Customer Reviews

Zone - Mat and Ball Workout

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

 

 

This isn't a fast-paced, heavy duty workout, but those aren't for everyone, are they? Liz Gillies is a knowledgeable, cheery instructor. The DVD contains three separate programs. All of them are sprinkled with Liz's words of encouragment and instruction. You will get a good workout and even sweat (especially in the first program) if you follow her instructions. If this helps, I'm 42 years old and in pretty good shape, but I'm not (remotely) Karen Voight or Kathy Smith or Denise Austin...

In the Fat Burning workout Liz tells you how to keep your heart rate elevated--even while lying on your back. It starts with brief instructions about the ball, a short warm-up, and continues with a cardio section that consists of a lot of bouncing on the ball and lifting your arms which is fun, but also works your legs (if you use them instead of just bouncing). Then it has two segments that keep your heartrate up: a standing leg work section--mostly lunge-type exercises--followed by a good arms workout--standing up and lifting the ball. Maybe I'm a weakling, but it puts my arms to work! The last part is a challenging (for me) workout for legs and abs lying on the floor with legs on the ball which also challenges your balance. This is followed by a cool-down.

The second workout, Pilates on the floor, I don't do as often as the others. My DVD is a few years old and I hope they've fixed the problem with the audio which cuts out part-way through the program and comes back later. You miss the audio instructions on several of the exercises, but can follow along by watching. Despite that problem I liked the ball workouts so much I kept the defective DVD. The exercises are good for toning,especially abs, and there aren't so many repetitions that you end up hating life, Liz, and exercise.

The third workout is a toning workout on the ball. I think it's a good workout, but I'm not as fond of toning as I should be, so I don't do it as often as the first one. I like it that Liz says, "I know it's hard, I'm feeling it too" and "I'm glad that's over" during and after a couple of the leg exercises. She mostly works the legs and abs--Pilates stuff--and not the arms.

I think these are good workouts though a little short, about 30 minutes each. The DVD is a better value than some because you get three workouts.

Liz Gillies is as sweet as she can be, however, I don't enjoy the workout so much. It does work you out, but it is extremely easy on the toning. I don't feel much - and I've been doing ball workouts for a while. It's great for getting into pilates and just beginning on the ball.

I absolutley love these work outs.

The fat burning work out gets me puffing, and I break a bit of a sweat - but I don't feel like I'm about to vomit because I have worked so hard! The first time I did this workout I found it really difficult, but I Was incredably unfit - I think like all Liz's workouts they are ideal for beginners. I still use this workout and I favour it above all the other DVDs I own. Like anything, the more you put into it, the more you get out, but you can make your muscles work - legs, buns, stomachs and arms - and you break a sweat.

The second workout is the matwork out, and it is a challenge. Nonetheless it is definatley for the true beginner as well. I have been doing this when I want to mix up my routine a little, and I always feel my muscles, especially my abs for two days afterwoulds.

The third workout is strengthening but using the ball. This makes it a bit easier in terms of preforming the exercises the right way. This workout is not as hard as the mat workout - but there is one section for the legs that still kills me!

All in all these vidoes are really good for pilates beginners. Every step is explained, with reminders about form and breathing. Nonetheless, the chatter is not excessive, and I still find the reminders useful, even though I could probably recite them verbatum! There is the option of having only the music, in case you find her annoying.

I have used these tapes for quite a while rotating them with others.,, Have been using more ball workouts these days and now want to say thank you! while these tapes can feel very easy at first , what liz should mention is that her workouts are realy different in form,then the typical gym workout. if you really watch her compared to others, she gets deep into core to legnthen mid section..Not bulk up and crunch, this really is harder, but seems easy at first..My body appreciates the difference, I am understanding how working deeper,more mindful not just copy and do..is what has changed my body to the way I wanted to see it..thank you for your insight, great form, and lean way of working!

I like this dvd because the instructor is pleasant,the scenery is beautiful and the routines offer variety to my workout. Although the "Fat-Burning" workout is not really difficult cardio by any means-I don't think it was intended to be. That said,the stability ball exercises are well demonstrated and for beginners,Liz does spend alot of time with positioning,although this part can be boring for those familiar with the ball-just do crunches on it while she talks. I liked the sculpting segment because you can adjust weights accordingly and the pilates was well cued.

I'm a certified Pilates apparatus instructor. I'm also a mother of four and a human being, which means that I can't always get to a studio, but I still need to work out. Although I have a vast collection of dvds, no matter how many I give away, the knowledge I acquired while training about anatomy and its impact on proper form has made it difficult to use most of my dvds to work out with. This is, seriously, the best of the bunch.

In the mat workout, Gillies pays careful attention to form but without giving an anatomy lesson. She also uses a variety of exercises, not just focusing on the abdominals (I could have used a few more extension exercises though). And I shake my head when other reviewers go on about how easy or beginner this is. I can get my abdominals to engage using her exercises, and my sixteen year old, who has been practicing for about a year and a half, was trembling through some of the movements. And about a quarter of the movements are definitely not beginner- Leg Pull Front, Swimming, Leg Pull Back and Push Up are demanding exercises, and I was pleased that there weren't a lot of repetitions.

When I first did the Fat Burning workout several years ago, I didn't feel my heart rate go up too much and said so in another review. I'm eating my words now. Proper attention to form, yet again, will make you sweaty and sore. As noted elsewhere, this stays aerobic even when you're lying down.

The strength workout is the one I've done the least, but it is also challenging to the abdominals and lower body, as promised. Quick and efficient- but only if you follow the form cues.

I think Gillies is one of the most talented instructors to put out dvds, and I'm sorry we haven't seen more from her in recent years. Hope she changes that soon.

Wow, I must be really out of shape compared to the other reviews! I found this tape to be really really difficult for a beginner :( But it was still fun to try!

Too easy! I could have probably gotten a better workout by tapping my foot. There are so many great exercises to do on the ball, but this video doesn't have any of them.

I'm a beginner with pilates and I found this DVD very helpful. Although I think that pilates isn't much of a workout, it's more to use it as streching exercises. If your a beginner with pilates I think this is a good choice; if you think this ones to easy step up to the next level.

It's a decent start for someone who's trying to get off the couch and into life. If you're already doing some sort of exercise on a routine basis, this is probably too easy for you and would be a disappointment.