Total Body Workout - Classic 60 Minute Edition

I love the Ballet Beautiful workouts! They are as tranquil as they are tough. I love the bright white set and the classical music background. I love that MHB speaks gently to motivate instead of getting bossy like "bootcamp" style instructors. Overall the Ballet Beautiful workouts are some of my smartest fitness purchases. You may have noted that there are two releases each for the two workouts (Ballet Beautiful Body Blasts and Ballet Beautiful Total Body Workout). I have both, and I would love to compare for you the differences between the Original releases (with the mostly white covers) and the newer mass market releases (with these covers trimmed with green or purple). The actual workouts are the same, but a few features are different. In the new version you suffer through not one but two copyright warnings/; one from Lionsgate and one from Ballet Beautiful. The new discs open with the Lionsgate warnings and then the Lionsgate intro (the one with the turning cogs that tends to remind me of previews a the theatre). No previews to suffer through first. Then it shifts and plays the full preliminary faze in from the original. So, it sadly takes a few extra seconds to actually get TO the workout. Menus LOOK different, and have two notable differences: programmability and sound options. Each menu is, in appearance, similar to it's case. The new ones show that ugly band of color (purple or green, depending on which) that's on the cover on the menu. The new menus are busy, unattractive, and inelegant. BUT, they are more functional! The new discs allow you to set up your workout similar to the 10 MS discs. If you choose "custom" you can select which of the segments you would like to do, in which order you want them, then play through. With the original discs you either "play all" or return to the menu after each segment. Sounds options are different. Each gives you a different option. The originals gives you the option to workout with or without music, but with either option you will be listening to MHB. The new ones offer the opposite option: you can turn MHB's voice off or on, but in either option you are listening to the music. The new option includes Lionsgate trailers on the disc menu (but you only have to watch if you click on that option, which, being an exercise nerd, I did). Also, there is a difference in cases. The originals had full plastic (not so environmentally friendly but far more protective) cases. The new ones have the cases that have become the norm: the ones with the cut outs in the plastic. Both are pressed discs. I was rather torn as to which set I prefer. I much prefer the cover art (both front and back) of the original, but the more functional menu on the new ones swayed me. I like being able to not go back to the main menu when I want to do only 2 or 3 segments. And, I felt I was more likely to use the "music only" option than the "voice only" option (in all honesty, I'm not likely to use either option).

I am already a callanetics 10/10 devotee and have seen great results from this; however, I wanted to take my strength/muscle elongation exercises to the next level. I am mortified to say that I have about 25+lbs of marriage weight on my small stature (under 5'). I already eat very clean but I not super restrictive, a few beers or three make it down the hatch and straight to my belly on the weekends. I did not have unrealistic expectations in spite of the glowing reviews but went ahead and bought the full body and the blast on instant video. I have mostly done the full body video so that is what I am reviewing. The exercises themselves are very targeted and core strength building. I do have a back injury from a bike accident that I have been particularly careful about and this has not bothered me since beginning the tapes. I find after finishing the exercises that my muscles are nicely fatigued--you can really tell you have worked each and every one. One odd thing I've noticed is that I cannot make it through the full workout without drinking 1-2L of water (this is on top of the 4L I drink already in a day). If you stick with the exercises, they do get more manageable to get through without breaking. I recall the first week I did them I certainly thought that my limbs would fall off. Ok, on to the results: I am not particularly a fitness freak. I do not do cardio or weights. I do not starve myself or calorie count. I just eat mostly raw for breakfast and lunch (about 2 lbs veggies and fruits)and have nuts as snacks and a cooked dinner usually with eggs/lentils/beans and some type of carbs. I have taken a break from callanetics (used to do it 2-3x a week) to do the total body workout about three times a week. It's been about 3 weeks now but I know for a fact I saw results in the first week. My calves are becoming defined, my inner and outer thighs have shrunk, my love handles and tummy are much flatter....but most dramatically---and I'm not sure what voodoo MHB has done---but my butt has literally shrunk 30% in size and become firmer and more lifted. I also broke a plateau by 3lbs! in one week alone!! I suppose the results may slow down and depend on diet , frequency of exercise, etc. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to tone, firm, sculpt, improve their core or general muscle strength. It's also really awesome when you work with a bunch of fitness freaks that obsess about how much they go to the gym and count calories and then make more noticeable progress then they have for the past three months. :) </end gloating> EDIT*** Now that it has been 1 month+ I thought I'd update that in total I am down 6lb and have lost a total of 13in (I measure waist, belly, hips, and upper thighs) since beginning this workout. EDIT*** (07/22/13) Although I've fallen off the wagon with this a few times, I try to do it 1-2x per week along with biking ~40miles (5hrs a week--which I've been doing for years). I've lost a total of 23lbs, over 30+ inches, and my core feels great. I now fit into old clothes that I had mentally written off as impossible and realized that I need to purchase even smaller clothes!. Now that I am so near to my goal of losing my marriage weight, I'd like to work up to 3-4x a week. I highly recommend this to everyone. I've realized that there are no excuses when you can fit in even one segment or blast per day :)

If you haven't met MHB, then you haven't given your body the opportunity to reach its full potential. A former cardio/HIIT/circuit junkie, I got hooked on barre workouts when I was pregnant and couldn't do the whole jarring, breathlessness thing. They did a great job of toning my legs and arms and helping my body bounce back, but I sort of plateaued in the leanness department and started "building" in my quads and shoulders, instead of tightening and slimming down. Really wanting to take my body to that level of lean ripped-ness, I read a zillion reviews and settled on Ballet Beautiful. I've been doing these for a month now (total body 2-3 times a week, cardio fat burn 1-2 times, some butt blasts and swan arms thrown in there), I am so glad I gave it a shot. I've lost 1/2 an inch off my hips, 1/2 an inch off my waist and at least 1/2 an inch off of each thigh. Arms are leaning out and look super toned. Posture is improving. My whole lower body looks smaller, longer, tighter, more toned. I really notice my pants loosening and fitting differently... Love it! Yes, the exercises are difficult, but it's a good burn and results come quickly. I noticed changes after the third or fourth time, and it was awesome motivation to keep going. You'll feel yourself getting a little stronger each time (though it still won't feel "easy") and you'll feel a sense of accomplishment each time you do. The segments are easily broken down and rearranged to fit your schedule. With a 4-month-old, it can be tricky to squeeze in a full hour. BUT I can almost always fit in half an hour, then if I can build on that, super! Several reviewers have said these workouts somehow relax you and kick your butt at the same time... Absolutely true for me, too. MHB is a pleasant presence, and I genuinely look forward to spending time with her. Lots of repetition in these, but I find it allows me to really focus on perfecting my form. I can lie down, zone out and get hot. You work on one area of the body, then move on. NO dread factor as with other workouts. My muscled get fully worked, but I don't feel overly drained and tired afterward. No equipment required, very little space required. Cons? Mary Helen's pacing varies from one side/exercise to the next, and she often loses count. I also wish the movements were synced to the music. But no worries, MHB -- I still love you! Also, these workouts are probably not the best for dropping major poundage as they aren't super calorie burners (although your new, lean muscle will up your metabolism). I'm totally sold on this program. It's changed my whole approach to fitness. I always thought of working out as a necessary misery, but I've learned I really CAN enjoy it, and get killer results in the process. ---- UPDATE ---- I figured it was time to add to this, as I've been at this program for about a year now! First, one personal con for me: After a few months of solely doing BB, my quads did seem to lose some shape. I think it's matter of personal preference, though ... they were still being worked out indirectly, but I like my legs to look slightly athletic and shapely, not stick-straight. I ended up adding one day a week of Suzanne Bowen's Cardio Torch (15 minutes of lunges and plies), and this combined with BB seems to be the perfect formula for my body! I still give BB credit for my overall physique, though, and am convinced it will be my main workout regimen for the rest of my life. Now, the pros ... and there are many! Oh my gosh. I cannot believe how my body has changed in the past year. My current routine (for the past 9 months — and it still works!) has been 30 minutes of Ballet Beautiful 5 days a week (I mix and match segments from Total Body Workout and the Body Blasts, alternating upper and lower body but always hitting the abs), PLUS the aforementioned one day of squats and lunges). ... Speaking of the Body Blast DVD, the butt segments on there are killer, but so, so effective. It took months for me to get all the way through them without taking long breaks, screaming obscenities or switching legs before she does. I can't speak highly enough of these workouts and this approach to fitness. It's given me a body I didn't think genetically possible, and at 30 years old and 15 months postpartum, I'm in the absolute best shape of my life. From my posture to my ankles (what?!) and everything in between, I am simply loving my body. I see my butt and hips and abs in the mirror and can't believe they're mine! And it's all accomplished in 30 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week, with no gym memberships, no equipment, no pain, no dread, and no need to leave my living room. ... and I think that about sums it up. Amazing. If you love yourself and want to love your body, try these workouts!!!

So I was excited about this after reading the great reviews. I had a monthly pass at the original bar method studio in San Francisco so I was always intrigued by these programs that promise "lean muscle". The bar method made my arms and butt look great but no change to legs. I've done this pretty regularly 45 min at a time, also her streaming videos. And no changes in weight or shape much except I will say that doing just 5 min of her abs daily has helped mine regain their flatness. I actually imagine her abs are more effective than crunches. My body has gotten stronger since the exercises are far easier now, but no physical change:) To be fair I was 137 and 5'8" so already a healthy weight. I will say after doing bar method (small range of motion exercises with 3lb weights and push-ups and tricep dips) my arms looked amazing and defined. Her swan arms despite the pain have resulted in zero added definition. I still like her approach to exercise, which is more relaxed and not push through the pain. Her exercises on DVDs certainly don't add muscle, which is probably useful to know though I would stay away from her cardio and streaming exercises that involve quads since some body types get leaner from quad work and well others...:) I don't believe her DVD exercises cause quads to shrink as much as hopefully the muscles atrophy a bit from not being worked. Anyhow, it's a relaxing regime and it may be such some bodies need really hard sweating workouts instead- or just one just needs to accept one's body shape. I will probably keep trying and hope I wake up with dancer's legs one morning!

Over many months I struggled to find a perfect dvd that would help me to eliminate the fat once and for all off my body. Like many people I have stuggled with my weight for a long time and have done countless silly diets that didn't work, felt depressed, snapped and ate a whole bunch of food and gained five pounds the next day...yes, you get the picture.... I started to get into yoga a few months ago because I admired how slim and sleek the yogis looked like and I wanted to be like them so I began to do yoga...only to find out that it was just too tough for me and I was not seeing results fast or ever ( plus, to be honest, I completely HATE push ups, whether they are called changuranga( how on earth do you spell that?!) push ups or not). I fell upon this dvd and decided to give it a try, as I was at the ends of my rope dealing with fitness dvds in general( I had about four diffrent ones that didn't work). And I must say that I am pretty impressed! This dvd has SIX workouts in it. SIX! And the best part is that I LOVE HOW TIME HONERED IT IS. The Bridge series is about 15 mins long, and the others are about 10 mins! PLUS, the workouts are CUSTOM FIT FOR YOU, meaning that you can select which ones you want and which ones you don't want for the day, so you don't have to go through a 55-70 min workout that has the same moves over and over again. When it goes to the main menue there is a button called custom workout that you can select and you can do the abs first and then the arms, or any of the workouts first, second, etc...you'll see what I mean!! Now, about the excercize in general.... I have read a lot of reviewers say about how 'difficult' it was and how it made them feel like they were dying, especially that first reviewer that you see that told us how she cursed at poor Brower for the pain she felt. I would like to let you know that I was not physically active three days prior to beginning this dvd. In fact I HATED exercize in general. So I was plump not fat ( meaning that I had some rolls of fat on the top of my back and around my waist area and my thighs were wiggily and wide). When I first tried the arm workout, I had the feeling that I was going to be 'drenched in sweat' because of my inactive level, but, to my suprise, I HARDLY sweated AT ALL! My skin felt a bit sticky, but rolls of water did not descend down from my forhead ( yes, I sweat from my forehead big time and I hate it) and my back did not get soaked or wet, either. About the burn...YES you DO feel the burn, but in a GOOD WAY. The burn makes it challenging to do the workout, which prompts you to go back over and over again to the workout to improve....so the dvd never ever gets boring and you always have something to look forward to when it comes to improvement. After I did my first arm, abs and standing exercises I felt a little tiny bit sore but not sore enough that I couldn't move! I felt very graceful and light all day afterwards. It has been three days so far and I am ALREADY starting to see dramatic improvements to those fatty areas in my body. My waist seems more tighter and, for the first time in a very long time, I am starting to see a LINE GO DOWN MY BACK!! The line is faint but I am sure that it will get deeper as more of that stubborn fat leaves it....this is SO COOL to actually see that line there....I never in a million years believed that I even HAD a back line before to be honest... and my pouch around my waist is SHRINKING! Yes, that's right, its GOING AWAY.....I almost feel sad because its been with me forever.... NOT! And aside from the tight body that I am receiving I find that my over all attitude has improved. I am more relaxed and calm and happy! I actually look FORWARD to doing this workout! I even think about doing it twice every day, it is so addicting! So, yes, BUY THIS DVD! If you want to finally get slim and are tired of all those hard-to-do push ups and crunches and backbends and who-knows-what that are hard to do then get this dvd! You WILL be slimmer and you WILL be grateful that you had made the decision!

I was so looking forward to working out to this dvd after all the publicity and good reviews. What a waste of my morning. I get up early to exercise, and at that time, Im looking for a dvd that flows. This exercise routine is set up into six different body areas, but you can not play it all the way through. After each one, (with her repeating that you "can rest and drink some water" you then need to click on whether or not you want to listen to the dvd with her commentating, or with just music. After each set! This dvd was beyond boring, I could never do it for even 3 days a week. It has a huge "DREAD" factor (for me anyways!) There was poor guidance, and basically the stretching was lifting the leg up and bending, done very very quickly. There is an assumption with this dvd that you are in very good shape, and no modifications are given. Super disappointed in this dvd. I'll stick with the NYC ballet workouts and Barre method beginner (an amazing, encouraging instructor) and yogilates ,which is yoga and pilates combined which I really like. (has level one, beginner, level two, intermediate and advanced level 3.- I just received these so Im going to work through the levels. Callanetics has many dvd's and they are wonderful. These are the exercise dvd's that I have stuck with consistently and gotten excellent results with. And best of all, no DREAD factor. I enjoy doing them, and getting on with my day.

I used to teach Pilates, and have been doing both Pilates and Callanetics (old-school but still the gold standard for quick results) for years, so I'm in pretty good shape already. This workout has helped refine certain parts that neither Callanetics nor Pilates fully reached for me: in particular, the high inner thighs and the arms. The Ballet Beautiful workout really hits those areas hard, and I saw the difference within the first six workouts, which was a nice surprise. I appreciate that this workout hits the quads only indirectly, unlike Physique 57 or the Bar Method, both of which put bulk on the front of my thighs rather than slimming them down like Ballet Beautiful and Callanetics have done. I also like the fact that most of this workout takes place on the floor. Make no mistake-- this is difficult-- even Mary Helen's reps start to get a bit smaller and lower to the ground during the later stages of each exercise. Nonetheless, being on the floor helps me keep tension out of the non-working parts of my body: if I'm working my legs while standing, for instance, I sometimes tense my shoulders or neck as things get tougher. Floor work is great for keeping the upper body relaxed. Mary Helen is excellent about reminding you to extend fully during the exercises-- this is absolutely essential for quick results, so do take her repeated hints! Despite these positive attributes, there are some limitations to this video. First, I find the abdominal exercises impossible to do without low back pain. I have extremely strong abs from all the years of Pilates, and this is the first time I've encountered low back pain during abdominal work-- ordinarily engaging my lower abs is sufficient to prevent any strain on my back. There's something really awkward and painful about the positioning for the Ballet Beautiful abs, and unfortunately no modifications are offered. Frankly I'd worry that for someone who doesn't have fitness training, these exercises could cause injury, since it takes a bit of experience to know when you're feeling pain instead of just muscles working hard. Second, the stretching in this video is negligible. Even if you're already quite flexible, the stretching isn't sufficient to maintain (much less increase) flexibility. It gets annoying to have to pause a lot in order to stretch properly, and I missed the presence of a dedicated stretching segment in the video. Finally, if you're coming to this series of exercises from another type of exercise that relies on extremely precise form, you might find it difficult to get used to the lack of precise positioning advice from this video. Sometimes it's very hard to tell exactly how Mary Helen's leg is turned or angled, and she herself doesn't say. In spite of these limitations, however, this is an excellent workout that really gives results.

UPDATE 5/2/19: I am still using Ballet Beautiful three years later and love it just as much! I have had one more baby and used her workouts throughout the pregnancy as well. My weight is stable and I feel healthy and strong. After seven children, I am very pleased to look the way I do! 2016: Mary Helen Bowers' workouts are the best. I am a former recreational dancer and stopped dancing in college. I then went on to get married and have had six children in ten years. My youngest is eleven months old. I was stuck in a cardio exercise routine that was not really doing anything for me. I would jog for 30 minutes twice/week and ride my stationary bike for 30 minutes two or three times/week but the pounds were not coming off and I couldn't figure out why. I began using this DVD along with her Body blast series and within a few weeks there were definite changes in my body. It is now three months later and I have lost ten pounds and my body is more toned than it has ever been, even when I was dancing. I even had the courage to go back to a dance class last week and I did great! I now have four of her DVDs that I rotate through six days/week and I never get sick of them. Bowers' voice is very calm and soothing unlike the forceful boot-camp styles of other gurus. The music is classical piano and it never gets old to me. The contrast of doing extremely focused, difficult movements with my body with the calm voice and music leaves me feeling refreshed, not agitated and tired after a workout. I can't recommend these videos enough. You will not be sorry you purchased them.

It hardly needs to be (re)said but I thought I'd pitch in with the praise in case anyone's on the edge of buying this: I LOVE Ballet Beautiful and have all of Mary Helen Bower's dvds thus far. I've also pre-ordered the cardio one coming out in Sept. 2013. Mary Helen's entire philosophy is so ridiculously simple and yet she's virtually the only 'fitness guru' that I've seen/heard saying it so far: everything in moderation. Don't kill yourself, don't starve yourself, don't obsess, don't focus on the pain or punishment of workouts - just do what's good for your body and it will start to come naturally. As someone with a history of eating disorders (and knowing that Mary Helen trained Natalie Portman to look like an over-achieving maniac in Black Swan) I was nervous about taking on a ballerina's approach to diet and fitness: you look at Mary Helen's body and you're sure it's going to be regimentally strict like, hello iceburg lettuce and endless plies. So imagine my surprise when I got this dvd (and others) and saw that none of these 'workouts' are longer than 16 minutes! You can do anything for 16 minutes, right? The first couple weeks of trying the different segments had me rolling on the floor and wondering how anyone could withstand that kind of very targeted muscle-crampage but the key (as Mary Helen explains) is to modify and take breaks as needed so the exercises are bearable as you get strong enough to do them like she does. Don't try to keep up if you're dying - hit pause and stretch it out, then come back to it. You'll be amazed how quickly your body builds strength. Now, I've been doing BB for about 10 months and I can usually make it all the way through a workout at the same pace as Mary Helen: it's an awesome feeling of measurable progress! I aim to do 2 (or 3, if I have time) BB workout segments, 5 or 6 days a week. I try to alternate muscle groups - e.g. do the arm and bum workouts one day, followed by inner and outer thighs the next, followed by abs and standing series the next, etc. to give all my muscles a chance to recover and rebuild properly. It's weird but your body never seems to fully 'adapt' to these exercises: you will still be feeling the burn months after you start, mostly because you can always push a little higher/further and continue to improve the same muscle groups that way. At the same time, none of the exercises strike me as "Oh I could NEVER do that" and you will be able to do them all, though you might be taking a LOT of breaks initially because yeah, they really do kick your butt into ballerina shape. However, with the soft piano music and Mary Helen's positive, lovely instruction style, it's easy to remain calm, grounded, and respectful (rather than judgmental) of your body's current fitness levels. Eventually, the simple exercises are so easy to remember that you'll be able to just do them anywhere, anytime. I was travelling for two months and kept up my BB toning but just flopping down on the carpet with my iPod a few times a week to sneak some exercises in - so easy and it worked great! Tips/side notes: I find it really nice to think of my Ballet Beautiful time as if it were meditation or a nice cup of tea: it's a treat for your body, not a punishment! I like to slip into some tights and some cheap ballet slippers I bought to feel more 'in the zone' too. Also, do not be discouraged if you initially find you're not losing any weight or, if you're relatively slim, you even GAIN some weight with this DVD: it's because lean muscle weighs so much more than fat and before it helps you burn some fat off, it has to build up a bit; when I started I gained 4 or 5 pounds before I lost any pounds/inches but it all sorted itself out soon. At this point, I want to be thorough because I really appreciate when people leave detailed reviews about products' performance, but I can't accurately review this product without sounding like a jerk/narcissist so here goes: I will honestly catch sight of myself in the mirror sometimes and think, 'WHOA is that MY butt/legs/arms??' lol People I haven't spoken to in years comment on my facebook photos wondering what the heck I am doing to look like this and all the compliments have been a wonderful incentive to continue. I'm slimmer than I've been in a long time, but I don't have the gaunt/deprived/skinny look that takes over when you're pushing yourself way too hard. Instead I feel like I walk around with this glowing strength and vitality - an amazing contrast to the "man, I'm so hungry and tired" feeling that a lot of diets or workout routines instilled in me. You really only have to look at Mary Helen to see the ultimate results this workout gives: yes, she has a leg-up (ha! ballet pun) in the form of years and years of training, but once you do the workouts you can tell that these really are the exercises she is using to maintain that fantastic physique. In conclusion, this DVD is for you if any of the following apply: a) the pretty, feminine, graceful aspects of ballet workouts appeal to you; b) you are looking for a sustainable, doable fitness plan and not a quick, drastic change in appearance or weight (you will change both but it definitely takes months, not weeks, with these exercises); c) you're willing to commit 20-30 minutes most days of the week, and keep a reasonably healthy diet (no restrictions: focus on what you should have rather than what you shouldn't, and treat yourself to small portions of your naughty favourites). That's it! Realistically, I'd say this DVD may NOT be for you if: a) you like a really high-energy cardio-based workout (maybe the Sept cardio dvd will address this need though?); b) you think you'd like to lose a lot of weight relatively quickly (however, keep in mind this really isn't a great idea for so many reasons...); c) you're looking for actual dance/ballet class workouts - this is ballet-based exercise, not actual dance class format. Hope this helps someone make an informed decision and apologies for the length of the post - it's hard not to gush about this awesome workout style once you've tried it and seen the results!

What a great workout, at last, I've found a fitness DVD that get's results. I'm a petite build but disappointingly I build up bulk quickly and have found that great cardio workout DVD's like Jillian Michaels, Tae bo, Davina, Bob harper etc just don't work for me. If your looking for a ballet cardio type workout DVD, this won't be for you. Ballet Beautiful is a ballet inspired toning mat workout DVD split in to 6 chapters targetting each problem area, each chapter is 10 to 15 mins in length. The exercises are simple, repetitive (which some people may find boring or tedious) and really challenging. The microtargeted exercises exhaust the muscle and then you really feel the burn and OMG do you feel the burn. Tracey Anderson mat workout DVD never gave me the burn like this DVD does. Unbelievable considering the exercises are so simple in nature. What surprised me the most, was how quickly results came, my body shape is starting to change and becoming leaner and stronger after just a few weeks of doing this Dvd 3/4 times a week. I can't recommend this DVD highly enough, especially if you build up bulk quickly. Gone have the days where I sweat my butt off, Now I burn my butt off instead and I'm getting results for the first time. This is a definite keeper, that I enjoy doing over and over again.

Súper recomendable, tengo todos sus videos y créanme, te hace trabajar todos los músculos, es muy completa la rutina, en verdad muy satisfecha.

少々きつめのメニューですが、全身をまんべんなく使うので、バランス良く鍛えらると思います。 体幹がしっかりしてきたのか、ターンがしやすくなりました。 これからも続けようと思っています。

ich hatte mich sehr auf diese DVD gefreut. Als ich sie einlegte hiesses "Falscher Ländercode" Nicht abspielbar. Ich habe gegooglet und herausgefunden dass USA Ländercode 1 ist der auf dem DVD Player eingegeben werden muss. Nur geht das bei meinem GL leider nicht. Man sollte so etwas nicht verkaufen!!