Customer Reviews

Pilates for Beginners [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This DVD is terrific for anyone new to Pilates or for those who want to improve their form. Jillian Hessel does a great job explaining pilates breathing and teaching the fundamentals. Pilates is one of those things that is hard to learn without a live instructor, but this DVD comes close for those who can't afford live instruction or don't have it near them.

I started Palates last year with the "Beginning Mat Workout" with Anna Caban. It was great. I came across this DVD a few months back and decided that it would be nice to have two DVDs so that I can alternate, rather than watching the same one over and over. This DVD is a bit easier than Anna's, but great just the same with three levels to follow. I have moved on to the intermediate DVD with Anna Caban and I hope that Jillian Hessel considers putting out an intermediate DVD as well. Oh, one more very important factor, this DVD has an actual MAN performing the exercises with Jillian. As a man myself, it was very refreshing to see that Pilates is not just for women.

Okay, Pilates is complicated, posture is very important along with breathing and holding in some body parts while extending others.

I did weights for years and was just sick of them. I went to a Pilates studio just to check it out. I signed up for private sessions for 4 months, it was fantastic but, very expensive. I was forced to stop most exercises for 3 months after an injury. So, when I put this DVD on it was like starting over. But, I thought it would all come back to me. And, it did sort of.

Even though I think this DVD is informative I found the instructor a bit annoying as I hated every level quickly blurted out for each exercise. After being in a Pilates studio with private instructors I discovered there are very small movements to concentrate on and form is everything so, with 3 levels being done at once I found it very distracting.

I don't think this is a good way to start out again. Or start out at all. I am now looking for DVD's that show each level of instruction separately. Believe me, paying for 3 great videos is better than one video with everything crammed into one. I bought this DVD because it said , "Pilates for BEGINNERS" if it's for beginnners then why did someone decide to have the instructor blurt out levels 1, 2, 3 for each exercise at the same time? -( ANNOYING.

Pilates is much more complicated than weights and if you want to do it right it's a big commitment, which I don't mind making. There are so many things to remember and then forget ..to feel like a private instructor is in your living room I think a slightly slower pace with better visual and verbal queues would be much more useful and informative and effective.

Bottom line is that mat workout felt like a bad, 3 way phone conversation.

r mills

LA

I am surprised at the other reviews, as I thought this DVD was great! It was the first one that I tried, and maybe That was why I enjoyed the in depth instruction. I thought it was great that there were 3 different levels included, and I thought that jillian hessler was a triffic instructor. The props used really do help to isolate the proper muscles and since buying them I have enjoyed my workouts even more. This DVD has even prompted me to buy more of the Gaiam series! I love the outdoor locations and soothing music ( I think that that is why they are not smiling, they are focusing on their breathing and centering...I found it to be quite relaxing and soothing.)
I am a real beginner, and feel good in the fact that I can take this one product and advance through it to the advanced level.
It gets an A+ from me!
PS- I also had no technical problems...maybe they have fixed them since the last reviewers bought theirs??

I have been looking for a good beginners pilates tape and this is the one. It was part of a set that Gaiam makes that included a book, the DVD, and a relaxation CD. The combination of the book and DVD are absolutely unbeatable! Both begin by describing the basic tenets of pilates and accompanying exercises. Then the DVD has modified beginners, beginners and intermediate to advanced work out levels, where each level is represented by an individual who is working out simultaneously with the persons representing the other levels; i.e. three people at once doing different levels. The modified beginner can be programmed separately from the main work out if desired. The instructor explains all things in detail in both the book and DVD--perfect for the novice. (MOre advanced people might get bored, but this is what I was looking for) The instructor's credentials are listed in the book; she has studied with Romana and thus her lineage is sound. I think this DVD/book combo is a real find!!

This DVD provides a special "Beginners View Mode" that is really cool. They basically have 3 people doing the exercises and give you the option to select a focus on the person doing the "light" version of the exercises, so you can see how to get started.

From the goal of having a well-rounded exercise perspective, I think that focusing on what she is doing and then mixing with a good cardio or weight program would do your body the most good, preventing you from getting the "over-strained" or "over-stretched" muscle joint problems that can be common with any stretching centered routine.

Overall I give it 5 stars for really being balanced and having a "true" beginner mode.

I wish I had not bought this DVD. The number of exercises in the workout part of the DVD is very limited, and instruction is given too fast. The DVD keeps "Freeze Framing" during the workout. When the workout was over I was more frustrated than tired. I tried to research and select carefully when buying a DVD to get started with Pilates, but I chose poorly. Don't make the same mistake I did. I am going to try and return it for a refund.

First off, Jillian does a _great_ job describing proper positioning and breathing; however, the workout section was so boring that I couln't even finish the session. They all look bored, themselves. No smiling, no apparent energy or passion for what they are doing...just stone cold faces and almost robot-like movement through the few and low-repetition exercizes.

I also don't at all like the info-mercial aspect to the Gaiam DVDs...the instructors always seem to recommend some prop to aid in doing some move rather than describing what muscle groups are supposed to be used to help control the motion naturally.

This DVD is dull and uninspiring

I'm new to pilates and I wanted to find a dvd that breaks down the moves and that shows me how to do the moves correctly in order to get the full benefits. This dvd does that and give you very helpful information on each movement. This video is very slow, but it has plenty of info on the movements. It plays more like a documentary than a workout video. This dvd breaks downs each movement step by step. There is a woman and man on screen that shows you how to do each movement while the announcer (voice over) tells how to do the movements. Also has a great background, it takes place on what looks like a mountain side (very relaxing).

I find the workout very goo for beginners, it doesn't exhaust you and it relaxes, working the majority of muscles and taking care of your spine