Customer Reviews

Karen Voight: Burn & Firm - Circuit Training

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, let me say at the outset that this is an intermediate workout. If you like high-intensity/high-impact aerobics or you usually lift very heavy weights, this workout is going to disappoint you. Also, as is appropriate to a circuit workout, neither the aerobic or weight-lifting section are very long.

Having said that, I love this video. The three aerobic sections, all low to medium impact, are done on the floor. The pace starts out slowly but then quickly picks up in intensity. While I wouldn't call these dancy moves, you may need to do the video a few times before you pick up all the moves.

The toning segments are divided into Floor Upper Body, Standing Upper Body, Standing Legs and Abdominals. For both upper body segments, light weights are used, no more than 8 lbs, but 5 lbs will probably do pretty well for most of the exercises. Why? Because the moves are very fast. It would be too much of a strain on one's joints to use heavier weights. While I enjoy both sections, I prefer the floor segment, where she has a nice combination of pullovers, flyes and presses. As with almost every tape Voight has ever done, all of the moves flow quickly into each other.

The standing leg segment uses neither weights nor lunges. If you're someone who has knee problems and usually needs to modify (or skip) standing leg work, you will probably enjoy this section. Not that it's easy. In addition to squats, she also includes a one-leg deadlift variation which immediately targets the hamstrings and buttocks. Ouch, but in the good way. While I would have preferred some floorwork (which Voight does very well), I think she used standing work to keep the heartrate up after the last aerobic session, thus extending the cardio benefits.

While I'm not a fan of traditional abwork, Voight's work here is very effective. She uses a combination of yoga-inspired stretches for the back and then Pilates-inspired crunches and bicycles for the abdominals. You may not love this section, but you will feel it.

As to the comment that Voight recycled her work, not exactly. When this was originally released in early 2003, she offered this tape and Yoga Focus separately. Both segments were also released on one programmable DVD called Sleek Physique. That release allowed you to pick and choose segments from both programs to create a different workout for each day. While it was possible to reconstruct all of the footage for both separate tapes, it wasn't very intuitive and that wasn't the original intention. While I can see why some would be annoyed, I don't believe Voight was trying to exploit or trick any of her customers.

My experience with other Karen Voight DVDs and videos has been very positive, especially with her "Sleek Physique" DVD. Unfortunately, I felt a bit cheated having purchased "Burn and Firm", since the segments on it are identical to the "Sleek Physique", cut and pasted into different combinations and missing the very well done yoga strength and yoga stretch segments. I recommend "Sleek Physique" instead of this one.

Karen Voight's Burn & Firm is a circuit training workout which alternates short but intense cardio segments with weight/toning segments. The DVD menu offers the following options: 1) Full Circuit (45 minutes), 2) Double Circuit (77 minutes), 3) Just Upper Body (12 minutes), 4) Just Cardio (24 minutes), and 5) Abs, Butt, and Thigh (23 minutes). Each of the above options is a complete workout including the warm-up and cool-down, but because the DVD is so well-chaptered, you can easily skip around, mixing and matching to create your own perfect workout.

I'll describe each workout segment by listing them in the order they appear in the Full Circuit. The circuit begins with a 4-minute warm-up which combines simple leg steps with large arm movements to get your heart rate going. Next comes the first cardio segment, "Energy Boost" (each of the cardio segments are 5 minutes long). Here Karen continues to use 4-limbed movements: you are always moving both your arms and your legs to keep up the intensity. At times, I found it a little difficult to follow Karen's movement changes, but I think this will become easier with practice. In addition, I have also tried doing this segment with light hand weights for increased intensity, which worked well when I decreased the range of the arm movements. The first toning segment is upper body work on the floor. Here Karen performs traditional movements such as flies, pullovers, and triceps, but she varies the tempo of the movements, adding in double-time pumps which really help you to feel the burn. Next comes the second cardio segment, "Side to Side." As the name suggests, this section consists of many lateral movements, again using both the arms and the legs, and I again added hand weights. More upper body work follows, this time from a standing position. Karen moves very quickly through basic exercises for the biceps, back, and triceps here--in fact, I felt like I was getting an additional cardio workout here!

The last cardio segment is called "Jump Rope," which is somewhat of a misnomer, as Karen performs mock jump-roping only at the very beginning of this section. The majority of the work here comes from a knee lift series: Karen gradually increases the intensity here by adding arms, more knee lifts, and small hops (or a "ball-change"). The lower body strength segment follows and is just under 9 minutes long. Karen avoids lunges and instead focuses on squats, leg extensions, and dead lifts. Your body remains constantly in motion--e.g., you are doing mambo steps in-between each leg extension--which provides some additional cardio benefits. The final toning segment focuses on the abs; as always, Karen's abs work is short (5 1/2 minutes but intense). She performs several different types of crunches, again varying the pace for more focused work. This section includes some Pilates-inspired moves to work the lower abs as well as the obliques in a side-lying position. Finally, the cool-down consists of a series of static stretches: it begins in a reclined position for leg stretches and a twist, then moves to a quad stretch and seated forward bend to finish.

The DVD contains just a couple of bonuses: a list of workout tools and where to buy (in this case, only dumbbells are used), and video clips from five of Karen's other workouts. This workout is filmed in a pleasantly bright studio (although the odd-shaped lamps in the background are a bit distracting), and Karen is joined by an assistant, Kathy, who shows modifications for some of the moves. Karen's personality is similar to all of her newer (post-2000) videos: she is warm and friendly but not chatty--her comments are focused on the workout, and as always, she offers excellent cueing and impeccable form. Overall, I'd probably rate this workout at about an advanced beginner to intermediate level; it would be easy to either increase or decrease the intensity. Overall, I really loved the flexibility of this workout, and I know I will reach for this DVD often--highly recommended!

I've lost 95 lbs. and this is one of the videos I use!!! It is challenging, yet the somewhat beginning circuit trainer can use it. It's 'circuit traing' because it uses cardio and weights in combination without stopping. Once you get on to it you get a great workout and LOSE WEIGHT. I used the workout all last winter ( lost 20lbs.)until the weather got nice. I hit a plateau a couple of months ago after doing a summer of speed walking and other exercises so i pulled the video out again and have lost an additional 20 lbs. Use at least 4-5 days a week and you'll see a difference fast!

I've been working out to VHS and DVD home exercise routines for a while now. I came across this DVD by accident when looking for something more advanced and challenging than the Leslie Sansone's I own and something more appealing and interesting than the TaeBo series I bought but never warmed up to a while ago.

This DVD is right on the mark. I like the fact that there is no mindless chatter and endless giggling nor overly pumped up and intense people counting and yelling as they exercise. This is Karen who is in incredible shape and one other woman in the back going through an all around circuit of training. On days I don't have much time the 24 minute cardio still makes me feel like I got a good workout. If I have time later on I go back and do the abs or upper and lower body training portions. Most days I can do the complete circuit at about 45 minutes and on weekends I try and fit in the 77 minute double circuit. It took me a few times to get some of the moves down, but I find myself looking forward to doing these routines with Karen who is completely no non-sense and I highly recommend this DVD to anyone who wants a great workout.

So Karen is one of my favorite instructors because I love the fact that she produces efficient, graceful, and fun workouts that can be done in less than an hour. This video is just over 45 minutes, including warm-up/cool-down, and I felt that it was the perfect blend of low-impact cardio and strength.

No, this isn't the hardest workout I've ever done...but during the cardio intervals your heartrate will get in the fat-burning zone, and it will stay there if you push yourself during the strength segments. It is an easily modifiable workout, you can make it harder or easier just by changing your weights (all you need are hand weights and optional mat/stool).

It is an especially good workout (in my opinion) for people with knee or hip problems who can't take a lot of jumping around/high-impact movement. It is a great workout to use on your cross-training days if you are training for a race, or just run a lot. This is my 3rd dvd of Karen's, and I am very happy with it-I think you will be too!

The rountines are easy to follow and worth the purchase, but save yourself some money and buy Sleek Physique instead. Sleek Physique includes the material from this DVD plus the material from Yoga Focus (yoga strength and stretch) and is only nominally more expensive.

this is what i was looking for
if you want to loose weight
if you like cardio with nice motivated music buy this and do not hesistate
this an excellent dvd for weight loss and enhance your shape
she is excellent

I would consider myself an intermediate to low advanced exerciser who uses The Firm primarily. I have recently picked up a handful of Karen's video like this one. I really like this video for less intense days as well as some of her other ones. Some would call this workout easy, like I do, but it's fun. And I do work up a sweat with it. It is a circuit workout with floor aerobics, upper body work using 5-8 lb weights, light lower body work that doesn't use weights at all and some solid ab work. The workout alternates between aerobic and strength segments. There are 3 aerobic segments, simple floor aerobics combinations that progress gradually. The lower body segment doesn't use any weights as previously mentioned, it contains some squats, hamstring curls, one leg deadlifts, and some pilates inspired leg lifts with arm movements. There are 2 upper body segments, one standing using 5 lb weights where you will work the back, biceps, triceps, and shoulders. The other one is done on the floor, you start with pushups, then on to pec flies, pullovers and more triceps using 8 lb dumbells, I usually have to go back down to 5's when it gets to the triceps. The moves are performed quickly, therefore it is best to use lighter weights.

I like Karen's instruction, she is a lot more lively than in some of her older workouts, and she seems to be having fun in this video. I definitely recommend this one.

Although Karen Voight has put out many excellent workouts I was rather dissapointed with "Burn & Firm." The title and description sound promising - circuit training with varied bursts of floor (non-step) aerobics and total body toning segments with light weights and no lunges (great for those with knee problems!). While the toning segments are excellent, I was dissapointed with the cardio/aerobic segments. I felt that in keeping the exercises "low impact", Karen overcompensates for the lack of aerobic intensity with akward and difficult-to-follow dance(?) moves. Everytime I tried to learn one move she added on another move, and so and so on. Even when I finally got the hang of the routine, it never really elevated my heart-rate. I also didn't care for the mostly cheesy music, and thought the bright-yellow set was an eyesore. While one can program the workout to do just one segment or combine segments, I have no use for the cardio segments and little desire or enthusiasm to do any of the other segments. However, I bumped the rating from 2 to 3 stars because the toning segments are effective, the exercises are well-queued, and overall the program is sufficiant enough as a low-impact interval workout.

Rating: Fair