Customer Reviews

Pilates For Beginners

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I had been searching for a way to strengthen my core in hopes that it would lessen my chronic lower back pain. I tried a park district class for 6-7 weeks but had to quit because my back was getting worse and i thought that i just didn't have the strength to do pilates. My friends kept insisting that pilates, when done correctly would really help me with my problems. I looked in to private lessons and knew i wasn't able to make the financial or time commitment. I decided to give it one more go with the aid of a dvd. I lucked in to this dvd- picking it because it had Beginners in the title. What i didn't expect was to get such detailed oral and visual instruction. I understood more watching the dvd than i did in the classroom. It is easy to follow and has helped to improve my core strength so i can use those muscles and depend on my back less. Maggie Rhodes not only teaches pilates moves she teaches how to move while doing them. This has been the most helpful aspect of the dvd, learning how to move correctly. She gives detailed instructions on proper posture and breathing. I enjoy the routines and the variety, looking forward to the INTERMEDIATE version(hopefully to follow.)

This is one of the best beginner Pilates DVDs that you'll find. The instruction is clear. The pace of the routines is perfect for someone who's new to Pilates, there are routines that are more challenging as you progress and the beach is a very nice setting.

This pilates video stands out from the rest. The setting is a beautiful beach cove with the background audio of gentle waves, not music. After you heat up with the 100's and rest of the warm-up you almost feel like you are on that beach next to the instructor doing the routines. Other videos are often filmed in a stark unchanging studio and can get boring after a few times.
The instructor has a nice smile and pleasing voice, and gives just the right amount of instruction and with the right tempo, making the exercises very easy to follow while always reminding you of your posture and breath. The routines flow easily from pose to pose without unnecessary gaps or breaks. The first part is perfect for beginners, yet I found the second part challenging enough for an early intermediate level. Don't skip the intro, where the instructor does a nice job explaining what pilates is all about and how to intergrate it in your practice.
Since this video in enjoyable to do, I find myself practicing with it often. I just returned from a snowboarding trip and felt improvements in my core strengh, balance and flexibility. I recommend it for beginners to early intermediates who want to enhance how they feel and how they perform in sports.

I've not done Pilates before. I've had time now to review the different stages of this video & have been pleasantly surprised. It gives instructions in a very direct & easily understood format & doesn't fly through the steps too quickly. By the time I had worked through all the steps from 10 minute to 30 minute full workouts I had a good grasp of the correct postures & breathing techniques. I'm currently working my way through the 2nd level of workouts & already seeing results! I would recomend this to anyone who is interested in learning Pilates. The range from very new beginner to further progressed is done well.

I had recently started yoga and wanted to add pilates to my routines since I had so many good things about it.

There is a wide variety of routines on this DVD, with a level that has modified versions for a real beginner. But do not let the modifications fool you. Even though they are "easier" if you do what the instructor says you will get a very good workout while you are learning.

There is also a great selection that are easy to access. Pick what you want based on your time or what you want (Abs, Arms) and start your workout. The Essential routine is always a good one to reinforce what you need.

I have enjoyed it alot.

This DVD is sent up very similarly to Body+Soul's other recent release, Yoga for Beginners. It is intended for those new to Pilates and provides a variety of workout options, starting with more modified versions for the complete beginner and progressing to other beginning routines. The workouts feature instructor Maggie Rhoades practicing alone (on a beautiful beach at Half Moon Bay Resort in Antigua) with voiceover instruction. All of the workouts use a mat, and 1-lb. dumbbells are used in a few segments.

A overview of the DVD is provided below; I've first listed the main menu items and then have broken down the two submenus, "Getting Started" and "As You Progress." The times for each practice are given as they appear on-screen, but I've added adjusted times in parentheses based on my own review. I've also included brief summaries of the composition of each segment; these summaries are meant to provide an overview rather than to be all-inclusive. Finally, some workouts consist of stand-alone segments, whereas others are compilations of several previous segments (which I've noted when applicable).

Main Menu
Contents
* Learn: Interview (12.5-minute interview with instructor Maggie Rhoades reviewing basic Pilates principles)
* Getting Started: Modified Beginner Routines
* As You Progress: Beginner Routines
And More...
* About Body+Soul: Meet the Editor (2-minute interveiw)
* Articles: Articles and Advice (PDF file reprints of Body+Soul magazine articles on Pilates and related topics)
* Credits

Getting Started: Modified Beginner Routines
*Essentials, 8m (8)--the hundred, modified single leg stretch, modified rolling like a ball, spine twist, side kick series, back work
*Essentials & Weights, 15m (14)--same Essentials segment above (8m) with the addition of a 6-minute Pilates standing arm series with dumbbells
*Warm Up & Abs, 15m (16)--a 9.5-minute warm-up with reclined stretches, breath work, pelvic lifts, twist, cat/cow stretches, and curls, plus a 6.5-minute abs segment consisting of the hundred, partial roll-down/roll-up, balance, and rolling like a ball
*Rotation & Flexion, 15m (16)--the same abs segment from above (6.5m) plus a 3.5-minute segment with spine stretch forward and spinal twist, a 3.5-minute segment with saw and an arrow twist, and a 2.5-minute reverse curl/pelvic lift combo
*Prone Extension, 15m (13.5)--starts with the reverse curl/pelvic lift combo from above (2.5m), next comes a 3.5-minute segment on stomach with single leg kicks and modified swimming, a 4-minute segment with back extensions, child's pose, and work on all 4s, and then a 3.5-minute series with plank work, seal, and push-ups
*Legs, 15m (12.5)--starts with a 4-minute series of leg cirlces plus modified single and double leg stretch, next comes the leg kicks/modified swimming from above (3.5m), and finally a 5-minute side kick series in which Maggie switches from side-to-side for each exercise
*Abs & Abrs, 15m (16)--repeats three of the above segments: abs (6.5m), plank/seal/push-ups (3.5m), and the standing arms with weights (6m)
*Arms & Legs, 20m (18.5)--again, combines three of the above segments: the warm-up (9.5m), the leg cirlces/single & double leg stretch (4m), and the side kick series (5m)
*Full Workout, 35m (36.5)--combines the following segments: abs (6.5m), leg circles etc. (4m), spine stretch etc. (3.5m), saw etc. (3.5m), reverse curl/pelvic lift (2.5m), leg kicks/swimming (3.5m), back extensions etc. (4m), side kick series (5m), and plank/seal/push-ups (3.5m)

As You Progress: Beginner Routines
*Essentials, 10m (9.5)--similar to above version but less modified, with the hundred, single leg stretch (performed at a lower angle), full roll-ups, rolling like a ball, spine twist, side kick series, and back extensions
*Legs & Kicks, 10m (12)--4-minute single leg kicks and back extensions, 4-minute side kick series, and 4-minute plank/seal/push-up combo
*Warm-Up and Abs, 10m (12)--6.5-minute warm-up with reclined stretches, pelvic lifts, cat/cow stretches, and curl plus 5.5-minute abs segment with the hundred, roll-up, and rolling like a ball
*Essentials & Weights, 15m (17)--Essentials series from above (9.5m) plus 7.5-minute Pilates standing arm series with dumbbells
*Rotation & Flexion, 15m (17)--Abs series from above (5.5m) plus a 4-minute segment with criss-cross, spine stretch forward, and spinal twist, a 4-minute segment with saw and an arrow twist, and a 3.5-minute segment with open V balance, open-leg rocker, and reverse curl
*Flow, 15m (14m)--unique footage consisting of the hundred, leg circles, criss cross, saw, arrow twist, single leg kicks, side kick series, modified teaser (the only appearance of teaser on the DVD), modified swimming, let pull-down, seal, and push-ups
*Arms & Legs, 20m (18.5)--starts with a new 5-minute segment with leg circles plus single/double leg stretch and then adds the side kick series (4m) and Essentials (9.5m) from above
*Abs & Arms, 25m (23.5)--combines four segments from above: Abs (5.5m), criss cross etc. (4m), plank etc. (4m), and Essentials
*Full Workout, 30m (30.5)--a compilation of the following series: Abs (5.5m), leg circles etc. (5m), criss cross etc. (4m), saw/arrow (4m), V balance/rocker (3.5m), single leg kicks/back extensions (4m), and side kick series (4m)

Overall, this is an very well-done DVD, but I had a few issues with it. First of all, Maggie does not follow traditional Pilates sequencing in her approach; because I'm more experienced in Pilates, the flow sometimes felt strange to me. Similarly, the way some of the segments were combined to form the various workouts also felt a little odd--for example, why put the "Essentials" segment at the end of the "Abs & Arms" workout above? For those new to Pilates, however, these factors may not be an issue. I do think that this DVD, with its huge variety of options, could be a bit overwhelming to someone who has never done Pilates before, but for those who have some prior familiarity with the discipline, need modified versions of the exercises, and prefer a wide selection of routines, Pilates for Beginners might be an ideal choice.

My friend suggested I may like pilates as an exercise to supplement some other things I have recently started (yoga and some weights) and recommended this DVD.

The instruction is clear and there is a set of lessons/routines for someone just starting out and routines that are more challenging when you improve upon the beginning level. You can even feel the effects of the more beginner level by following the instructions. The correct postures work wonders.

Beautiful setting and the instructor is encouraging and engaging in demeanor.

I fell out of shape, not too much, but enough that I felt I wanted to try to get back in shape.

My wife enjoys her Pilates class so I figured I would try it at home.

This DVD has helped alot. There is a selection of routines for beginning and some longer routines for when you get stronger and back into shape.

I put it into the player a few times a week and it has helped.

I had never done Pilates before, but was really curious from all the buzz. This DVD is a great place to get started. Not only did it have a wonderful beginning level with a several workouts with careful, methodical instructions, but it also had another level with many more challenging workouts. It was very beautiful as well. I highly recommend this DVD.

I have been interested in Pilates for some time. My chiropractor recommended that I do some core ab strengthening exercises to help my back so I bought this DVD. I love the instruction on this - it is perfect for someone that has never tried Pilates before. It is also a beautiful DVD visually. So far, the results have been great. I feel like my abs are in better shape and I have more strength overall. I think this is a perfect DVD to begin learning Pilates.