Customer Reviews

Prevention Fitness Systems - Slim, Strong & Firm by Lara Hudson

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you want to strengthen your muscles and tone up, then this is for you. I really like Prevention dvds because they are doable for almost everyone. They provide a 6 foot band you can use in this routine and I found that's helped a lot for my flexability.
In this, there is toning done standing up and a floor routine. It's a good way to help your posture and lengthen your muscles. It has a ballet inspired segment (for which you'll need some balance) and I love the unique way that you can choose which music you want - either relaxing or energising. I thought the instructor was really good and she cues well so you know what's up next.
The whole workout is done in under an hour and I've done it twice already and found it fun and it worked different muscles that I haven't worked out in a while. I'm going to continue doing this for a while yet, because I really like this one and recommend it to everyone.

This is a great relaxing video. If your having a tired day you can pop this in and just to a light modified workout, but if you want to build strength in you arms, abs, and legs, just add the resistant band and the free weights and you'll be toned in no time.

I've bought a few Prevention fitness DVDs and found them uninspiring, a bit too much of the same old same old. I got this one because it had Lara Hudson's name on it, and I like her - she uses innovative takes on classic pilates moves,. her cueing is excellent - she gives you time to set up and explains the moves without wasting precious time - and she's pleasant without being loud or overly perky... no whooping, ever - thank gods! (Yes, I am super fussy..... )

This is yet another goody, and the only Prevention keeper. Afterwards, I felt muscles I hadn't felt in a while. There's a floor routine and a standing routine, both make use of the (included) band, but one modifier uses weights. Simpler AND more advanced moves are also demo'd. The whole routine comes to just under an hour. You can of course split it up. I enjoyed it, and it's going into my regular rotation.

I hope to see more DVDs by Lara Hudson.

A few years ago, I was first in line to buy 10 10 Minute Solution Yoga, and I enjoyed it. Since then, I've tried out most of Hudson's other workouts, and I just haven't found anything as good as that release. Sadly, this was not an exception.

I like the concept: a two-part Pilates workout, half floorwork and half standing, enhanced by the band. I also liked a lot of the movements that she chose, particularly for the standing segment (they're calling this ballet, but I'm seeing a lot of the Pilates Standing Series there). Unfortunately, the movements in both segments take so long to set up that I feel like I lose a lot of the "work" I'd normally get in a more traditional and fluid Pilates program. While there were a couple of movements that made me feel like I was working (the standing Arabesque and prone Arm Circles among them), that was more the exception than the rule. I felt like I hadn't really worked out, and that was after almost 50 minutes. While I appreciate that I might have a more advanced Pilates practice than others, I think a workout that is billed for Intermediates and that includes two modifiers should provide some opportunities for progressing.

This might be challenging for beginners and low intermediates, but anyway past that point will probably not find that this was time well-spent.

this was well done but too much explanation at the beginning of each exercise. Once thru I got impatient waiting for her to explain.
The Exercises are helpfull though.

What a great idea and so fun. Just what Pilates needs for the arms.

The instructions are clear, the movements are simple yet challenging if you want to make them flow. The class is not so exhausting that you cannot do it every day (or very other day in combination with something else). I also like the fact that the class is divided into 2 segents one pilates one ballet core- so that you can do one 1/2 if you have a very limited amount of time. The key for me was to figure out how to place the band so that it would not snap out. I would recommend this tape. actually, I bought the same for my mother- who loves it too.

I LOVE this DVD!
The instructor uses a stretch band for the exercises. She is flanked by 2 participants, one who is modifying her moves to use hand weights (more difficult), and the other particpant is modifying moves for a less strenous workout. I love this.
The instructor uses a 6" wide, 6 ft. long yellow band. I bought one of these and it's perfect for a beginner like me. I love using the band because it's gentler on the joints and I'm 58 yrs old. The DVD has "new" exercises that I've never seen before ( that's always a good thing) and it gives me a good workout. As I get more comfortable ( too comfortable?) with the yellow band, I will buy the next color "up" so I can increase my workout with the more intense band.
I highly recommend this video.

I buy a lot of workout videos and I can't tell you how many sit on the shelf b/c after one or two times, they just bore me to death. I think I have every video Lara Hudson made. She is so NOT annoying. She's easy to follow and I actually look forward to doing the workouts. This particular video is good for beginners, intermediates and advanced! You can feel the burn the next day so I know I'm getting a good workout! (Just remember to rotate your workouts, so you keep "feeling the burn")

I think that this video would be excellent for anyone just getting started into a workout routine. As always, Lara Hudson is an excellent instructor. She is one of the few workout instructors I have witnessed in 15 or so years of doing aerobics, yoga, and pilates whose manner is pleasant and positive without being overbearing and maniacal. It's amazing how much the bearing of the instructor influences the whole experience. That having been said, I would have appreciated a bit more to this workout. Most of the movements in it are no different from ones I have seen her use in other DVD's, and the addition of the resistance band (a potentially awesome boost to the intensity of the workout) loses something in the execution. I also feel that the routine here is a bit short, but as I said first off: for a beginner this would be excellent.