Customer Reviews

Suzanne Bowen's Long and Lean Prenatal Workout

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm 7 months pregnant, and highly recommend Suzanne Bowen's Long and Lean Prenatal Work Out (even if you are not pregnant). Finally, a prenatal dvd that actually tones the body without jerking!! You definitely "feel the burn," without feeling like you're hurting the baby.
My favorite section is the stretching. It totally relaxes and stretches out my pregnancy hip aches. The music is meditative and inspiring. I feel totally de-stressed and focused on loving my baby and body.
Another plus, a hidden surprise, there's a postnatal work out. Also, I love that I can do the work out with just the music, which helps me focus even more.
I couldn't get through the rest of my pregnancy without this! I get people commenting on how fit I am at 7 months. Preggo's you must get this DVD!!

I am 8 weeks into my first pregnancy and was a moderate exerciser before conceiving. I'm not a fitness buff (in fact, I was in the process of trying to lose a good amount of weight before becoming pregnant) but I am pretty good at being consistent with exercise. I have always been a fan of The Firm videos because they have kept me fairly toned over the last few years. After becoming pregnant I decided these workouts were a little too "bouncy" in parts to be used for a prenatal workout so I began searching for a true prenatal workout dvd. I am so glad that I purchased the Long and Lean Prenatal Workout from Suzanne Bowen and Leah Sarago! It is definitely challenging but you have full freedom to perform the exercises at your own level and pace. What's great about it is that the movements you are doing are very controlled and somewhat slow, helping you to remain balanced but also helping you to build up your balance ability (which is very important for pregnant women). You can choose to do the three segments of the workout separately or all together as one workout. If you are a beginner, just realize that you have the freedom to stop, start and workout at your own pace. Just challenge yourself to do a little bit more each time and you will definitely see improvement. I think that any motivated pregnant woman would find this prenatal workout both gratifying and strengthening.

I decided on this dvd based on other reviews. I'm satisfied with it for the most part (can't speak for the post natal portion yet), but there's a few things I wish I would have known.

In the video Suzanne looks like she's in her second trimester, which is right where I'm at as well. However, once I get into my third trimester I'm going to wish she was there too so I could see if some of this stuff is modified for the growing belly. However, Suzanne is really good about mentioning modifications while exercising, so I don't feel that this is going to be a problem.

The video starts off with standing floor work. She manages to get the heart rate going without overdoing things. However, I wish I would have known how much squat work is in this portion of the video, I have bad knees and this part is often painfully shaky for me. Aside from the squat work (which I modify), the standing floor work is a very good workout for the legs and even the arms in some parts. I'm not in very good shape and I'm by far no yoga expert (one class in college), but at the end of this section of the dvd I usually feel sweaty but not exhausted. It's satisfying.

Then the dvd moves into the floor work. This portion isn't as "get you sweating" as the standing work, but it definitely keeps the heart rate up and works out the muscles. She starts off with "vacuum abs," or cow something-or-other as I knew it in college, then moves right into push ups, leg lifts, and ab work without resorting to being on the back. If it weren't for the push ups (I've never liked those) then this would be my favorite portion of the video.

The stretching and relaxation portion is actually pretty important, or else you'll be sore and tight the next day. It feels great and by the time I'm finished I feel refreshed, relaxed, and ready to take on the rest of the day. The music is relaxing through the video and Suzanne makes it pretty clear what you're aiming for as far as position and which muscle to work.

Overall I'd say this is worth the money. I don't dread turning it on and I feel wonderful after completing the workout. And my hips don't hurt anymore afterward, that's a big bonus for me!

I am about 3 months pregnant and I just did this video for the first time yesterday. I loved it! I'm early enough where I'm not showing yet, but still just being pregnant makes doing a ton of reps or adding weight more tiring and this video seemed the perfect balance. The first 20 minutes of standing excercise definitely got my heart rate up, I broke a sweat, and got my muscles burning a bit! The 20 minutes on the mat pushed me even harder and included some great arm and core work. And of course the final 10 minutes of stretching was great. My arms (oh and they get those hard to reach BACKS of the arms), obliques, butt, and thighs are sore today (although its been a while since I've worked my muscles). Before getting pregnant I ran and excercised moderately, mostly running and yoga/pilates. If you're a fitness buff I still think during pregnancy you could find this video a good challenge even without free weights and endless reps, but certainly if you're like me you'll get a lot out of it. As I said I am on the average both in height, weight, and fitness level. The thing I liked best about this video was that the excercises were challenging enough to make me groan at times and break a sweat, but just when I thought I couldn't keep going, she finished the set. For example in one spot she has you do (knee) push ups. This challenged me because I am not very strong in the upper body, but doing 8 of them, then a childs pose stretch, and then 8 more and repeating this 3 times, was very achieveable, yet still a good workout. I would highly recommend this video to all my fellow mommies-to-be. Hopefully I will feel the same way when I have a big belly!

I really liked this work out. The first portion is great and my legs were burning right away. The second half of the workout is not as friendly for those late in the second / third trimester. I felt like some of the positions were very uncomfortable for my belly - and I'm in very good condition. I wish she offered modifications for those later in their pregnancy. Overall a challenging workout.

I thought this was a Yoga video but it is not. The DVD cover looks so serene and relaxing. It is not. But, if you want a challenging prenatal workout and have been staying physically active prior to trying this then it's a decent video. I should have started this video in my 1st trimester. The instructor looks to be in her first trimester and I do think at times expects a little too much from us larger bellied gals! (I CAN'T "suck in my stomach".....duh! LOL)

I describe this to friends as pliometrics, dance, and pilates-esque techniques. There is a 20 minute standing segment, 20 minute floor workout, and 10 minute stretching. There's also a postpartum segment that I haven't checked out yet. Because you can go at your own pace, you can get through the whole thing the first time. To pace yourself, bend or reach less or more as you get stronger.

Strengths:
- Every motion works three or more parts of the body (such a good use of time - much better than the Summer Saunders workout - I don't use that one at all anymore).
- After 5 days of doing this video, I am noticeably more toned - for example, my tummy is "sticking out" less than before (being on my third pregnancy, this is helpful since I stick out more and more quickly each time!).
- Even my friends that aren't pregnant say this is a GREAT workout! It gets your heart rate up, but not too elevated that you can't talk to friends, which is a good indicator that it's not too high for the baby.
- I also appreciate that there is a version of the video with just music and no instruction, for a more relaxing environment, when you already know how to do all the exercises well.

Excellent, 5 star purchase!

I was looking for something that wouldn't be too easy to do. Before my pregnancy I worked out 5-7 times a week, so I wanted a workout that would make me feel like I had actually been working out.
After having been too sick/tired to workout for the first weeks, I am now (at 18 weeks, started again at about 15/16 weeks) back at it and so far this has to be my favorite of the 3 DVDs I have tried. (I also own "the perfect pregnancy workout-vol 1 and Summer Sanders' Prenatal workout-which both are pretty good as well!!!)
I am planning on purchasing a few more just to mix it up a little, but I would def. recommend this DVD to anyone that is looking to actually sweat a little and not just stretch!!!

I love it. I'm only 14 weeks along and this video is kicking my butt! Granted I'm not in the best of shape, but this video is something I can see myself using throughout the entire pregnancy so that I can be the healthiest, most physically fit mother I can be. It is a fast paced video, but all the moves are pretty easy on the joints, even though I have loose, popping joints. Personally I find taking short breaks in between the sections necessary because of the pace. The DVD breaks the workouts into sections for standing (20 minutes), mat work (20 minutes), stretching (10 minutes), and has a bonus 10-minute postnatal ab section. There is also a music only option, for when you get sick of listening to the guide voice after the sixth time.

All in all, great pregnancy fitness option for people who want to get fit, but don't want a video that goes too slow (like most yoga, IMO) or is too physically jarring.

This is a pretty simple pilates-style workout that uses a lot of lunging to work the legs. It didn't feel too strenuous (and I'm in my 3rd tri) but it gives me a little muscle burn, which is good. The 'bonus' ab section is only for postnatal workouts, fyi. I like to use this video in a rotation with a prenatal yoga workout and the Perfect Pregnancy Workout.