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Element: Ballet Conditioningx$7.18
  (91 reviews)
Best Price: $7.18
Ballet Dancers always have slender bodies that are both strong and lean with lovely proportion and gorgeous body lines. One of the greatest secrets to a dancer's body is ballet conditioning which focuses on all muscle groups. In this unique program your muscles will work smoothly in unison to create a long streamlined silhouette with flat abs a lean lower body and beautifully defined curves. Moving gracefully and fluidly through this series of exercises you will strengthen and stretch your way to a dancers body. Elise Gulan has over 18 years in dance education including Ballet Pointe Tap and Jazz. She was a principal soloist for the Virginia Ballet Company where she danced for seven years appearing in productions such as Copelia Swan Lake and Nutcracker Suite. She brought her love of expression through movement to her new career as a certified personal trainer and instructor of Yoga Core Fusion® and Core Energy Flow®. Elise enjoys helping her students to find their inner strength and to energize their joy of life through physical and mental fitness. Element is proud to support the Arbor Day Foundation. For every four ElementDVDs purchased a tree will be planted (up to 20000 trees annually). In addition to generating oxygen trees provide air pollution control and decrease atmospheric carbon dioxide levels thereby reducing global warming. www.arborday.org. The instructor, Elise, was kind enough to answer some questions from Amazon.com about the Element line of DVDs. Why do you think the recent trend for women is to seek the dancer’s silhouette? Elise: A dancer’s silhouette is the ideal physique for a woman today. It provides strength through lean, elegant, streamlined muscles. The strengthening of the dance conditioning movements will help melt away fat while creating lean musculature that is still feminine and graceful. The stretching element of dance creates length, not only in the muscles, but in the spine as well. Training with ballet conditioning will give a woman a strong, tall slender body. How did you manage to create a ballet conditioning program that doesn’t use a barre or any other equipment? Elise: I created a workout that uses the strength of the core to create balance and stability in the body. The sequences on this dvd are both accessible and challenging for anyone! Many ballet conditioning exercises actually don’t use the barre as a weight-bearing tool—it’s only for balance. In this DVD a beginner can use a chair to aid in balance, as they build core strength. A more advanced practitioner can do much of the series without the aid of a chair, simply by bracing the body with the strength of the abdominals, and a lifted, elongated spine. Who is this workout good for? Elise: This workout is amazing for women and men of all shapes and sizes! Ballet Conditioning uses one’s own body weight as resistance, so it is safe to do every day, for women AND men… from the strongest athlete, to the ultimate newcomer to fitness. It works to build strong, lean muscle, raise the heart-rate, and speed up metabolism. Dance also helps create rhythm, grace, and balance while building a supple flexible spine. . What do you think consumers will find different about Element DVDs from other workout programs? Elise: I know that consumers will enjoy the pure elegance of these DVDs. This is what truly sets the ‘element’ series apart from other brands of DVDs. The Element DVD’s encourage a solid mind/body connection, which encourages practitioners to explore their physical edge, while being truly mentally & emotionally present in the moment. These programs are fluid and graceful in their movement, and provide a HUGE physical fitness element in a nurturing and encouraging environment. . Tell us about the connection with this DVD and the efforts to reduce global warming. Elise: Element DVDs support the harmony of mind and body, which encourages a social and global awareness. This harmony encourages us to do what we can to make a difference in the world. For every four Element DVDs sold, a tree will be planted in a national forest. Consumers are therefore doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint, and the dangerous effects of global warming. If we work together, we can spread health and happiness one deep breath at a time.
MPN: ANBD15351D - UPC: 013131535198
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Customer Reviews
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Finally Something Different
By A3C7FQEXA4HAGL on 2007-12-05
For someone that has tried just about every home workout genre out there. This DVD finally offers something that is refreshingly new to my living room! This workout is ideal for those who have danced for years and people that have never even tried on a pair of ballet slippers. The DVD is simple to pick up, and challanging to get through. The filming is elegant and the instruction is far from the cheesy power workout "motivation" that irritate me so much. After you've completed this workout, you feel like you've, not only toned up, but also learned a few things! For someone that has grown tired of the home workout video, this couldn't have come at a better time!
Fantastic :->
By A24ZFFRQ4MG3XL on 2008-01-22
I have to start out by saying that I'm not normally a ballet fan or have done ballet since I was 4 or 5, but I wanted to try this to mix up my current routine and use different muscles for some cross training. I am really happy with how great this workout is.
It's an intense lower body workout with ballet inspired moves. Because you work deep into muscles, it's designed to help you get that long lean body look that ballet dancers have. Elise is a good instructor with great cuing so you know what to do next at all times. I love the outdoor setting (instead of the inside of a studio for a change); it's great to do a workout that has been done outside to make you feel like it's Summer all year round and motivate you that little bit more.
I never thought this would be a workout that would be for me, but it's very enjoyable and fun and you feel the next day all those muscles you've used and I can't wait to see the results from this. I love it.
Solid workout with a relaxing effect
By A3DXNZMKVXKUHK on 2007-12-23
I didn't really know what to expect when I tried this dvd. I am an intermediate/advanced level, but I knew that it would be challenging, as I have never tried ballet before. Even so, this was a very pleasant, yet rigorous workout. I definitly feel like I worked out and I also broke a sweat. I know that this workout will contribute to toning and slimming my legs, which is an area I personally would like to improve, as well as the rest of my body. The ab section incorporates many pilates type exercises to tone and tighten the midsection. Even though I regularily do pilates, I really felt my abs more than I expected. The setting was beautiful and the instruction was very pleasant and relaxing without causing you to lose focus to exert yourself. I enjoyed this workout, thought it was effective and enjoyable. Anyone who is involved in dance or who wants to maintain or obtain a long lean physique will enjoy this workout.
Excellent!
By A1WL5D2DAKKM6Y on 2008-01-26
After going through this video, it is exactly what I have been looking for (and the price was so good! At $8 it is a bargain, the video and sound quality is much, much more than a $8 workout dvd to me). I wanted something challenging that would be a good filler for days when I can't get to the gym. It's going to become much more than that because it is that good.
Likes:
>The scenery is wonderful as other reviewers have said.
>The use of a chair and not a barre - when she switches to the other side to work the other leg, she physically moves the chair to the other side. In other ballet videos where they've used a barre, usually I have to pause the tape because I can't quite get my chair moved around fast enough to start working the other side (they just turn around and start doing the exercises; if I turn around I'm no longer facing the TV :-)).
>The fact that the voice cueing is done as a voice over, instead of by the person doing the exercises, this makes it VERY easy to follow
>Recognition all along the way that not everyone is as flexible - and continuous encouragement that with time flexibility will come
Overall, it is an excellent dvd and I'm glad I bought it.
Ballerina amatuer
By AESIT1PFOLJ1U on 2007-12-22
My legs were SHAKING after completing this workout and I've been doing the NYC Ballet workouts 1 and 2 for over a year plus 2 ballet classes once a week and an hour of cardio on the treadmill 5 days a week. This is a great workout and she makes you feel like a beautiful ballet dancer no matter your skill level. I can't wait to keep doing this workout-- I want to see what I look like in a month!!
Tip--- the only chair I had on hand wasn't tall enough or sturdy enough for this workout. I recommend a tall chair that doesn't fold!
- beautiful!
By A1DJ1ZFKUQIVCE on 2007-12-04
this workout makes you feel like a 6ft tall ballerina. it's so good i finally got up off my butt to write a review (my first on amazon). great combination of ballet and exercise, and her voice & instruction make you feel like a dancer!
- A Waste of Money
By A11B019UGKONH5 on 2008-06-30
This is not a conditioning class; it's simply a beginning ballet class taught by a very average ballet dancer. I wouldn't even recommend it to a beginner ballet student because you're liable to pick up some bad habits like sticking out your thumbs, and not working through your feet, both of which the teacher does routinely. And she doesn't have any business talking about how to develop the long, lean look of a dancer -- which she does ad nauseum -- since that's not the type of body she has. She has a nice figure, but it's definitely not a ballet dancer's body. If she has primarily been using dance as her means of exercise (as she implies) then she's been using her quadriceps to lift her legs into developpe, which is a definite no-no. If she comes out with an actual conditioning DVD, that might be good, but this one has no redeeming value to me.
- Element: Ballet Conditioning
By A1KND4G12GCD5P on 2008-03-05
I absolutely love this video! I've never practiced ballet, so I was a little intimidated at first. Rather than being a how-to on ballet, it was a more ballet inspired workout. I am terribly out of shape, and this video left me with sore muscles for three days. In a good way. I can already see more definition, after one workout. I certainly found that to be worthwhile.
- Great workout!
By APN50X0NE61BD on 2008-05-27
I'm 6 months post delivery of our 2nd baby and starting excersize to get back in shape. This video is perfect to get started again! As some other reviewers have mentioned, it may look like you're just gracefully dancing or messing around, yet much more than that is going on. I noticed another reviewer wrote that if you don't have much flexibility this video is very bad for you. I can't disagree more. She mentions in the video, several times, that do what feels challenging to you! You are not going to be able to move as advanced as she does for a while. That's the beauty of this video. You can see how everytime you do the workout, you'll get that much more out of it. Just do the workout so that you can feel the muscles work. The flexibility will come with time. I'm sure before I know it, I'll be able to lift my leg much higher than 1/3 of the way up (although sometimes is just 1/4 of the way)! My 3 1/2 yr old daughter starts off working out with me, and gets tired after about 10 min, so she just encourages me while I work. Its great!
- Good Workout...Boring Music
By A3HWWGXI8O3D2R on 2008-03-04
This ballet workout is very good. I have the NYC Ballet Workout as well and I enjoy it more for the music. So if you are someone who needs good music for motivation then this DVD may not be for you. I personally can't work out on elevator music. But because the workout itself is good I turned off the sound and played my own music. I really enjoyed it then...
- Solid Ballet Barre Workout
By A2EMUN3B8V89IV on 2007-12-29
Elise did a wonderful voice over cuing in this workout. This is a wonderful ballet barre workout that truly utilizes a barre. Its about time that an affordable true ballet barre workout came out that actually uses a barre to its fullest potential. I have a ballet barre and was pleasantly surprised that throughout the workout it was used. I can't say that about all ballet workouts. Anyway this is an invigorating ballet workout which will have you sweating by the end. Elise works one side first then works the other side. All exercises start slowly then progress to a faster speed. Very thorough workout at the end you will focus on abs which is pilates inspired. Elise is a pleasant instructor with beautiful form. The scenery is breathtaking which is an added plus. The music was good although true ballet purist will insist on classical music which this workout had not. The price was such a deal. I say this because most ballet and callanetic type workouts start at $30. This was an affordable, well produced, with added gorgeous scenery workout that is a true keeper. If you love ballet barre workouts don't skip this workout.
- flexibility and modifiers a must
By A9TOT340DT04J on 2008-03-02
The locale, music and informative instructor were a plus in Ballet Conditioning with Elise Gulan. This is a workout for the very flexible as well as for those who are knowledgeable about modifying potentially stressful positions such as toe touches and deep knee bends! The cool down lacked upper body stretches which were needed after the lengthy arm extensions. Also, I would warm up before attempting this workout. Warm muscles are more pliant. ~ellen d. cushing
- Disappointing
By A4OGGQ1HVW9GD on 2008-05-21
I love ballet, so I thought this would be a fun workout. I was wrong. If you don't already have high flexibility, you will be more frustrated then energised. The instructions are vauge. There are few moderations given, and you can easily strain a muscle. Beware if you are exercising in a room with fragile items, as there is a section of constant jumping. I left this workout annoyed at my wasted time and will not return again.
- Challenging and effective workout
By A339VE5ENDIQC3 on 2008-06-22
This was a fun and challenging workout which really got me sweaty and feeling spent in a good way. I would caution people with injuries (especially in the knees as she really likes to have you do a lot of plies---including grand-plie which is a pretty big bend in the knees) to steer away from the this video. It is probably not best for a total beginner unless you feel comfortable modifying your exercises to your own abilities and if you do not mind that you might not yet be able to perform the exercises to the level of the woman on the screen. The exercises are actually reasonably easy to modify (do demi plies instead of grand-plies, put the hands on the hips is you get tired from keeping them in second position forever, only lift the leg to 30 or 45 degrees instead of 90 in grand battements etc). If you have never had any dance training (I have only had 6 months of a beginning adult classes) then I would probably think that the New York City Ballet Workout 1 is better for introducing some of the basic ballet steps while still getting a workout. Incorporate this into your workout routine and I do not know how you would not get results. And one more thing---you do not need to be flexible to do the workout as other reviewers have suggested---I had to work for ages to even touch my toes and I found this workout to be possible, with modification of course.
- Results on the spot
By A2TX7KCAD8W6MN on 2008-05-12
Wow i originally bought this video because i saw it in SHAPE Magazine. And it's amazing. I started seeing results after the very first week. The workout hits hard the first 2-3 times, and if you don't have a good conditioning you probably wont be able to finish it completely at first, don't worry, if you keep at it after a few days it becomes more easy and better. The body becomes more tight, slender and strong.
I recommend do the video every other day, 3 times a week. And if combined with a balanced diet (less fat more veggies and fruits) the results will show faster.
- Fantastic Ballet barre workout
By A2R3U9UVQJWIEW on 2008-01-28
I LOVE this workout! It is fantastic for strengthening up those ballet muscles. You won't be super tired/sweaty like after running for an hour or doing taebo, but you will be a little sore, a little tired and your heart rate will definitely go up. I thought the setting and voicing on this dvd was excellent. Perkiness and cheesy music really turns me off to workout tapes. But this one is very calming and relaxing to the eyes and ears. Your muscles will definitely get a workout though especially during the plie and releve sections in the beginning and in the pilates ab section at the end (even though it's only 6 minutes long, it feels much longer!).
Elise uses every minute to your advantage. There isn't wasted time talking or resting between exercises. That said, it is not too fast either. I was able to keep up with everything the first time I did the tape. But the continuous change keeps you focused and keeps the calories burning.
I like this video more than the NYC ballet workouts, even if those are longer, because of the the ocean and sun in the background of this one just makes me happy while the NYC ballet ones are so dark they are kind of depressing to watch after a while. (Not saying they are bad because I love those ones too, I just like the setting on this tape better). I plan on using this dvd every other day to help me with my dancing muscles.
If you love ballet this is a must buy DVD. It was made by a dancer so it is genuine ballet exercises, not cheesy aerobics style "ballet". You will definitely benefit from it!
- great workout-bad music
By A1D2Y0RG6D1ZSL on 2008-03-14
I have danced ballet for many years and like the dvd because it did do typical ballet movements. The dvd is not easy, and it does work your muscles. My only complaint was the music. Musicality is arguable the most important aspect of ballet. The elevator music was a drag, and to be a true ballet workout, there should have been classical music or at least something besides elevator music. The instructor is pleasant, but I was surprised to see that she had been a professional ballet dancer due to her lack of technique in certain areas.
- Warning - harder than it looks!
By AYPW2EP3106XT on 2008-05-21
As a previous reviewer noted, this workout is QUITE intense! I used to dance ballet in elementary school, but have been out of shape for many, many years. In the hopes of finding a workout I would enjoy and actually do, I turned to this DVD.
Elise is an excellent teacher, very gentle and affirming. The workout is an hour long, so make sure you have enough time to complete it. You do need plenty of space to do all the moves, which made things a little difficult in my tiny apartment. For those of us who aren't quite up to the challenge, it is easy enough to skip the last few reps of some of the exercises (the plie jumps in particular), and you still get a good workout. Remember, if it hurts, don't do it! My favorite part was the stretches at the end - very relaxing!
- Great workout!
By A1F2C1IS5ODAO4 on 2008-01-29
After reading the positive reviews here, I decided to purchase the 'Ballet Conditioning' DVD. It has been fantastic! I wanted a good workout that incorporated ballet movements from classes I have taken. This does it! It's 51 minutes long, begins with some stretching, a plie series, tendus (sp?), a series of jumps to increase your heart rate and a section of abdominal workouts. After the stretches, she does several plie series that left my thigh muscles quivering the first time. I felt like I had lost an inch off my legs & waist after the first time. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. She does each side, using a chair for balance and with the arms incorporated, they become sculpted also. Each time I do the workout, I find something new to improve upon in each movement. My flexibility improves each time and that allows me to perform each movement more gracefully. I love this DVD and can't wait to see how it shapes my body in the next few months.
- Nice results
By AR7TXBRR5M79V on 2008-05-26
This is a lovely, deceptively challenging workout. Anyone watching you would think you were just mincing around playing ballerina, but it takes strength to hold your arm up for a long time while carrying your body weight on one leg and making small, precise movements with the other leg. I skip the section of "leaps." At 58 years old, I'm done leaping. However, the standing work and very challenging ab work give the kind of lean body tone that most women want.
- Hardest workout, but also one of the best
By A24DYMJGYLXFIL on 2008-01-29
I just started using the DVD to get toned. I am no newbie to ballet but I haven't done it in about 7 years and let me tell ya, the first workout was really hard. I anticipate it getting easier the more I use it but it was very intense. The workouts average about 40 minutes to an hour which I wish I would have known before I bought it. I am a busy girl and I didn't realize I needed that much time devoted to the workout. Not a big deal for most people though. I plan on tailoring the workout for a shorter period and doing it more frequently during the week. I also do pilates during the week which helps during the ballet exercises.
I just have to say, if you wanna get toned and fit and can stand the burn, this DVD is just for you.
- Wonderful!
By A1T4OBUDJB5ZC3 on 2008-02-07
After having three children I need an exercise routine that is going to help me regain my fitness and flexibility. I've found it. What a wonderful routine. Although the routine was demanding, the small movements, softness, grace, and location makes it feel like a meditation - relaxing, soothing, calming, quietly energising. This is not a high-energy, in-your-face type of workout, and I don't get the post-exercise rush and subsequent crash that I get from many aerobics-type of workouts. I feel good all day. Ms Gulan is amazing but she doesn't make you feel poorly about yourself if you can't do what she does. I feel that I can opt out of some of the sequences to have a breather or rest tiring muscles when I need to and still feel good about myself. The voiceover is extremely encouraging and respectful. I haven't had any dance training but it is easy to see and follow the routine even if you can't quite do the exercises to their full extent. There are lots of challenges in the routine to keep me interested for quite a long tme. Highly recommended.
- Element: Ballet Conditioning
By A1X4V4DSLY54J6 on 2008-06-04
I've always admired the strength and elegance of ballet dancers. After reading the review in Shape magazine and on Amazon, I bought the DVD. Wow! This is a challenging workout! I know a few people were disappointed that it wasn't balletic enough, but I don't think it was meant to be. This video is a conditioning workout. I haven't made it through the whole video. I piece them out: core strength and quads one day, stretching and glutes the next (with some yoga mixed in). Frankly after the first few minutes of keeping my legs raised and repeating leg movements, I was sweating from holding certain positions. You do work your arms. Elise has you raising your arms above your head or out to your side and you keep them there for the duration of the exercise. The core strength uses pilates and it left my abs burning for hours.
This a wonderful video to add to my collection. Graceful instructor. Gorgeous scenery. And a workout that leaves me feeling strong and supple.
- fantastic way to tone those "soft" muscles
By A1TARXUHCZKOV5 on 2008-07-02
i haven't done any type of ballet or dance in years, and i purchased this after a recommendation in my shape magazine. i was not disappointed. it definitely uses all the muscles in your body to tone, AND actually gets the heart rate up! i was actually sore after my first workout!! the exercises build upon each other, so you can easily track your progress. i would recommend this to anyone who is looking to tone and build muscles!
- Perfect for me, a NON-dancer
By A3UORBSIKQ56ZB on 2008-07-16
My last ballet class was over twenty years ago when I was a child. I am most definitely not a dancer (and am probably twice the size of the dancer in the video!). I can't speak to the technical aspects of it or which of the dancer's techniques are improper.
However, I enjoyed this DVD as a wonderful departure from the other high-impact exercise videos out there. When I finish, I am exhausted and sweaty, but feel a wonderful burn in my arms and legs. I recommend this for anyone who wants a ballet-type workout who is not so concerned with the technical aspects.
- Good Choice!
By A1R5D60314BQDT on 2008-01-25
I easily get bored, but not with this DVD. There was just enough rep's completed and then the instructor switched to a new one and the steps are very easy to follow. I regularly exercise yet I found this DVD still challenged various muscle groups. The video is appx 50 minutes but the time actually goes by fast. By the looks of the cover I thought this DVD would actually bore me, but much to my surprised I liked it alot! I plan to use this on the days when I don't feel like going to the gym but want to make sure I still strengthen my muscle groups with my own body's resistance. I feel this DVD is worth the money.
- Good instruction if you know some ballet
By A2B99OMA42JH5X on 2008-03-24
The instructor is pleasant - but the music is "new agey" - and I was hoping for some nice classical music. But overall - it's good exercise.
If you know some ballet it will help otherwise you'll have to watch a few times to know what the moves are
- Not bored with this!
By A16FIIK1SN4GMR on 2008-04-11
As someone lacking the time and determination to drive to the gym several times a week, finding a great DVD for home exercise seemed like the only way I would get some activity in my day. I've only taken a semester of basic ballet in college, but this DVD has proven to be both accessible and really challenging, and it has enough variety to keep me from getting bored. I've been doing a few sections 3-4 times a week for three weeks (simply can't DO the whole DVD at one time yet!), and while I haven't lost any pounds, I have already toned inches off my body, and my clothes sure fit better!
The zen setting of the DVD is relaxing, and Elise's AMAZING physique is inspiring rather than distracting. I will say that my basic knowledge of the moves and training in keeping my toes pointed and back tall all the time probably helps, but this is really an easy routine to get into, and the quick results are inspiration to keep going.
- good workout, encouraging voice
By A3KFHI0JYBWR5E on 2008-05-22
My 10 year old daughter and I thought this was a good ballet workout. We like it better than the NYC ballet and Ballet Boot Camp DVDs. She gives you one thorough ballet barre workout in about 50 minutes, including some abs.
- I keep going back to this video
By A2Q8I6CAGX33US on 2008-07-26
After reading all the reviews I too decided to purchase this video. I like this video for so many of the reasons stated here previously. I like the voice-over aspect, outdoor scenery, and contrary to some, I like the music as it has the right beat to match the movements.
The instructor is very postive in a calm and pleasant way, (no screaming or condesending tone). The video breaks down with; warm-up moves, lots of well-paced challenging leg work, ballet jumps, abs (with legs) and final stretching.(sometimes, when I'm short on time or energy I do the first part alone). I have very limited ballet experience, but found I could do all of the movements, (if not very well at first). I've found if you can do this in front of a mirror to check your alignment and posture, you will always be challenged! The best part for me has been the pace of the program, it allows me to break a sweat without feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack -- and I've seen more results, more quickly with this video than with other high-energy workout videos!
Very well done. I hope Element decides to do another ballet workout with Elise!
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