Tonique Energy Mat with Sylwia DVD

I'm almost 60. I do bar workouts and lower impact aerobics, but I wanted a video to cause muscle confusion and get my heart rate up. (bigger movements to rotate with the bar workouts.) This workout is really fun and unique, and I know I am going to have a very sore butt tommorrow. This workout is also very advanced, as far as I'm concerned. I am probaly old lady intermediate. Sometimes I couldn't complete all the reps, but I put in the effort. Something to challenge me. Also some of the running planks were very hard for me, but all in all I love this workout. I got sweaty and tired, and feel as if I worked out hard. I did my own stretches at the end. I am glad I have been doing Callenetics, Bar Method, Pure Barre, and Core Fusion before I tried this, as I might not have known how to hold my pelvic girdle and core tight and might have hurt my back. The music is very energetic and makes the workout more fun. Sylwia is young enough to be my daugther and I will probaly never have buns like her, but we can all dream right. She is encouraging and enthusiastic and I like her accent. If you like unique and very challenging moves try this workout, but don't be too hard on yourself if you can't do it all, like I mentioned before its something to work up to.

I workout almost every day. I enjoy the barre work including the Dailey Method, Lotte Berk, Booty Barre, etc. I also enjoy weights and intense cardio. From previous reviews, my expectations were that this would be a good "ramped up" version of barre work. I found it repetitive and boring. Understand the need for high reps, but it was so hard to try to stay interested in this video. Wish I could return...

This was a tough review to write. I love exercise and love to work hard to change my body. That being said, I want to look forward to my exercise session. I know that every session can't be all fun and games, but this workout has somewhat of a dread factor for me. That is why I only rated it 3 stars.The workout is broken down into two main sections:* Energy Mat (64 minutes)The focus is on your legs, glutes and core. You do a little bit of upper body work, but the main focus is lower body.* Energy Stretch (25 minutes)Don't let the "stretch" in the title fool you. You are still working hard; you just seem to flow from dynamic stretching into a more strenuous exercise.First let me tell you what I liked about this workout. The things I liked:* Sylwia. She seems like a very sincere and down to earth person. She is someone I'd love to sit and have coffee with. At one point in the workout she says, "I am so sorry that I am not smiling. I usually smile a lot, but I find I smile too much for the camera."* The minimal talking. Most barre/fusion workout instructors chatter constantly during the entire workout. They give lots of form pointers, but they talk too much and I find myself tuning them out most of the time.* The unique exercises. There were several moves that I have never seen before and this kept my interest. Even though I wasn't always sure exactly which muscle I was supposed to be working, my legs, glutes and core felt pleasantly sore the next day.* The short dance pieces at the end of the mat workout and again at the end of the energy stretch. I wish there had been more of these types of moves. I love how they get my blood flowing.Now, on to what I didn't like about this workout.* It's boring. I think it's because you do about a million reps for each exercise. Well, okay it's not really a million reps, but it sure feels like it. Slywia is very low key, which is fine, but it doesn't make for an energizing exercise session. The set is very plain and dark, plus it's just Slywia.* Not enough form pointers. I know I said I didn't like a lot of instructor chatter, but I think it would have been helpful if Sylwia gave a few more alignment tips. With high rep exercises like these, it's all too easy to get into a trance and just go through the motions.* I didn't really feel my muscles working on some of the exercises. I wonder if it was because my form was off. A few exercises where you are on all fours and you bring one leg down across the other really bugged me because I kept hitting my sneaker of the bended leg. Maybe next time I'll try these particular exercises without shoes.I would suggest watching clips of this before purchasing to see if you will enjoy Slywia's style. This is the first Tonique workout that I have tried, so I can't compare it to Slywia's other workouts.

I definitely feel it. Sylwia is no joke. I do the mat workouts since the standing ones have too much knee-heavy work. The workouts are based on intensity and repetition, so it's challenging to my ADD--but definitely feels like a deep workout for your backside.

I am huge fan of ms wiesenberg, and own most of her workouts. I love this mat workout, I think it is a lot more fun and effective than her previous mat workout. The moves are creative, a challenge, and most importantly, very effective. Your butt and legs will be on fire. Your arms get a decent workout as well as you are on your hands and knees for a good 30 minutes. She is extremely motivating, her cueing is great and she looks amazing at the same time:) i've alternated sylwia with tracy anderson after I had my third baby in last week of july, and the results so far I won't complain about! Try this, try and sylvia wiesenberg, you will get hooked, I did! Ps i don't know what people are talking about that you can't understand her through her accent, I have ZERO problem understanding her, she speaks excellent, articulate English and I wish I spoke another language so fluently.

I like this DVD. Targets the butt and legs and you hit these areas from every corner. I don't find these boring -- I concentrate on the exercises and the burn and feel the areas i've worked from every corner.

This was my second time doing this dvd and even though I begged for mercy during all the moves on all fours,I felt so sweaty and energized after.I have so many dvds and workout daily but until I discovered Tonique I was so discouraged that nothing I did helped me tone up my trouble spots-thighs and belly.I am 46 with 3 kids and I truly believe that Sylwia is going to work her magic on my middle aged body!I love her enthusiasm and wish I could bottle her energy-I have to modify some of her moves,as I'm not Superwoman like her but I give it my all!!I have all of her dvds and have never found a better program then Tonique and I've tried many-Cathe,Tae Bo,Jari Love,Jillian Michaels,Physique 57 and quite a few others.Many of those collect dust now that I discovered Sylwia!

Great routine, loved the whole workout.