Exhale. Ahhh. There is something about the pure, simple exhalation of the breath that calms, that soothes. The newest trend in workout DVDs (and classes if you are lucky enough to live near one of their locations) is a series by Exhale Spa called Core Fusion. While they might not be as simple and relaxing as the actual process of exhaling, they provide your body with a total head to foot workout that will have you seeing results in no time. Used and revered by celebrities such as Cameron Diaz and Heidi Klum, the workouts promise results in three weeks.

There are four DVDS in the set (which can be purchased as a set or individually): Body Sculpt, Pilates Plus, Pure Arms & Abs and Thighs & Glutes. Each DVD is approximately 50 minutes, about the length of a class. The workout can be done straight through, or if you are crunched for time (or just in need of a quick butt blast) they are conveniently broken up into ten-minute segments. Just one ten minute segment will have you burning, though.

The creators, Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp, have over 50 years’ combined experience teaching Pilates, yoga, dance, and Tai Chi, disciplines that inform the Body Sculpt workout. They are founding team members of the Exhale spa. The workouts are Pilates and ballet inspired, combining some of the elements of these disciplines with strength work. DeVito and Halfpapp (husband and wife) provide easy to follow directions as you work through the programs, so you are never in doubt of how to do a move. The programs consist of many ‘strength within stillness’ postures, a phrase you will hear over and over throughout the workout. Basically, this means you will hold a posture for several seconds, providing your muscle with a little shock, giving it something new. This technique is excellent for building tone and definition, without making you bulky. And every little bit of muscle helps to raise your metabolism, burning more calories all day long. Each toning segment is followed by a thorough stretch, because one of the philosophies of Core Fusion is lengthening the muscles—which occurs when you stretch right after building muscle.

For most of the workouts, no equipment is necessary, but for the upper body exercises you will need a light set of hand weights, and a mat is always necessary for stretching. The upper body DVD will leave you amazed that three pound dumbbells can actually make your arms burn. Because you are doing the moves for minutes at a time without release, the burn comes on quickly, and so will the results. The ab series may be the hardest ab workout you’ll ever do. And the buns and thighs DVD? Well, the next day you’ll be finding areas of your body a bit sore. This too shall pass, with repeated use, but you will know, without a doubt, that you have worked out.

These DVDs can be purchased online directly from Exhale Spa’s website (exhalespa.com) or Amazon.com.