Release Workout

by Ruah Movement

Product Features

• By Leah Sarago and Suzanne Bowen

Product Description

Release is a fusion workout based on postural movement and flow to sculpt and tone the body, burn calories, open the joints, and release muscle tension. This workout flows from isometric holds to dynamic movements with variations of plank, chair pose, C-curve abdominal holds, plie squats, lunges, and more for a total body workout. This workout is complete with a deep stretching and relaxation segment to rejuvenate and de-stress your body. The lower body standing segment is 15 minutes in length followed by 25 minutes of upper body and core on the mat. The 10 minute stretching segment is followed by 10 minutes of relaxation to peaceful music. Modifications for all levels. Mat only needed. Music Only Option. Music composed by Alberto Rivera. Instructors: Suzanne Bowen and Leah Sarago Producers: Ed Lamberg and Nick Manginelli

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B001TC6KIO
• Item model number: 01
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,114 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #61 in Sports & Outdoors > Exercise & Fitness > Exercise Videos

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful program, relaxing and stimulating, March 19, 2009

By 

Megan Alderton "Home workout addict" (Hagerstown MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Release Workout (DVD)

I couldn't wait to try this video after using and loving Suzanne's other 3 DVDs. I hadn't tried anything by Leah yet, but she seemed just as great as Suzanne in this selection.

First things first, the video is about 50 minutes long. It includes standing work, floor work, and stretching with relaxation. If you do the whole video, you will get a full body workout. You don't need any equipment for this video (a huge plus!) Maybe a mat, if you want one, but you could do the exercise on carpet too and you don't even need that much space.

This video is good for beginners and advanced exercisers alike. Suzanne is pregnant in the program, so she demonstrates the modifications, which should be easy enough for anyone to follow if they are not up for following Leah who demonstrates much more challenging moves at times. I am in great shape. I work out 7 days a week for at least an hour a day. I weigh between 110-115. Doing everything in advanced mode is still very difficult for me at times (especially the plank series - I have to drop down to my knees for a few seconds usually). The only part I wasn't really that impressed with was the abs section. First of all, it seems too brief and second of all, it's all performed on your back - shoulders off the ground. This always causes me a lot of neck strain. Also, my abs are pretty developed, so I didn't feel this was much of a challenge (even going with the advanced choices). I guess from Suzanne and Leah, I was just expecting a little more creative ab exercises. This is my only gripe about the video! The rest is truly an amazing workout. The music, as others have mentioned, is beautiful and soothing. There is an option on the video to turn off Leah's voice over and just workout to music. I think this would be cool after you have learned all the instruction.

The stretching portion is very good. For some reason, it seems to make my body feel better than most other stretches I've done on different videos. Maybe it's just the music, but it's a nice relieving feeling. There is a nice addition at the end of the video - 10 minutes of the music for relaxation time. I admit, it's hard to just lay there and not do anything. If you're like me and your brain is hard to turn off and you're thinking of a million things you need to do, it's literally tough to make yourself just lay there, but force yourself because it is very peaceful if you can... even if you don't do it for the whole 10 minutes.

One last thing to add... Leah and Suzanne mention it at the beginning of the video, but this is more of a toning and muscle tension release workout. If you want the best results, you need to do some cardio on top of this video. While you will be burning calories doing this, it's really not a cardio workout. Leah and Suzanne reccommend doing Release about 3 to 4 times a week. I've been combining this with some Taebo and Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. It works very well. It may sound strange, but I like to do Release at about 8 o'clock at night before I go to bed because it relaxes my muscles. Good luck to all! Go Suzanne and Leah! I can't wait for more videos!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For All Those Who Do Not Like To Work Out...., February 20, 2009

By 

Natalie "Natalie" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Release Workout (DVD)

I am a person who does not like workout videos, but this video is so different. I am a person who has a lot of stress in my life, and this was the most relaxing and feel good workout video I have ever experienced. The workout was very intense, but I felt like I had a massage afterwards because it works the muscles so deeply followed by stretching and relaxation. I was definitely sore the next day, but I couldn't wait to do the video again. I can see that my muscles look longer and leaner - not bulky. The music is also relaixing, but rejuvenating. This workout DVD is a must have!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique and enjoyable, November 8, 2009

By 

R.R. (Chennai, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Release Workout (DVD)

I agree with the reviewer Red Panda, that the instructors should have left out "sales spiel" statements about arm circles burning the fat off your arms. There is also no cardio component to this workout in my opinion. I also agree that the intensity is not advanced. But I would rate it as intermediate rather than beginner. In pilates and yoga you need to practise with mindfulness and focus on alignment to feel the moves. Unless you have some prior experienced at these styles, the cueing in the video does not have sufficient pointers on form and range of motion. If you have some background in these styles or naturally high proprioception skills, I feel this is a very good add on to a collection of at home workouts.

For strength training, I rely on on conventional weight training. Yet, I enjoy mixing in yoga or yoga fusion style workouts into my routine. I think they complement the strength training that weights provide and work synergistically on strength, stamina, balance and flexibility. The emhpasis of Release is mainly on "toning" or strength (but more gentle rather than advanced strength challenges) and some-what on stamina. The moves are interesting - I havent seen many of them before in other videos. Time passes quickly. The instructors are graceful and show great form. The music is wonderful. The production is professional. It is a great workout to use on lighter training days even for adcvanced exercisers.

I agree with the reviewer who commented on the abs/core sequence. It can aggravate pre-existing neck strain issues. It would have been nice to see at least some exercises in this segment that were more neck friendly. But this did not detract from the usability for me.

In summary, I am glad I picked up this video and recommend it to anyone who enjoys pilates/yoga fusion.