Customer Reviews

Pilates Method - Perfect Mix

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I've only used this video a few times, but it really gives me a good workout. The first segment focuses on traditional Pilates moves for a tough abs workout (if you've never done Pilates before, be patient... you probably won't be able to do all the moves, but eventually it will get easier). The second segment is cardio/strentgh, and you need 1-3 pound weights. It uses a lot of dance-inspired moves, and being a little uncoordinated I haven't gotten them all down yet. I don't mind stumbling around a little (I'm sure I'll get it down eventually!), but you should know that you probably won't pick up the moves the first time you do this video. The third segment is a yoga/stretch session that is very relaxing.

I liked this video because it combines strength and light cardio, and it also gives me a good stretch at the end. Also, each of the segments can be done individually (they're each about 20 minutes long) if you don't have much time. The only slight drawback is that there's an excessive amount of explanation on how the breathe at the beginning that I have to fastforward through.

I just read thru all the reviews, and as someone who has been practising pilates for years, these are my views:
1) This is definitely NOT for beginners. I really like J Kries, have quite a few of her older videos, and her book - but she is a little too poetic and not quite detailed enough in her explanations in the videos (book is better). If you have never practised Pilates before, I recommend Moira Stott's videos - start with the Essential - never tried Ana Caban so I wouldn't know - apparently JK's The Method - Precision Toning is a good instructional - but again I wouldn't know. I started with JK's All in one Workout and strained my back myself, then fixed and repaired with Stott, got bored with her delivery and now can sail thru the all in one with ease - and love it! I also like this video, but for a lighter day. You MUST be experienced in Pilates to do the exercises at this speed, otherwise you will not be able to hold your navel to your spine and breathe properly. Stott moves up to this speed in her intermediate video, and leaves some of the modifications like the bridge with leg extensions for her advanced video!!!!!

PLEASE take in the above - without the necessary experience and abdominal strength built up from prior slow work, this video and others at this level could mean you end up working the wrong muscles or worse hurting yourself - you may think you can do the aforementioned bridge, but I spent months doing it with Stott, all we do is lift the bent leg off the ground a few inches and hold a few seconds, doing our best to keep the pelvis/hips level, the navel to spine,the shoulderblades down, the breathing even.....anyone can stick their hips up and throw a leg in the air...

2) The cardio workout IS ok for beginners - without weights. For intermediate up, it won't get your heart rate up enough. Unless you use heavier weights - which you shouldn't! At the speed these movements are performed, using too heavy weights will mean that momentum comes in and so most of the benefits of weights are lost, plus you can easily injure yourself - believe me, I've been there!

3) The workout is in a wierd order. I believe the cardio should be first to warm you up, then the Pilates, finally the yoga. But who am I to speak..... The All in one workout is better in this respect - long dance oriented warmup - cardio intervals interspersed with extremely effective weight work, then long Pilates session. Only thing missing is a yoga stretch at the end for a committed yoga person like me, who doesn't feel great without at least a 15 min session daily! That said, I still like it and do it occasionally, but even though I enjoy Jen's videos more than Stott's for their colour and music and daniness, I still do Stott more regularly for the deep benefits.

4) Last but not least - before you buy exercise videos - I recommend going into a couple of [local]sites - they have reviews from experienced exercisers, and Collage also rate their videos from beginners to advanced and give a time graph showing the timeframe of the workout (warmup 5 mins, lower body 10mins....) - both sites are pretty dependable!

Hope this info helps out, I myself appreciate the time other people take to write reviews, and thank you all for it. I personally won't buy a video unless there are a few focused reviews - on more than one site! Good exercising!

I really love this DVD. I have never done either pilates or ballet although I am a yoga enthusiast. I was looking for a way to get back in shape and in particular tone my back and abs and legs after pregnancy. Not only is this is a great introduction to pilates, but I feel immediate effects upon my posture after each class. Jennifer is a rare breed of excercise teachers in that she simply is not annoying- just inspiring. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow and she places the correct empahsis on breath (unlike Denise Austin in her DVD Mat workout based on Pilates). The excercises are not difficult but targeted, effective and sometimes challenging depending on where your particular weakness may be. The metabolic booster section is a real gem if you want to feel you are doing some cardio. Whether I will lose any weight doing these programs I dont know but I am toning visibly after only 2 weeks. I dont like excercise particulary (jumping around is not for me) but this DVD makes me feel like Yoga does - enervated, rejuvenated, graceful, strong, and excited about doing it again the next day.

I have taken a few Pilates mat classes, and found this DVD to be excellent for a beginner. I like Jennifer Kries because she explains the moves really well - you don't have to keep looking up at the screen to see what she is doing because her descriptions are so clear. Also, she is down to earth and no nonsense, and I just like her style. One great feature of this DVD is the cardio section. Many Pilates workouts don't include cardio work, and this one is nice 'cos it uses light weights and is low impact (but still manages to raise my heart rate). I normally do The Firm workouts, and am used to more strenuous weight and cardio work, but this workout has made a difference in my abdominals and my flexibility. I'm looking forward to trying Jennifer Kries' other Pilates workouts.

I read lots of reviews and descriptions of this tape before I committed to purchasing it. I was so excited when it finally arrived, and what a great workout it delivered. I watched most of it before I started so I could get an idea of what was involved, and that helped (although I am so uncoordinated I still don't have the middle segment down yet).

The first section is a classic Pilates routine with some yoga interspersed in the middle. Yes, you feel it in your abs right when she says your going to. I like that she shows modifications but also encourages you to challenge yourself. I probably benefited from learning first with the Ana Caban tapes, but I was able to keep up and try some new things. I think Jennifer's roll-up variation with the feet flexed is more challenging that with the toes pointed, but I'm going to play around and see which feels best. The neck pull was a surprise, but I was glad she had some different exercises in there.

The Metabolic Booster section was my favorite. When I first watched it I thought "Oh, this will be fine- will it get my heart rate up enough?" Well, yes it did! The moves are so pretty and graceful (although of course I'm still learning to get all of the steps down) that you don't really you're working your butt- or should I say glutes?- off. Again, when she says you should feel this in your glutes, you will. I love this part!

The Rejuvenation section was a great way to end the workout. I don't know if it's Jennifer's extra dose of inspiration or if the other two workouts just loosened me up, but I definitely felt my hamstrings loosen up. For me, that's huge. I'm pretty flexible (except for the hamstrings) and I've been doing yoga for a while, so I didn't need most of the modifications she introduced, but they didn't bother me, either.

Again, this is a great workout- I recommend it to anyone who wants a total body workout but wants a softer (though not slower) pace.

Perfect!

[....] what a great workout it delivered. I watched most of it before I started so I could get an idea of what was involved, and that helped (although I am so uncoordinated I still don't have the middle segment down yet).

The first section is a classic Pilates routine with some yoga interspersed in the middle. Yes, you feel it in your abs right when she says your going to. I like that she shows modifications but also encourages you to challenge yourself. I probably benefited from learning first with the Ana Caban tapes, but I was able to keep up and try some new things. I think Jennifer's roll-up variation with the feet flexed is more challenging that with the toes pointed, but I'm going to play around and see which feels best. The neck pull was a surprise, but I was glad she had some different exercises in there.

The Metabolic Booster section was my favorite. When I first watched it I thought "Oh, this will be fine- will it get my heart rate up enough?" Well, yes it did! The moves are so pretty and graceful (although of course I'm still learning to get all of the steps down) that you don't really you're working your butt- or should I say glutes?- off. Again, when she says you should feel this in your glutes, you will. I love this part!

The Rejuvenation section was a great way to end the workout. I don't know if it's Jennifer's extra dose of inspiration or if the other two workouts just loosened me up, but I definitely felt my hamstrings loosen up. For me, that's huge. I'm pretty flexible (except for the hamstrings) and I've been doing yoga for a while, so I didn't need most of the modifications she introduced, but they didn't bother me, either.

Again, this is a great workout- I recommend it to anyone who wants a total body workout but wants a softer (though not slower) pace.

Perfect!

I think this is a wonderful video, the moves although fast, are easy enough to learn once you get your coordination in gear, and Jennifer Kries is very practical and straight forward...one problem though. I have just started working out and am in poor shape; I could not do 90% of the Core Conditioning, partly because I do not have the muscle strength to even make a semi-decent attempt at these exercises, and partly because I am not flexible plus the extra pounds I carry do not allow me to bend into the stretches as much as I would like to improve my flexibility (imagine putting a pillow between your stomach and legs when you bend forward). I really like the Metobalic Booster, (love the music!) but I almost didn't make it to the end, I was sweating like a pig, my heart was racing, my legs nearly gave out on me, and I wasn't even using weights! The AM/PM Rejuvination is a really good stretching/wake up the muscles workout, but again, I am not even half as flexible as needed to really benefit from these exercises. On the positive side, I have had a lot of back problems recently, and after working through the Rejuvination last night and the cardio section today, I can already feel a difference in my back, it doesn't feel so locked up. I know it is a good thing to reach beyond our limitations, that is how we grow stronger, and this video definitely has me stretching. But I probably would not have purchased this video for beginning workouts had I known the importance of flexibility and basic muscle strength to benefitting from this workout.

You don't have to be a dancer to do this routine! This workout is challenging yet not overly strenuous. I really like Jennifer Kries' friendly, professional style. Her cuing is easy to follow and her form is impeccable. The music in the Metabolic Booster section is very motivating! It can definitely get you into an aerobic state even though it's low impact enough to be done barefoot. The good news is, the 'no dialogue' music-only option is nice if you have the routine memorized; the bad news is, this DVD is not in stereo. However, it's an excellent overall workout that can improve your flexibility, strengthen your abs (and other muscles!), and the yoga section is both energizing and relaxing without getting too fussy. If you're new to Pilates, this DVD is a good choice!

This is an excellant workout tape. Interested in the intensity of the aerobic portion, I hooked up my HRM and checked it out. I got to 60% max heart rate and could sustain 70% max with no problem. Obviously if the 20 minute time period isn't enough, do it over, or hit pause between sections and do a few more reps. In addition, use more weight. For those that are initially intimidated by the speed of the aerobic section, play it in slow motion without weights until you get the gross movements down. Then play it at speed without weights until you refine the movements with Jennifer's instructions while breathing properly. Then add weights. The Pilates section is a great workout. The last portion is Yoga based and is both energizing and relaxing. If you sincerely want to improve your posture and become stronger throughout while being coached by the focused, intelligent and quiet Jennifer Kries, purchase and use this tape.

Yes, this workout is pretty good. The yoga and pilates segments are interesting and different, and they really feel effective. But why hasn't anyone mentioned the terrible video and sound quality?? This DVD looks like it was filmed with a home camera. The video is grainy, sometimes blurry, and very hard to look at. It gave me a headache! The sound is also bad. At times it sounds like she is talking into a cup. Also, the Pilates segment has no music until halfway through.

But it's not just that. She spends a lot of time sitting and talking about the moves you are going to do. This is great - the first couple times you do it. After that, you are ready to just get to the workout and not have to sit and listen again. It's not really convenient to FF, you always go too far and have to back up.

So, although this isn't the worst workout I've ever done (it's actually a pretty decent sequence) technical problems and slow pace hamper this DVD down. If someone already has it, go ahead and do it a time or two. You'll like it. Just don't waste your money on it, because you won't do it enough to get the value out of it.