New workouts

Leslie Sansone: Just Walk — Belly Blasting Walk

Leslie Sansone: Just Walk — Belly Blasting Walk

Monday, April 22, 2013

Title: Leslie Sansone: Just Walk - Belly Blasting Walk

What’s the goal: walking to get healthy and exercises to whittle the waistline, flatten the belly and strengthen the body’s core muscles (abdominal and back muscles).

Who’s it for: Anyone who is familiar with Leslie Sansone’s Walk at Home DVDs will enjoy adding this to their collection. Like many of her other workouts, this DVD features easy-to-follow steps and routines that can be modified for your fitness level.

Format: Menu options let you choose either to do the complete 53-minute program all at once or customize your experience by selecting the walk or toning workouts one at a time.

Sansone begins with a two-mile fast “cardio walk” (about 30 minutes) with pauses in which you do several abdominal exercises, such as core rotations and standing curls.

Next, two 10-minute segments concentrate on core work. The first program emphasizes flexion exercises, including several Pilates-inspired movements. The second segment focuses on muscle extensions to strengthen front and back core muscles. Exercises include balancing, modified pushups and planks. You lie on your back during the first belly-blasting session, and balance on your hands, knees and stomach during the second.

Gear needed: a yoga mat or padded surface for the floor exercises.

Floor space required: Enough room to lie down and extend arms above your head.

Can I do it barefoot? The floor work can be done barefoot, but you’ll want shoes for the walk, which includes jumping.

Who demonstrates the workout? Sansone and five women of various shapes and sizes demonstrate the walking portion. One assistant, Brianna, performs lower-intensity modifications when the intensity increases after the first 10 minutes. Sansone demonstrates alone during the floor segments.

What can I expect? Sansone’s cues and especially her transitions into each movement are helpful.

She describes the proper way to move and the benefits of each exercise. Working out with Sansone feels like exercising with a friend.

Her manner helps you feel comfortable and confident, especially if you are not experienced in performing the moves.

Workout developer’s credentials: According to a biography at Livestrong.com, Sansone started her company, Studio Fitness in New Castle, Pa., as a way to put herself through college. Twenty-five years later she has a multimillion dollar business and has sold more than 15 million fitness DVDs.

Price: $14.98

ActiveStyle, Pages 23 on 04/22/2013