Dream Body Workout Series: Bikini Bootcamp

Title: Dream Body Cardio Series: Bikini Bootcamp

Instructor: Amy Person

Time: 63 Minutes

Level of Difficulty: High Intermediate/Low Advanced

DVD menu: Play workout

Production quality: high

Equipment used: light weights (2# each)

This workout is part of the first Dream Body DVD set, led by Amy, who also leads the updated Bikini Bootcamp in the second (cardio) series. They titled the workout exactly the same but they are two different workouts (with a very similar format). The cardio series workout is a little tougher than this one as it utilizes the band for some of the standing cardio, and has a little more dynamic exercises. The original BB, in this review, is more steady state cardio followed by some tough floor work.

The first 40 minutes or so are spent standing and holding the light weights (modifier uses no weights and keeps it low impact) and Amy leads you through four long circuits that include a lot of punching with the weights (jabs in the first circuit, then upper cuts in the second, and hooks in the third, and a mixture in the fourth) and some other arm toning (shoulder presses, tricep kickbacks, speedbag circles overhead, punch up to the diagonal and down, etc.) while jumping, kicking, hopping, speed skating, fast feet, lunging, squatting, and running in place. It is a good cardio workout that you can make as easy or hard as you want by going deeper into the squats and making the jumps more explosive, or lightening up and making it less intense. The circuits start on one side, then repeated on the other side, before moving to the next circuit. I feel like the time goes by pretty fast and like that it is not really choreographed (more drill based) than say, a Turbo Fire workout that might be equally challenging but in a different style.

The last 20 minutes is spent on the floor targeting the outer thighs, glutes, and abs. She starts laying on one side with various leg lifts to hit the outer thigh, then into a long one-leg bridge series to work the glute of the stabilizing leg, and then into some ab work (scissors, cross crunches) before repeating on the other side. She finishes with more bridge work on the toes, and raise and lower alternating the legs. The stretch concludes the workout.

I enjoy all DB workouts but the two BB workouts are probably my least favorite - they are fun and tough but don't have quite the "fusion" feel of the other workouts, that make the DB workouts so unique and challenging. I'd rather have all five workouts feel like real fusion workouts, and look for kickbox-inspired cardio in other workouts. Be that as it may, it is still a challenging workout that I would say is high intermediate/low advanced.

Amy leads this 62 minute cardio and then floor toning workout in a nice studio. Amy and the two background exercises each work out at a different intensity level allowing you to modify your workout to meet your needs. The advanced modifier utilizes light dumbbells throughout.

You jump right into fun punch combos adding: squats, hops, kicks, knee pulls, jacks, static & pulsing lunges, curtsies & kicks. Other exercises include: switch kicks, jack kick punch combos, flying jacks, squat & speed bag, side lunge leg raises, speed bag skis. After the cardio you move into 10 minutes of floor work: leg raises & shoots, unique bridge work, oblique crunches, and straight leg bicycle and concludes with a stretch.

This was the least challenging of the set- but still a high intermediate that definitely worked my muscles and got my heart pumping! Amy is a great instructor that provides excellent cuing, motivation, and wonderful form pointers. Lots of unique combos and a fun kickboxing workout! I received this dvd to review.