Product Details

• Format: Color, Full Screen, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: June 1, 1999
• Run Time: 40 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0615118240
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,904 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Pilates is the rage, and for good reason. Instead of doing endless, mindless crunches, you can condition your abs and strengthen your back with a method of core conditioning that takes discipline and practice and achieves deeper results. This level 1 and 2 Pilates-style mat work is ably taught on a 40-minute video by Hilary Burnett. She takes time at the beginning to teach the correct alignment and muscle control with simple moves that turn out to be challenging if done correctly. Burnett uses vivid language and analogies to help you understand: Your buttocks are "jelly buns" (to let the abs do all the work), your belly balances a dinner plate, and your chest "knits" together as you raise your arms. Then she progresses into a demanding abdominal series with such descriptive names as "roll like a ball" (but be careful to protect a nest of birds on your belly), "spider legs," and "scissors." Your abdominals will scream! Burnett's instruction and language continue to make the technique explicit: She describes the roll-up as "peeling your spine off the mat," and then lowering down by "replacing it bone by bone," for example. All exercises work the abs and back, and some add thigh and buttock conditioning. The same workout is aimed at the beginning and intermediate Pilates exerciser--beginners do just a few of the exercises, then add on until you're doing them all. --Joan Price

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilary Burnett's Mind Body Mat, June 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hilary Burnett's MIND BODY MAT - Exercises in the tradition of J. Pilates [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a wonderful video. When I started doing "Mind Body Mat". I was not sure I could do it, as I had gotten really out of shape and not exercised for a long time. I have been doing the exercises for 6 months now. I am stronger and making progress every single day.The most amazing thing to me is I have stayed with it. Each time you do the exercises you find something new- so it does not get boring.My posture is improving, my strength is improving and I find I look forward to doing this exercise.I have started swimming again, and I notice that the muscle awareness I have gained doing Pilates has improved my strokes and my endurance. Since I started this exercise I have lost 23 pounds! Hilary gives very clear concise directions for each exercise so it is easy to follow.

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 10 years of back pain changed with the help of this tape, May 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hilary Burnett's MIND BODY MAT - Exercises in the tradition of J. Pilates [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I've been using this tape for over a year and believe that I will continue for the rest of my life. Hilary and the exercises she takes you through, provide an endless opportunity to improve muscle strength, flexibility and body awareness. I find myself bored with most tapes after a few viewings. Not this one. I learn something new everytime I do these exercises. I'm taller - I'm stronger - I'm leaner. I love this tape and these exercises!

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilary Burnett's MIND BODY MAT, September 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hilary Burnett's MIND BODY MAT - Exercises in the tradition of J. Pilates [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I workout regularly (running, interspersed with soccer, some yoga and tennis) -- attempting to fill my schedule with one of those exercises 4-5 days a week. After a lot of rave from friends who are taking pilates classes, I thought I would introduce myself to it through a tape (as opposed to the cost of 10 mat classes in a studio). Admittedly, I didn't think the tape was seemingly too difficult while "doing" the excercises (with the exception of my undeniably weak, tremoring stomach muscles). After doing Hillary's workout, I did built up a sweat and was surprisingly VERY sore the next day (not the typical "two days" after as what I would be accustomed to with something challenging) - prooving to me that this was an area that I've long needed to work on (and Pilates just may be the long-awaited challenge I've needed that's been missing from my workouts). Pilates is a regimine I want to continue to tone, define and lengthen my abs and torso - I highly recommend Hillary's tape as an introduction - and I have a feeling it's one that I'll stick with even as I get further developed in the art of Pilates -- it's that good. She consciously forces you (in a serene way) to spend the time to concentrate on your breathing and focus -- very relaxing yet influential in her manner and tone.