Search - Double Cardio: 2 Workouts - With Sharon Money Twombly & Seasun Ziegar on DVD

Two excellent workouts for the more advanced exerciser

winnow | 08/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this dvd initially for Sharon Money Twombly's workout, I had recently bought her new workout CIA 2704: All Body Attack (with Sharon Money Twombly) DVD and thought it was a gem so went straight on-line and purchased this one.....and that's in short how I ended up buying a Bosu. I had never watched anyone using a Bosu and thought it was one of many exercising gimmicks out there, but I was persuaded otherwise after watching Seasun Zieger's routine on it - I had to get one, and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Sharon's routine, All Body Cardio, uses an 8-inch step and medium weights; one of the two back-ground exercisers provides modifications and uses a 6-inch step. Warm-up - 11.5 min; Cardio/Toning intervals - 54 min; Core/Abs & Stretch - 9.5 min. Both workouts have pre-mix options. This is a heart-thumping mix of creative athletic moves and drills on-and-off the step interspersed with fast-paced toning intervals and quick transitions so that your heart-rate is up there for the full 54 min. The step is used in the horizontal postion in the warm-up and then is switched to a vertical position for the body of the workout; she also makes inventive use of the top of the step and a riser. You're kept moving from one thing to the next so that you never get bored, and don't have too much time to think, "I'm not doing one more!" I especially liked her skipping and sports inspired sections, and well, there were the drop-squats, I defy anyone not to find those challenging! If I had a minor quibble it is that I think the first interval done on the vertically-positioned step would be less awkward if done in the horizontal position, which is what I now do - I suppose it does make for cleaner, faster transitions to leave it in one position for the entire workout. If you are looking for complex choreography or dancey moves this wouldn't be for you. If a high-intensity interval workout (a la Cathe) which is fun and athletic is what you're after, then this is a winner. If I had no intention of getting a Bosu and I had to choose between this routine and All Body Attack, I would choose the latter by a whisker. I hope we get to see many more workout dvds from this very creative, classy instructor.

I have never done a workout by Seasun Zieger before, scared away for the most part by the words "complex choreography". My dislike of complex choreography is not necessarily because of the brain work required to nail down the moves, but more the over dancey-ness of the moves and the fact that most of these workouts seem to sacrifice intensity for choreography - Seasun's workout succumbs to neither of these, as I see them, faults. Once you get the moves down and feel confident on the Bosu you will get a good, solid cardio workout which is fun. Bosu Blast consists of an 8 min. warm-up where Seasun teaches a simplified version of the first combo; 44 min. main workout which contains 4 or 5 combos with the right amount of tifting (taking it from the top) so as to not get too repetitive, and one main intensity blast to get your heart-rate up; and last but not least, an 18 min. core workout and stretch. The core workout is not just an add-on, it contains some of the hardest sequenced plank work I've ever done- wow!

I would say the more choreographically accomplished and seasoned stepper would rate this as experienced beginner/intermediate-level complexity rather than advanced - but the intensity level is high, on the other hand novices will have to do a few run-throughts before getting it down, stick with it as the payoff is worth it. I'm such a convert that I've ordered another dvd by Seasun and we'll see if she can persuade me to like more advanced choreography on a step! One of the background exercisers does the workout on an 8-inch step, I've never tried it and don't think it would be nearly as much fun or as intense as doing it on a Bosu. Seasun's cuing is for the most part very good though she does get her left/rights confused on occasion, and cues late sometimes, but once you're familiar with the workout I don't think it would matter too much. I also appreciate her manner which is to the point, with no needless chatter.

There are many good quality interval-type workouts out there, but a dearth of advanced-level steady-state cardio dvds which give you at the very least a solid 40 min. of enjoyable cardio. Kudos to her!"