Cardio Pump Fusion

Brook Benten
Year Released: 2009

Categories: Boxing/Kickboxing/Martial Arts , Circuit Training (cardio and weights) , Kettlebell, Lower Body Strength , Yoga


This is a 66 minute yoga/cardio/kettlebell workout led by Brook Benton. The workout has already been broken down so I’ll just add my impressions of the workout.

I really, really enjoyed the fun music (a fun tribal feeling mix for most of the workout) and that helped me to push myself through the tough, long workout. The 10 minute warm up was all yoga-inspired, and the choice of moves really did get me warmed up. The 20+ minute cardio was fun and easy to follow, broken down between four combos (athletic drills, sports drills, boot camp, and kickboxing cardio) then those combos were shortened and repeated twice through at the very end. The following 10 minutes (first kettlebell set) seemed to be a relentlessly long set of swings with other moves mixed into the swings-seriously kept my heart rate up and I had to take a break or two. The girls used 15# but I had to go down to 10# after all the cardio that preceded it! The second 10+ minute kettlebell set was more choreographed and used a lighter bell (they used 10# but again, I was wiped and had to go down to using my purple 5# Firm bell…one which I rarely ever use!) and had many interesting moves strung together. Brook suggested you preview this chapter a few times before attempting, but if you’re familiar with kettlebells (and use an appropriately LIGHT bell) I don’t think it’s a problem. The final 10 minute stretch was again yoga inspired and the poses were held nice and long to really feel a good stretch, and included some of my favorites like triangle and pigeon pose.

The DVD menu allows you to choose each chapter or “play all” and it would have been nice to be able to select workouts in any order, but as long as there’s a play all option, I’m happy. This was a long workout at 66 minutes – in the new trend of short workouts these days (less than 45 minutes) I rarely do such a long workout, but it really did feel like time well spent and the time really went by fast! Brook was fun and clearly enjoying herself, and again I found the music motivating. I think the music is what sets this apart from other like workouts (although it’s a pretty unique workout). I REALLY liked the cardio chapter, super fun and challenging and easy to follow the beginner or advanced modifier depending on how you’re feeling that day, and see myself picking this DVD up frequently just for that. The kettlebell chapters were super tough (especially after the cardio but I think they’re tough anyway) and would probably make a fine work out on their own. I got this DVD fairly cheap on Amazon and it was money well spent. I would rate this high intermediate following Brook, but can be made advanced by following her advanced modifier, as I did (lots of plyometric work in the cardio). Overall grade A!

Instructor Comments:
This is my second experience with Brook (I also have her Kettlebody set and have done the cardio workout from that set, so far) and she is MUCH friendlier in this one. In Kettlebody she made some surprising remarks such as referring to lard like ‘lets get that lard off your body’ and that sort of thing, to the point it made her sound sort of critical. But in this one she’s just having fun with her girls and remarks which exercises are their favorites, and just seems really fun to be around. I enjoyed working out with her better with this more laidback demeanor.

Emily B.

07/22/2012