Customer Rating:  
Summary: Stick to the original!
Comment: To be honest, the first thing I thought when this video started is "What happened to the diversity?". There are 4 blonde model types demonstrating various slow movements that I couldn't recognize as Callanetics. Despite the soft British accent of the leader, the video felt mechanical. All of the women are in matching leotards with full make-up. The setting is a home with beige walls, beige drapery and beige carpeting. I missed the studio atmosphere and wonderful diversity of the students in the Beginning Callanetics video. In that video you had the stiff businessman, the chunky female athelite, the 80 year old female, the tall female with back problems, and each did variations of the Callenetics movements! I also don't understand the "evolution" reference when some of my favorite Callentic exercises were missing. I wish they had demonstrated the original Callanetics movement first, then introduced the "evolved" version. The movements seem to be effective if you can get past the issues I mentioned.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A new discovery of a tried and true method
Comment: This video provides a gentle way to exercise that is also very effective. There are no strenuous movements required and options for less intense muscle impact are given. This DVD is truly worth the money and recommending.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Elegant, Evolved, Evolution ... A step beyond the disco era
Comment: I've done all the barre workouts - Lotte Berk (the Pioneer who started it all and inspired Callan Pinckney and Burr Leonard ... even Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred has some Lotte moves intertwined) and the Bonus Blasts of Lotte Berk Methods (the "extras" on the DVDs) and SuperCallanetics will really, truly change your body. But the original Callanetics and SuperCallanetics have that dated, disco, John Travolta, Jane Fonda shininess that is really quite distracting. You keep waiting for a disco ball to drop and start twirling.
There was really no choice but to update the workout and it's a success. I :love: this instructor. She has this whole fresh eyed, soft and elegant look and such a kind and gentle way about her, so very soothing as she's giving perfect cues and instructions. Nonthreatening. But don't underestimate her or the workout. Underneath that silky smile lurks a no nonsense woman who obviously believes in the workout.
The workout is really very nice, challenging if you want it to be. Excluding Sandra Hanna, the instructor, there are 3 women representing 3 levels: beginners, moderate and advanced. Some "beginner's" version in some workouts aren't really beginner's and they can be discouraging because anyone unfamiliar with the workout or the technique would not be able to keep up or even sustain proper form. No issues here. This woman represents a true beginner and it isn't condescending or threatening. Any person new to Callanetics could do what this woman does with no stress. Sandra is very hands on, literally, and you really can't make any mistake with posture, form or technique. The proper way is shown in comparison to the IMPROPER way so that you always catch yourself. Sandra also gives reminders that you can modify and change between the levels.
The advanced looks as if it would really cause some pain. The model makes it look deceptively easy, balancing on the balls of her feet while effortlessly holding only a medicine ball while also in a perfect plie position. See what I mean about how it COULD be intimidating?
The four of them are so serene looking that I must admit Stepford did cross my mind ... so calm and unruffled they are. Not one bead of sweat to be found on them despite ME being drenched. And for that reason, I've given it 4 stars rather than all available. No one should be that happy and serene while their butts and thighs and abs are screaming. Sorry.
I think SuperCallanetics is more difficult because of the sheer number of repetitions; however, the whole PELVIC FLOOR ENGAGEMENT really ratchets things up a few notches because seriously, who paid mind to your pelvic floor before? Not I ... ??? ... but I made myself (and you won't forget because she is constantly reminding you) and it makes a huge difference. In order to test your pelvic floor involvement, perch on one of those balls. Now slip your hands under your buttocks and squeeze hard as if you're pulling your bum cheeks together. You're rising up a little, right? And you can suddenly feel all that tension in your bum and hips.
Yep, THAT'S what you want to be feeling WHILE YOU'RE DOING THE WORKOUT and if that doesn't carve and sculpt your body, then nothing will. And that is why it LOOKS so easy. Well, as long as you're not trembling, shaking and trying to still your wobbly legs, no one will know you're working so hard. And that shakiness is what you WANT because it means the muscles are engaged and you're actually kicking BUTT!
I LOVE it because it will be a wonderful workout on the weekends ... perfect Saturday morning, Sunday morning workout. It progresses slowly into painful torture, like hot water boiling. It doesn't look like much but again, once you're into it, you begin to feel the fire.
The ab work is ... just plain mean. LOL If you've done SuperCallanetics, it's the same but with a few twists and I do mean that literally. ;)
Basically, it is a more elegant, contemporary SuperCallanetics with less reps, less hairspray, NO mullets (remember Mullet Man and his shiny shorts? LOL ) and only one "beautiful" uttered in comparison to Callan's "loooooooovely" every 10 minutes.
The stretches are awesome. You are so happy to be in the stretch phase each time because the stretches really do feel so good. This is going to be one of my favorites.
I haven't abandoned my love/hate relationship with Jillian or Turbo Jam (I still :heart: Miss Chalene and miss her so I'll dust her off later this weekend or next week).
This workout is fabulous and if I need to punish myself after some bad eating behavior, I'll whip out SuperCallanetics. Just the whole shiny leotards and heavy green eyeshadow is enough to make me repent but those repetitions do get the job done.
I recommend Evolution - my body felt it before the end of my first workout. And who can argue with such results? My skinny jeans really do tell the story.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Callenetics - Nice Step UP
Comment: This callanetics CD is great. This CD allows me to exercise with each routine as it is explained and demonstrated. I would recommend this CD and look forward to finding more CDs like this one.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Workout!
Comment: First of all compliments to Amazon, I'm in Europe and the my DVD arrived in 4 days (normal shipment). The workout itself is great, I've been exercising a lot in the last few years, did a lot of the Lotte Berk Method and the original Callan video but still felt the burn after doing this one. A must buy!
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