Body Bar Express: Basic Training

Sherry Catlin
Year Released: 1999

Categories: Body Bar , Total Body Workouts


With strength work, I am an intermediate exerciser, who doesn’t really want to move up to advanced work. I have really enjoyed getting into workouts on the ball as an alternative to traditional strength training and Pilates. Recently, I have also been getting into shorter full-body workouts so I can get my strength work in. I’m more into cardio, so I try to use videos and instructors that don’t discourage me from doing weighted strength workouts.

I received this video in a trade and wasn’t really expecting a lot. It was the first Sherry Catlin workout I have tried and the first body bar workout. But, I figured it was worth checking out and I am SO glad I did. Overall, it’s a good full-body strength workout in 30 minutes – although I have some reservations about it. But, I would recommend it to people looking for short strength workouts.

There was no discussion that I saw on what weight to use. And, there is little to no time between exercises to switch weights. I stopped it a couple of times to do that and grab dumbbells. Most of the time, I used my 12-pound bar, but upped the weight on the back and chest exercises. She gives LOTS of form pointers and descriptions of the moves and what it should feel like.

In this workout, she has lots of moves for the shoulders, back and triceps. The lower body is a little on the short side, although she does include squats – and they burn! For chest, she just did push ups and I substituted chest presses (due to hand and wrist issues). She ends with a short abs section.

I felt very worked out at the end of it and was surprised at how much she packed into 30 minutes. I also liked all the form pointers. It is a pain when an instructor assumes you will use the same weight through an entire workout, but I figure that’s what the Stop button on my remote is for.

Instructor Comments:
She is very descriptive of the moves and gives lots of form pointers. She also motivated me to stay with her. I liked her straightforward approach.

Laura S.

05/02/2005