Customer Reviews

Stott Pilates - Intermediate Matwork [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I tried every Pilates tape I could find, trying to find one that was not BASIC. I had learned the poses, but I wanted a tape that moved along with little or no extra instruction. This tape was just what I wanted. Each of the movements is done with form reminders, but no practice poses, and because of that, I don't feel like I'm just lying around waiting for the instructions to be over. If you have mastered Beginner level Pilates, here's where you go next. This tape, alternated with traditional abdominal work, will definitely get those abs in shape!

This is the best for instruction, she cues like noone else, and the attention to detail is phenomenal. She knows when to tell you not to tighten your neck, when to keep your shoulders down - incredible. It is not flashy, and her videos in fact have been criticised for being monotonous. Well - give me that and don't give me someone grinning at me and whooping - or fillling up a set with candles.
However I should stress that it is TOUGH. I used her Essential level tape for months before moving on to this, and it has taken me months to work up to doing all the exercises - the rollover is still difficult to do without momentum.
To the user who found it too hard and fast - and had decided to skip the beginner's tape - please note above - the Essential is inbetween! You don't actually need the Beginner's tape unless you are really unfit - her explanation in the essential tape is of course perfect. It is slow - all the exercises you do fast in this tape are explained and demonstrated much more slowly.
Anyway - these are the best tapes for explanation and content - and the plus is that the order has been rearranged to reflect current knowledge of physionomy and the need to balance forward bending and backward bending of the spine.
If you really want to learn Pilates properly - this is the series to go for, believe me.

I have been taking Pilates classes and this is a great additionto my training. It's a great way to do Pilates without having to payfor a class. Since doing Pilates for the last 2 months, I have lost 3-4 inches around my waist. It is a great video, representative of a live Pilates class. The instructor provides good cues to get you to work the right areas and do the exercises correctly. The only downside is that it is the same workout every time and the instructor cannot correct your movements, which is an essential part of Pilates. Overall as good as a video can get.

I have purchased other videos in the past. Most of the time, the video does not live up my expectations (ie. bad music, slow moving). This tape was great. After a 5 minute warm up, we right into the "meat" of the workout. The tape flowed, it was challenging, and it was not alot of "fluff". But most importantly, I will not be putting this tape back on my shelf to collect dust like many of my other tapes.

I believe this tape could be used as a workout in itself (if you are looking for something low impact). But, she does mention that if you use this tape plus do a cardio workout 3-4 days a week, you'll be in great condition. That makes sense...

This workout is excellent. You will not be disappointed.

This video is very thorough and safe. She does a warm-up prior to "the hundred" warm up. The pace is very steady but not too fast, performing up to 49 different pilates exercises toning the entire body. I would recommend this video for the intermediate level unless you are athletic and have been exposed to a little pilates before via a book or video and are familiar with the moves.

This video is well worth the money to me because it teaches appropriate breathing and the correct form, which are essential to proper results and to prevent injury. It is challenging and fun, and has produced great results in my overall balance, strenth, tone and provides me with a feeling of well-being once I am done with the workout. You don't need a mat if you have carpet. I also combine this with other workouts such as cardio and light weights, and she encourages you to alternate the tape with something for your heart such as walking, although this is a good cardio workout, for your heart's health you need something to push you a bit harder a couple times a week.

A great combination and wonderful variety to any workout regimen. I love not having to dress up with shoes, just plop on the floor and get started, and it's easy to do if I have a injury or am just too tired to do something else. It has been beneficial for me, having a lot of physical pain and muscle problems, although I will say it was very challenging at first but in a good way. As your core muscles improve with time, it becomes easier and you can feel it working better in my opinion. It's fun to improve at things, and if you want to have a tape that you can grow with, see results, and feel good about what you are doing for yourself, this is a good one.

Since I'm pretty fit and used to learning new physical activities, this was a perfect Pilates beginner video for me. Moira Stott is an excellent instructor who teaches a proper exercising and breathing techniques. What I was looking for and have found in this video: detailed instructions, moderate speed (but not too slow, so it's challenging), no-fuss style (that is no cheerleading and annoying non-related talks/jokes you have to listen to every time you use the tape). I've learned the basics with this video in about 2 months and moving on to the Stott Advanced Matwork on VHS and the Classical Pilates Technique on DVD. However, I'm still going to use this great routine as my alternating workout on the days when I'm too tired/sore to do the advanced one.

Stott's Intermediate Matwork video is designed for experienced Pilates students who have already mastered the beginning Pilates moves, either through use of the Stott Beginner's video or elsewhere. Instructor Moira Stott explains that in this new second edition, the sequencing of the exercises has been revised based on the latest research. Moira, a calm, competent instructor, works out alone here.

Moira begins with a 9-minute sequence of opening stretches which review the major Pilates principles, including breathing, imprinting, and articulation. This section also includes warm-up exercises for the hips and shoulders as well as prep moves for the abs and back. Although the warm-up moves at a slow, leisurely pace, once Moira begins the workout--starting with the classic hundred move--she picks up the pace, transitioning quickly between moves. In order to keep up, it is necessary for the viewer to have not only previous knowledge of the exercises themselves but also a basic understanding of Pilates sequencing. Furthermore, because this is an intermediate routine, some fairly challenging moves are added to the traditional Pilates matwork, including the rollover, the open leg rocker, the full teaser, the jack knife, hip twists, side bends, and Pilates push-ups. The 35-minute matwork section ends with a few simple stretches.

This is a nice routine for those Pilates students who are ready to advance beyond the beginner level. The fast pace intensifies the workout, and the intermediate movements are challenging yet doable for those who have built up some core strength. Although the total workout time is 44 minutes, the warm-up stretches could easily be skipped for a relatively quick and thorough 35-minute Pilates workout. Recommended for all intermediate students of Pilates.

I never did Pilates before, but I've done yoga and other workouts so I went right to this intermediate tape. I'm a "quick study" and beginners tapes tend to bore me quickly. I REALLY enjoyed this workout, it was difficult at times and I even broke a sweat! I'm a stay-at-home Mom with two kids and this is exactly what I needed to energize me! I like the instructor very much, she's very calm yet motivating. I'm hooked on Pilates!

I got this video after taking 2 beginning Pilates classes, and using Anna Caban's beginning and intermediate Pilates video. I was hoping through using different instructors, I'd learn different nuances of the moves and become more proficient in Pilates.

Stott's instruction and execution of the exercises is excellent; no cheating or sloppiness. However, it was less challenging for me overall than Caban's intermediate video, despite being about 10 minutes longer. What really turned me off this video and kept if from inspiring me, is that it appeared, between moves during instructional "chats," Stott sat hunched over. Admittedly, this is a pet peeve, but ever since Pilates has helped me improve my posture and lessened my aching back, I have become much more aware of hunching. Seeing my instructor hunching was outright depressing, so I gave the video away after a few viewings.

Caban's video was good, and Hillary Burnett's best of the Pilates videos I've seen. But Stott's Pilates is otherwise well instructed and executed.

If you are somewhat new to Pilates, I would suggest you start with Stott-Merrithew's Essential Matwork video. She takes a lot more time there to explain how to do the exercises. In this video, she builds on that slow, deliberate instruction, so the exercises go by much more quickly here, with little pausing. Also, in this video, she has us doing more-advanced versions of the "preps" we did in the Essential video.

As in the Essential video, Stott-Merrithew instructs us in a no-nonsense yet encouraging and supportive manner. I like that she mixes abdominal exercises with back exercises and flexibility exercises, rather than lumping each type together. I found some of the exercises a bit complicated and difficult, and felt like she sped through some of the instruction, but the exercises seem like they'll be accessible to me in just a few more tries.

I'm not in horrible shape, but I'm no gym rat, either. I found this workout to be just challenging enough that I'll be able to benefit from it for a good little while to come. I can't emphasize enough, though, that you'll enjoy this tape much more if you begin with the Essential tape.