Suzanne Bowan Tighten Tone and Torch - Thoughts

Tighten, Tone, and Torch is a total body workout DVD that is broken down into various segments and all segments are lead by Suzanne Bowen.
The DVD menu is as follows:
Play All
Warm Up
Lower Body Lean
Upper Body Sleek
Cardio Torch
Stretch

If you do all segments, the workout clocks in at over 74 minutes.

The warm-up is just over one minute.

Lower Body Lean is a 20-minute workout.  Suzanne uses a pair of 3lbs weights and a mat.  This workout is roughly broken down into the following segments:

  • Plie series
  • Front Lunge Series
  • Side Lunge Series
  • Knee Series
  • Table Top Series
  • Inner Thighs
In each series, you are doing a group of exercises where Suzanne varies the rep pattern.  Expect single count, pulses and holds. Suzanne also works to the beat of the music which is a steady techno tempo.  There are standing, kneeling and lying exercises.  

Upper Body Sleek is also a 20-minute workout.  Suzanne uses 3lbs dumbbells and a mat.  The sections in this workout are:
  • Push-ups
  • Pilates push-ups
  • 4-arm planks
  • Side planks
  • Reverse push ups
  • Back of Shoulder series
  • Back of Arm series
  • Middle Shoulder series
  • Front Shoulder series
  • Outer Back
  • Shoulder Rolls
In this workout, Suzanne shows progression, starting with the most basic and then moving on to more advanced moves.  All exercises are performed from either the prone, supine or kneeling positions.

Cardio Torch clocks in at around 22 minutes.  In this workout, Suzanne combines upper and lower body movement to increase the intensity. The workout is broken down as follows:
  • Plie Wide Second
  • Lunge Series
  • Plie Squat Hops
  • Abdominals
Throughout the workout, Suzanne varies the rep pattern with single count, double count (pulse) and static holds.  She uses a lot of dynamic up and down movement to get the heart rate up. In the Plie Squat Hop sequence, you are doing a bit of jumping.  The abdominal section is floor based and you are doing a series of standard crunches, oblique crunches, and bicycle crunches.  Cardio Torch was my favorite of the three main segments.

The DVD does include a 12-minute stretch segment. This is a floor-based stretch that uses a chair as support for a few of the kneeling stretches.  


Lower Body Lean - 3 & 1/2 stars
Upper Body Sleek - 3 & 1/4 stars
Cardio Torch - 4 stars
Stretch - 3 & 3/4 stars

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