Customer Reviews

New York Style Pilates: Level 3 - Advanced [VHS]

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

 

 

I love Pilates and do a routine everyday. I am currently getting my instructor certification. I have many Pilates DVDs and I was looking for an instructor and method of cueing and demonstrating the exercises that I found most exciting and made me want to come back and experience the instructor again. The New York Style Pilates DVDS gave me what I was looking for. I have seen many Pilates instructors, but J. Urla is by far the best. He is charming, funny, and knows everything that there is to know about Pilates. The Level 3 workout has all of the 34 original Pilates Mat Exercises. It is challenging, so when I suggest that if you are new to Pilates, you should start with the Level 1. This was a great find, not only because of the talent of the J. Urla, but it is one of very few DVDs that demonstrate the fact that Pilates can be done by men. I just ordered J. Urla Yogilites DVD. I'll have to see how that turns out.

I titled the review this way because as an instructor, I know how difficult it is to teach this work as well as he does in this video.

Others have commented that Jonathan has a good ability to keep the work moving with just the right amount of cueing. I really enjoyed the additional segments at the end which help a student or teacher understand how Pilates can be linked into other exercise forms and that can help to "de-mystify" this method through the standing series.

All of the models are fit and attractive, the setting is very nice and the music is complimentary, not distracting. Mr.Urla seems like someone we would all wish could teach at our own health club, but since he doesn't--this tape is the next best thing and it is a great workout to really get that "Pilates glow" going!

Jon R.

I purchased only the Level 3 - Advanced DVD because I have already been doing Winsor Pilates for over 2 years. This DVD will definitely keep you moving. The routine is approximately 30 minutes long which is a little longer than my normal routine. And he moves very quickly.

If you have been doing Pilates and know most of the moves, this dvd will give you an alternate to exercise with. One item that I didn't care for is that he uses an exercise pole. There are only a few exercises with the pole, though. So I have been doing my exercises without the pole.

I rate this 4 stars because it will give you a good work out.

Jonathan Urla has created a very thorough pilates matwork practice and also includes some bonus standing work and a cardio flow version of the practice, going much faster through all the exercises. I love that he includes many of the leg exercises that are missing from other pilates tapes out there, as well as the upper body standing work with light weights that appear in Pilates books but not as often in dvds.

I have given this dvd four and not five stars for a couple of reasons. One thing to note there is no warm up, so I use a sequence adapted from my Stott advanced matwork dvd. Another is harder to put into words, but it seems that compared to my Stott dvds, the workout is not as deep. I havent tried the cardio flow yet though so that might make the difference.

I am looking to try his yogilates dvds and I think this instructor has a lot to offer.

This is a good workout if you already have some Pilates training. The main workout is about 33 minutes and will keep your heart rate up most of the time. Some of the exercises I find hard to do with a woman's body - e.g. lying on side and resting weight on hipbones, balancing weight on one arm (when you have small wrists). Overall, a good workout if your willing to make some minor modifications. Sarah Picot also has an excellent advanced Pilates workout.

Wow! I've been doing Pilates for 3 years and didn't think this would be all that challenging, but I was wrong. It got me sweating in the first 5 minutes. I also like the look and style of the program. Jonathan is a personable instructor and his demonstrators have great form. The pace is pretty quick, although by the third time I was right with them. Lots of exercises all flowing together with little breaks. I loved it! You should get a pole and flexband to make the most of the bonus workout at the end.

I've tried them all, and this is truly the REAL DEAL! Urla combines innovation with the traditional Pilates practice, making it a workout not only worth your time, but worth your dollars. You'll find its the only one of its kind (except for the rest of the series) to include music, interesting backrounds, and modifications keeping the exercise routines effective and safe. You'll not only enjoy the workout, you'll love the Bonus, a special workout of its own! Want to get in shape fast - get this workout today!!

As a Pilates instructor I find this video to be far off from the origonal work of Joseph Pilates. Aside from the distracting music, the models appear to be just that, hired models, and over directed at that. Jonathan Urla's egotistical introduction almost assumes personal knowledge of the Pilates founder, and is full of inaccurate information. The only redeeming factor can be taken from the attempt at showing many of the individual exercises fairly accurately. The so called bonus workout is an insult to anyone wishing to avoid a sales pitch for equiptment which has existed in the dance field for years. There is nothing new about any of it. I found the entire series to be an insult to the Pilates field.