This is a review for Spartacus Workout 20 Minute Body Torchers, Sweat Storm (20:36).

Setting, Music, and Background Exercisers: The setting reminds me of a loft. There are brick walls, a large window in the back, and a large black mat on the floor. In the main menu you have the option to play the workout with or without music. The music is nothing spectacular and is instrumental. It really didn't stand out for me which means it was neither great nor really bad. David Jack leads for background exercisers (2 men, 2 women) through the workout. Everyone is wearing athletic clothing and no one is mugging for the camera or acting in an obnoxious fashion.

Equipment: You'll need at least one set of dumbbells, preferably 2-3 sets as you'll need more weight if you want to progress the workout. Have a towel and water nearby.

Main Workout

There is no warm up or cool down in this workout. The workout consists of 3 exercises done for 5 rounds, with the first round acting as a warm up, and the subsequent rounds getting progressed to make them more intense. The work to rest ratio for each exercise is 45 seconds work/15 seconds rest or transition. After each round you get a minute rest/break. After the 5 rounds there is a 90 second cardio finisher.

Exercises: alternating rotation lunge with high pull, reverse lunge with shoulder press, renegade row with squat thrust.

Cardio Finisher: forward and back fast feet, jumping jacks, ski hops, high knee jog, knee thrusts, punches.

Overall Impressions: The workouts on the 20 Minute Body Torchers DVD are all metabolic conditioning workouts. I found this workout to be a nice mix of strength moves with a strong cardio component. If you don't have a lot of time to do a workout and want to feel accomplished in a short amount of time, this workout fits the bill. I'd say this workout is at a high intermediate level. It can be made easier by keeping to the earlier progressions, using lighter weights, and moving at a slower speed. Advanced exercisers can increase the weight and may wish to add a plyo element to some of the moves.

Instructor Comments:
David Jack is not doing the workout with you and is instead acting as a coach and motivator to the home viewer. He comes off as professional and warm. There's not a lot of talk focused on body image which I like. Instead, David's talk focuses on showing the progressions/regressions, coaching the backgrounders, and offering encouragement and motivation. I enjoy him and the workouts he leads quite a bit.

Sabine Reuter