Customer Reviews

Fit Chic: Fashion Your Body with Pilates [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is my favorite Pilates workout on video (and I have several). I would have to disagree with another poster, however - I do not think this video is for beginners. I would classify this as intermediate to advanced. Some of the exercises in this workout are very difficult. I have been working out for over 3 years and consider myself an advanced exerciser and I found this workout to be very challenging.

What is great about this workout is that it is short but very thorough and challenging. The workout is divided into 2 segments (each about 20 minutes long). The first segment is the complete workout. Each exercise flows into the next and there is no talking whatsoever - just music and the name of each exercise is spelled out on the screen. The workout is so wonderful and flowing...it almost feels like a dance. The second segment is an instructional segment in which Niedra goes through each exercise and teaches you how to do it. It is good ot watch this segment before you do the workout for the first time.

All in all, this is an A+ pilates workout....a challenging and flowing routine with a great instructor and the music is awesome too. Nicely produced as well.

I highly recommend it for intermediate to advanced exercisers.

This is an excellent dvd for pilates beginners. Niedra's instruction and imagery are extremely helpful. She shows modifications for those of us who are less flexible, too. My only complaint is that I wish the instructional section of the workout had music. This is a must have for any serious pilates student, highly recommended!

I started doing Pilates about three months ago (in addition to my regular yoga and jogging), and got this DVD in a quest for variety after I got bored with the good, but VERY slow paced, intro Pilates discs I had. This routine could be called "speed Pilates" and I love it!

This disc is divided into two sections: a non-stop :20 routine (no instruction, just music and title cues), followed by a detailed run-through with complete instructions for each exercise. The quality of instruction is excellent, and I picked up some good tips that were missing from the other (big-name) Pilates tapes I have.

I do think this workout can be appropriate for beginners if they start by following the detailed instructions section until they have mastered the basic moves, and don't try to do the non-stop routine right away (and maybe skip a couple of the more challenging moves until they build strength and flexibility). Do what you can, and respect where your body is at, and you'll improve faster than you expect!

It's also important for beginners (and experienced) to remember that Pilates is all about CONTROL and PRECISION. In the non-stop routine, Niedra does the moves quite quickly. Don't expect to be able to match her pace right away. It's better to do 5 reps with control and precision in the time she does 10, than to rush trying to keep up and get sloppy. The more attention you pay to form, the better your results will be, and soon you'll be moving at a nice tempo right along with Niedra.

As for RESULTS: I challenged myself to do this routine every morning for 40 days. It's day 38 today, and I definitely see a difference; my honey says I look "sleeker" in the hips and thighs. I've lost 2 pounds (without giving up chocolate, wine, or cheese!!) and look like I've lost 5. My waist, abs, and hips are all down an inch, and I've lost a half-inch or so from my thighs and have better muscle tone. My butt is firmer, and even though I've been doing yoga for years, my flexibility is a little better. Since I was in okay shape when I started, I didn't expect to see this much improvement in 5-1/2 weeks.

What I'm most thrilled about is that I'm trimming down without bulking up. I gave up doing free-weight workouts years ago, because my muscles got too big. I didn't care that it was muscle, not fat; I wanted slimmer, not bigger! This workout is delivering the strong, stretched, firm, toned, sleek thighs and mid-section that I had feared (at age 45) I would never enjoy again. Thanks Niedra! I'm a "speed Pilates" fan for life!

Since the birth of my son, I have been looking to get back into shape. Well, no matter what your fitness goals are, this inexpensive yet invaluable DVD will not let you down. It provides the perfect combination of strengthening, toning, and stretching.
Niedra Gabriel, the instructor/choreographer, is patient and understanding, giving modifications so that anyone can get the perfect level of challenge.
Part 1 is every exercise featured as a marvelous dance that alternates stretching and strength training. It is challenging, yet exhilarating, and, personally, I get lost in it. Turn it up loud; the music (which thoughtfully changes every minute or so) is entertaining, thought-provoking, and encourages a great mood. Don't worry if Part 1 is too much; Niedra says herself that "the goal is to be able to do Part 1 without interruption".
Part 2 is a comprehensive guide to each exercise (and there are many!) complete with at least 2 different variations (beginner/advanced). It is essentially the same workout, but with a patient, friendly, informative, and most of all understanding instructor with over thirty years experience under her (size S) belt!
Buy it and you will be taken by pleasant surprise.

I really enjoy this DVD. I've been into yoga for a while and do aerial circus training once a week. Pilates has always been of interest to me, and I finally got this DVD and gave it a shot. The instructional segment is about 45 minutes long and perfect for beginners, I have back and hip problems but was able to do the moves smoothly within 3 sessions. After a week and a half or so, I switched to the routine and still find myself challenged 3 weeks later. I also got another DVD which is segmented into beginning, intermediate and advanced, and was pleased to find that there are some 'advanced' exercises included in this workout! I doubt I will ever outgrow the routine, though I'm about to the point where I am going to put my own music on.

I absolutely LOVE this DVD. It is short and to the point which is what I need given my time schedule. In 20 minutes you get a great pilates workout. She also throws in a lot of fun moves to make this DVD a lot of fun to do.

If you are completely new to Pilates, I would still recommend Pilates for Dummies - this one might be too difficult for you. But for other Pilates beginners or intermediaters, this video is really among the best I have seen. I should know - I own a good chunk of the Pilates DVD out there. The DVD is free of the useless promotions and extra features, it's simple and to the point. The instructor is a bit new age; some users might see her colorful outfit and bracelet as a distraction. But if you can get past that, she gives you a solid workout with concise instructions. I particularly liked how she demonstrates different approaches to the workout for users with different levels of flexibilities. It will be difficult to outgrow this DVD and get bored with it. I highly recommend you to give it a try if you are serious about Pilates or getting fit.

Excellent tape. Highly recommend for anyone who has the basic understanding of Pilates workouts. You can enjoy ~25 minutes of uninterrupted pilates workout to excellent background music. I love it and and have so much fun rolling, stretching and bending to music. Now I am so flexible that I sometimes show off my flexibility skills in front of my friends. You will have a rock hard mid-section in no time. Do yourself a favor and buy this tape. I have told all my friends about this. I love everyting about the tape and so will you.

This is the best pilates dvd I own. I got several - including pilates for dummies - to get started. This one explains the technique the best and allows easy movement among all the different exercises in part 2 instructions. I had never done pilates and found I could not learn by doing the movements while watching the instruction. With this DVD, I sat and watched several movements and day and slowing learned all of them. I don't think I would have stuck to learning the movements if not for this DVD. Worth the money.

I never thought I would purchase a workout video, but because of my lack of budgeting, I was forced to quit my gym membership. I bought this video on a whim--I was pretty skeptical--but I have been doing the pilates routine every morning. I highly recommend this video to anyone who wants to get in shape and feel better about themselves.