10 Jan 2008 - Pheebie of Louisiana, USA writes:
I purchased the Fluidity bar workout system in January 2007 and have been using it regularly (3-5 times per week) for just over a year now. I really enjoy the workouts, though I mostly use the Intermediate DVD because the length of that workout (about 35 minutes) suits my schedule, and I feel the moves are more challenging than the Beginner DVD (obviously). When I have the time and feel I need a little extra boost, I’ll do the Advanced DVD, which features some very challenging moves. I’ve always been active and in pretty good shape, but I was burned out with my prior exercise routines, and wanted something new and different and this fit the bill perfectly. (Side note: I HATE aerobics-style workouts, with all the jumping around and silly moves, so if these aren’t your cup of tea either, you may want to consider the Fluidity system). The Fluidity workout routines become pretty easy to memorize, especially if you do them regularly. Sometimes I’ll just set up the bar (which is fairly easy to do – I’m not sure why some people seem to find this confusing or difficult) and put in a CD, which keeps the workouts from becoming too monotonous. Also, I find the Fluidity moves really do help sculpt the glutes, and my quadriceps are better defined now than when I was an avid runner. I feel I’m more conscious of my posture, too. The abdominal portion of each Fluidity workout is fairly short, but intense and effective if you use proper form. Michelle Austin’s cuing is great, and she’ll often remind you to “pull your navel to your spine,” which is good because when you’re concentrating on one movement, it’s easy to let the abs go, but keeping them pulled in really is key for proper execution and for maximum results. I’d recommend this to anyone who is tired of the same-old, same-old, who enjoys ballet-inspired workouts and who wants to tone and lengthen their muscles and overall body.
1 Jan 2008 - JUDY of Alaska, USA writes:
I purchased this product awhile back but have just now been able to use it. My box was badly damaged as well. Although set up looks difficult, it is easy. My bar is not solid as shown on the infomercial. In fact, it is quite precarious and the mat slides all over the place. Unfortunately Michelle Austin is so familiar with the exercises, it is difficult to follow her because she talks quite fast and the movements are so subtle, it's hard to see exactly which direction they are going. In seeing the infomercial, I really didn't think I would have any trouble with the exercises but be cautioned - even the beginner needs to be modified. The whole thing is VERY disappointing for me and I would return it but it's too late since I didn't get to it until now. I would NOT recommend this for anyone wanting to get in shape - you need to be well on your way before attempting it. Even at that, I would find another bar, this one is very flimsy.
1 Jan 2008 - Gerald of California, USA writes:
I've been using the fluidity system for over six months - twice a week. I've modified some of the moves that are too difficult for me such as the leg lifts using the back board for support - I scoot forward more on that one. I've learned never to perform exercises exactly as shown on videos or dvds - always modify. Having said that I've had a fantastic result. I now have a tight, elegant, and lean body and I didn't diet. But it takes time to really see the results. Keep going on this one and you'll never do anything else. Brilliant!
24 Dec 2007 - alexandra of New Jersey, USA writes:
i got the system today, but i did not receive the pump for the ball? i will have to e-mail customer service and hopefully they will send it out to me w/o an additional shipping fee (cuz i aint payin it) at 1st i was really confused by how i'm supposed to put it together. i thought it was misrepresented cuz the bar doesnt lock down, but then i realized how you have to slide the "seat" of it forward and lock it into the middle bar. the videos are pretty boring & not very motivational. i hope to memorize the moves soon, so i can do em to my own music. michelle austin reminds me a lot of mari windsor. i think both of em have been fit & trim their whole lives and have no idea how to relate to people who wanna get into shape for maybe the 1st time using their videos. i wonder if ms.austin is gonna be sued for making false claims that her product is the ONLY ballet bar workout. cuz like some of the previous reviewers mentioned there is also the bar method system. overall, though, i am very pleased that this is not some sort of bate & switch scam. the equipment is well-designed & well-built, not some cheap plastic piece of junk. but they do do some shady infomercial stuff like charging an extra $10.00 for faster processing & the outrageous shipping fee.
18 Dec 2007 - Lori of Connecticut, USA writes:
I usually do not purchase infomercial products but the fluidity bar intrigued me. I paid an extra fee for priority handling but it took longer than expected to arrive and UPS tracking wasn't available until the day of delivery. The box arrived badly damaged & as soon as hubby was out of the house I opened the box, inspected the unit (thankfully no damage) and popped in the beginner DVD. The workout went quickly so I popped in the "Seat & Thigh" DVD. Some of the moves on Seat & Thigh DVD are identical to the beginner series but there are other moves as well. I don't think the DVD is worth $20 but being pear-shaped I could use all the help I can get so I will probably keep it. It took a few sessions before I felt I was in proper form & doing the moves correctly. I now know that my abs are very, very weak. Even though I'm an avid lap swimmer a couple of the moves were extremely difficult! After a few Fluidity workouts I am seeing improvement in my ability to perform the more difficult moves, I'm standing straighter (my posture is horrid) and it could be my imagination but it seems that my clothes are just a tiny bit less tight. I'm feeling a difference in the pool - stronger & a little faster than usual, which is always a good sign! I have 60 lbs to lose and wholeheartedly believe that if I continue to swim (cardio), use Fluidity on a regular basis (strength) and eat wisely I shall achieve my goals of increased strength and weight loss. I want to be the next success story!
15 Dec 2007 - Stephanie of California, USA writes:
I've only worked out on the Fluidity bar for 2 weeks and I see a big difference already. I did yoga for years and tried Pilates, but nothing has really helped my posture like this workout. I am 51 and a bit overweight, so some of the moves are a little difficult but I think I'll have mastered the beginner's workout in about 6 weeks. I also take belly dancing and I noticed that I more flexible when doing certain movements. Yes, it is expensive but I think it is a good investment. Cheaper than a gym membership. Come to think of it, I've had gym memberships, too, and this has worked faster than going to the gym. Really. Definitely recommend.
13 Dec 2007 - Arleacha of New York, USA writes:
Well I saw the informercial for the Fluidity Bar and was sold after watching the informercial a few times. So I ordered it on Dec 1st 2007 and I recieved it Yesterday and I at first didn't truly understand how to set it up but once I did I was ready to go. I watched the biginners video a couple of times and i'm gonna watch it until i'm ready to use the machine itself but so far I am not disappointed, except for the price but other than that i'm a satisfied customer. The bar is very steardy and the packaging was well put together. I can't wait to get started. Will update soon.
9 Dec 2007 - anna of Pennsylvania, USA writes:
I've tried the workout about 10 times and I really enjoy it. I'm usually a couch potato, and am pretty out of shape. The first few times I tried it, my whole body hurt. Even now when I do it now , I can feel the burn. I have noticed the difference though. Before this, I tried The Ballet Workout with Melissa Lowe and after about 10 times, I didn't see any difference. With the Fludity, I noticed it after the 5th time. I really noticed in my inner and outer thighs, and my seat. The bar is really heavy. I tried taking it upstairs one time, and I really regretted it. Now, I just put it against the wall after I'm done with it. The bar is also not as sturdy as they portray on the informercial. When you pull on it with your weight, it does lift up a bit, but while your doing your exercises, it's fine because you are not pulling on it with all your weight. Set up is extremely easy. All you have to do is lift up and snap it into place. If you don't want to spend the $250, you can get one of the dvd's and try it out first. You don't need the bar to do all the moves, but what you would be able to do would give you a good idea on whether or not to get the whole set. The package comes with the beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so if you are going to get a dvd to try out first, get the seat and thigh dvd. They sell it for $20. I don't know if you can just order it buy itself on their website, but you could probably get it . She doesn't explain the proper posture well. I just do the ballet posture that I learned from the Melissa Lowe ballet dvd. Shoulders down and back, abs up and in, butt tucked in.I think it makes a huge difference. The moves should be slow and controlled. You should actually feel it. If you are doing it fast, you are not doing it right.
9 Dec 2007 - Stephanie of Arizona, USA writes:
Bought the bar, it arrived in pretty good time but upon trying to set everything up I found that it was harder than it looked. It's extremely heavy and bulky. While trying to adjust the bar's height, one side adjusted fine but the pin that goes into the holes broke off on the other side. I had to dissasemble the bar and pull the pin out and reassemble it. When finally getting it back together, I found that when trying to do the excercises the bar would tip and move so I have no idea how they stopped it from tipping on the infomercial. Also, while trying to blow up the ball that comes with the bar, the pin at the tip of the pump broke off into the ball and the ball wouldn't stay inflated and I was unable to remove the pin. It sucks that they won't refund your shipping for this product when sending it back and I've seen some people complain about how it cost them upward of $100 or more to ship it back...my advice is to just shop around on the shipping. I was able to find a place that shipped it for only 30 bucks and it got there in about 3 days! I got my shipping and handling refunded but I'm keeping an eye on my bank account to make sure they don't charge me for the other payments. Hope this was of some help.
24 Nov 2007 - Jennifer of North Carolina, USA writes:
I had a baby 4 months ago and have been using Fluidity for about 2 1/2 months now. I love the workout. It targets areas that are normally hard to focus on (back of thighs, saddlebags). It's great for toning, but should definitely be used in combination with a cardio routine for maximum results. I've lost 16 pounds and 1 pant size since I've been using Fluidity 2-3 times/week. The bar is a little overpriced in my opinion. I think it's worth more like $100, but overall I'm pleased with Fluidity.
13 Nov 2007 - ann of Pennsylvania, USA writes:
I've tried the workout about 6 times and can already see it working. I've noticed I'm starting to develop the outer thigh muscle definition that I've always wanted. You don't get the overdeveloped front thigh that ballet dancers get which I personally think makes their thighs look like a man's thighs. If you want a lot of weight loss, you'll probably need cardio. I use it mainly for toning. Stretching is more effective because you have to lift your leg onto the barre. It gives a better stretch than on the floor.
10 Nov 2007 - Stephanie of Texas, USA writes:
Both my mother and I have been very pleased with this product. It elongates and strengthens the muscle, and my flexibility has improved ALOT. Clothes in general fit better, and I find that when I am building muscle, it isn't nearly as bulky due to their stretching exercises. The bar is difficult to set up initially simply because the box is very large and very heavy (enlist a friend or spouse to help move it where you want it). Once you have it set up, it's not difficult to move or store. It's not the greatest workout for abs or upper body however (not bad, just not the greatest). I recommend this workout twice a week with Pilates and suplemental upper body weight training if you are looking for a total body overhaul. If you are just a lower abs, buns and thighs person, this is all you need.
9 Nov 2007 - Trying of Louisiana, USA writes:
Purchased fluidity about 3-4 months ago. Got an effective workout, more or less, but still I am hung up on the COST! $250 is a huge chunk of change for someone like me (college, 3 kids), and while fluidity provides a decent workout (which can be done with a chair or tension rod for the most part), it doesn't give everything one needs to get in shape and lose weight. Bottom line: don't purchase this if you're looking for weight loss- it's more for toning, and i'd have to say simply another exercise tool, such as a chin up bar or a set of dumbells in a collection. Definitely don't expect $250+ workth of miracles- ain't gonna happen. It's too $$pricey$$ for what it delivers...
7 Nov 2007 - Eva of New York, USA writes:
I ordered the Fluidity Bar about three months ago. I was a long time fan of the Bar Method videos but not any more. I honestly have to say the way Fluidity does the workout is by far more effective. With the Fluidity Bar I can work the whole back of my body which I can't do with Bar Method videos simply because they don’t have the bar!! Also, the arm workout is so much more balanced, and my butt has never looked better! My body is starting to look like a an actual dancer, with new muscles popping up every where. And, a great extra is my back never hurts anymore!! The stretches are appropriately repetitive and effective, and the strengthening moves are all different. What I care about most of course are RESULTS and I have definitely gotten them with Fluidity. I would highly suggest this to anyone!!!
7 Nov 2007 - Jennifer of Texas, USA writes:
My bar just arrived, and after some of the reviews I was nervous about setting it up,it was surprisingly simple :) Yes, it is heavy, but once you unpack it all you do is pop it up then collapse it back down and roll away. The workout itself I thought was fantastic, and well explained. I am not flexible in any way, and yet I was able to do the intermediate on most, though sometimes I would have to drop into the beginer mode. I have not tried the other DVD's just the first one, and I have no complaints at all!! It was enjoyable and wow could I feel it! I only have about 30 pounds to lose, and I can see how this would not be a great tool for a huge amount to lose. However if you have 50 pounds or less to lose I would highly suggest this product!!!
6 Nov 2007 - Tamara of Michigan, USA writes:
I have used the bar and videos for 2 months. My results have been dramatic. I think the key is to be very precise in the movements. Very controlled. While it is true that the videos do not have much variety and I "graduated" to the advanced video in three weeks, I will keep using this system. I started at 180 lbs and am down to 145. I went form a size 14 to a size 8. I did watch my diet, and I walk my dogs at a pretty fast pace for about 2-3 miles per day most days. I think when you see the videos the first time it is easy to underestimate what these small movements can do to tone your muscles, but just get through to the end and you should be feeling it. I am a believer and would highly recommend this product even if I would love to see some more videos porduced for variety.
6 Nov 2007 - Nabillah of Virginia, USA writes:
I’ve been doing Fluidity for 4 months and I absolutely love it! I have definition in my arms, abs and butt which I had never had before. Every strength move is followed by a stretch so you really feel like you’re getting a total body workout. The instruction is great. And the exercises leave you feeling like you really worked your body, but in a way that leaves you feeling totally energized. It’s awesome. I recommend it to everyone!!
5 Nov 2007 - Tracy of Texas, USA writes:
UPDATE: It's been a little over a month that I started Fluidity. Along with this routine, I jog 1 mile three times a week. So far I've lost 8lbs and gained a little muscle definition. I know the routines seem repetitive, but the results off set the boredom.
4 Nov 2007 - Hannah of California, USA writes:
If you are purchasing this product for the barre then I would reccommend it. The use of the barre will justify your purchase. I'm VERY dissappointed in the workouts, the exercises are repetitive, and more videos should have been produced to prevent a plateau in muscle development. I'm not an expert in nutrition, but the booklet is a joke. Save your money, unless your really want the bar.
29 Oct 2007 - Deborah of New York, USA writes:
I got the fluidity bar four days ago. It is somewhat heavy but the machine has wheels so you can roll it around. I have not worked out fully for five years because I had five abdominal surgeries and have developed severe back pain. I am using the beginner dvd but I exercise with the intermediary person (they have three demonstrators: one beginner, one intermediary and one advance. I have used the dvd twice-- in three days--amazing. Yesterday, I was definitely sore in my legs, but not in my back, which was great. Again, today my back does not hurt. So far I am very happy. I looked at all the dvds. The exercise vary somewhat, the stretching is always the same. I am looking forward to getting back in shape. I thought I got fluidity because of my youthful wish to play ballerina, but it looks like it will actually be a benefit. Who knew?
