Fat Burning Fusion

Ellen Barrett
Year Released: 2008

Categories: Ballet/Barre, Pilates/Core Strength


This is the type of workout that you have to get good at in order for it to be more challenging than, say, a Beg/Int. level. I say this because when I’ve done this workout sporadically, I tend to think of it as a workout to do on a “light” day. Now that I am currently doing lots of Ellen Barrett workouts, they have become a lot more challenging. So, I would say that you can either use this dvd as a “light” cardio and lower body day (really, it’s most AWT with the W being lower body) or you can really invest in the whole Ellen-Barrett-approach and make this a good workout even on an Int./Adv. level. Also, when I say that this type of workout takes practice to get good at, I think it means, at least in my experience, being practiced at Ellen Barrett or fusion workouts and not just mind-body workouts in general (although that helps). I think a lot of people like to use this dvd for a low-intensity cardio day, which is nice too. If you are not in great lower-body shape, this workout might give you DOMS in the quads and inner thighs. It is all standing (unlike some of Ellen’s other dvds), so if you’re looking for a good Ellen style workout for cardio, this is probably the best bet.

What I liked about this workout: no lunges (yay!!!) – also very, very few squats (and none done in the traditional style of squat). So, this workout is kind of unique in that it gives you a lower body workout that has a cardio effect, but that is not chalk full of lunges and squats. What does it have instead? Lots of plies in second position, lots of stepping to the side in second position plie and closing in first position, lots of tondues and degages (pointing to the side, small leg lifts to the back, etc.), and lots of spinal twisting and stretching. (Others have posted better breakdowns than I am capable of giving.) The other thing I like about this dvd (when I compare it to other Ellen Barret dvds) is that it seems less repetitious. Yes, you do a lot of the same signature Ellen moves here too. But, with a lot of Ellen’s other dvds, I think she makes it a lot more obvious that you’re doing a long combination of moves to one side and then are going to do the same long combo to the other side. While this workout is technically structured this way too, it doesn’t seem as obvious to me when I’m doing it – it just flows more. Also, Ellen’s Studio series has been compared to her Crunch series in such a way that this dvd is supposedly comparable to Crunch: Fat Burning Pilates. While both dvds have standing lower body, low-impact cardio, I find them to be quite different because they serve different purposes in my rotation. Crunch: Fat Burning Pilates only has about 20min of standing work, and the rest is on the mat and is traditional pilates mat work (and the 20min is just a tad too repetitive for me to want to do twice). Fat Burning Fusion, however, is a full 45min of standing work, so it has almost twice as much standing lower body cardio – which makes a difference in terms of how I feel after doing this dvd vs. the other. Of course, I don’t find the standing ab work in this dvd (Fat Burning Fusion) to be as tough as regular pilates mat work, but I don’t mind that, and I do feel it in my core when I do this dvd – especially in my waist.

What I didn’t like about this dvd: I like the idea that she wants to give you a little bit of everything and so includes some weightless arm work. But, I thought it was very weak and kind of disjointed. I may be spoiled by Tracy Anderson’s weightless arm work, but since Ellen is kind of going for the same thing, I can’t help but compare the two. I just don’t feel Ellen’s (other than maybe one exercise, and that one only slightly). The other thing I sometimes don’t like about this workout is that there is one series of torso circles that lasts a good while – or too long for me to keep the morning head-rush a bay. When I do the workout later in the day, I don’t get as dizzy, though, so it’s not really a big deal.

All in all, if you like Ellen, you’ll like this workout – some VFers have even posted that it’s Ellen at her best. If you have never liked Ellen you may or may not like this workout. If you liked the idea behind her workouts and have liked a lot of the moves, but have just not “clicked” with the overall workouts (perhaps because of the Crunch or Magazine vibes), you might really like this one. If you don’t like fusion workouts, you might like this for a cardio – but probably not if you’re above an intermediate level in cardio. If you like workouts where you can just tune out and go through the motions, I really don’t think Ellen’s workouts (including this one) would be a great genre to pursue because you would kind of be missing the point.

Instructor Comments:
Ellen is the same here as always. She's very positive and upbeat though also somewhat soothing. I think she cues quite well.

alikruegs

03/17/2009