Product Details

• Actors: Jennifer Kries
• Directors: n, a
• Format: Color, EP, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Parade Video
• VHS Release Date: November 4, 1997
• Run Time: 40 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630422754X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,941 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I never put off doing this workout!, September 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Method - Pilates: Precision Sculpting [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Truly, I look forward to doing this tape. I don't procrastinate or avoid my workouts when I know I'm using Precision Sculpting. How much higher can praise get for an exercise session? Two to three-pound weights are suggested, but aren't absolutely necessary; since the exercises are isometric, you can get a good toning workout even without weights. The movements work the body effectively without endless repetitions, and Jennifer Kries is the best instructor I have ever watched, hands down. I can't say enough good things about her style and professionalism. She's a joy to work out with, and her Method Series videos have changed the shape of my body, when no other video or workout ever did. To sum up: quiet but encouraging instruction, quality over quantity of repetitions, no annoying perkiness or music, visible results with continuous use. Need I say more?

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get a Dancer's Lean Body with A Dancer's Exercise Routines, March 3, 2001

By 

hamsterdance (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Method - Pilates: Precision Sculpting [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you've ever admired and/or desired to have a dancer's lean body then this workout routine will be a good place to start. As someone who takes belly dancing lessons weekly (and soon weekly Flamenco dancing lessons) I find Ms. Kries' workout to be surprisingly helpful even with my dance practice and performance - especially her constant attention to proper posture and good form.

In fact, my instructor uses Mr. Kries workout routines for a toning and strengthening class she teaches. She has an optional 1 hour class before the belly dancing class where we do precisely this workout. The funny thing is, she didn't tell anyone where she got the routine. I only recognized it AFTER I bought this tape when I popped it in the VCR and discovered to my great surprise I was doing the routine from my instructor's class!

There are some important points about this tape potential purchasers may wish to know. For one, you will need to keep your chest lifted, stomach in, buttocks tight, thighs tight and chin lifted AT ALL TIMES throughout the workout unless Ms. Kries tells you differently. Otherwise, you will get no - I REPEAT - almost no benefit from these exercises. This is harder than at first it may seem simply because you will also be trying to follow all the various exercise instructions Ms. Kries gives. This is a lot to remember and in the beginning when I first learned this routine I was continually having to remind myself to keep my muscles contracted and chest lifted. After a while however it becomes second nature.

The good thing is, if you do keep your posture good, muscles contracted, etc - basically follow Ms. Kries instructions - you will get a very good workout indeed. It will definitely tone your body, thin your thighs, stomach, etc. She uses very light weights in this video - they look like maybe 2 lb. dumbbells but you can use more, less or none if you desire. I'm up to 12 lbs. and get a fantastic muscle-building burn.

She often reminds you to stretch. Really stretch for that ceiling or reach out for that wall which will help elongate the muscles as well as add flexibility. Ms. Kries is one of the better video instructors I've seen when it comes to cueing and describing precisely how and where you should feel certain muscles working. She is very encouraging saying things such as, "This may be a difficult at first - perhaps more work than you're used to, but it WILL get easier." She also moves at an easy pace so beginners will find her easy to follow.

There is no music except at the very beginning of the tape. It is only Ms. Kries instructions and counting out of the repetitions. Actually I think this is a plus because you will be so busy trying to follow precisely all her directions and cues while maintaining proper form that I think music would have been more of a distraction. Also, the exercises and pace seems more typical of yoga or a stretch video. No high-tempo aerobic exercise or music here so you will need to get your cardio workout some other way to compliment this routine.

Occasionally Ms. Kries will remind you to do these exercises while keeping your muscles contracted and chest lifted. "Squeeze your thighs together as tight as you can - like you're pressing a very thin ribbon between them." or telling you to get your navel to contract inward like you're trying to get it to touch your spine. It would be more helpful for a beginner if she had said these reminders more often. That is probably the one potential downside to this tape. Unless a beginner remembers to keep their form proper at all times even w/o reminder cues from Ms. Kries they will not get much from these exercises. On the upside, if a beginner CAN remember to maintain these form pointers throughout the exercises it is one of the most effective workouts around for getting toned without building muscle.

This is one of my favorite exercise videos and I work out to it even on days when I don't go to my dance instructor's class. I use it in conjunction with a Karen Voight video (another favorite video fitness instructor of mine who's tapes are also available at ...). If you are willing to make the commitment to learning the routine properly you will definitely be rewarded with a better body all around for the time spent.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Precision Sculpting - dissappointing, January 24, 2000

By 

Virginia E. Vohasek (U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Method - Pilates: Precision Sculpting [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I think the workout is rigorous but the tape is too slow. After the first 2 or 3 times viewing the tape I did not need her extended explanations. I found I was waiting for the next exercise which made it a tedious experience.