Customer Reviews

10 Minute Solution: Prenatal Pilates

5 star:		(150)
4 star:		(51)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After a shaky first trimester, my doctor gave me the ok to exercise again. I started shopping for a good, fun workout DVD. I tried the "Buff Moms-to-be" workout - don't bother with that one. Way to wimpy. Next, I got the "The Perfect Pregnancy Workout" DVD. I love that workout. By far my favorite. However, there isn't much core work involved, so I thought I'll get a pilates DVD, so I can alternate workouts. So, I ordered "Pilates during Pregnancy." That workout is way too brutal. It made me hurt all over, and not in a good way. Finally, I ordered the "10-Minute Solution Prenatal Pilates" DVD. Oh, how I love this workout. The whole body gets a workout. Every muscle in your body is working. The workout is just right - not too wimpy and not too hard. Very doable. You'll feel great afterwards. The instructor is very pleasant, and the background is very inviting. The music is there, but not overpowering. There are five 10 minute sections: Standing Pilates, Core Pilates, Pilates for Buns & Thighs, Total Body Pilates, and Pilates for Flexibility (my favorite). You can select the "Play All" feature, or you can create your own workout by selecting only the sections you want to do. I recently started some physical therapy for my sciatica, and the therapist commented on how great my muscle tone is, especially in my core. I told her about this DVD, and she told me to keep it up, since it seems to work well. I'm now 34 weeks pregnant, and I will continue to use this DVD and "The Perfect Pregnancy Workout" as long as I can.
A number of people have raised some concerns about some of the exercises on this DVD that are done laying on your back. First of all, the amount of time you spend on your back is extremely short. A couple of minutes at the most. I spend more time laying on my back during ultrasounds. Also, the physical therapist gave me some exercises to do at home for my sciatica, and those exercises have me laying flat on my back for 3-5 minutes, so it can't be that bad. Also, while you are laying on your back, during this workout, you are moving around, so I could imagine that prevents blockage of blood flow. But, you need to do what you feel comfortable with. I would definitely recommend this DVD for a great pre-natal workout.

Okay, I bought this workout video for the Pilates for Flexibility section, as I wanted a nice stretchy type workout to do before I go to bed. This fits that bill. I have however, previewed the other segments and would like to address concerns about working out while lying on your back.

First, this video is NOT endorsed by the ACOG because you DO some parts of some workouts on your back (hey, it's Pilates). However, the time is limited that you are on your back, and for each exercise that you do on your back, you're moving around--up, down, side-to-side. The whole reason for the "don't lie on your back after 20-weeks" rule is that the growing uterus can exert pressure on the inferior vena cava (a major vein which returns blood from your lower body to your heart)--which can result in dizziness, low blood pressure, and a possible reduction in blood flow to the uterus and, therefore, baby. So, in my non-professional opinion (although, this is my second pregnancy, so I'm not a complete newbie), as long as you're not on your back for too long, and especially if you're moving around stretching and exercising, it's not a big deal.

If you're still concerned, I'll break it down by section.
Two sections--Standing Pilates and Total Body Pilates have no portion where you are on your back.
Core Pilates obviously has you on your back, but it's on an incline, so that eliminates/reduces the pressure on the inferior vena cava.
Pilates for Buns and Thighs has you lay flat, mostly to lift your pelvis for bridges and the like. Again, movement is going to reduce the pressure, and it's only for about 3 minutes of the segment.
Pilates for Flexibility has me on my back for about 2 minutes total, and for most of that time I'm rolling from side-to-side stretching.

I hope that answers people's concerns about this video.

I'm in the 5th week of my 3rd pregnancy. I gained 45 with my first and was in terrible shape. I didn't loose the weight until after my 2nd pregnancy where I only gained 25, but started overweight. I finally lost all the baby weight and then some and now here I am for #3. I am no where near in great shape, but at least my weight is down and I'm working on it. I started working out early and I've promised myself I would have a more healthy pregnancy this time. My diet is great, I just needed to find a workout that I would enjoy and that wouldn't take an hour of my time. I purchased 4 pregnancy workouts - 2 pilates and 2 yoga and I love them all. I looked at pretty much every prenatal workout Amazon has to offer (spent a couple days reading reviews) and am super happy with my choices. All 4 make the workout very personal, the music is great, and there isn't any of that super peppy over acting stuff like so many workouts. They are all well trained in their art and have many years of experience behind them.

#1 - 10 minute Solution Prenatal Pilates with Lizbeth Garcia
This really energized me. It uses weights along with great moves and my heart rate was up and going. I love Lizbeth Garcia. I LOVE that you can pick which order you do the workouts in and you can do one or as many as you like! I'm looking forward to the postnatal workout after my beautiful little one arrives!

#2 - Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga with Elena Brower
This is a great workout! This is my first time doing yoga, though I've done some of the moves in my regular non-pregnancy pilates workouts, and I'm loving it. It has really loosened up my stiffness and made my hips and lower back feel so much better. I thought I was going to die during my 2nd pregnancy because of all my aches and pains. I talked with many of my friends about yoga and what I should look for. They told me about how I should feel it, but not overstretch, to know what my bodies limits are. The breathing really helps. This one also has a postnatal workout!

#3 - Pilates During Pregnancy with Niece Pecenka
All I can say is - wow! My legs are out of shape. The ab workout is great and helps me feel open and even helped my bloated feeling pass. The leg work is a challenge and has a lot of different moves my other pilates workouts don't, but I know it will get easier as I gain strength. Some of he movements aren't always the same length, but I still love doing this workout.

#4 - Yoga for Pregnancy Labor & Birth with Colette Crawford
I did this today and it really relaxed my body and mind (which I needed as my 3 and 5 year old were running around the house doing crazy things). It's very simple and straightforward and anyone can do it. I feel motivated after doing it and so many pressures are gone. As mentioned in some of the other reviews the girls in it aren't super skinny and that is kind of nice sometimes. She talks a lot about breathing, being in the moment, and just knowing your body. I would recommend this to anyone who just needs some time to learn to relax and do some great stretching to help with aches and pains!

I hope this helps anyone out there looking for some great workouts to stay in shape and feel in control during pregnancy. Just a side note, I've noticed working out really helps me control my cravings and wanting to over eat. It strengthens my mind and helps me feel in control.

I have been working out all 6 months of my pregnancy and I am about to enter my third trimester and I found this DVD good but not for people who are not already in shape, especially the ab work. If you do not have a strong core and stomach muscles the section on core strength is not for you. I have been working out regularly throughout my pregnancy but found the core section a little tough and she does not give variations for the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Great workout for beginning pregnancy and will be great as you grow, but if this is your first time trying Pilates you might have to make some variations on your own because she does not give you any. I will stick with this DVD because I have been doing Yoga throughout my pregnancy and think the prenatal yoga to be a little slow but this is challenging and what I am looking for.

I have been doing the Ana Caban, Total Toning Workout, the pilates standing section ONLY, and I am very happy with it. So I tried out a few prenatal pilates DVD's. Making a good pilates pregnancy workout is difficult because a lot of pilates exercises are very core challenging, are done on a flat back, and include fast paced breathing, all of which is great if you aren't pregnant or in your first trimester. Most of the videos I tried were either entirely unsafe or not even worth taking the time to do because they were so easy. This video is Ok, I am in the second trimester and did the whole video straight through, It was an OK workout. The Buns & Thighs, Standing, and Flexibility sections are 5 star short workouts, the other three are 3 to 4 star workouts.

My concern is only in one of the six workouts on the video. The core pilates. 100% safe for your first trimester. However, in your second trimester you must modify the exercises and splint your abs on half the exercises. As seen in Gabrielle Reece: The Complete Fit and Healthy Pregnancy. If you don't your abs will begin to split apart. This was never addressed in this video. Also in your third trimester I would recommend omitting any of the exercises that feel uncomfortable, or cause dizziness. Some people where concerned about lying on your back to do these exercises, as long as you feel good doing them you should be OK. In the Core section she has you doing the exercises supported by pillows so you will not be on a flat back, and it is only about 5 minutes. Though out the video their is a minimum of flat back work.

If you want to try a Pilates wourkout video I would strongly give 5 stars check out, Jillian Moriarty's Prenatal Fitness (Pre/Postnatal Yoga & Pilates Workouts), by Parents, you can find it at Target. Also Suzanne Bowen's Long and Lean Prenatal Workout Is a great 5 stars all Pilates workout video. THEY ARE TWO AWESOME full length pilates workouts with bonus workouts suitable for all stages of pregnancy.

I love love loved this video during pregnancy. I did it twice a week along with light cardio a few days throughout my pregnancy up until the last 3 weeks. I feel like it really helped my core a ton and over all just helped me stay in shape. My belly was literally all baby..As soon as I delivered my stomach was pretty flat again. I can't help but think doing this twice a week is what helped me accomplish my stomach being baby only. I overall still have a little baby weight to lose but nothing like I expected. I also didn't get any stretch marks on my belly! I totally recommend this video for pregnant women.

I really enjoy this workout and used it quite regularly through most of my pregnancy. The thing I LOVE about it is the option to customize the order/number of segments. This was really helpful on days I was feeling tired... I could tell myself "I'll just do 10 minutes today", so the thought of working out wasn't overwhelming.

One area of concern however involves the Core segment. Unless you already have extremely fit abs, I think this section can cause more harm than good. In the latter half of pregnancy, you are more prone to abdominal separation (aka diastasis recti), and the exercises in this segment--especially the crunches--can bring on this condition. I was doing the core workout faithfully until around 25 weeks when I noticed a freakish-looking vertical "ridge" extending down the length of my midsection every time I crunched. (Very disturbing!) It was simply too much strain on the rectus abdominus muscles and they were beginning to separate as a result.

This is still a great workout dvd, but I do NOT recommend the core segment after 20 weeks. Do standing ab crunches instead, and always keep the belly button pulled in tight during any exercise that utilizes the abs. I had to learn this lesson the hard way!

First I'll start by subjecting myself to some net scrutiny. I'm overweight. I was overweight before I got pregnant by about 40lbs. (It was only thirty, but the Freshmen 15 is a determined threat no matter what age you start college lol.) When I realized I was pregnant, I was determined NOT to gain an ungodly amount of weight this time around. 15lbs is my goal and I'm happy to report that as I approach my 23rd week I've only gained 8 lbs. This of course is due in part to pregnancy metabolism, 2 mile walks and now Prenatal Pilates. I've never been real big on the twist, stretch, raise and hold type workouts, (AKA anything Yoga and Pilates related) but the 10 Minute Solution reviews were impossible to ignore. Almost every one I read included something like, 'I felt great after this work out' and 'The instructions were fast paced and easy to follow.' This is especially important to someone like me. I'm not gonna lie I went into this DVD expecting to hate it as I hated all things bendy, but man was I wrong! I'm sitting in my living room, computer on lap, writing this review after my very first, very awesome 10 minute workout. I feel absolutely revitalized not to mention accomplished. My muscles are pulsing and a smidge sore, but nothing outrageous. The overhaul of exhaustion that normally hits after starting a new regimen has been replaced with a shocking amount of energy. At the menu page I chose the Total Body workout and let me tell you even if the rest of the DVD sucks this one routine made it well worth buying. You're going from the second it comes on. The fast pace and easy instructions work you without working you into the ground. I've never had this much fun exercising. Ever. I've looked high and low for something that would make me feel the way I feel today. I've ordered other Prenatal DVD's and researched until I'm blue in the face, but that's all over now. Take it from a pregnant, overweight Pilates hater like me; the 10 minute solution is exactly that; the solution. Good luck to you all, and have a happy, healthy pregnancy.

I love this DVD! It is getting colder where I live and harder for me to walk outside like I would like. I do this at least 4 times a week and it makes me feel wonderful!! It is easy to follow and the 10 minute segments are great! Especially for someone who gets bored easily like me! The fact that I can switch them up and do the ones I want on any given day is a nice feature as well! I just entered my 6th month and I am sure that I will do this all the way until the end!

Currently in my sixth month of pregnancy, I enjoy doing this pilates workout. This prental pilates workout is part of the 10 minute solution series. There are five 10 minute segments that can be done all together or combined in any way you like. The segments include pilates for upper body, lower body, core strength, total body pilates and pilates for flexiblity. It also has a 10 minute segment "blast belly fat fast" for after the baby. The workout moves quickly, so while not terribly challenging, it is fun and stimulating for those who are advanced exercisers yet doable for beginners. Completing the workout leaves me feeling flexible yet toned.