Karen Voight - Pilates - Core Essentials

The workout begins with a simple, 4 minute warm-up to get your body moving; this is followed by 8 minutes of standing strength moves. The exercises consist of traditional squats and crunches, but Karen makes them unique by adding more movement. Although her cuing is excellent, the variety of the moves is a little hard to follow upon first viewing of the tape, but you do get the hang of it. One problem I had with this section is regarding how Karen uses the arms: the arm movements often seem unnecessary and mismatched to the leg work.

The main body of this workout occurs on the floor. Karen continues the legwork with extensions done both on all fours and on the side; she sometimes uses her weighted "genie balls," but the moves are challenging enough without the added weight! She also targets the arms with a tough push-ups sequence as well as several exercises with dumbbells. Karen ends the workout with abs and back exercises followed by a 6 minute cool down.

As always, Karen offers meticulous tips on form throughout. This was an average-to-good workout (I'd actually have given it 3 1/2 stars if I could), but I preferred Karen's Streamline Fitness, which offers additional arm work, a tougher abs section, and relaxing yoga moves as well.


Great for your torso, but it's not Pilates   April 14, 2003
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Karen Voight is a new favorite. I find her choreography innovative and her instructions precise and clear. On top of that, she or someone who works for her has great marketing sense. Yeah, I can see why something with a focus on the core would be marketed as "Pilates-based", but it's not. And actually, I believe the original title of this was "Body Reform: Core Essentials".

That aside, I really enjoy this workout. The warmup is very fast-paced but fun and easy to follow; two minutes longer and I wouldn't feel bad about calling it light cardio. I see some hints of tai chi (very subtle) in the first movements, and then some variations on the kickboxing theme. Next onto the standing leg toning. I really liked the variations on deadlifts and she targets the upper part of the torso (waist to shoulders) by changing the arm patterns throughout. What gets me every time are her variations on squats and lunges. She has this cool sequence that starts with a one-leg squat, then pivots, steps forward into a lunge, back into a dip, pivots back into a one-legged squat, and then repeat to the other side. More challenging than it sounds, and she does it at a fast-pace. You're doing maybe six reps at the most on each side, but you're feeling it.

Her floorwork for legs is very efficient. She builds up a sequence of a four-part bent leg lift; again, you're not doing more than ten or twelve repetitions per leg, but by the time you're done you really feel like you've worked on your buttocks. She comes up on all fours for a variation on the donkey kicks that work the triceps and abs (you bend into it- a little difficult to describe) and then uses the Genie ball for leg raises. I did feel these, but not as much as I felt the first floor work.

For the arms, she does a sequence of bent-leg tricep pushups followed by plank. I dread this sequence each time it comes up, but practice does improve form (and endurance). Then she moves into isolation exercises with the dumbbells for the chest and triceps.

Her abwork is tough and creative. She uses a genie ball and dumbbells for several exercises. She also instructs you to use a towel to pad your lower back. She does include exercises for the back and then a cool down.

A lot of "Pilates-based" or "core-focused" videos focus on the abs, maybe the back and some throw in gluteal exercises. Voight rightfully remembers that the torso also includes the shoulders and chest. I wouldn't call this a total body workout (biceps don't get any attention, and there is more overall for the lower body), but it's worth adding into your routine.

My only caveat is that this video is very dependent on the genie ball. It would be difficult to substitute a dumbbell in most places where the ball is used.


"Light Weight " workout for anyone already in shape   January 31, 2003
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I recently purchased this video along with Karen's Abdominals and Back. I have tried them both. Contrary to other reviews I found the instructions and moves easy to follow, but as a 55 year old women who works out an hour almost everyday - aerobics and strength training, I found these two tapes to be almost too easy. I used the abs and back tape this AM and felt stretched afterward but sort of guilty - like I didn't work out. These would be good for relieving stress as an end of the day workout - like yoga. I have quite a few of The Firm tapes, Cardio Split, Super Cardio, Super Sculpting, Cardio Burn, all the "Tough" tapes and several of the "Total Body" tapes, which incorporate a lot of toning and pilates like core strengthening and I feel they do more for me when I only have an hour or so a day to devote to a workout. The Firm tapes are good because as you improve you can add heavier weights, ankle weights and increase the challenge.

This tape would be good to develop smooth control on a lot of moves and help people who need back and ab strengthening and beginning toning as well as loosening up tight muscles, but for a person who regularly works out I'm sure they will find them "whimpy".


Funky New Moves   April 23, 2002
 29 out of 32 found this review helpful

Karen really pours her creative energy into this workout. She teaches from a blue full moon type platform with a background of purple that is actually quite relaxing. In her red outfit, the scene becomes rather interesting. I also liked the camera angles in this one. There is plenty of movement and you are never bored.

While you will recognize some of her signature moves, she has also incorporated some new variation. To optimize the results, she believes variety is key. She puts new twists on classic exercises. She has refined all the exercises so you don't waste energy. She has a way of focusing on fewer reps, but you get so much out of each lunge, squat, pushup and ab crunch.

Basically, you are using your own body weight in combination with light resistance. You will also focus on the essential muscles of your arms and legs. Karen has fused the teachings of Joseph Pilates, yoga and ballet with her own body-sculpting techniques.

You will need a pair of Green Genie balls, a set of 5lb. Hand weights, a yoga mat and a towel. One great feature is you don't need a ton of room to do the moves in this video. You can't really substitute a set of 3lb. hand weights for the Genie balls, just so you know. Once you order the video, there is a pamphlet that tells you were you can order the essential tools you need for her videos.

The workout starts with some simple standing stretches and moves into a warming sequence of lunges. If some of the choreography gets a bit much, just be patient. By the third or fourth time you use this tape you will have it down. The first part is the most intense and involves lots of bending at the knee. Gets your heart rate up. Compared to most workout videos, it is really such a short segment.

The workout then moves to "Legs and Butt", focusing on a floor routine, which is quite creative and inspiring. Karen makes sure she tells you what to watch for and gives pointers throughout so you keep concentrating on each exercise.

The "Arms, Back and Torso" segment includes pushups that are combined with yoga moves and I found them quite enjoyable for a change. Then you move into the Abdominal section, which is also a floor routine.

Finally, you "Cool Down" and stretch out. This segment could have been longer. I always want more "stretching!"

40 minutes seems more like 20 for some reason. It is just plain fun and the music keeps you motivated!

~The Rebecca REview


one of the best workouts, yet easy   January 25, 2002
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I found this video a creative, fun, yet short workout. One of the best so far, and I have alot of tapes. The tempo and explanation by Karen are easy to follow. It has helped all major areas of the body, although arms are not as intense as butt and thighs. The balls are pretty versatile, but I use dumbells too. I would recommend this to beginners or intermediate exercisers.