I ordered this for my wife from their website not from Amazon. In any case, she has been using it for a few weeks now and is very happy. She has been taking Pilates classes here and there but we recently converted a room in our house to a small gym. She said lots of the exercises are basic Pilates moves but the additional resistance was a big boost to the workout. I know it took some getting used because she wanted me to send it back at first, now she uses it about 3x a week. She wants me to order the additional DVD''s.Update 4/19/2012. I have been using the machine a bit recently to create some variety in my P90x workouts. You can easily incorporate the device into most of the strength programs for added resistance and to boost balance and core. Wife still uses it a few times a week and gives it rave reviews.
You would think that I would not be such an dedicated at home exerciser, but working out at the gym is work for me, and I do my at-home exercises for fun. I have well over 100 work-out DVD''s (Yoga, Pilates, Strength and cardio) a treadmill, elliptical, spin bike, mats, bands, step bench with risers, etc..my husband is almost ready to open up our gym to the public to help pay for all the equipment I buy....I digress...
Like I said, I saw this CR offered and almost jumped out of my seat with joy when I saw it was still available!! I ordered it thinking it would replace my pilates mat routine (2 times a week.) Instead, I will probably use it more to add to my cardio program.
When I opened the box, I was pleased with the packaging and all the extra goodies that came in the box. The recipe book, the workout calendar, the food journal, the precise instruction guide, the all-in-one Core Reformer DVD and of course the easy-toassemble Reformer itself.
After assembling the CR, I started my workout right away with the 45minute Total Body Workout #1. I wear a heart rate monitor during my exercise sessions, and I noticed that with medium tension on the Variable Resistance Bar, my heart rate increased to the same rate as when I complete an elliptical workout. Granted, the cardio sessions are too short on the DVD to be considered heart healthy, but if you memorize the cardio moves and combine them for a 20-minute workout, you will sweat!
Over the next 3 days, I completed all 4 workouts on the DVD at least two times.
Here''s what I discovered I liked and didn''t like:
Likes:
As mentioned above, this is a surprisingly good cardio machine. Not why I ordered it, but there you go.
It stores in one little corner of my already crowded workout room.
The DVD instructor is very precise and gives good body movement instructions.
The CR is easily adjusted to change from a massage roll (minus the stablilzers) to a muscle toning machine for the backs of the arms (just turn the reformer around), to a cardio machine (add stabilizers and push one button to add resistance on the arms,) then to a core strenghtning board.
I can add arm and ab toning with the resistance cords to my cardio workouts instead of just using my legs as with my step bench, elliptical machine, or treadmill.
Dislikes:
The machine was very uncomfortable on my rear when sitting on it for the core exercises. I had to add my yoga blanket around the barrel of the machine just to be able to sit at all on it...it was still uncomfortable, just not as much.
Standing on the machine with both feet for the balance challenges is also uncomfortable. If we want to work the core, balancing does help, but it seems to me like a more stable and comfortable surface would help get the job done because the focus would be on the core only...like on a mat or pilates machine with a flat surface. Maybe if 2" or 3" of the top of the cylinder were flat, it would be more comfortable. I am 5''9 and lying down on the machine to do the core exercises leaves my neck uncomfortable and also, it is uncomfortable on my back because of the rounded cylinder.
In my opinion, as a core exercise machine, the price is a smidge high.
If the machine were more comfortable and stable, I would use it much more often.
Overall, I do think this is a sturdy, well-made, piece of equiupment. I see no signs of potential wear issues due to cheaply made parts. I will use this machine in addition to my regular cardio workouts because I like the addition of the arm exercises whereas my cardio workouts are mostly leg workouts. Adding the arms to my cardio will add a toning segment that I usually wouldn''t have.
I would recommend CR as an addition to your home gym, but I would also add a Pilates Mat DVD to strengthen the core.
Read Best Reviews of CoreBody Reformer Here
I purchased the CBR, tried it and returned it! The DVDs move very fast, instruction is not great, the CBR is large and has to sit on "stabilizers" so if you need to change position or move it further away from tv, you would have to pause DVD to get it readjusted. I have several pilates DVDs that give you as good or better work out without the $249++ price or bulk. Try the 10 min solution pilates DVDs, they are great! Good instruction, good variations for beginners, some use stretchy bands which act like a "reformer". Save your money!!!Want CoreBody Reformer Discount?
This product was not worth the $200 spent. Very flimsy and hard to maneuver. Didn''t receive the introductory workout tape that had the beginner instructions on it. Very important to have that with new equipment!Save $0.04 off
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