich in America sounds great. The problem, as George Carlin put it, is that you have to be asleep to believe in it. So instead of representing opportunity for everybody it has become code for greed at all costs. And that is where "Belly" comes in, an ode to thug live and all the riches that come with it. This urban drama stars DMX (perpetually rapping), Nas, and Method Man and they would have you believe that they earned their cash by selling drugs and pimping as opposed to selling out to record companies. The story barely exists and seemed like a burden for the director who just wanted endless shots of people having sex and smoking drugs. When the plot does poke its head up I picked up on a criminal enterprise that moved shop from Queens to Omaha. Once there the cops get involved and people start getting shot. One couple tries to escape to Africa, but find it easier said than done. And Tommy (DMX) is sent on a mission to kill a minister. But really this film is about selling a lifestyle that doesn't even exist. Come on now, I've known drug dealers in my day, and they didn't live in large gaudy mansions . . . rap stars do. Rather they live in shacks or their parent's basement.
If my response to the film seems lukewarm it is because it is. The directing by Hype Williams isn't that bad. He is able to capture some beautiful images and uses a few creative camera tricks. The lighting never seems quite right, but I'm gonna let that one slide. As a man who has always called for more sex and drugs in films I can hardly complain about their presence here. There people are living life to the fullest and are certainly not being weighed down by bourgeois conventions. All that said this film still fully deserves the big no vote that I am going to give it. As the most nihilistic person I know I am surprised to report that this one really seemed lost. Any image they could flash on the screen that would appeal to the wannabes in the audience was used. The N and F words are used to comedic proportions. Their palaces that represent their gluttony are turned into war zones and destroyed for no good reason. And then, on top of it all, we have to listen to the characters wax philosophical on how leading this life somehow places them on a higher plain than the rest of us. Sorry man, but just because you sell drugs instead of stocks doesn't make you any less slimy than those Wall Street hacks. You're still a businessman. This film is not worth watching. Any social point that is made is made accidentally, and any filmmaking skills the director may have are lost under his love fest for all things gangsta. **1/4
Depictive of life in the Ghetto.......2006-08-10
This movie was great due to the fact that it shows what life really is like in the so-called "Ghetto". It shows the endless crime and reality of the New York Streets. Even though its a fictional work, it depicts fact. Places like East New York Brooklyn, and the South Bronx are constant reminders of the Urban War in the streets--and this movie would be a good portrayel of the "hood life". I recommend this movie to all who want to know what ghetto life is like...check it out.
A gun shot in the Belly........2006-06-02
Hype Williams is the greatest music video director of all time.
This, however, does not automatically mean the transition to film is going to be a good one.
The movie is not good. I don't know if it's supposed to be a black Scarface or what, but it's really bad.
Rappers are not known for their Oscar-worthy work, and Nas and DMX are no exception. DMX has charisma, but he needs to work on remembering he's reciting lines, not rapping.
I love T-boz, but she needs to stick to her day job.
Taral Hicks is a good actress, but her talents are wasted here. I don't buy her as a bad girl.
I know The Godfather was an inspiration for Hype, but his attempt to give the movie a dark tint backfired. He made it too dark. Everytime I see the movie, I mistakenly think I'm looking at a bootleg or something.
Hype should start over in film by directing material written by someone else.
Product Description
The Bar Method elongates the thigh and seat muscle so that they sit higher on the hips. After about 10 lessons your legs look longer, your seat lifts, your abdominals pull themselves further back under the rib cage, and your shoulders, arms and chest become lean and defined. You will also burn away fat as The Bar Method keeps you feeling challenged throughout its workout. Before long your intramuscular fat will burn away to reveal your new smooth, narrow, defined body.
Designer Sculpting
Designer Sculpting systematically targets the muscles that create the long, lean defined look of a dancer. During a 45 minute, full body workout Burr takes you through the simple, highly efficient isolations beginning with the upper body and then zeroing in on the legs, seat, waist and abs. In no time you will feel and see your hips slim down, your seat lift up and your arms gain definition.
System Requirements:
Features:
Designer Sculpting Bonus Workout
Photo Gallery
Workout To Music Without Narration
Trailer
Chapter Selections
Format: DVD MOVIE
Customer Reviews:
Slightly more intense than Fat Free.......2007-08-09
As I noted in my review of Fat Free, I started using these after having the LBM DVDs for a few years. Overall, I find the Bar Method DVDs to give you more bang for your workout time and would recommend those over the LBM DVDs, but if you can have both, the LBM DVDs are nice to have.
This DVD begins with a slightly more traditional warmup, with bent knees and swaying. After a quick stretch, we get into work for the arms, including bicep curls, long-lever front shoulder raises and triceps lifts. The first two are done with the tuck which is included in so many of these barre programs. The tricep work is really tough, and here I would love to see a slightly longer stretch. No pushups or reverse pushups here- that's on the other DVD.
After that, we do some tucks and knee taps for our thighs in the tucked plie position. Once we stretch, we move to the floor for seat/buttocks work in the form of the infamous pretzel. This was not quite as tough as I thought it was going to be, but I still felt it. We do three sets of knee raises, then three sets with the knee going back. I feel this through my hip as well as my buttocks- very satisfying.
Afterwards, we lie down for abwork. Again, we're using variations of the C-curve, but here it's not quite as tough as on Fat Free. She makes up for it with a long set of bridging with the feet and knees together, then hip width apart, then out wide. Again, I always feel this work, no matter what I've done before.
Another total body workout, and between the arm weights and pretzel, a notch of difficulty above Fat Free. However, because of the well-integrated stretches throughout the workout, I feel refreshed, not depleted. I like not feeling destroyed after a workout, but I could with a few more sets or more exercises, but I have no problem doing the companion tape later on in the day.
In comparison to the LBM releases, I would say that these would be the ones to pick if you could only have one, but the LBM add-ons are more difficult than most of the exercises here, particularly the abwork. If you can have both sets, so much the better. If not, stick with these.
Most effective shaping.......2007-06-29
This is, bar none (ha), the most effective type of exercise for achieving a dancer's or gymnast's body that I've ever tried (and I've tried). I love the fun of aerobics, I love the mental centering of yoga and I was impressed with the results of heavy weight training (though being a woman, I didn't want that kind of results), but nothing lengthens and strenghtens you like Bar Method (and its predecessor, Callanetics). WOW! My butt disappeared. In 10 workouts, I've lost a dress size without losing any pounds. Even if you've tried everything and have become skeptical, please do yourself a favor and try this.
I love this workout..........2007-06-28
This is a very effective workout and you do feel the burn. Burr is a very pleasant woman. I highly recommend this DVD.
quick low effort effective workout.......2007-06-27
Easy to follow, straightforward and effective. I was able to do the whole workout and was a bit sore the next day. The music is a bit benign, but it is a very simple yet effective workout. A chair and travel weights and it goes anywhere too.
I didn't want to talk bad about you, Burr..........2007-06-03
but I really just want you to stop talking. Yes, I feel the burn. Yes, I remembered to tilt. No, you don't need to talk at me while I am holding this insanely uncomfortable position w/out actually doing anything.
The DVD is a great work out, I'm not negating that. I just need her to come up with a better way to explain the postures w/out wasting time and energy.
Also, the workout seems to be afraid of its own potential in some ways---reluctant to build muscle.
Buy it...mute it.
Amazon.com
The new and innovative
Matrix Method is teamed up with a hi-energy power walk routine. Using the "matrix-clock" as an aid, Kathy will direct you through this fun and challenging workout insuring accurate foot and body positioning getting you the best benefits. Up your calorie burn and learn Kathy's NEW Cardio-Core moves to zap belly fat and strengthen your core without a single crunch!
Workout Summary:
- 30 minute interval walking workout, alternating between "matrix-clock" moves and Cardio-Core segments. You will fire up as many muscle groups as possible by combining balance and coordination challenges that will give your metabolism a jolt and shed extra pounds.
Crank up the fun in the nex 10 minute seqment as Kathy shows how you can build up the matrix moves you've learned for that extra boost. Add some attitude and personal dance moves to make it your own.
10 minutes of the NO-CRUNCH-ZONE, the latest technique to define those Abs and stregthen the back. If you're tired of sit-ups, this is for you!
Appropriate for all fitness levels. Hands weights recommended for improved results.
Customer Reviews:
Great Workout.......2007-09-11
This is a great workout, it might be a little different from your normal everday "old" workout but that is what makes it fun :)
I didn't like this walking workout; I like Leslie Sansone's tape much better.......2007-09-08
this workout didn't impress me at all....I didn't like the whole clock idea and I didn't like how it changed scenes--I have just started doing Leslie Sansone's intermediate and intermediate/advanced tapes and I like them MUCH better!!!!
Great Workout Program.......2007-06-13
Goes beyond a simple walking program. Lots of new moves and combined exercises with light weights. Kathy Smith is always easy to follow. Great program and a good workout.
Good Walking work-out.......2007-05-31
Hi! I liked the Matrix Method - Power walk for weight loss. I also have all the Leslie Sansone Walking videos which I do on a regular basis along with walking on the paths and trails in the park.
I thouhgt this work out was fun but I did get a little more winded then I do with Leslie's work-outs. The variation was great with all the twisting and turning and using the hand weights and then putting them down for a power march. I didn't do the 10 minute walk on the DVD yet but I did do the stretch and cool down. The stretch and cool down was easy with a few different moves that I have never seen but it felt good stretching everything out while on the floor to standing up rather then just a few deep breaths and a calf stretch that Leslie's cool downs consist of. All in All it's a great work-out and I recommend it.
So So.......2007-05-07
I've got Kathy's Project You DVD's and like them. So when I saw she had a new Matrix series including the Walking DVD, I was psyched. I just don't like the whole set up - the superimposing back and forth is a little much. I hate the fact that you can't always see all the background walkers due to the phoney set pieces. Kathy is also a bit annoying in this one - when she makes that yelling sound like a crazed banshee - it makes me cringe. Kathy you look great, you're a fitness diva - why on earth did you have to make this video with these corny background changes? And don't even get me started on the background walkers - how old are they anyway??? Do you really expect me to believe these guys actually do your workout dvd's? P.S. their form is also AWFUL. I give this three stars because of the 10 minute fast walk and ab section at the end. Otherwise,not my favorite.
Description
The Bar Method elongates the thigh and seat muscles so that they sit higher on the hips. After about 10 lessons your legs look longer, your seat lifts, your abdominals pull themselves further back under the rib cage, and your shoulders, arms and chest become lean and defined. You will also burn away fat as The Bar Method keeps you feeling challenged throughout its workout. Before long your intramuscular fat will burn away to reveal your new smooth, narrow, defined body. DESIGNER SCULPTING: Designer Sculpting systematically targets the muscles that create the long, lean defined look of a dancer. During a 45 minute, full body workout Burr takes you through simple, highly effective isolations beginning with the upper body and then zeroing in on the legs, seat, waist and abs. In no time you will feel and see your hips slim down, your seat lift up and your arms gain definition. FAT FREE: Fat Free challenges all the body's major muscle groups in a quick succession of expertly designed exercises that add muscle while burning fat. Burr gets you into one muscle group quickly, and then right into another one until you have run the circuit of your muscles. You will feel energized and amazed at the ability of these small, subtle moves to reshape and tighten areas that need it most. This tape will make the difference in your body! Join Burr Leonard as she instructs you how to achieve healthier, more beautiful body throughout life. A former journalist with Esquire, Forbes and Adam Smith's Money World, Burr began studying at New York City's Lotte Berk Method in 1981. After training and teaching at the Lotte Berk studio for a year, she opened her first studio in 1991 in Greenwich, Connecticut. Today she owns Bar Method studios in Connecticut, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Customer Reviews:
What a great Workout.......2007-09-04
I'm a pear-shaped and this workout has addressed my thighs problem. I saw results within the first five times I did it. Bar Method Fat Free is always in my workout rotation.
Lean, burning, and intense workout.......2007-09-01
I tried this DVD due to the extensive great reviews and I must say this has been one of my favorite workouts I've ever tried. If you want to be more flexible and have a leaner toned body check this out. You'll really feel the burn. But before I do this workout I do at least 10 minutes on my eliptical trainer you'll feel the results the next day but don't give up! I also recommend blending this workout with the 20 minute windsor pilates workout its a great combo especially if your crunched on time.
Buns of steel!.......2007-08-06
Although this is not an aerobic workout, it is highly effective in doing what it is supposed to do: Sculpting and firming muscles, especially in women's trouble zones. My objective with these DVDs was to get some of the benefits I'd gained in the study of martial arts-- which also use dynamic tension to build and shape dense, lithe muscles-- but not for weight loss or for aerobic fitness.
Especially to a beginner, the DVD is challenging, but not to a point where newbies will be discouraged. The workout gets easier over time; it is still challenging enough to keep me interested, and the results are tangible enough to keep me dedicated. Having both Bar Method DVDs also provides variety to avoid boredom and burnout.
Because the Bar Method and Lotte Berk Method DVDs evolved from the same source, comparisons are inevitable. Each method provides a handful of exercises the other does not. However, what makes Bar Method more palatable is the instruction. Burr Leonard is perky, warm, and friendly, where the various Lotte Berk Method instructors vary from odd to harsh. Although the Lotte Berk ladies are probably effective in class, they are tough to take on DVD (one in particular made me feel more tense and hostile after the workout than before-- not ideal!) Given the choice between the two methods, I resoundingly prefer the Bar Method. I also prefer the format of the Bar Method DVD, which allows users to easily skip the intro section.
As for Burr Leonard herself, I find it very motivating to see a woman-- of any age, much less late 50s!-- in such excellent condition. Some reviewers have taken issue with an interview (not included on the DVD) where Ms. Leonard waffles when asked if the Bar Method is her only fitness regime. Their issues, although reflected in their rating of the DVDs, have nothing to do with the workout itself. They may also benefit from remembering that NO fitness program is complete without an aerobic component, which is critical to weight loss as well as overall health and fitness. As a *component* of that overall program, the Bar Method is an excellent tool-- and one that provides quick gratification.
As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For my money, the Bar Method is an excellent first step, and one that has become a permanent fixture in my fitness regime.
Great Workouts!!.......2007-08-04
I started with the Fat Free video 3 times a week, the next week I did the sculpture video 3 times then back to Fat Free. What a difference!! The first week I lost 2 1/2 inches. The second week I lost 5 inches!! In two weeks a total of 7 1/2 inches! How awesome. I can see and feel the results too. I love these videos and recommend them to everyone. They are very easy to follow, BUT very intense. Your workout is what you make of it.
Bar Method Body .......2007-07-13
Love it, love it, love it. Easy to follow, simple to do and one of the most effective work out I've ever used.
Product Description
The Method - Pilates Target Specifics DVD works your abs, arms, hips and thighs, using exercises from yoga, martial arts, Pilates, and dance training. Featuring four targeted workouts that hit fat where it counts!
Customer Reviews:
Intense yet Low Imapct on the Body.......2007-08-10
I exercise about 5 days a week. When I did this slow Pilates DVD, I thought nothing of it, but the next day I was sore and that is a good thing. That means that it works. My abs and arms were sore, and I could tell this was going to become one of my favorite Pilates DVD.
post baby C-section - great results!!!.......2007-05-10
I had two babies in two years and two c-sections. Needless to say, I had a lot of work ahead of me in order to flatten out my tummy. I am happy to say that one year and two months after my baby was born - I have a pretty flat belly!! woo-hoo. The ab section on this video is the best ab workout I have ever done. I did this daily for about 6 months after my baby was born and then I switched it up and did other videos - worked out at the gym and so forth - well I lost all the baby weight and some more! About 6 weeks ago, I came back to this video and the results are amazing!!! GET THIS VIDEO !!!
Love the workout, but not the drums.......2007-02-05
I love this workout, but the drum music gives me a headache. I wish there was an option to workout without the music and use my own. J.K. does a great job as usually making an interesting workout, but I just can't get over the drum beat thing. The "live" music could have been fun if they would have toned it down. She almost has to yell over the sound.
Try Jennifer Kries' Pilates Method: Precision Pilates instead. That is unless you'd like an hour of drum beats.
This DVD is a MUST!!!! .......2006-09-07
I've been studying pilates and gyrotonics for six years with some of the top instructors in NYC but with the increasing popularity of pilates, the sessions have gotten absurdly expensive, which is why I wanted to try a DVD. I have never been one to work out in my home, but ths is truly an amazing workout and not only have I saved so much money by doing this DVD instead of my beloved studio sessions, but I'm able to incorporate it into my busy schedule and do it much more often than I ever could with the sessions.
As the reviews before me have indicated, the DVD is broken up into four segments that each target a specific area, but I think that's slightly misleading. While about sixty or seventy percent of the exercises in each section do target the area they are labeled under, each section also contains a variety of stretches and counter-workouts as well, which make for a more overall workout, whether you're doing one section or four at a time. For instance, in the section entitled "abs" you'll also find exercises that strengthen the back muscles and legs. Therefore, you're able to get a lot of variety and a great overall workout!
******NOTE: I recommend this highly for intermediates and advanced students of pilates, but NOT for beginners!!! In order to do these exercises correctly, you must know the basic pilates foundation such as pelvic placement, breathing techniques, and proper alignment. If you are attempting these exercises as a beginner, they may seem straightforward, but without the proper foundation and knowledge (which is NOT explained), you may not be doing the exercises properly and worse, could get hurt.*******
For those who are newer to pilates, I would recommend perhaps watching the video first, as it moves at what I would consider a fast intermediate pace.
Return to this video time and time again.......2006-08-23
I absoutly love this dvd. I recieved it as a gift from my mother, after the birth of my first child. I did this DVD in part or whole 3 times a week combined with walking. I lost all 60 pounds of baby weight. I absolutly love this DVD and have noticed changes in my body since I started using it for workouts. That was 3 years ago. Now I teach pilates and often refer back to this DVD for moves to introduce to my class. I have also lent out this DVD for a number of friends to try before they purchase their own. My friends alway rave about it.
Description
The Method(r) brings you the secret to the worlds most beautiful bodies! This double feature DVD combines the best-selling Precision Toning and Precision Sculpting videos featuring instructor Jennifer Kries. She gives clear and precise instructions on how you can tone, firm and flatten your abs without strenuous sit-ups or crunches! Define your buns without lunges, squats or machines and sculpt your legs without high impact aerobics.
In the Precision Sculpting segment, you can tone and trim your arms without heavy weights or boring repetitions, sculpt your chest and shoulders without pushups or chest press machines then trim and define your lower body.
Precision Toning is over an hour and a half of deep muscle techniques and mat based exercises for an all over total body toning & sculpting regime that you can see results on very quickly.
Customer Reviews:
Wasn't what I expected.......2007-09-08
I expected an advanced dvd on pilates methods. The exercises are in the intermediate stage and there really aren't many exercises at all. The workout was much shorter than what I expected.
Absolutely excellent.......2007-02-14
First, I would like to address the reviewer who wrote that this program was "misleading" and "not Pilates." Please do not heed her words. The truth is, in fact, that the first workout on the DVD is a comprehensive classical Pilates program. The differences between the Method rendition and Pilates are negligible, and include such few trivialities as flexing the feet instead of leaving them relaxed and putting the hands between the knee and calf instead of atop the knees during the single leg stretch. If you know the Pilates way versus the Method, you can easily amend your movements as I do. Second, I would like to remind or elucidate users that Pilates is a mind/body exercise, so the absence of music during the video (as another reviewer complains) is perfectly true to form. A Pilates student should be concentrating on breath, flow of movement, and the core but never Celine Dion. Third, if you can't feel it, you're either a Pilates maven or, more likely, not doing the exercises correctly. Doing the exercises correctly is initially not the most important thing. Pilates must be absorbed; connecting the mind and body is the ultimate goal, and it takes time to arrive there. You may need to memorize the flow of movement before you can ever accurately use your core to execute the exercises. Also, just because your body becomes used to the exercises doesn't mean they are not still working for you. A Pilates body takes basic maintenance, and flexibility and The mind body connection will always increase as you repeat the exercises.
There are many Pilates exercises that exist outside this video, but the exercises Jennifer Kries performs are the core exercises of Pilates and should be done whether you do additional ones or not. This DVD is a great Piltates guide, and while not advanced, leaves plenty of time for personal adjustments. As a long time Pilates fan and a third generation Joseph Piliates disciple, I cannot recommend this product enough. I use it in often and add in exercises where necessary. For example, in the time Miss Kries teaches roll up, I do both this exercise and advanced roll over, and then in proper time move with her into leg circles.
This video is absolutely excellent and true to form where so many other DVDs are not (it's hard to find a DVD that even does the core!). Enjoy. Your pennies and your time will be worth it.
Effective abdominal workout but overall lacking.......2007-01-21
This lengthy DVD contains two programs - Pilates for Toning, consisting of standing and lying mat exercises, and Pilates for Sculpting, which incorporates the use of light dumbells.
The set is reminiscent of a ballroom or dancehall, with a simulated black starlit sky in the background. Jennifer Kries is the instructor and sole performer of the exercises, which are done without any accompanying music so you'll have to play your own.
These exercises do work the abdominals and are overall great for stretching. But I'm in agreement with other reviewers who think it falls short of a truly effective "Toning and Sculpting" workout, as is described. There are simply not enough reps of each movement to actually feel a burn. While Pilates can be overall effective for developing core strength, stretching the muscles and improving balance and posture, it seems it's been oversold for it's supposed "body-sculpting" benefits. While the Pilates philosophy may be "quality over quantity," exercise research supports the idea that to truly strengthen, sculpt and define the muscles, they must be worked to fatigue. One must feel the burn.
There are other Pilates fusion videos that more effectively combine the benefits of both Pilates and total body strength training, such as the "Breakthru Pilates Sculpt" DVD or Jennifer Kries' own "Pilates Method" DVDs. Even if one bears in mind that this is just a basic Pilates video without expecting too much in the form of toning and sculpting, I found this particular video to be rather boring, and I enjoy other Pilates videos more. As I previously stated though, these exercises are effective at strengthening the core muscles, and you will feel very relaxed and streched out after doing this workout.
Rating: Fair
Pilates galore!.......2007-01-10
Wow! I really love this pilates DVD. it's hard at first but the more you do it the more results you see and you are able to do it. I really like it.
Excellent Exercise Video.......2006-11-14
I have been doing Jennifer Kries Pilates for years and just updated to the DVD's. Her workouts really do tone every muscle of your body. She encourages you to stretch to your limit, but without overdoing it. The routines include a variety of different exercises, so you don't get bored.
I would recommend this series to both beginners and people more advanced in Pilates and yoga.
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