Customer Reviews

Lotte Berk Method For Beginners - Basic Essentials

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I gave this DVD 5 stars, because it is a great introduction to the Lotte Berk Method. It begins with the usual 9-minute warm-up...Knee-lifts, shoulder rolls with pelvic tuck, upper body strengthening, and stretching...The first part of the workout focuses on the lower body using isometric exercises at the barre (A sturdy piece of furniture works just fine.) and then on the floor. The second part of the workout focuses on the abs using focused floor work...The cool down of the workout is "Shape By Stretching" where you stretch the worked parts of your body for elongated and shapely muscles. This workout is appoximately 30 Minutes long.

I have the entire set of Lotte Berk on DVD. This is the "easiest" workout, but definitely the best introduction to Lotte Berk Method. The DVD comes with a special Blast workout...approximately 9 minutes long, and a definite intensity boost. The fact that this is a solid workout, great introduction, and has an increased intensity bonus workout makes me give this workout 5 stars. Plus the fact that this method is amazingly effective. I've seen the results! I truly hope you'll invest in this series. It shouldn't be missed!

First, the instructor: (insert eyerolls ad infinitum) When you read reviews of Lotte Berk Method instructors being condescending and patronzing, this is the chick they're all complaining about. I'm telling you now, you are going to want to lunge through your screen and beat her senseless.

If you buy this or the set and you already know the basics, do yourself a favor and do this workout to just the music, otherwise you will have a headache. I think she means no harm and isn't aware of her patronizing 'tude but one more mental patient tone in which she asks, "Now where are you feeling that? In your thighs? Good! That's where you should be feeling it." or "Now where are your feet positioned? Look down, check!" "Can you lift your arms?" "Can you bring your leg up?" "Can you feel that?"

(What I forgot to mention in the other reviews is another option for support is using the wall. Barbara, the most advanced person, uses the wall for support during two DVDs and the instructions for using the wall would seem obvious but aren't. Your forehead must remain against the wall and your arms pressed against the wall at the height of your head so if you're a beginner, don't use the wall, lol.)

The barre work isn't so challenging here but this is a basic DVD so those exercises aren't prolonged, just a few for a good intro. The ab work, however, is another story. A few new ab moves that are really challenging and the Knee Dancing is not as fun as the knee dancing in Muscle Eats Fat but it does work your thighs.

You also won't escape push-ups and those killer reverse push-ups, either.

This instructor was really, truly annoying and during some segments, she started snapping her fingers and ... she was so offbeat. (more eyerolling) BUT believe it or not she DOES grow on you and the music is really cool in this DVD. But for first time users, I had to give that caveat. It's only fair. LOL!

I can't give the work-out a thumbs down because once again, the instructions for the set-up are fantastic (if she'd only be quiet once the set-up was completed), the previews of the exercises before you do them are wonderful and the music (as in all of the DVDs) is relaxing and motivating at the same time. The exercises in Basic Essentials are what you already know with a trick or two thrown in for good measure.

It's an excellent intro for anyone who hasn't done TBM or the other Lotte Berk DVDs. It won't scare you off. If you start with the others in the series, you may give up so start with this one or The Bar Method.

The instructor here is good at what she does and friendly overall but her style and technique are annoying. You're really going to want to pinch her. So she gets a D. (more eyerolling)

After using the tapes only twice a week for a little over 2 months, people at work started asking me what I was doing differently to lose weight so fast. I had to tell them it was Lotte Berk's tapes. I'd only lost 6 pounds but was down a full pant size. The instructors can seem annoying, but not nearly as bad as some other exercise tapes I've tried over the years.
The tapes are about 25 minutes each. I like the fact that the instructor reminds you to maintain your form. Each muscle used is then stretched, helping almost eliminate soreness the next day. To get results, in under 1/2 hour of working out, is my idea of a wonderful workout.

The Lotte Berke Method is a non-traditional type of toning developed by a dancer of the same name. It supposedly focuses on the creation of long, lean (not bulky) muscles through the use of small, precise movements, and it has inspired similar methods such as Callanetics. A hallmark of this method is that stretching is included throughout the workout rather than just the at the beginning and the end; the emphasis is on shaping muscles through both strength AND stretch.

In BASIC ESSENTIALS, the focus is on whole-body toning. The workout begins with a warm-up common to all 4 Lotte Berk videos: a type of high-legged marching in place followed by simple stretches. Then it's on to the floor to work the arms via several sets of Lotte Berk push-ups--they're tougher than they look! Standing work with a ballet barre (a high backed chair or even a wall can be substituted) comes next. You start with ballet-type squats done utilizing the "Lotte Berk tuck" position and the move on to leg kicks for the buttocks. These are tiny movements that only LOOK easy; they really target the thighs and glutes. Following this, it's back to the floor for abs work. This is the one part of the video that I found to be a bit disappointing; although the moves were definitely challenging, I felt it in my back more than in my abdominal area. The workout ends with the Lotte Berk "knee dancing" move that is pictured on the cover of the video--a signature move which provides further thigh work--as well as a "shape by stretch" section.

BASIC ESSENTIALS is led by three Lotte Berk certified instructors. The main instructor, Stephanie, comes off a little condescending in her comments (eg, repeatedly saying things like "where did you feel that?"), but she provides good cueing during the workout. The remaining two instructors do not speak, but one shows modifications. The Lotte Berk Method is great for all exercisers who are looking for a different but challenging strength workout, including those at a beginning level, and this tape would be particularly helpful for those looking to tone up the stubborn areas of the lower body. Overall, I'd rate it as 3 1/2 stars for a good workout with an instructor who can be annoying at times.

I did the Basic Essentials this morning before work and I was shakey for the walk to work! I really love the fact that the workout was only 30 minutes long. It really did fly by. Can't wait to try out the other three in the set. The only reason I don't give 4 stars is b/c the instuctor, Stephanie I think, is so annoying I almost had to hit mute.

I dislike this video Not because it doesn't use traditional moves, but because it is not much of a workout for advanced exercisers and is too dangerous for beginners to use. (It seems like the Lotte Berk method is potentially beneficial, but I wouldn't recommend this particular "Essentials" tape. Instead, I think the "The Bar Method" videos better because that instructor concentrates on form and explains moves without stopping the flow of the workout, and is more suitable for a wider audience (simple exercises that beginners can do, but can be intensified for advanced)).

In this Lotte Berk video the instructor spends A LOT of time explaining the next step, but does NOT do it in a way that emphasizes good form, so after a long talk it is still likely that the specific motion won't be done correctly (e.g. she doesn't point out don't drop your butt during the push ups, and doesn't point out that the bent knee exercises should be done with the knees parrallel to the toes).

The types moves are too difficult in nature for beginners and very hard on the knees.

However, since you end up doing so little reps and there is so much downtime, the workout is too boring and not challenging enough for more experienced exercisers.

Summary of Moves:
marching knee lifts
ARMS: knee push ups, reverse push ups (kind of like dips working triceps), triceps stretch
THIGH(very tough on knees): hamstring stretch, plies, pelvic tuck, swing hips right/left, quad stretch
SEAT: hip extensions, butt stretch
ABS: sit down holds, more stretching
thigh lifts (tough on the knees), thigh stretch
more stretching

I decided to try Lotte Berk because I needed a low-impact shape-up to complement weekly ballet classes. This isn't a bad way to start; it resembles ballet, yoga, and Pilates. The Lotte Berk Method relies more on holding muscle contractions than on endless reps of a move, and in that respect it can be challenging. Although I didn't feel anything in my abs the next day, I will say that my thighs were extremely sore; however, this may have been because I did the bonus "Blast" workout directly after finishing the main one. The main problem I have with this video is that Stephanie, the instructor, talks WAY too much. Midway through the video I was yelling at the TV to just shut up and get on with the workout already! Also, what's with the "rich-women-browse-high-end-boutiques" opening? Still, this wasn't a bad workout and it doesn't take too much time, which is definitely a point in its favor.

I purchased this to get back into exercise. I love that it is one that you can actually do as a beginner, and you can feel it working when you use it. It doesn't make you too sore the next day, which I always dread when just starting an excercise program. You do feel the areas you worked out, but not to where you feel like you can't move the next day. It is also easy to follow, as I am not good at following most exercise dvds. Alot of them have you so busy trying to figure out the moves, you can't keep up with the program. Definitely recommend!

I have noticed several reviewers upset about the way the instructor, Stephanie Lyons, comes across in this video. I had 8 yrs of intensive ballet, and she reminds me very much of a strict ballet teacher, which must be why I like her. She herself started ballet at age 3 and danced with the NY City Ballet. The remarks she makes to draw one's attention to where the movement is felt, where it should be felt, are not meant to be condescending. What she is trying to do is assist you in building the "muscle memory" of the correct form of the movement, so that when you have the movements memorized, and start doing them without the video, you will immediately know by the WAY IT FEELS whether you are doing them correctly.
I thought this video was excellent with its instruction, as are all the LBM videos, although rather more beginner than ideal for my personal use. I hope my commentary offers a fresh perspective on this particular instructor.

WOwowowo! What a fantastic video! I LOVE STEPHANIE!!! she is so super skinny and snotty and perfect! love her! love the way she teaches... reminds me of a strict ballet teacher... she's so funny= a bit condescending - but the entertainment value alone is worth it! hahah!!! THIS IS A GREAT morning stretch workout... honestly i bought the whole set of DVD's/ This one covers almost everything that is in the other ones... they all start off with the pushups and the reverse pushups and the knee high leg lifty things... i highly recommend this DVD and also the HIGH ROUND ASSESSTS.. the other two dvd's arent worth it.. they just repeat basically what is in these ttwo.