Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Bodywisdom Media, Inc.
• DVD Release Date: February 12, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000085EFC
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,842 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Pilates Complete for Everyone is a bargain: about four hours of Pilates instruction and practice, from beginning to advanced levels, more than 35 workouts all on one DVD. The workouts are divided first by level (basic, beginning, intermediate, challenging, advanced), then into individual 5- to 25-minute workout chunks so that you can fit your Pilates into the busiest day. The 10- to 20-minute introductory segments for each level have the most instruction. Certified Pilates instructor and former professional dancer Karen Garcia has an impressively lean, supple, and strong body--a testament to her Pilates practice. The instruction is done by voice-over; Garcia's moving body doesn't talk or smile. Although Pilates is best learned from an instructor who can give you personalized instruction and correct your form, this DVD is the next best thing to having your own trainer, and there's enough variety that you'll never get bored. --Joan Price

Product Description

YOUR NEEDS CHANGE EVERY DAY, SO SHOULD YOUR DVD!

Pilates Complete for Everyone™ is the perfect video for beginning, intermediate and advanced students looking to transform how their body looks, feels and performs. Joseph Pilates created these exercises to achieve the most fit, toned and healthy body possible. With over 25 customized mat workouts to suit your physical and scheduling needs, there is no better way to learn, progress and experience Pilates in your home.

The Interactive Personal Trainer™ revolutionizes the practice of yoga in the home. Unlike other videos that may contain one or two workouts, this DVD contains dozens of workouts of varied lengths and purposes. Get into shape, relieve stress, increase energy, become stronger and more flexible with your own Interactive Personal Trainer™.

Karen Garcia is a certified Pilates Instructor known nationally for her warm, yet invigorating style of teaching. Karen has helped thousands of students around the country reap the wonderful benefits of the Pilates system. As a professional dancer, Karen toured with several ballet companies, before a career ending knee injury left her unable to walk without a cane. Her significant physical recovery as well as numerous other benefits resulting from her study of Pilates compelled her to dedicate her career to helping others learn this amazing system. She owns Studio Body Logic® which has several locations in Northern Virginia and Maryland.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Variety of Classic Pilates Matwork Routines For All Levels, August 9, 2004

By	blueyed puella (CT, USA) - See all my reviews

Workout Description: Classics Pilates mat workouts ranging from 5 to 35 minutes in length, with most programs 10-20 minutes. The general instruction is included separately from the routines, which focus just on the movements.
Workout Level: basic (= introductory) to beginning to intermediate to intermediate / advanced to challenging
Instructor: Karen Garcia (certified Pilates instructor; former professional dancer; owner of Studio Body Logic). Karen's cueing and explanation is clear and accurate (although I find it strange that a Pilates instructor would insist on saying "stomach" instead of "abdominals"). She obviously knows the cues very well, falling into a definite rhythm during certain exercises. The only other thing that catches me off guard is how she talks during her quick cues, especially during the hundred; she sounds almost like an auctioneer! (In two, three, four, five, and out two, three, four five . . .) Since the pointers are included in the introduction to each level, Karen focuses just on cueing for each exercise with some important form pointers; the name of the exercise is on the screen rather than announced. Karen's flexibility is a little intimidating-something to aspire to!
Class: Karen only
Music / Set: The instrumental music is soft. The interior set is minimal: a wall and floor daubed with pastel shades.
Equipment Needed: mat; optional 1-2 lb. dumbbells and/or Pilates ring for some workouts
Caveats: Read the caution segments before starting. Take care to review and practice the instructional segment before moving on to each level. If you feel any strain on your neck and/or back, you should stop and take time to review proper form, perhaps at a lower level, before continuing.
Additional Comments: You don't need a lot of space for this workout. You should be able to lie down with your arms and legs extended and sweep your legs to either side.
This is an excellent DVD companion to Brook Siler's The Pilates Body, which I recommend to help you better understand the form for each movement and what it is supposed to accomplish. This is also a good supplement to a Pilates matwork class. If you attempt to teach yourself Pilates from this DVD or any others, you should try to take a Pilates class or at least work with someone experienced in Pilates to check your form before you take on more advanced routines.
This is not an exciting or flashy Pilates program. Instead, it is an excellent DVD to grow with since there is a variety of routines offered at each level, 28 in total: 3 basic, 2 beginner, 8 intermediate, 8 intermediate / advanced, and 7 challenging. In the intermediate level and beyond, you have the option of performing some routines with a Pilates ring (for leg and arm work) or with light hand weights (for arm work). The DVD is actually pre-programmed routines involving a number of different clips, so there is a slight pause between some segments. However, since the instruction is included before the routines, the routines actually flow pretty quickly.
Pilates purists will not find much to object to here, as these are the exercises devised by Joseph Pilates in the traditional sequence without a large number of repetitions. The number of repetitions is fairly low. The moves are performed at a quick pace, and the transitions are also fast.

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Great Great, October 1, 2004

By	Dorian Gray - See all my reviews

For a lazy a$$ person like me, hearing my mom telling me over and over to try Pilates, this DVD came as a great surprise.

I can chose the level of "pain" (was so happy to move to advanaced within a month! ), i can chose the length of the "pain" due to the fact the DVD is based on series of work-outs. So you don't have to do 30 min's every day, OR the same 30 min's everyday.

I enjoy doing this DVD, I toned my body completely, my abs are stronger (thanks to the 100, which as first i could NOT do).

Finally, i can say that i think this DVD is a great product, i love it, enjoy it and now i can even talk to my mom about Pilates!

I guess it would be perfect for:
1. People who never had Pilates
2. People who dislike GYM's
3. People who have no money for GYM's
4. People who have a busy day schedule

Enjoy!

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great program of authentic Pilates instruction!, May 1, 2003

By A Customer

If you want to learn authentic Pilates from a certified instructor but can't find or afford the classes, this DVD will be a great starting point. Don't let the model fool you, this is not effortless and easy. She's got over 20 years of Pilates teaching experience. I've been doing Pilates (inconsistently) for a few years and a 25 min Intermediate workout from this program has me feeling my muscles and breaking a sweat.

There's lots of variety here too, even for a the non-beginner. You can choose a lower level if you don't feel as energetic, or a higher one if you want a challenge. Just like a mat class, each "workout" begins with the warm-up of the "One Hundred" and "Roll ups" etc., but after the first few moves (which all Pilates classes at all levels start with) the routines are different. Some are completely different moves, others have only one or two different moves or modifications, but all are different. (I actually watched the whole DVD because at first I thought a few were the same).

If you want to learn authentic Pilates or supplement your Pilates classes at home, this is a great program and a good value. It really uses the capabilities of DVD by providing numerous workouts at different levels of ability. It's not just a workout video reformatted. Don't be fooled into thinking that the latest "Pilates based" video from the fitness diva's is what Pilate's is all about. Find a certified Pilates instructor (not the aerobics teacher at the gym) and take a class. You'll see and feel the difference.