Sleek Sculpt Express

Ellen Barrett
Year Released: 2013

Categories: Total Body Workouts


Full disclosure: I received a free review copy of this workout.

OK. A little about me, so you can know where I'm coming from. I'm a 49-year-old woman with bad knees and hands and wrists (arthritis). So, I enjoy workouts that are low impact that the do not require you to support body weight on the hands and wrists. I have tried most of Ellen's DVDs and have kept some of them. My favorites are Fat Burning Fusion, Skinny Sculpt, Barefoot Cardio, Self Bikini Ready Fast (despite a vow to not keep "bikini workouts" around), and her Crunch workouts. Even though I like them, I rarely do them. The ones I do the most are probably the Crunch workouts and the Self workout. That's probably because I like my fusion workouts once in awhile, but I don't make a steady diet out of them. I wasn't sure I should get this one because I really didn't like her last two, Grace & Gusto and Power Fusion.

But, I was intrigued by the 30-minute length because my theory was that I might to shorter workouts by Ellen more often. Plus, it is a standing workout, which I vastly prefer over floor work. Surprise, surprise, I really like this workout. I have gotten totally involved in it and haven't even noticed time passing. Basically, she goes through moves on one side of the body and then repeats them on the other side. I knew it was coming after having read information on this workout and when she went to repeat the moves, I was still totally into the workout. When she started cooling down, I was surprised. Basically, there is a short warm up and then Ellen leads various moves on one side and then she moves to the other side and repeats those moves. The chapters on this DVD include:

Shoulder Rolls Side 1
Wide Stance Side 1
Big & Bold Side 1
Shoulder Rolls Side 2
Wide Stance Side 2
Big & Bold Side 2
Cool Down


There are two background exercises and I like that better than the last couple of workouts in which she had 4 people behind her. The set just felt a lot less crowded and open. One of those background exercisers shows modifications. I must have been really spoiled by the good modifiers out there like Lauren from Kelly Coffeey Meyer's workouts because I just wasn't very impressed by the modifier in this workout. She didn't hold weights - that was the bulk of her modifications. And then, once in awhile, she would do a slightly easier version of a move. That was it for the modifications. Throughout the workout, Ellen suggests some different modifications that you can do and that is a good thing.

I will keep this workout and maybe I'll get rid of some of the other workouts I have of Ellen's. I can see fitting in this DVD more often than some of the other workouts I have by her. It's a well designed and well executed workout and time really flies for me during it.

Instructor Comments:
She shines in this workout. She is supportive and informative and cues well.

Laura S.

03/04/2013