Title: Physique 57: Express 30 Minute Full Body Workout
Instructor: Tanya Becker
Time: 30 Minutes
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate/High Intermediate
DVD menu: Play workout
Production quality: high
Equipment used: playground ball, barre or chair

This workout is part of the first 3-DVD trio of Physique 57 (P57) workout DVDs. The workout has already been broken down so I will just give my impressions.

Like Fuzzie said, this is a really high energy, fun workout! It is definitely one of the more energetic workouts in the barre genre (I have and use a lot of barre workouts including Ballet Body, Ballet Physique, Pure Barre, etc.) The exercises are synched very closely to the music, which is very fun and up-beat. The DVDs aren’t especially cheap, but I think they are well worth the money.

I really like this workout when I’m short on time. I feel like I get a good intense barre workout that hits the legs and glutes especially well, with a touch of upper body (pushups and tricep dips – no weighted work in this DVD) and abs (primarily c-curve style). When I really put my energy into it, I can get some great leg shaking going on. I found the leg work to be the most intense, although the other work was fairly challenging as well.

In comparison to other barre workouts, P57 really stands out with the awesome music. There is also just so much energy – a lot of barre workouts are quiet and relaxed, finding strength in being mostly still and stable and pumping out tiny pulses. This workout incorporates somewhat larger movements (but still plenty of pulses, which I love) so by the end my heart rate is adequately high when it may not be with some other lower energy (but still very effective) barre workouts. Like with any barre workouts, the workout can easily be made harder (or easier) with how deep you go into each movement, how high you hold your leg, etc. I find that I get a really good challenge with this and would consider it in the intermediate/high intermediate range. I definitely feel like the energy stays high and you will feel worked out for an express workout. I would recommend P57 to any barre enthusiast, or someone interested in barre but who thinks most barre workouts look too boring.

Instructor Comments:
Tanya (and in some other P57 workouts, Shelly) do focus a bit on the aesthetic (cellulite, fitting into your skinny jeans, etc.) rather than just a healthy aspect, but I don’t find it distracting or annoying. Tanya gives good form pointers, and reminds you to follow the easier or more advanced modifier. Her enthusiasm is a good fit for this fun, up-beat workout.

Emily B.