Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Goldhill Home Media
• VHS Release Date: April 9, 2001
• Run Time: 64 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000059YSA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,352 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pilates Basics, August 8, 2001

By 

Kailasa Ishaya (Maui, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stott Pilates - Essential Matwork [VHS] (VHS Tape)

First, I'd like to say that I had been looking for a exercise program that develops 'core' muscles when I happened across this video. The Stott Pilates method is EXACTLY what I had been looking for. (Just to let you know I have been doing 'machines' and free weights for years and knew that 'something' was missing. Now I'm just doing Pilates, Kundalini Yoga, and Tae-bo.) Now for the video itself. Overall it's good, but not as good as I would hope for a second and revised edition. The workout routine itself is good and thorough - about an hour long. You'll definitely break a sweat while developing probably the most important muscles of all, those that stabilize the spine, hips, shoulders and abdominal areas. The tape unit itself feels cheap - I've had to remove the flip-up cover to get it to load into my VCR....And at times the audio is not very good - either my copy is bad, or the audio engineer sometimes had 2 microphones on that reverbed - but you can understand the instructions if you play with the volume. Also, I felt 'rushed' through the workout. I use my VCR remote with this tape at times to allow myself time to get from one exercise setup to the next. I wished they had either edited a longer version or simply allowed more time. (What's an extra 5 minutes when you're doing an hour routine?) And while the instruction is pretty complete, as a yoga instructor myself, I felt like Moira has not completely explained what muscles/coordination some of the exercises are developing. I had to stop the video and 'play' with a couple of the movements until I 'got' what finer points I was working with - especially the balance related parts. Despite these, perhaps, nit-pickings, I would recommend this tape.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to Pilates, April 13, 2001

By 

Eve Mathews "EvieC" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stott Pilates - Essential Matwork [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is the first exposure I have had to Pilates based workouts. I really enjoyed the video, even though it did seem to drag on a bit (45 minutes). Maybe this is more a feature of me not being familiar with Pilates, but the pace of the video seemed very slow and relaxed, even though I found the moves difficult enough to be challenging. I felt like I got a good workout and that I had better posture, even after using the tape for the first time. I would recommend this tape to someone wanting to give Pilates a try.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent place to start, August 15, 2003

By 

Issa "Dancingviolet1010" (Portage, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stott Pilates - Essential Matwork [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As a beginner in Pilates work, I had tried another video prior to this one and was wishing for more detailed explanation to the technique. A good friend and Pilates instructor recommended the Stott series, and this video in particular to start with. I was so glad she did! If you are new to Pilates and serious about getting the full sense of technique that will give you the results you're looking for, this video is the one to try! The leader explains each motion clearly and emphasizes the need for flow in between, as well as placing the importance on preparing for each new exercise as being nearly as important as the exercise itself.

The workout is very intense and requires both physical and mental endurance, and the instructor's demeanor is pleasant and makes you feel comfortable about being at whatever level you're at. If you're unable to perform the full exercise, she shows or explains how to modify it to suit you. I appreciate her manner in doing this, so I don't feel "less able" because I not as flexible as she is (yet!).

I feel I've advanced so much from using this video regularly, and I can't wait to try the other videos in the Stott series once I feel I've mastered this one.