Customer Reviews

Pilates Complete for Everyone

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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!

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.

I love this DVD! What a great concept to have all the detailed instruction of how to do the exercises in the "Introduction" at the beginning of each level. The workouts don't waste any time with setting up the moves or demo as you go through it. The first 2 levels were too easy for me so I went right to Intermediate after I went through the Beginner & Intermediate Intro sections to learn the basics. I'm doing the longer Intermediate routines and learning the Intro/Advanced and Challenging exercises. I like how the instructor breaks up some of the harder poses into the upper body movement then lower body before putting it together.

Others have mentioned lots of black screen, but on my machine there's barely any break between exercises. Certainly no cooling down between moves. I thought some routines even moved a bit fast for me. I also wonder how you could do these exercises without the count. There's no way I can focus on proper position and breathing if I've got to constantly crank my neck to look at the screen.

I would recommend this DVD to anyone who wants to learn authentic Pilates from a certified teacher but can't find the time to go to a class. (I also got their Yoga for Athletes and it's really helped my running.)

This DVD is alot more detailed than others I have watched. I started at the beginner level right off, but in my rush I skipped the introduction and still had fun. Of course then I bounced around the DVD to look at levels and I thought they were the same or similar, until a friend explained a little bit of what to look for.

She mentioned that at the different levels there are changes to the various poses that make them more difficult as you learn and progress and showed me a book on Pilates (from a real Pilates instructor, in fact Karen, the instructor on this DVD, is mentioned in this book as a "real" Pilates instructor). No matter what level, there are certain things that are used in many routines, but they are changed and modified throughout the DVD, and the longer routines have more exercises.

The basic and beginner levels have about 10 routines that run 5-15 minutes and consist of around 4-6 exercises. The Intermediate, Intermediate/Advance & Challenging Levels have around 25 routines, that run 5-30 minutes and consist of around 10-20 exercises. (Do not let the shorter times fool you, if you do the exercises properly you can feel their effects. The shorter routines are also good for when you are short on time or not feeling "up" for longer routines.)

The biggest thing to be careful of is watching and learning. There is a principal and caution description on the main screen, and an Introduction at each level as well. If you do watch these, it will make the great instruction and workouts even better for you and you will fall in love with this like I did.

If you want something that really works without the fluff, do yourself a favor and get this. I could not do the full situps for two weeks, but I kept trying, and one day it just happened. Now that my stomach muscles have improved and are stronger, I can do all the exercises on here and have NEVER felt the burn in my entire torso like this! My obliques ! My God ! My flexibility is improving, my stubborn tummy pooch is dissolving, and I can't say enough good things about this. The other reviewers who are annoyed with this woman's voice and who are looking for someone to be a Denise Austin and have a fake plastered on smile during the workout (which is ridiculous - NOBODY SMILES when they're grunting and groaning during exercise) will not be happy with this. This is straightforward, just-get-down-on-the-floor-and-do-it! workout. One reviewer said it's all the same workout shuffled around - yes, Pilates has only a handful of core exercises and all the workouts are shuffled around... this helps to trip up muscle memory so you don't have a training plateau. But they didn't mention that one workout has weights, one workout doesn't, one workout is for less flexible people, etc. It doesn't vary MUCH, but they are all, indeed, different. After all, if it works, why would you want to do anything else? If you use the proper breathing techniques, use the correct firm, and do 15 minutes every morning, you will be very happy with the results.

I am not in the greatest shape, but this DVD is very adaptable to my needs and has allowed me to grow and improve. I have used it for over a month and a half and I can now do things I never thought I could. The instructor's cues are clear and concise. It is somewhat of a straightforward instruction style, not so sticky sweet, which I prefer but if you need a cheerleader pushing you on this might not be for you. Overall, this DVD is a fantastic value and I am going to get some of their yoga titles now to try them out.

I've been using this DVD 4 times a week for about 3 months and I love it. The instructor is very precise and the routines are effective. I started with Intermediate routines and now I'm doing mostly the Intermediate/Advanced and Intermediate. After a month I felt it working, and now it's really starting to show. For the first time in many years I'm looking forward to wearing shorts, tank tops and even bathing suits. My abs have definition, my thighs are firm and my bottom is getting visibly toned and defined (no more jello giggle). I wasn't overweight so I don't know what results you'd get if you need to lose and tone, but if you just need to really firm things up, you'll see results. The instructor isn't bubbly and the set isn't much, but the instruction and effectiveness are great so I'm happy.

At the levels I'm using most of the routines are 20 or 25 min. I thought that was short, but these routines go right through (just like a mat class) so you aren't pausing between moves to have the instructor set up the next excercise. You learn how to do the excersises in an introduction section at each level. When I want something longer, I do a 25 min routine at my level, and do the introduction to the next level. Once I can do those excercises correctly, I'll try some of the harder routines.

I took a class at a Pilates studio 2-3x wk for about a year. Since changing jobs, I haven't been able to find a class that works with my schedule so I've bought several videos and DVD's to try and continue with Pilates on my own. Even with a year's experience, I've found most of the tapes include a number of really advanced moves that I can't do, and there's little instruction to work up to them. I do what I can, get discouraged or frustrated and look for a new tape. I think that my search is over!

The Pilates mat routine is a series of moves designed to be done in a specific sequence. This program does what I haven't seen others do - it starts with the most basic of modified and prep versions and then moves up gradually with each move until you're doing the unmodified version. There's also new moves added at each level. There are enough routines at each level that you won't feel pressured to go beyond your ability until you are comfortable. There's also instruction at the beginning of every level before you get into the routines.

Pilates is the only excersice program I've found that I feel and see results in a time that keeps me motivates. After 4 wks of 3x wk, I'm seeing my abs, butt and thighs firming up again. Yeah! It doesn't have elaborate sets, a room full of participants or any celebrity endorsements, but, if you want real Pilates taught by a certified Pilates instructor, get this DVD!

I had been looking for a good Pilates DVD, and after trying a couple of titles, I tried this one and cannot recommend it enough.

There are many levels (I am still at the basic/beginner levels, and trying the intermediate levels sometimes) and times of the routines so I am able to choose different things on different days.

The best part for me is that the lessons and workouts are seperate. Other DVDs I have tried had too much chatter in the workouts. Here you watch a lesson/introduction for each level and the instructor introduces new poses and modifications for different poses so you know what to expect.

If you do not watch the introductions for each level, then you will miss out on instruction and how do do the exercises. You really need to watch them before trying things, the modifications for the routines are in there and not in the routines themselves.

Also as you increase in levels there are more options and routines to work with. So as you start there not be as quite of a range of selection as later on. There are 5 levels and the first 2 levels have about 6 -7 routines in total, but later on each level has about 8 routines or so. But even the lower levels has more than the other DVDs I have tried.

As others have noted she may not smile during workouts, instead she is giving me valuable lessons and she does have alot of energy as she guides you through the workouts. If you prefer the tapes with more "filler" and "fluff" then you may not like this. If you want to learn and get a good workout, then this is for you.

I wish I had discovered Pilates in my 20's if I knew it was that effective. Besides making me look great on the outside I feel even better on the inside. DVD has many many programs , much of which I still haven't used. The workouts are done with careful precise instruction and the detail on exercising the core which is the center of Pilates makes you sweat and burn fat. It was great for me to use at home to get familar with Pilates before signing up for a class.