Customer Reviews

The Method - Pilates Target Specifics Plus

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this video to use on my light workout days. I thought that it would be a mildly intense workout. However, it proved to be more challenging than I thought it would be. This workout definitely is not for beginners. The flexibilty required alone is enough to classify this as a workout for intermediate exercisers.

The movemements are very innovative and creative, but not Pilates movements. It was more Yoga than anything else. In fact, the only traditional Pilates movements were at the end, in the Ab section and even then, there were only two or three traditional Pilates exercises. The instructor does to a good job of reminding you to keep your abdominals engaged throughout the whole vodeo, however. Still, I don't think that they should sell this as a PILATES video, nor should they have PILATES written bigger than anything else on the front cover. Very misleading.

That is why I give it a 4 instead of a 5. That, and also because, and I don't want to be mean, but, I found that the insructor lacked quite a bit of personality. I found her lack of facial expressions to be too distracting. It was like she was trying VERY HARD to be absolutely perfect. It drove me crazy.
Ellen Barret is exceptionally better at instructing a video.

Anyway, I digress. This video was sectioned into 4 seperate, 15 minute workouts; legs, arms, [fanny], and abs. Like I said before, the exercises are more yoga based than Pilates, but being that they weren't your tradional yoga static postures, and that the movements flowed one right into the other, it was quite engaging and fun. The whole hour workout was finished before I knew it. And my [fanny], more than any other body part, was screaming at the end. (VERY NICE!)

Also, this video was filmed indoors, but occasionally cuts away to the instructor demonstrating the movements outside near the ocean. The cut aways are quite often off cue and the transitions from indoor to outdoor is not smooth at all. (That is just me being nit-picky, though)

I would recommend that anyone thinking about purchasing this video already be familiar with Yoga and Pilates, and also, already be quite strong and flexilable, especially in your upper body. Otherwise, you might find yourself very frustrated with the non tradional and creatively inspired movements.

Overall, I liked this video and find it very useful for light workouts days. It is a keeper.

These exercises are more like yoga mixed with pilates. The best of both worlds. I'm in the military so I am constantly working out. I am always going on long runs but not much seems to tone my thighs. The leg segment is the only workout that I have tried which actually tones my legs. I can see and feel the difference after one workout and after a week my legs are extremely toned.

This is an excellent DVD to have if you want to tone your legs, butt, and thighs.

I didn't expect this DVD to be as challenging as it is, and I agree you need to basically be in shape before using this. The first thing I noticed is what other reviewers have said- the pace and tempo are too fast to be Pilates. The ab section does use some variations on the 100, and there are many traditional yoga poses incorporated into the workout, such as downward facing dog, but at a much faster pace than traditional yoga.

BUT-that's what I ended up loving about this DVD. I do the hour straight through, and it raises my heart rate just enough to be in the fat-burning range, so while it wouldn't be appropriate for intensive cardio training, it is cardio when you do the whole hour. On top of the cardio benefit, the moves combine strength-building and flexibility. So- you touch on all three aspects of a solid workout. Cardio, strength, and flexibility.

Really love it. I didn't find the instructor annoying, but maybe I'm just not judgemental enough. I wasn't impressed with the fake tropical stage, and there's at least one point where the cut away to the beach is off, and she's not doing the move in the right direction. I would love to have seen the scenery that Gaiam incorporates into their yoga and pilates DVD. (That's why it gets a 4)

I've used this DVD several times and found it to be very toning and a good workout. I just read the other readers' comments and I was surprised to find that this apparently isn't really Pilates. I hadn't done Pilates before, so that's what I thought I was doing. Oh well, it's an excellent workout, Pilates or not. I'm used to lifting weights at the gym and doing cardio, and this puts it all together. It looks deceptively easy, but doing it really works up a glow.

I liked the instructor, found the pseudotropical decor a nice break from the usual exercise room thing, and the music was unobtrusive compared to some other exercise videos.

And yes, there is lots of Pilates- but more on that later.

I am a fan of the original Target Specifics, and I waited for a long time to pick this up because I didn't think this would live up. I was wrong- this was very effective. My one complaint was that there were some exercises where she used a lot of reps- I'd rather fewer reps of more exercises- but overall I found it to be both challenging and fun.

Yes, there were some yogic inspirations here, particularly downward dog, tree and cat (among others), but I saw just as much if not more Pilates: the single leg stretch, side lying series variations, the Pilates pushup and mermaid being perhaps the most recognizable, but there were also some modifications to some other lesser known (but still authentic) Pilates movements, such as the Rowing Series, Towel Work (created by Ron Fletcher, a student of Pilates himself), Star and Kneeling Side Kicks variants, Chest Expansion, Rollups and at least one more that I'm forgetting. Also, while Pilates in classes and videos does tend to be slower, the ultimate goal of the original matwork series is to move quickly- sometimes as quickly as fifteen minutes for the whole thing (check out Hilary Burnett's Pilates Advanced and Romana's Pilates - Ultimate Challenge Mat Workout).

Aside from getting a great workout, I also felt, as a Pilates instructor, that there was some very innovative choreography that can be incorporated into my classes, although maybe with less of the set up that this instructor uses. Overall, highly recommended.

This is a great DVD. I just had a baby and am getting back into shape. The first week I did it I did the modified exercises. It was great motivation to feel like I was progressing to the regular exercises. Also its great that the segments are only 15 minutes long. As a new mom I'm learning that I only have 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there to myself. Elizabeth Young has a great demeanor; calm but not boring. I love this video and expect to use it long after I regain my shape.

Being completely new to pilates, I thought this was a very good start. There are (4) 15-minute segments, perfect for busy people. The instructor combines a variety of styles into the work, but it's all very effective. The workout is definitely challenging, but not impossible, so it has some longevity. Music is good, plus there are modified exercises for those of us who aren't strong enough yet. After adding this workout (1/2 hour daily) to my daily 1/2 hour walks, I lost 2.5 pounds in the first week. I recommend this dvd.

This was a little challenging at first, but if you are like me and get bored with videos after a while, this is one to add to the collection. Her pilates variations add an extra challenge that will not bore you and target specific areas in 15 min sections. Great workout!

Well I saw this DVD at Ross, so I got it for a great deal. I was expecting it to be a pilates workout. Well this wasn't the case, but overall it's still a great way to get into shape. So much so, I have been out of shape for a while and this definately isn't a beginner's DVD. If you're just starting out I'd recommend something else. Also, I do agree I don't like the fake tropical/beach area, and the transitions between the set and the real beach are off. Overall though it seems like a great workout to tone while incorporating some cardio.

This DVD has 4 segments - legs, arms, butt and abs. Approx. 50 minutes all together.

For me, this DVD has many pluses, above all - the fact that I actually feel that I've worked hard, without noticing the time. I recommend performing all segments in a row, that way you really get to work every muscle (I don't know why it was divided that way, since the whole workout works on the core of your body, and each segment by itself won't do the job).

The downside is that it's not at all a Pilates workout - at least not as I know it. It's too fast to be a Pilates workout, and it's even funny that the instructor shouts "lengthen!" every now and then, as if she suddenly remembered that it's supposed to be "Pilates-y"...

To sum it up, I totaly recommend this DVD as an addition to your strength/power workouts, not to the Pilates section.