Product: Kettlebell Bombshell with Lisa Balash (Kettle Bell Workout) (2011)
Rating: 4.0
Good for kettlebell newbies
This has 4 sections: an instructional section showing the moves, upper body focus, lower body focus and a circuit combining a number of moves. I have to say that I have found Lauren Brooks kettlebell DVD's to be the best for me as a beginner as I prefer her instruction and it is a true follow-along DVD. But, I really like the final workout which covers: anchor squats, figure 8's, one-arm high pull, clean squat push press, racked reverse lunge, suitcase dead lift, one-arm row, full deadlift with straight leg and windmills, polished off with russian twists and side planks. All carried out on one side, rest, then repeated on the other side at some speed so there is a nice cardio bonus. I've written down the list and have used as a basis, adding a few rounds of swings to up the workout level.This DVD does not appear to have been designed to use as a follow along, but rather as a basis to create your own workouts. At the beginning of each segment, a listing of all the moves in the section are shown. Easy to write down and use away from the DVD.The instructor demonstrates using the basic version (5 reps each side), but the list at the beginning tells you if you are intermediate then to do 10 reps, and if advanced, to do 10 reps with a 1 minute rest instead of the 2/3 minutes rest periods shown. SO, if you use this DVD as a basis for creating your own at home workout, rather than religiously following along with the DVD, I think this is where the most benefit will arise. It is based on interval training (round of exercise then rest), and I agree that the rest breaks of 2 mins are too long for me personally, so you do need to either do planks or a bit of jogging while 'resting', or to use fast forward. However, interval training is meant to be an excellent way of burning fatAt the end, it looks like she will release another volume covering more advanced moves such as the snatch, clean and jerk etc. And I think I will be getting that when released. Not given 5 stars as I learnt to use KBells following Lauren Brooks and it has a wider range of moves than this DVD, but I do think that beginners will find this DVD manageable and effective.So, the instructor appears down to earth and is clearly amazingly fit, but actually looks feminine. After the interval workout, my inner thighs were burning the next day and I had a pleasant soreness in arms, uppr back and legs, using only a 3kg bell (my arm strength is not as high as my legs). I would recommend thid DVD, primarily for beginners, or for advanced beginners who want some variety and want to combine moves in a circuit. Word of warning, the importance of holding in ab muscles to protect your back is not really dealt with; once I got tired and a little sloppy in form when swinging and I did something to my lower back through relying on my lower back - be careful and keep good form!