Trudie Styler's Pure Sculpt

I loved this one!

Everything is broken into 10 minute sections. 2 core, 2 legs, 2 arms and a warmup. I felt nicely sore the next day. I did feel like the 2nd core section was too advanced for me and there are NO modifications for any movements.

The arms sections reminded me of tracy Anderson arms, movements in all directions very flowing with light handweights. One leg section is all sidelying lifts and the 2nd is on 4s and prone. I usually hate on 4s but the section is so fast, it doesn't bother me.

The movements can take a while to get used to because he puts a different spin on the typical pilates movements. I do love it, and if you do a search on the forum and you will find a lot of videofitnessers raved about it.

Its so versatile since there is a menu where you can decide to do 10 minutes or 60 minutes, then it will add a 10 minute workout to any sections you choose.

NOTE: I received a free review copy of this DVD from the web site Metapsychology.net; you can read a more detailed copy of my review on that site.

This DVD is the latest release from Trudie Styler, wife of the musician Sting, and James D'Silva. As with their previous workouts, the setting for Pure Sculpt is Styler's and Sting's beautiful Tuscan villa; the workout segments are filmed either on an outdoor patio against gorgeous mountainous scenery or in a handsomely styled indoor marble area. The music (as one might guess) is provided by Sting: soft, instrumental selections from his Songs from the Labyrinth album.

This DVD offers six distinct workouts, each of approximately 10 minutes in length (actual times are below), which can be used either separately or together. Sub-menus off the Main Menu allow you either to select individual workout chapters or to customize the chapters in any order. The Main Menu of the DVD offers the following options: Play All - Workouts - Custom Workout - Bonus Materials. D'Silva instructs all of the routines via voiceover (note: he does not mirror-cue) while both he and Styler perform the moves. I have broken down each of the segments in detail below.

Warm-Up (10 minutes)

For this first segment, Styler and D'Silva have their mats perpendicular to the viewer. The majority of the warm-up is performed standing, with D'Silva strongly emphasizing cuing the breath as he leads a series of gentle, flowing stretches; towards the end of the warm-up, he moves to the floor for some brief work on all fours, down dog, and cobra. Unfortunately, the music is a bit loud in this section, and because D'Silva is so soft-spoken, I sometimes had trouble hearing his instructions here.

Core Conditioning Routine 1 (10 minutes)

This floor segment is based on traditional crunch-type exercises, but D'Silva executes them in a slower, more deliberate pace throughout. He includes both curl-ups and reverse crunches (hip raises), and he intersperses pelvic lifts, performed as a sort of stretch or rest in-between some of the other moves. There are also some Pilates-like exercises, including leg circles and criss-cross.

Core Conditioning Routine 2 (8.5 minutes)

In this section, D'Silva incorporates even more Pilates-like moves, beginning with a variation on the Pilates roll-up in which he flows up and into a side stretch, first with the legs together, then with the legs apart. This is followed by a version of the Pilates rollover (or yoga plow pose), made more advanced by keeping the arms overhead rather than by the sides for support. D'Silva then increases the difficulty level even further by instructing you to grab your ankles while in plow in plow and roll forward; eventually, you are rolling from plow to a Pilates teaser position, a very advanced move.

Lower Body Toning Routine 1 (12 minutes)

For this segment, you will set up on the floor in a side-lying position and perform a series of movements emphasizing the hips/outer glutes. D'Silva starts with a bent leg lift, but he moves through a long sequence of both bent and straight leg work, including tempo changes. Influences of both the Pilates side kick series and ballet can be seen here.

Lower Body Toning Routine 2 (12.5 minutes)

This routine focuses more on the rear glutes. D'Silva and Styler start in a face-down position, and D'Silva cues small pulsing movements, first with a single leg, then both legs. Next comes about five minutes of leg lifts performed on hands and knees; you'll start with straight leg lifts, then move on to bent leg before switching to the other side. For the final few minutes of this segment, D'Silva and Styler are in a kneeling position for side leg lifts.

Pure Arms Routine 1 (9.5 minutes)

In this segment, both Styler and D'Silva are wearing wrist weights. D'Silva begins by warming up the shoulders with shoulder rolls and side delt raises. He then continues with less traditional exercises (many have distinctive names such as "waitress," "engine," and "disco arms"), keeping the arms in constant motion throughout the entire segment.

Pure Arms Routine 2 (9.5 minutes)

Styler and D'Silva are again wearing the wrist weights here, but Styler is also holding small dumbbells in her hands. This segment is fairly similar to the one preceding it, and in fact it includes many of the same movements (e.g., waitress, engine arms). However, you will also perform some more traditional upper body exercises, such as tricep extensions (although D'Silva cues these moves in a more flowing, continuous manner).

I have several critiques of this DVD. First, although there is a separate Warm-Up, there is no cool-down. D'Silva does incorporate some stretches within each of the individual workout segments, but this is not sufficient. The second issue is more significant. I would rate the overall level of this DVD as being appropriate for low intermediate exercisers and above (and even fit experienced beginners should be able to handle most of the moves). However, as noted previously, some of the exercises included in the second lower body segment are quite advanced–I consider myself to be a high intermediate exerciser, but I was reluctant to follow along for fear of injury. No modifications are shown or suggested by D'Silva.

My own personal response to this DVD is that I really liked the first lower body segment as well as the arms work (both sections). However, I didn't like either of the core segments (first was too much traditional crunches, second two advanced as noted) or the second lower body segment (I HATE work on all fours). I think most people either will click with this DVD or they won't; for me, I've already traded it.