Suzanne Bowen's Slim & Toned Prenatal Barre Workout (2012)

UPDATE (7/14/14): I'm now 38 weeks pregnant and have been using the DVD since I was 15 weeks. Originally I alternated it with a pre-natal pilates video, but I soon found I liked this workout much better. Now, I do this 4 times/week with 30-minutes of brisk walking on the off days. The workout is more challenging now that I'm bigger, but it's still very doable and keeps me feeling in shape. I'm hoping all the focus on the pelvic floor will also help in labor and delivery! I have used the modifications more as I've gotten bigger, but the only exercise I feel I can't do is the nagler (sp?--the outer hip one) stretch--my belly is simply too big! ORIGINAL: At 15 weeks pregnant I had to give up my gym membership. I'd been doing cardio and weight training about four times a week and had always enjoyed barre classes, so this video seemed a good choice. I've been very happy with the purchase. The routines are challenging (legs definitely burn in the lower body track) without feeling impossible. The length (each section is 20 minutes) is also perfect: easy to combine or just do one. It feels like good attention is paid to muscles used in pregnancy and childbirth. Suzanne explains the moves clearly but keeps a quick pace. Appropriate modifications are noted for later in pregnancy. My only complaint is that the cardio track is barely cardio; it's really just another lower body toning track. If you're looking for real cardio, this won't do it. I never break a sweat in any of the tracks, but my arms and legs are plenty tired. Nonetheless, a good choice for fit to reasonably fit women. At 17 weeks I'm still pretty small, but I think I won't have a problem continuing with it throughout pregnancy.

This is my favorite pregnancy workout DVD of the 4 I purchased! It's the most challenging, and the only one I use on a regular basis. While it is challenging, I do not get out of breath and am not sore the next day. I really like the isometric toning that barre movement provides, and the instructor is really good about bringing pelvic floor exercises (kegels) into the movements as well, which is super important during pregnancy. This DVD includes 4 segments, which I am able to do back to back in about 1.5 hours. The segments include: lower body, upper body (suggest having two 2-3 pound hand weights for this segment; I only have 5 pound weights and it is a little too difficult after a while), cardio mixed with lower body toning, and a stretching cool down. About me: I started using this at about 20 weeks pregnant. My current fitness level is moderate/average, not overweight but not toned/strong. I have a dance/ballet/pilates background, so while this is challenging, the general concepts/positions were not new to me. (I have only taken one barre class prior, and it was much more difficult than doing this entire DVD all at once.) The other pregnancy workout DVDs I purchased are: Long and Lean Prenatal Workout by Suzanne Bowen, Complete Pregnancy Fitness by Erin O'Brien, and Yoga Pregnancy: Pre and Post Natal Workouts by Heather Seiniger.

I found reviews really helpful when selecting an exercise DVD while pregnant. Now that I'm 11 weeks post c-section I thought I would share my thoughts. This review is coming from a non runner and a non gym member. I would do Jillian Michaels 30 day shred or some cardio kettlebell a few times a week prior to pregnancy. SUZANNE BOWEN'S SLIM & TONED - This was my favorite of the DVDs I bought. I didn't really feel like it was difficult until around 28 weeks but I think it did a good job keeping me toned and strong. The first section of lower body I usually skipped because it didn't feel like it was doing much but the other sections were great. Suzanne is a good instructor and not overly peppy or irritating. I would suggest skipping the plank portion of the arm/upper body workout after 25 weeks or so if you're worried about diastasis recti (I was). It has been a great postpartum workout and I think it will help me transition back to the harder DVDs I was doing pre pregnancy. PRENATAL FITNESS FIX - All the reviews are right, the production quality of this DVD is amateur. However, it does kind of give an intimate, non intimidating approach to working out. Sometimes it nice when you're pregnant and feeling a little lumpy in your workout gear to look at another woman who is very pregnant and not looking glamourous. She is also very funny in a goofy way which is good when you're not in the mood to workout. She gets you going even if you are laughing through it. I had trouble with the squat portions when she does them very quickly. It would make my knees sore the next day. Besides that it was a good, quick workout. JENNIFER WOLFE'S PRENATAL VINYASA YOGA: SHORT FORMS - I HATED this DVD. I wish I wouldn't have bought it. Again, the production quality is bad. Maybe I'm too used to the GAIAM yoga DVDS but this was terrible. The instructor reminded me of a new age librarian and the Shavasana was impossible to do with the grating acoustic guitar. The main reason I bought a yoga DVD was to relax and stretch during pregnancy and this was a mega fail. Also, it heavily features downward dog, which if you're worried about diastasis recti then you won't want to do this DVD. EXPECTING MORE: SARA HALEY - I wish I would have found this DVD earlier in my pregnancy. I didn't buy it until week 33. It has a plan included to help you make the most of the different sections at different stages of your pregnancy. I didn't get to explore the other sections as much as I would have if I started this earlier. Some routines require more space than I had in my living room to move around and some would be great while your belly is smaller but in later stages of your pregnancy it might not be a great idea. She does do some kinda cheesy things like naming moves after baby things and stressing how sexy she wants you to feel in pregnancy. The cardio was great though and the best you'll find in a prenatal DVD. The hip hop dance was too stupid for me to spend time on but if you like dance maybe you'll like it. Now that I'm postpartum I may try portions of this DVD again.

I bought this based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews and now it's my turn to add to them. I've been doing the pre-natal workouts on this dvd regularly for the last 8 weeks (months 4 and 5) and love how they feel during and after. There are 3 about 20 minute workouts and one 10 minute stretching segment to add at the end of your workout. I usually combine one of the workouts with a pre-natal yoga one (Element: prenatal and postnatal yoga, also bought from Amazon and highly recommended) and love how I can do a whole workout including stretching in just 30 minutes. What I like best about the workouts is how simple they are, using just poses and gravity, requiring no special equipment or complicated moves, and yet they work your whole body, raise your heart rate and stretch your muscles all at the same time. You don't need a barre, but just a chair and some handweights for the upper body workout (although I used candlesticks because I don't have any handweights!). You don't even need a yoga mat, although it's nice to use one. I feel like the workouts have helped keep me slim and toned the last two months despite holiday cookie indulgence. I recommend this workout no matter what stage you are in pregnancy or out of pregnancy, I expect to keep doing this video regardless of being pregnant or not it is such a good, quick and effective full body workout.

I never did a single barre workout before my pregnancy. I am a runner and that is my main form of exercise. I was searching around for a prenatal workout DVD, assuming I'd buy some prenatal yoga one. Then I came across this. I was impressed by the reviews so I gave it a shot. I absolutely love it. I'm quite sure I am in better shape now at 24 weeks than I was before my pregnancy when I was running 25-30 miles a week. I've had to cut back on running substantially because it's getting uncomfortable. Also, it's winter and with the snow and ice, I feel safer keeping my workouts inside. I also purchased Suzanne's newer BarreAmped Sleek and Toned prenatal DVD. I like to mix up which workouts I do each day. The best part is that the workouts are short - most of these ones are 20ish minutes which is perfect if if you just want to do one of them or do multiple ones to make it a longer workout. As a mom to 2 young kids, this works great for me. I often also do one workout from this DVD then another from the Barre Amped DVD (all those workouts are around 13ish minutes). These DVDs are definitely challenging, but there are modifications to make certain moves easier if necessary. As for the reviewers that complained about the instructor not being pregnant, I think that's ridiculous. She's done several prenatal DVDs and you can't possibly expect her to keep popping out babies just so she can be pregnant to film these videos. She has a workout partner in the videos that is pregnant so you can see someone in their 3rd trimester doing these exercises.

I had never done barre before, but this is my new favorite prenatal workout. Each segment is 20 minutes long so you can do one or more depending on how much time and energy you have. They do a great job at making your muscles burn and getting you sweaty without making you completely out of breath. I've only been doing these for a couple of weeks and I am feeling stronger and more energetic already! There are modifications for each exercise too, to make it harder or easier. Edited: I think some of the exercises might not be the best to do once you are further along (like planks - I remember this feeling really awkward and not good). It may or may not have anything to do with this video, but I ended up delivering really prematurely with this pregnancy after going to a healthy 40-41 weeks with my first two. I have to change my review because I am not 100% sure this video is safe during pregnancy. That being said, I will keep the video to use as an un-pregnant person because I actually love the workout and it makes my legs look awesome.

I cannot say enough good things about this work out DVD! I worked out before I was pregnant, and did mostly interval training and light weight lifting, so I wanted something that was intense, yet safe for Baby. Oh, and I also get very bored very easily, so something non-repetitive is kind of a must for me. This work-out definitely fits the bill. It is the right combination of intensity, easily modifiable moves, and the instructor is absolutely great! I'm almost 36 weeks pregnant with my second child, and I've been doing these work-outs since about my 5th month, when I came across this video online. I like that all the work outs are broken into 20-25 minute segments so you can easily do one or all, depending on time and activity level. I do the Cardio Sculpt about 4-5 times per week, and it's REALLY helped me stay in shape throughout my pregnancy. The moves are easily modifiable, depending on your fitness level, as well as how far along you are-and it's consistently a good work out, every time. I plan on keeping this work out up after I've given birth to shed the extra lbs I put on during my maternity. I would highly recommend this DVD to anybody, even my mon-pregnant friends, who are looking for a challenging low impact work-out.

I have just started doing this workout video and it was pretty intense. I am used to Jillian Michael’s Rip in 30, 30 Day Shred, and One Week Shred. I like running a few times a week as well. I have also done the Insanity Program. I try to work out a minimum of five days a week. Based on a previous reviewer who also said she is used to Jillian Michael’s videos, I decided to give this a try. I am only 9 weeks pregnant so I’m still doing Jillian Michael’s videos and running. However, I thought I’d try it out in order to get used to the different exercises before I get too big. The first time I tried it I did all four segments. The Lean Lower Body segment was killer. I had to stop a couple of times because my legs were burning from being the in the “ears over shoulders, over hips, over heals” as Suzanne Bowen explains correct form. She also keeps reminded you about the pelvic floor muscles and kegles. The Slim Upper Body and Core did challenge my arms a bit as well because the exercises are different than what I’m used too. The only segment I was expecting more from was the Cardio Sculpt. This was more sculpting than cardio, which is good, but I was just expecting more cardio from it. However, I think this will be perfect once I’m in my third trimester. The day after I did all four segments I was sore. My buttocks were sore on the outer hip area. It felt like I was working part of my glutes that I hadn’t before. My arms also felt a bit sore. I think for now I will be alternating days between the Lean Lower Body and Upper Body and adding my own cardio 3 times a week. And then continue with Jillian Michael’s on the other days… at least for now. I’m still looking for prenatal cardio for when I move into my third trimester. I’d say to definitely try this out, but know that it is challenging especially if you have not worked out before, or did mostly cardio work.