Focus: Weightless

This workout has already been broken down extensively, so I will just post my overall impressions. I am really pleased with this workout. Tracie has this designated as "cardio" and while it does have some toning bodyweight exercises included (pushups, tricep push ups, squats, lunges to name a few) I still consider it mostly cardio, as I worked up quite a sweat! I loved that the workout didn't spend too much time on any one exercise. You moved quickly from one cardio session (burpees, jacks, squat jumps) to another (kickboxing inspired). I liked how each song was a different type of cardio session, as it kept the workout moving along. I also liked how the cardio was divided into mostly lower body cardio first then into upper body cardio then a cardio session where upper and lower were alternated. I felt my core engaged throughout all the cardio, which is a huge plus for me. And any workout that includes planks and pushups are good.

What I Liked

I liked that there were different flavors of cardio sprinkled throughout. You got purely athletic stuff mixed with choreographed stuff mixed with kickboxing. Some may find it distracting (why not all step or all hi/lo) but I thought it was nice and different. Also, you were able to use your body and mind were constantly engaged, and not looking at the clock. Also really liked the music and the set.

What I Didn't Like

Okay, so there was this one weird move where it seemed you were jumping up into a hitch kick but you really go back into a lunge. Hard to describe. So hard that Tracie didn't do all that well with explaining it either. I have no idea what that was about; it seemed a little like I was going to fall down. Also, there was this one section where you are doing all this cardio, sweating and heart rate up, and you are asked to go immediately down to the floor for pushups. I took about 15 seconds to pause before doing that, as I thought I would get too dizzy for it.

What You May Want to Be Aware Of

There is some wrist intensive exercises (burpees, plank work, a short mountain climber session, pushups) so be ready to modify. There is also quite a bit of impact but Tracie does show modifications.

Overall I really enjoyed the workout. This is great for doing in the mornings. If you are short on time, doing this one alone will definitely make you feel like you got a good workout. You will feel worked out without feeling wiped out. For someone just getting back into bodyweight workouts, this fits the bill. I would rate this intermediate that is easily modified into advanced or taken down notch. And this is great to take with you on vacation

This is Volume 6 in Tracie Long Fitness"Focus Series.

I'm reviewing this workout after doing it twice.

General workout breakdown: LindseyLu and PeakFitness have already described this workout well, so I'll just go into further details about the exercises and add a few thoughts of my own.

On Tracie's forum this is classified under "cardio," despite the fact that it contains exercises commonly found in strength workouts. Having never been a Firmie, I don't understand the FIRM classification system, and I can't define "cardio" in FIRM- or Tracie-speak well, nor do I feel able to argue for a better classification, so I'm not sure how to work this into my own rotations. I use this on designated "cardio" days in a suggested Tracie Long rotation, and it seems to work well for that purpose, but I have to take a day off after doing 2-3 days of her "weights," "cardio," and "interval" workouts in a row because my upper body, particularly my shoulders, starts to get cranky.

Total Workout Time = 31.5 min.

First song (5 min.): This is basically your warm-up. You'll begin with several repetitions of prisoner squat - reverse lunge, pivot into lunge - front kick - pivot back, and pulsing squat - low back stretch. You'll then add in two big steps, shuffle, and tap out with rotation; later you'll add in a side lunge with a knee lift, adduction (leg sweep to the front), abduction (side leg lift to the side), or side leg lift to the rear, rotating through these with each run-through of the "combo."

Second song (4.5 min.): You'll do 4-6 burpees one at a time with marches in between. In between rounds you'll squat with alternating calf raises; you might also do a step knee (option: push off to a hop). After 3 rounds of that, you'll do two or so rounds of squat jumping ¼ turn, using the same pattern (although you'll do several squat jumps in a row before marching in place).

Third song (almost 4.5 min.): You'll focus more on the upper body with these kickboxing moves: alternating jabs, alternating upper cuts, 6 jabs & squat, speed bag arms, (high knee) jogging / jumping jacks, front kick - knee - front kick, and alternating hooks. This segment ends with a hold in a low squat, arms in guard.

Fourth song (4.5 min.) This features a combo of switch knees, squat - lunge, crescents (aka alternating lunge side to side with arms circling overhead), jump in & out, and pulsing static lunge. Hamstring curls, with optional power, are your recovery move. You'll then move to the floor for triceps (elbows narrow) push-ups, after which you'll bring alternating feet forward for a wide lunge while holding plank. You'll come up to standing and roll out the back before taking a deep breath to finish this off.

Fifth song (4.5 min.) You'll begin with a deep breath and shoulder roll before doing some side lunges with overhead stretches. After unrolling your mat, you'll come down for triceps dips. Rolling back on the forearms but keeping the back up and straight, you'll extend and bend in the legs. Next come double crunches (note: Tracie does not cue what you're supposed to be doing - it's only by looking at her that you realize she wants you to add in the reverse crunch part) and prone upper back extensions (adding in rotation, then arm sweeps). For many of these moves Tracie does single repetitions before using a syncopated rhythm that may take some getting used to.

Sixth song (5 min.): Plankwork is next. Tracie adds in a knee to the chest, to which you can add a turn and then a kick; you'll also bring the knee to the opposite elbow. Next comes another round of prisoner squats, only this time you start from kneeling and move up one leg at a time to squat before lowering one leg at a time. You'll then lean back and pull forward while kneeling (the "knee dancing" position). Push-ups, followed by push-ups with rotation (or T-push-ups), come next. Child's pose serves as a release before repeating a few exercises on the other side and ending with mountain climbers (quick, then slow).

Seventh song (just under 4.5 min.): Tracie says this is your stretch, but first you have to hold a side plank, adding some arm movements to the front and over the head, with little hip raises. You'll do a lying quadriceps stretch and a seated twist with ankle outside opposite knee. Seated hamstring stretch, table top with one leg extended, and a seated release of knees side to side into a quick pigeon pose finish out this segment.

Level: I'd recommend this to intermediate through intermediate / advanced exercisers.

I consider myself an int. / adv. exerciser, although I'm more on the intermediate side these days, and this was a nice workout that got my heart rate up and made me feel worked out. I found this rather uneven in intensity from segment to segment, however. I have to say that I'm not an intensity junkie who loves impact, although I do like to challenge myself and work in plyos and controlled jumps with workouts of this sort.

Class: Tracie alone, instructing live.

Music: This is one different upbeat soundtrack.

Production: clear picture and sound. I found the music almost starts to overwhelm Tracie's voice. I know a bunch of people have strong, mostly negative, opinions about the sound on the first four Focus workouts, and are pleased with it on these latest two. But I actually dislike the fact that I have to crank these two up to hear Tracie, only to get an earful of music. (I work out in my apartment, which I share with someone who's not always on my schedule, in a room that adjoins my neighbors"apartment; I need to be able to keep the sound low and still hear instructions clearly.)

Equipment: I agree that a mat is a good idea. I'd also recommend a pair of sneakers and a supportive jogbra, too, if relevant.

Space Requirements: Tracie does the whole thing on a circular platform that can't be more than 5-6"in diameter. At 5'8" in a rectangular room of about 5-6"deep by 7-8"wide I had room to spare.

DVD Notes: Your main menu options are Chapter 1 - Get Your Fix (14 min.), Chapter 2 - Quickie (13 min.), and Weightless Full Workout.

Comments: For those who feel that one Focus workout isn't enough, may I recommend pairing them up? (This isn't to say that you can't get a good workout from one or even part of one by itself or that someone who can only do one or part of one at a time should in any way feel inferior; it's just a suggestion for those who relish a challenge and have the time for it.) Both times I've done Weightless I've paired it with Break Through. I chose to do a little bit of a warm-up on my own since neither have much of a warm-up, but if you're tight on time I think starting with Weightless might be a better idea since I feel like there's a little bit more of a transition from standing still into the workout.

I also think this is a good "finisher" workout to tack on after another short weights session and finish off anything you may have left in the tank.

Although I miss the 10-min. segments of the earlier 4 Focus workouts, I prefer the more unified approach of the latest 2. Even though this still feels a bit hodge podge-y at times, at least it feels like the workout has a focus with the alternating intensity levels and inclusion of bodyweight moves.

I actually rather like the title. It's a nice play on the fact that you don't need weights plus makes you aspire to feel weightless as you go airborne and, if you need to, get in shape and carry around less weight.

This is a 30 minute workout, or you can choose 2 short "chapters" from the main menu for mini-workouts. Tracie says "no equipment," but uses a mat in the last segment. There is a partial get-up move, where you are going from kneeling to standing, back down to kneeling, so you may want to have your mat ready, too.

This is basically a Firm-style workout with alternating toning and cardio moves, but the toning sections are bodyweight exercises, without dumbbells or props. It is an interesting and fun variation on the typical Firm-style workout. Firm-style also means that even the toning sections are a bit choreographed. For example: squat, pivot right for a static lunge, squat again, pivot left for a static lunge on the opposite leg. Tracie creates Firm-style combinations of toning moves, instead of just doing reps of squats before moving on to reps of lunges.

She doesn't spend very much time on any one move. This is a plus for me; it keeps everything fresh and interesting. But some people feel they don't feel worked out enough when they have to move from one thing to the next so soon. I like this style, but it's not for everyone.

I like having this in my collection. It's a bit different from Kelly Coffey Meyers' Body Training because of the circuits of cardio moves.

Tracie leads this 30 minute cardio and body weight resistance workout. She works out alone in a cute brick gym on a pedestal. She does show modifications for many of the exercises. You wont need any equipment for this workout.

Tracie does a good job of including higher intensity cardio moves followed by lower intensity moves so you can really give it your all throughout. She incorporates body weight resistance exercises with fun high & moderate intensity cardio making this a very unique, fun, and effective workout!

Exercises include: burpees & marches, jump turns, walking knee ups to knee hops, upper cuts, jabs, speed bag, jab, hooks, jogging, pulsing squats, pulsing lunges, ham curls to plyo hams, tricep pushups, plyo jacks, jacks, and plyo knee pull lunges.

I really enjoyed this workout-fun and to the point. Great to use on light strength days or for cardio. I rate this an intermediate workout that can easily be adapted for most fitness levels. Fun exercises keep this workout moving right along. Good for travel or no equipment days. As always Tracies cuing and form are spot on! This is a winner! I received this dvd to review.