Gorgeous Core

Suzanne Bowen
Year Released: 2010

Categories: Abs/Core


There are six segments on this DVD. The cover of the DVD gives a pretty good description of each of them.

There are three workouts that focus on abs:
o Lean, Long, & Strong (12 min) – lots of isometric, pilates inspired moves. This one was the easiest one for me, and I would be likely to use it as an add-on.
o Classic Abwork (12 min) – more traditional ab work, including crunches with different arm movements, bicycles, and v-sits.
o Absolute Challenge (7 minutes) – the most advanced ab routine.

Sleek Physique (12 minutes) is all plank variations and I LOVED this segment. It is my favorite. I did have some DOMS in my hips and shoulders the next day. It is also pretty challenging and she does provide the modification of keeping your knees down if it is too difficult. Planks include:
o Full plank variations: full plank, lifting knee to chest, lifting knee across chest to opposite elbow
o Forearm plank variations: Forearm planks, single leg forearm plank pulsing leg back, raising body up and down, moving body forward and back.
o T-stand side plank on each side
o Side plank variations with forearm down: reaching arms up over and then under, hip pulses
o Reverse plank with hip pulses and then holding

Total Core Fast Blast is only 5 minutes. I think it would be more appropriate as an add-on, then a workout on it’s own. It includes chair pose variations, full plank lifting one hand, crunches, and single leg bridge variations.

Metabolism Bootcamp (12 minutes) – This is the only segment I have not completed yet. This is a mostly standing segment that includes:
o Wide leg squat variations including some jumps
o Leaps from one leg to another, side to side
o Leg lift forward alternating with back dynamic lunges
o V plie with heels lifted
o Side lunge variations
o Forward lunges with arm movements
o Balancing with back leg lifted
She closes with mountain climbers and pushup variations. Some people with sensitive knees (like me), might have to do some modifications as she moves very quickly with some of the moves. I like to use more controlled movement to protect my knees, but think it would be easy to modify.

The routines include some brief stretches but they seem like afterthoughts. This would be my only real complaint. Overall I really liked this DVD – for me it was worth the purchase for the planks alone. But there are also some very good ab segments and I think many people would like Metabolism Bootcamp as well. I think there is plenty here for every fitness level.

kitty12

09/06/2010