Designer Sculpting provides an excellent full body workout designed to tone your muscles rather than build them up. Instructor Burr Leonard works with 3 other certified Bar Method instructors, one of whom shows modifications of all exercies.
A simple 5-minute warmup begins the workout. Next comes the upper body section (8 minutes), which uses light dumbbells. You will do several different moves to target biceps, shoulders, and triceps. [For those who are familiar with the Lotte Berk Muscle Eats Fat video, you will notice that the uppper body portion of this workout is almost exactly the same, as the Bar Method derives from Lotte Berk.] Barre work comes next (two of the instructors use a chair). You will begin in a wide stance and perform several sets of plies; the exercises are then repeated with your legs shoulder-width apart and feet together, on your toes. Again, this section is very similar to Lotte Berk, but you will perform a wider variety of exercises with more repetitions.

Following the standing leg work, it\'s on to the floor for a tough move known as \"the pretzel.\" With one leg bent in front of you, the other behind, you will raise your leg and make small movements to really target your hips and buttocks areas (similar to Callanetics)--I really felt this the next day! This section is also about 5 minutes long. Ab work comes next: in this 5-minute section, you will perform small movements while keeping your abs scooped with your navel pressed toward the floor. You will then move on to bridge pose to work both your abs and you butt; this section is an additional 5 minutes as you perform bridge with several different foot positions. The workout ends with a 5-minute stretch to release your muscles.

I liked that this workout challenged me without leaving me feel exhausted. I also enjoyed being able to target both my arms and my legs without having to use heavy weights. This is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a different type of full-body workout.

Instructor Comments:
I liked Burr; she\'s very low-key, down-to-earth, and provides good instruction.

Beth C (aka toaster)