Customer Reviews

Karen Voight - Total Body Pilates

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

 

 

This DVD contains two pilates workouts. The first one really concentrates on legs. Great inner thigh work using the Pilates Magic Circle. KV sells one, and so do others. This may not be magic, but it is a great help for targeting inner and outer thighs.

The other workout is Abs and Back focus- this targets two trouble spots. Usually abs are trouble because they don't look as great as we wish, and the back is a problem because it isn't as strong as we need, thus causing us pain. This workout will help with both problems, and in a gentle balanced manner. It is a great workout, at what most would consider an intermediate level. If you have never done pilates before, be prepared to have trouble with this workout, but don't feel pressured to do the whole thing the first time.

The workouts themselves deserve 5 stars and the fact that they are on a DVD is a great improvement. My biggest gripe is that I wish that the DVD had more chapters. KVs Circuit/BLT workout has some of the best chaptering of any DVD I have seen, so she isn't completely ignorant of how to chapter a DVD. My guess is that she thought that the sequencing in the originals was perfect, and she couldn't put together shorter workouts that she liked. But, I still wish she had. It would have been nice to have a shorter ab workout, and a beginner ab/back workout.

I bought this DVD along with the Kathy Smith: Pilates for the Lower Body DVD, and this one is a much better value for the money, giving two 50-minute workouts ... compared to Kathy Smith's one 1/2 hour workout ...Kathy Smith's video does give a better introduction to Pilates and working the "powerhouse" (abs pulled to the navel, pelvic floor pulled up, and gluts held in tight), though Karen's video does a better job of integrating these moves all together, with an emphasis on stretching and toning and an awareness of posture. I recommend renting Kathy's video to get the basics and so you can see how you can get away with not needing the resist-a-ring, and then using Karen's video to tone inner thighs and work the abs. There really isn't much of an upper body workout, though I like the workouts nonetheless. I think an intro to Pilates should be added, and agree that better chaptering to move to some of the sections that you like best could improve navigation. I also found that scanning backwards too quickly got me back to the first DVD menu and not to the start of the workout, which can cost precious minutes in a tight morning routine.

Overall, the two workouts on this DVD are both pretty good. I like them because they target areas that my other workout tapes don't hit, so I can intersperse these two throughout my week and let my other muscles rest a day. The ab and back workout, for instance, is great to do when I've just killed my legs doing lunges the day before. Both workouts are moderately challenging. I think you get your money's worth.

A few gripes, though: 1) I know I'm not the most flexible person in the world, but Karen really tailors her exercises people who can sit in straight splits without having to call an ambulance. She doesn't give you alternate instructions, either, so I have to modify a few things, and I hate having to do that because I never know if I'm modifying something in a way that makes it less effective. I'm just not Gumby. I don't bend all the ways Karen does -- yet, at least.

2) She can drag. Depending on my mood, sometimes it's more annoying than others. For example, in the "total body" workout, you use the resistance ring on your left leg for several exercises, then you do some extensions, then you do some leg lifts and ... it goes on for quite a while before she switches to the right leg.

3) The DVD doesn't break down the workout so you can pick and choose segments. Overall, that doesn't bother me as I don't tend to cheat my way through workouts, but some of the stretches would be nice to separate so I could do them on my own at night without having to forward through the whole workout.

Gripes aside, I really do use this tape. It's in the regular rotation because it's different, it's easy to follow and it seems to be pretty effective. It also was a great introduction to Pilates.

I think that this DVD is the most effective and the most professional Pilates DVD. You'll find 2 workouts : the first one is for the total body, and the second one is for your abs and back, but more for abs. Each of them is 50 minutes ! It's really challenging, and I am used to practise Pilates Method. I highly recommand it.

This video is a descent workout if you aren't really wanting pilates. However, I don't feel that it is a total body work out. It is more of a work out for your legs and abs.. It will leave your legs sore, but you need the pilates magic cirle in order to have any benefit from this video.
Also the ab and back set isn't much different from the total body set.
All in all it will give you a work out-just mot much for the upper body and not what I would consider pilates.

I have been doing Karen Voight videos since January 2005. I have used several other exercise videos and the quality and instruction of her videos are by far the best. I am an RMT and hence have a kinesiology background and the exercises are safe and help shape your body. After trying the video I actually found my abdominal muscles sore which means, the video works! My abdominal and core muscles are quite strong and my body has become far more streamlined. The only thing missing is cardio which helps to burn up added calories - Karen covers this however in her Burn and Firm DVD. I use her dvd's for cross training. Unlike Cathy Smith's videos, Karen's uplifting voice and professional attitude keep you entertained while benefitting by strengthening key muscles; the rectus and transverse abdominus, obliques and pelvic muscles and more... My spouse however prefers her strong and streamlined video which includes weights, yoga and a bit of pilates combined. Her videos have exceeded my expectations.

I bought this DVD because I was getting sick of the other DVD's that claim to be pilates workouts. This pilates work out is very imformative and very beneficial. I am actually seeing results from this workout after only 3 weeks. Karen also keeps you motivated to continue. Not to mention the benefit of getting two 50 minute workouts for the price of one. Beware that you need a resist-a-ring for one of the workouts though, and those can be difficult to find. Great, great workout and I would recommend it to anyone.

This review is based on the so-called "total body" portion of the DVD set. (I'm not sure how they get off calling it total body, considering it's a leg-lift video, w/about 24 total pushups and some crunches.) I bought this DVD b/c I wanted an introduction on video to pilates, and based on the other reviews, I expected it to be great. After purchasing this and spending [$$$] on the resist-a-ring, I was expecting a really good workout. Not only were the exercises and the video boring, but the workout could barely be called a workout. This is probably a good video for people who are just beginning to work out, don't belong to a gym, and just want to do very light exercising. I did not even see the majority of the poses and moves that are discussed in The Pilates Body by Brooke Siler. As far as the resist-a-ring, I felt like I was using Suzanne Somer's Thighmaster! Rodney Yee's Power Yoga is a much better workout - no additional equipment needed!

I have been doing this workout for a month or so now and it is really effective and challenging. The music was annoying at first, sounds a little dated but you get used to it after a while.
You need a pilates ring for part of the workout but at the beginning I used nothing and still found it effective.
If you have a dance or gymnastics background, it is ideal for you.

I have been using Karen's DVD for my workout routine and I must say this is one of the best for those who want to streamline your body. My legs and bottom look leaner and firmer after working out with Karen's Total Body Pilates for a month. The workout is also very relaxing and destressing. A great workout to start the day or after a tiring day.