I'm writing this after my first try with Tracie Long Training (TLT) Better Burn, Better Buns, a "functional fitness" cardio-based workout. I loved it! It is challenging but fun. I don't think this DVD will ever bore me. No dumbbells are involved, it uses a medicine ball and rags for some series of sliding the foot on the floor. (Note: Rags if you have a hard floor to create a sliding motion that stimulates the leg muscles' downward pressing movement; paper plates can be substituted on carpet.) As with all the TLTs, you can do it in a relatively small workout space and no step is required, either. You will need a mat.

BBBB is primarily cardio and you can modify to low impact/light weight or take the moves up to plyos, as desired. A modifier for both lower and higher intensity work with Tracie. BBBB hits the core from every angle imaginable! There is some floor work for the hamstrings at the end where you go into a pelvic tilt or even bridge if you are stronger and slide the foot out using a rag (or paper plate) and drag it in. This fired my hamstrings better than any deadlift, without hurting my back.

Some of the fun moves include bootcamp style agility drills, twists and lunges with the med ball, pendulum legs with arm sweeps. As promised by the name, Better Burn, Better Buns indeed causes a cardio burn and lots of gluteal work through not only balancing, but strength. I think a good yoga background makes this video much more enjoyable and doable. And conversely, I think this video will make my yoga practice much more doable and enjoyable!

Toward the end I was thinking, "this calls for a nice hip opening yoga practice," but Tracie finishes the workout with a nicely choreographed yoga flow to stretch and open the hips including crescent lunges, down dog into scissor dog with a rotation (WOW), spine twist and reverse spine twist (or "de-rotate the spine" as she calls it), and double pigeon with chest expansion and posture work.

Other core moves include planks while placing the hands in front of and behind a golf club (or dowel or - as I used, a Mr. Clean Magic Reach), a finish off with pressing the med ball up toward elevated feet and then passing it between scissoring legs, and using the golf club (or stick or cleaning implement of choice) to pass under and over the feet. I couldn't do this yet but will keep trying.

I was so taxed after doing this workout, that I fell asleep in the bathtub afterward! These TLTs are fresh and fun, they challenge my brain as well as body and I hope Tracie and crew are planning more.

Instructor Comments:
Excellent cueing, innovative ideas, beautiful set. The TLTs are my first experience with anything related to The Firm family and its various spin-offs. I found Tracie and her helpers professional and enjoyable to work out with.

Pat58