Customer Reviews

Stott Pilates - Ultimate Back Care [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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I have lived with fairly mild lower back pain most of my adult life. It has consisted of morning stiffness and mild discomfort after engaging in activities such as gardening. For many years, I found that a few yoga stretches and postures pretty much took care of it. But upon entering my forties, the stretches and postures, while still helpful, did not seem to have the same effect and the pain started to intrude into other activities such as skiing and biking. Since these were sacred activities - to be protected at all costs - I had to find something else but nothing seemed to be enough. About six months ago, I discovered some pilates exercises in a magazine. Finally, I began to experience significant relief! I then found some pilates classes at my gym and it became clear to me that I needed to do this on a more regular basis. I bought the Living Arts Pilates tape and worked up to the Intermediate Mat Workout doing it several times a week. I not only received considerable relief from back pain but felt all over better and not to be dismissed, experienced a flatter abdomen. I felt better (younger) doing the activies I love such as biking. I started looking at amazon.com for other pilates tapes. I felt that a change in tapes might be interesting plus I felt like the Living Arts tapes really did not focus on technique. When I saw the Stotts Ultimate Backcare, it seemed like a natural choice. I also bought Stotts Essential Mat Workout at the same time. I was hopeful that the Ultimate Backcare would concentrate on the place I needed the most help and would offer modifications to some basic pilates exercises that might be more appropriate to someone with a "bad back". (I found modifications nearly non-existant in Ana Cabin's Living Arts Pilates tape). The Ultimate Backcare tape brings to it Moira Stott-Merrithew's intelligent approach to exercise and her considerable experience. It provides a good introduction to basic pilates principles with her usual extensive focus on breathing and form. (I have discovered breathing and form to be very important in the achievement of maximal results). Moira has a student demonstrate the exercises while she explains and emphasizes the important points. She clearly shows the correct and incorrect forms. The tape begins with the introduction (you can skip this after one to two viewings), and proceeds to a gentle warm-up, a very basic set of pilates exercises with modifications and finishes with a couple of stretches. It runs about 45 minutes. She offers warnings, when necessary, before starting an exercise to those with disc problems, etc and offers further modifications. I am glad that I purchased the Essential Mat Workout for Beginners at the same time as I much prefer it. I find the Essential Mat Workout a little more challenging and I definitely can see the results in stronger "core muscles" which is the heart of pilates practice. But I think for those with recent back injuries or back problems that have made them reluctant to exercise, Utimate Backcare is perfect. Her methods seem very safe and sound. I think that these individuals will find it very helpful in relieving back pain and creating the stronger core muscles to support a more active lifestyle. But don't be afraid to move up to the Essential Workout tape for Beginners when you have gotten very comfortable with this one. You can still use the modifications when necessary and may experience greater results.

I've had two kids, one by c-section. Since then my stomach muscles have been trashed, not to mention by back. (especially after spending the last 4 years picking up children) I've tried alot of things, but this tape is the first time I've had confidence something might actually work. This tape is working, but you have to have patience. At first I tried to get everything right. The breathing, the position, the exercise. Then I relaxed, got the basics down, which is the actual exercise, then the breathing in relation to the move. (The breathing is VERY important.) Everytime I watch and do the tape I learn something else (like I was breathing in, when I should have been exhaling, etc) but I don't get upset about it, I just try to do it right the next time and I can really tell the difference! And don't worry if you need to use the pillow under your neck or back or you can't raise your head to do some of the exercises, it will come once you start strengthening. The only thing I've noticed is that I sometimes have to go a little slower than the demonstration, but once you start knowing what's coming up next you can just start a little sooner. Remember mostly to inhale/exhale at the appropriate times. Pace yourself and only do what you feel comfortable with, and work on it at least three times a week, but every other day is better. This tape will definitely help you, just keep trying!

This video might be a good introduction to fitness for someone who is very sedentary and has a low back problem. However, in my case I am very active with a low back injury and the contents of this video had nothing to add to my workout routine.

The biggest problem with the video for me was the instructor's constant, constant, constant talking. It was distracting and often added nothing to the workout. Further, though the exercise was demonstrated with explicit detail, sometimes as the set repeated the instructor talked so much I lost my place or my count.

I was hoping for a video with more body mechanics information and less breathy conversation. The model demonstrating the exercises uses excellent form. I suppose you could do this workout by turning off the sound and just following the demonstrator's lead.

I'll be mailing this one to a friend of mine who needs to get moving and quit sitting on her tailbone. This will be a perfect video for her.

As other reviewers have noted, the instructor talks and talks and talks and its very difficult to get a workout from this tape. You spend more time sitting and listening to her than actually DOING anything! I think the tape should have been designed to walk through the series of poses with instructions once, then they should have taped it a second time with the movements flowing into one another without all the intermittent chatter.

I have been doing Yoga daily for the past 9 years and have recently started to add Pilates into my program. Though I I have quite a few other excellent Pilates programs, there's no doubt that the Stott seem to have the best overall instruction.

I just did this program "Ultimate Back Care" this afternoon and though it did move slowly because of all the instruction, it did deliver on it's promise. I was quite achy in my back before I did it and afterwards felt considerably better.

I would have to agree (with another reviewer) that it would been ideal if there was one version with all the detailed instruction and another where it just flowed. I can see that this program could become a bit tedious once you have the basic technique down and just want to do the exercises. But for someone new to Pilates, I believe the positives will certainly outweigh the negatives. This seems to me to be a very safe program which is especially important when you are dealing with something that can be as tricky and fragile as the back.

I also have the Stott's four pack which has programs that flow more so I'll certainly be using those as my main Stott Pilates practice. That being said, I can also see that I'll use this "Ultimate Back Care" program from time to time when I feel it will give me the most benefit.

I can't say enough though how impressed I am with Moira Stott-Merrithew. She's incredibly knowledgeable and has a true gift for communication in her teaching. Also her programs are extremely well done in every respect.