Exhale Core Fusion

Core Fusion is a combination of all of your favorite mind-body exercises including pilates, yoga and simple calisthenics. It was created by husband and wife duo, Fred Devito and Elisabeth Halfpapp. Both Devito and Halfpapp have had a love affair with fitness since they were young. Halfpapp is originally a dancer and Devito was a football player in high school, and worked as a physical education teacher. They are in their 50’s but they have better bodies than most people in their 20’s and 30’s. They also worked for years as Lotte Berk instructors in Manhattan. Back in the 90’s, they quit working as Lotte Berk instructors, and created their own version, which emphasizes toning but also stretching to create long and lean muscles in 2002. If you like the Bar Method, you will also enjoy Core Fusion.

First of all, I have to say that I am of normal (not obese, nor underweight) body weight for my height and bone structure, but I never felt truly fit. In my twenties, I tried running four to five times a week, but I would always feel guilty if I missed one day. My thinking was that if I missed one day, I would become “unfit” and that I would quickly gain weight. I also tried the Body for Life workout, which involved lots of heavy weight training and eating chicken and egg whites all the time. Eventually, I started to look like a linebacker, (not the look I was going for) and I couldn’t fit into my sweaters because my shoulders were getting so big.

I wanted a workout that would tone my body, keep me continually interested in doing the workout for years to come, and give me a feeling of relaxation and accomplishment after I finished.

I happened upon the Exhale Core Fusion series when I was looking at pilates dvds on Amazon. It was one of the suggested items. I then did some more research on the Internet and read about people’s transformations from a 30 day Core Fusion challenge. Most of the women lost major inches just by doing the workout 4-5 times a week.

For me, I knew a 30 day challenge would not be enough time to decide if this really works. I decided to give myself 90 days to see if Core Fusion was worth the effort.

My personal results with Exhale Core Fusion include:

1. Significantly Looser clothing, specifically lots of bagging in my pant legs where my thighs and butt are.

2. Toned body, meaning I actually have a bicep muscle, that my stomach is flatter and my butt is higher and rounder than it’s ever been. I can do push ups! I feel like I have the lean body of a dancer as opposed to a linebacker with Body for Life. I feel feminine yet strong, which feels empowering.

3. Sense of accomplishment every time I do a hard Core Fusion workout (I put a little x on my calendar to note each time I do it)

4. Sense of calm I receive from doing the workout after a long day of work. I feel like all is good in the world after a workout.

5. Ability to eat the same things I normally do without gaining weight or feeling guilty. I don’t eat like a rabbit and I never will.

6. Sharing and spreading the word about Core Fusion. I initially starting doing Core Fusion with my coworker, Ann. Now, my sister and my mom do Core Fusion 3 to 5 times a week, and my sister’s roommate has joined the bandwagon.

Do not worry. If you live in a remote area or you do not want to spent hundred of dollars to get your body fit. There are two very reasonable ways that you can get a Core Fusion body.

1. Purchasing any of their Exhale Core Fusion DVDs (in order of distribution date)

• Exhale Core Fusion Body Sculpt
• Exhale Core Fusion Pilates Plus
• Exhale Core Fusion Thighs and Glutes (you can buy Body Sculpt, Pilates Plus and Thighs and Glutes as package, which comes out cheaper than buying them individually)
• Exhale Core Fusion Abs and Arms
• Exhale Core Fusion Lean and Toned
• Exhale Core Fusion Energy Flow Yoga
• Exhale Core Fusion Boot camp

Most of the DVD’s with the exception of Lean and Toned consist of 55 to 60 minute DVDs with 5 segments broken into 10 minute intervals. For example with the Body sculpt dvd, it is divided by arms, thighs, glutes, abs and cool down. If you are strapped for time, you can choose to do one or two segments. But doing it as a whole, is most effective. Personally, my go to dvds are the Core Fusion Body Sculpt and the Core Fusion Lean and Toned DVD. In essence, what makes Core Fusion so good, is the intense, strenuous interval training of muscle work, followed by stretching to prevent bulking.

By the way, I have found that the best value is to get it off of Amazon. In addition, if you purchase one of the Core Fusion DVD’s, you are also allowed immediate access to Amazon’s Video on Demand library. So you can order the Body Sculpt DVD, but while you’re waiting to get it shipped to you, once you pay, you can immediately start working out via Video on Demand.

2. Core Fusion Classes via Yogavibes

Yogavibes is a website that allows you to “rent” yoga and other mind-body classes via single pass or monthly pass options. For example, you can purchase a monthly pass for $20 which allows you unlimited access to 5 classes of your choice. Therefore, you can take several “live” classes of body sculpt, boot camp or yoga. As so many people have noted, taking a core fusion class via Yogavibes allows you to workout with “real” looking people. They may not have perfect timing with each repetition, and they don’t look like super models but they still have toned, flexible bodies, which you feel you can reasonably aspire to with some effort and consistency. All in all, the dvds and yogavibes classes are a good way to introduce yourself to Core Fusion, if you may be reluctant or shy to participate in a class filled with people. On another note, I noticed that the classes on yogavibes seem more challenging. It humbles you once you think you’ve mastered the Core Fusion moves from the dvds.

I found an article written by Fred Devito, called the Cardio Myth. He writes “Excess running for a number of years can take a toll not only on your joint health – but appearance. The repetitive pounding that you do when you jog can lead to the elastin and facial muscles to collapse … Do you want to speed up the aging process on your face?” Yowza, to be honest, I never thought about the connection between cardio and skin elasticity. Just another reason to get off the treadmill and start doing some leg lifts and planks!

Core Fusion classes were originally offered in Manhattan, but they have expanded to many major  cities including Miami, Palm Beach, Santa Monica, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas. If you are wealthy jetsetter, they also offer classes in the Hamptons and Turks and Caicos.  Classes are not what you would find at a local YMCA. A single session is $35 and a series of twenty sessions is $560. But despite the cost, there are waiting lists to get in, which implies that they must be doing something right.

1. Yoga mat
2. Elastic stretch band or towel for stretching
3. 2 to 5lb weights depending on your strength
4. Exhale Core Fusion socks (but I do it barefoot and I seem to be doing ok)