Essentrics Strength & Stretch in Motion

Sahra Esmonde-White
Year Released: 2012

Categories: Athletic Stretch , Ballet/Barre


I've only done the stretch dvd so far(just got this today!) I loved the stretch dvd. I started with the first workout-hips and hamstrings- and it's just Sahra by herself. After the warmup she uses a chair for balance and works the legs. Beth has already given the details(which is good since I don't remember all the stretches!)so I'll just add that I felt very stretched afterwards! She does little different moves like adding arms or turning the leg one way or the other to make the same stretch feel a bit different. The chair is also used to support the foot/leg for some of the strtches as well as for a back stratch near the end. At the end she has you fold down like a rag doll and touch the floor - I was surprised I could do this no problem! I usually struggle to reach the floor in yoga and usually can't! I felt so good after this stretch that I decided to go ahead and try the 2nd one that was for shoulders and hamstrings- and I think back - in this one it's standing and on the floor (no chair) and she has 2 others with her - Jean Luc and Shanna I think. There were more arm and shoulder movements in this one then she did some nice calf/quad standing exercises then we went to the floor where I struggled to do the stretches on my back - I think she says in one that some people have more bulk in their thighs! these felt nice in spite of my struggle then we went to seated stretches and I loved these. She talks about sitting on a prop if we needed and I'm glad she did because turns out I needed it for the back exercises! She did legs straight in front with feel pointed and flexed for a few rounds or forward bends with arm movements. This felt nice.

I'm curious about the strength dvd now and will probably do it soon. I was tired after work and hoped by doing the stretch dvd it would be less challenging and more relaxing than the strength workouts. For a minute I thought the first routine was strength with the going up on the toes stuff but it felt nice and didn't go on long enough to have me in agony!

Instructor Comments:
I didn't think I would like Sahra since I like Miranda but I was surprised. I found her to be graceful yet down to earth. She made mistakes but corrected herself and I just couldn't help but like her. She talks throughout the routine and gives pointers and says what we're stretching and shows the incorrect way to do stuff so we don't do it wrong. Very pleasant voice and easy to understand.

Susanna

08/06/2012