(Natural Journeys)
2003
What is it?
A half-hour introductory Lotte Berk workout.
Who is it for?
All levels of fitness. This is a great place to start for beginning exercisers. Experienced exercisers will find that their muscles are being worked in new ways. You will need a good, solid chair and a mat.
What to expect:
Yes, you can tone up without heavy weights, and one of the most effective systems is the Lotte Berk Method. Those who have tried Yoga or Pilates will find some familiar moves in the Lotte Berk Method, but there is just as much that's new and none of it is as easy as it looks. If you watch this workout all the way through before you try it (and you should really do this with every exercise video), you may think that this workout is not all that difficult. Actually doing this video, however, is something else altogether! The miniscule moves of the Lotte Berk Method really fatigue the muscles being worked - you're kept in a constant state of tension throughout the sets. Like Pilates, the Lotte Berk Method also relies on precision. Emphasis is placed on firming your core by pulling in your abs and adding a special pelvic tuck. The upper body section is the closest to traditional exercise - first you do push-ups and then, for the triceps, you do a form of reverse push-up that's challenging even if your tri's are in good shape. Next up is standing lower body work. The instructors in the video use a freestanding ballet barre, but you can just as easily use a heavy chair. The incredibly small movements in this section are quite intense when following proper form. Same with the abs section, done on a mat. The workout finishes up with muscle-lengthening stretches, which are crucial to the Lotte Berk Method. In fact, you stretch between each exercise, too. Modifications for beginners are shown. In addition to being one of the most effective methods of shaping up, Lotte Berk is also one of the safest - some of the moves are even based on orthopedic exercise. This program is a great introduction to an excellent workout method.