readresa's review against another edition
5.0
Love Mary Helen! Love ballet beautiful and how it makes me feel!
middle_name_joy's review against another edition
3.0
Most little girls dream of growing up and becoming a ballerina, and I was no exception. So I jumped on Mary Helen Bower’s Ballet Beautiful program, which supposedly used ballet technique to give the everyday gal the toned and graceful physique of a dancer. Not only does Bower boast a workout regimen, but also psychological and dietary strategies to create a well-rounded, balanced lifestyle. It worked for Natalie Portman, why couldn’t it work for moi?
Two weeks ago, I was very excited to give this a go. The glowing reviews of Bower’s DVDs on Amazon left no doubt that this program works for some women. And to an extent it did work for me. I saw change in my body, the tightening and shaping of my legs, as well as the strengthening of my core, after one week. I lost 4 lbs. (not that I really needed to). I was even happy to see that I have been practicing Bower’s basic healthy eating choices long before I picked up this book.
I soon realized that this was not the type of exercise routine that fit my needs. As a former gymnast, I am strong but have an aversion to ‘bulk.’ My goal is always to sculpt the muscle I already have into a lean, lithe physique. That’s why I do pilates and a low-stress cardio routine. I thought Bower’s program would do that, too. Maybe I needed to keep at it longer. Maybe I was muddled by the unclear pics. (It took me an insane amount of time to figure out the moves. The pictures in the book are not very decipherable. I have taken ballet class; my mother was a dancer, and she couldn’t figure out what was being asked in some cases. Perhaps the videos are easier to follow?)
In addition, with everything going on in my life right now, I can’t commit to a full lifestyle overhaul just to tone up my arms and legs. I think that aspect appeals to women who are looking to lose serious weight and change their ways of looking at health and fitness.
In the end, this was an experiment that gave me a few worthwhile exercises for my repertoire and a lesson that if it ain’t broke, don’t go trying a new exercise program!
Two weeks ago, I was very excited to give this a go. The glowing reviews of Bower’s DVDs on Amazon left no doubt that this program works for some women. And to an extent it did work for me. I saw change in my body, the tightening and shaping of my legs, as well as the strengthening of my core, after one week. I lost 4 lbs. (not that I really needed to). I was even happy to see that I have been practicing Bower’s basic healthy eating choices long before I picked up this book.
I soon realized that this was not the type of exercise routine that fit my needs. As a former gymnast, I am strong but have an aversion to ‘bulk.’ My goal is always to sculpt the muscle I already have into a lean, lithe physique. That’s why I do pilates and a low-stress cardio routine. I thought Bower’s program would do that, too. Maybe I needed to keep at it longer. Maybe I was muddled by the unclear pics. (It took me an insane amount of time to figure out the moves. The pictures in the book are not very decipherable. I have taken ballet class; my mother was a dancer, and she couldn’t figure out what was being asked in some cases. Perhaps the videos are easier to follow?)
In addition, with everything going on in my life right now, I can’t commit to a full lifestyle overhaul just to tone up my arms and legs. I think that aspect appeals to women who are looking to lose serious weight and change their ways of looking at health and fitness.
In the end, this was an experiment that gave me a few worthwhile exercises for my repertoire and a lesson that if it ain’t broke, don’t go trying a new exercise program!
More...