Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Make Your Pilates Training Work For You, December 28, 2004
First of all, this is not a Pilates class for beginner's video. Do not buy this video (at least not yet) if you have never done Pilates before or you are still fairly new to it. You will be lost, as you do need a decent knowledge of properly performing Pilates movements to keep up. This video was not produced with newbies in mind.
However, with that being said, this is an excellent video for using your Pilates knowledge and experience to benefit you and your lifestyle. I purchased this DVD a while back and enjoyed doing the AM Pilates with Jillian Hessel - and I was still fairly new to Pilates. I had the basic knowledge that I learned from the Beginner's Mat Workout (with Ana Caban) to help me along. The AM workout left me feeling energized and refreshed - a feeling that stayed with me most of the day long.
I found the PM Workout more challenging and is more geared for the more experience Pilates user. (The PM workout is an end goal for me...what I want to be able to do eventually, but it certainly is not for me right now as a novice.) Definitely not for me right now.
I purchased this DVD before, but then sold it, then I decided to buy it again as I really did enjoy the AM Pilates. No regrets. I plan to keep this video. I still won't do the PM Pilates until I feel I'm more competent in Pilates.
If you're looking to do an AM/PM exercise that doesn't require prior training, but gives you that wake-me-up or de-stressing benefits you need in your life, try AM/PM Stretch with Madeleine Lewis (also by Gaiam). Since I haven't fully pursued and learn Pilates like I want to, I've gone to this gentle workout and absolutely love it.
However, if you do know Pilates and looking for great ways to use it to benefit you, this is very much a viable option.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two solid workouts for experienced beginners and intermediates, June 29, 2005
These workouts are definately not for someone who has never done Pilates, nor do I think this is implied anywhere on the package. Instead, they are perfect for someone who has some experience with Pilates but wants a greater challenge. Both Ana Caban and Jillian Hessel have excellent beginner workouts (Easy Pilates, Beginning Mat Workout, and Pilates for Beginners) that would be more appropriate to start with.
The first workout, A.M. Pilates, is Jillian Hessel's workout for experienced beginners. It includes a quick run through of basic Pilates moves such as the hundred, roll ups, leg circles, rolling like a ball, single leg stretch, criss cross, spine stretch, saw, bridge, swan, and side kicks. I did not like this workout as much because, while many of the exercises were done very quickly, they were not especially challenging ones. Further, five minutes of the 25 minute workout was wasted on instructing you on how to breathe. If you're experienced enough to do this workout, you should already know Pilates breathing techniques.
The P.M. workout, instructed by Ana Caban, was much more challenging. This workout was almost totally ab-focused, omitting the side kicks series, but containing all of the Pilates ab-buster exercises. I like this workout because it works you hard in a short amount of time, and no I can't do all of it yet. It gives me something to build towards.
Another thing I liked about these workouts was the lovely scenic background. They took place on a platform overlooking a rocky beach. I do not think either of these workouts are particularly suited toward morning or evening. I think they are interchangeable.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
How fast can you do pilates?, July 23, 2004
I gave up on this DVD about 5 minutes in. It moves SO fast, if you have no prior knowledge of pilates you'll find yourself going "What? How? What do I..?"
I haven't tried pilates before and was really looking forward to this DVD, but with Hessell bolting through "Breathe in 2-3-4, out 2-3-4, now bring your knees up to your abdomen, move your hands down, breathe out and do this, do that..." at a million miles a minute I had to give it up.
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