Review: Core Fusion Power Sculpt
Since I’ve been training for a half marathon, I’ve found myself craving workouts that allow me to stretch my running muscles. There’s been a lot of yoga happening in this household, is what I’m saying, and I’ve really slacked off on the strength training.
Core Fusion Power Sculpt just debuted the week of Dec. 6, and, lucky for me, it offers the best of both worlds. It incorporates the fluid, yoga-inspired moves you expect from Core Fusion founders Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito, but adds in a bit of strength work with light hand weights. And it’s customizable—there are five 10-minute sessions with a bonus stretch at the end. You select the sections you want to do, or choose to do them all and they will flow seamlessly from one workout to the next.
Halfpapp and DeVito are expert cue-ers—is that a word?—they take turns leading sections, and give clear, easy-to-follow instructions. There are three other exercisers with one showing modifications, although she’s not always shown at times when it would be most helpful. I mean, I don’t think any number of downward dogs and warrior poses are going to give me flexibility like Halfpapp, and I’m definitely never going to be able to keep a smile on my face the way she does. That’s just not right.
As is generally the case with Core Fusion workouts, there were quite a few times when I was quite literally begging the TV to stop, and it was right about that time that they switched to a new move or, in some blessed cases, to child’s pose. However, a couple of the sections felt fairly similar, with lots of downward dogs and Warriors, and I would have loved a little more variation, especially when they were automatically played back to back.
FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★★1/2
Music: ★★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★1/2
Overall: ★★★★1/2
Fit Bottomed Line: If you want some extra strength work with your yoga and Pilates, Core Fusion Power Sculpt is the DVD for you!
How do you like your yoga-inspired workouts? Straight up or with a strength-training twist? —Kristen
Comments
I love my yoga to be mixed with strength training. I have found, as someone who needs to lose the extra lbs., that strength training is the only thing that helps burn off the pounds. It’s so important to get a complete workout- cardio and strength! Plus I really could use the extra motivation- 10 minute workouts sounds divine!
I”ve always loved Yoga and Strength Training! I’d love to try them together. And I think this DvD would be a great guide to get started!
I love my yoga/pilates mixed with strength. Any workout that is a two-fer is perfect for this busy mom…
I love doing both! I sit at a computer all day so I need to increase my flexibility in my hips but also want to do strength training to lose weight and build leaner muscle. This sounds like the perfect combo of both and I love that it comes in 10 minute workouts so I can create my own depending on how much time I have that day.
I love yoga and pilates but have never tried with weights. Definitely sounds like a good workout to mix in with regular cardio!
I’m skeptical about mixing weight training with yoga-inspired moves. I can see how, in theory, the two could be complementary if you’re used to doing a lot of power yoga or yogilates. I would be very curious to try it but cautious about injury from downward dogging into lifting weights. I’m intrigued.
I would love this! It looks awesome! I also would love to run a half marathon this coming year!
I usually only like yoga after I’m finished. This one actually looks like something I’d like to try though. Thanks!
I love combining strength with yoga. It holds my attention and I feel like I’m getting more out of it. It is the best of two worlds in one!
10 minute workouts are my ideal! It’s so difficult to find chunks of time to workout but mini workouts leave no excuses. This DVD sounds fabulous!
At 56 I try to keep weight training in but I have been emphasizing yoga to the exclusion of strength training since fall. I would love to win this and get more balance.
I would love to try them together!
I’ve always liked the Core Fusion series. They are intense but doable.
I do Classical Stretch on PBS and Core Fusion comes on before it in the evenings. I would use very light weights to start with, but think especially for my core, 10 minute strength yoga sessions would be beneficial and a nice change! Thanks for the review.
love to have a strength training workout along woth my yoga
It depends on my mood. Sometimes I want true yoga because it helps me to rebalance inwardly. Other times, I like to mix it up with weights or pilates or other things because I’m feeling adventurous.
Vinyasa yoga is the best workout for me, but I think you need to add weights to build up the muscles for those more challenging poses! Thanks for the review — I’ll check this dvd out (and hopefully, I win your giveaway)!
I like my yoga to be fast {power yoga more than meditative yoga} so I think combining it with strength would be a nice way to work out.
I like my yoga with fast intense poses and some stretching.
I love strength training, but have only recently gotten into yoga. I always thought of yoga as “hippity dippity” but after running a marathon, decided to give it a shot due to all of the tightness I had in my legs. Even my husband is getting into yoga with me–so this would be a great DVD to try!
I’m big into cardio, so when I do yoga I like it to be more about strength and less about meditation. I do like feeling my muscles “work for it” when doing yoga, and it is a great release even if the calorie burn is limited.
To be honest, I don’t really do yoga. So this winning this would be a way to find out if I like it with weights! 🙂
I haven’t tried many yoga workouts, but I love the strength training ones. I’d love to find some yoga ones I really enjoy – I’m trying to tone up now!
Recently, I started doing Hot Core Power yoga and already see a difference in toning and flexibility. This DVD would be great to add strength!
I love yoga, but I have the opposite problem… I always skip the yoga for the strength workouts, even though my 40 year old body DESPERATELY needs the stretching at this stage of the game. Combining them would be the perfect compromise, my body would get the yoga but my mind would get the iron! What a great idea!
I have never gotten into yoga, not sure of what results I would have, think I may try it out at my gym to try it, my core area has been the hardest part to workout!
I like my yoga workouts with a twist, so that I am never bored, but always limber!
ALL YOGA! You can’t go wrong with a workout that completely relaxes you! I’ve actually taken most of the core yoga classes when I had a free week at the one near me! IN LOVE with sculpting..and I miss my yoga body I had that week! This would totally help.
I like my yoga with a strength training twist, regular yoga just seems to make me want to fall asleep.
I definitely like to incorporate strength into my workouts. This DVD sounds great!
At 54, it is so hard to lose weight. Food choices plus daily exercise consisting of yoga, cardio & strength training is the only hope I have!!
This looks great! Sign me up!!
Oof, this sounds hard! But maybe that’s good. ha. One thing that keeps me from doing yoga is the same thing that keeps me from stretching generally — I can make myself do cardio to burn calories, and make myself strength-train because I like feeling stronger. But it’s easy to put off stretching. So maybe a multitasker is what I need!
I like yoga with strength training please!
I have never really tried a combo workout like this – so I think it would be fun to try.
The only yoga I’ve tried at home is Kundalini, which was an interesting adventure. Seems like yoga with weights would feel immediately more rewarding; you’re getting that stretch, muscle burn and, hopefully, positive soreness afterwards! I’d love to know which of the core fusion workouts is best suited for a reasonably fit 40 year old with a stagnant metabolism!
I love extra strength, so bring it on!
99.9% of the time definitely with strength!!! There is that 0.1% where I just want to relax and calm myself without the added strength though.
I would love to try them together. It would be new to me! xo
kimberly.long at gmail dot com
I like the idea of mixing yoga with strength training. I’ve never tried anything like that. Sounds like fun! 🙂
I like mine to include strength and to keep it moving (no holding long poses for me). This sounds great!
Who doesn’t love to multitask??? This video would be an awesome combo and timesaver. Thanks for the contest!
LOVE Yoga inspired workouts!! At my age I need to stay flexible AND strong!Thanks!
Since I can’t really afford a gym membership, this is something that could really help me out!
I did not know there was such a thing! I normally related yoga to slow paced, controlled movements but I thrive on strength training, so trying the TWO together would be awesome!
When training for my half marathon, stretching was essential. Always looking for a new way of helping my body before and after a great workout.
I love yoga. I am focusing more on core strength training this year so this DVD would be a great addition to my current workout routine. Thanks for the review.
Sounds like fun to me! I’m always looking for new videos to try.
I definitely want some strength training/extra cardio added into my yoga. I’ve found that incorporating them all really improves my running! Thanks for the contest!
I’m still struggling with yoga. Sometimes I love it but most times I hate it. I know if I do it more it will get better, I will loosen up and it will feel more natural. I’d love to give this a try – maybe I just haven’t found the right yoga workout yet!
Hi Michelle,
You win! We’re sending you an email now to get your address.
Thanks and congrats!
–FBG Jenn
As an instructor, I’m always looking for new techniques to bring to my students. This would be a perfect way to introduce some of them to yoga without scaring them off (you know how some ppl are!) and work on the core which is so so so important. I would love to add this to my arsenal!
I love my yoga with strength training. Get the most bang for your buck! This looks like a great DVD to add to my collection. Comcast stopped exercise tv and now I am looking for some new workouts. This would be great!
Love my yoga inspired workouts to be fast paced and exciting, continous flow 🙂
I have tried a few workouts that claim to be THE strength/yoga combo now I want the best!
I love my Ashtanga yoga class, which makes me feel stronger physically and mentally. I also like my yoga practice to be mixed with some strength training, which I do in my pi-yo class. The pi-yo class is taught by my fellow ashtangi 🙂
I love yoga infused with strength training – it’s the only way, for me! This DVD sounds AWESOME!
I adore yoga with strength training. Throw in a little bit of martial arts and it’s even better! The more intense, the more determined I become.
i like my yoga with strength added. any workout with strentgh components added in is better. good luck on your 1/2 marathon
I have been wanting to try more yoga, but always feel like it doesn’t offer me what I am wanting. This is now exactly what I have been looking for!
I had no idea this was even an option. I love yoga and strength training but together it sounds amazing.
I like adding strength training to my yoga, feels much more effective that way.
Yoga with strength training? I have never heard of the combo. I strength train & I do yoga, but not together. I’d love to try it!!! Sure Icould come in handy for my half marathon training too! 🙂
Either straight up or strength – depends on the day and mood i am in!!
I love yoga with some strength training built in, or just holding poses for a really long time to actively engage my muscles. Two workouts in one!
I love yoga for a relaxing mind/body connection at times but I prefer strength training with it for sure. My muscles crave the attention.
This sounds like a great addition to switch up my gym workouts (I am a Les Mills fan).
It can be more difficult to get a good strength training option with an at home workout especially if you don’t have much space. Generally traditional yoga, cardio, etc is easier to do at home, so if this has a strength option twisted in to it, that’s just awesome.
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