Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates for Pregnancy

Rating:
Summary: Safe and Effective
Review: "Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates™ for Pregnancy is an outstanding way to get the exercise that should be part of every woman's pregnancy. Taught by this experienced professional, the video is safe and effective. It is also educational, describing the bodily changes during pregnancy that must be acknowledged. The instructors demonstrate the appropriate positions for each trimester making this program perfect for any stage of pregnancy."
~Susan C. Stone MD, MPH

Rating:
Summary: Not good unless you are very experienced in Pilates
Review: Before my pregnancy, I had just been going to a Pilates class for just a few months and I am not an expert in Pilates yet. Because of my lack of experience in Pilates, I found this video very difficult to follow. Also, the instuctor (who is pregnant) did not participate in all of the exercises, she let two assistants (who do not appear to be pregnant) do some of the exercises. That left me wondering whether the exercises were too difficult for the instructor at this stage in her pregnancy (which worried me a little.)

However, this video has just been highly recommended by the June/July issue of Fit Pregancy magazine in their article --- The Hot 6: The Best Workouts for pregnancy, so I have to believe that this video is better than I think it is. Maybe for those who have a lot of experience in Pilates before pregnancy.

I preferred the Fitmama video by Leisa Hart that had traditional aerobics and some yoga elements.

Rating:
Summary: Good video for stretching, strengthening, relaxation
Review: Before pregnancy, I did yoga regularly, but I had never done pilates, so I can't compare this video to other pilates options, prenatal or otherwise. I can say that I feel good after a session with this video - more flexible, relaxed. My back, in particular, seems to benefit. The exercises are varied, with some yoga, some pilates, some light weights (upper body only), and stretches. It is good to know in advance that some "props" are used in the video - a stool, a wooden dowel (I use a mop handle), 2-pound weights, and a yoga mat if you like to use one. They also recommend a ball and a blanket, but I don't find those necessary. Easy to use with the sound off once you have been through the routine a few times. The modifications for 1st and 2nd vs. 3rd trimester seem appropriate, and all are shown simulatenously, so no need to skip around to find your trimester. I watched the intro and "Kegel" exercise portion only once, and skip the relaxation segment at the end, so a session now takes about 50 minutes. The instruction is generally clear, and it is nice to see a real, healthy- and happy-looking pregnant (3rd trimester) woman leading the video. If you are looking for a pregnancy workout video that is very aerobic/high intensity, you might look elsewhere, but for stretching, strengthening, flexibility, relaxation, and overall feeling good, this one is helpful.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Workout
Review: I found out about this video in FitPregnancy Mag which said that it was one of the best workouts for pregnancy. I couldn't agree more. This is by far the best video for pregnancy I've found- and unfortunately-I've tried a few before I found this one. So many of them that I've tried are too strenuous to be safe. As far as I'm concerned, pregnancy is a time to maintain your health, body and your mental state, not a time to go crazy trying to get into shape. This video seems to target the areas that have effected me since I became pregnant. I'm in my 3rd trimester now, and the biggest problem throughout has been my back. Doing this workout has literally cured my back pain. It's the mixture of the stretching and the toning has really gone a long way for me. Not to mention, this video totally mellows me out... It's so relaxing and Jennifer is so gentle with her instructions. The workout itself is a little longer than most, about 50 minutes, but that includes about 10 minutes of relaxation at the end which I sometimes skip- although I have to say, when I have the time to do the entire video from start to finish, I feel amazing for the rest of the day. I highly recommend this video.

Rating:
Summary: Save it for third tri-mester
Review: I found this dvd extremely boring (maybe because of the dull yoga elements), but it may be helpful if I can't keep up with Winsor Pilates in the third tri-mester. The program is long (no way you can do this before work) and requires a lot of random equipment that will send you combing through your house for an hour.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Safe Workout!
Review: I love this DVD. Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates is easy to follow, yet challenging. I recommend it for anyone who wants to stay in shape during her pregnancy!

Rating:
Summary: A++++
Review: I saw this video reccomended in Pilates Style magazine and ordered it. I've used it for a few weeks now, and I just want to tell any pregnant women out there that it's great.

Rating:
Summary: Blah!
Review: I was excited to see another pilates exercise tape on the market since the other ones got such bad reviews. But this one seems like it must be as bad. First of all it is excrutiatingly boring. The instructor is boring and the exercises are boring. It seems to take forever for the instructor to tell us about the exercise, then she can't even figure out her left from her right. Yikes. I too am a mother of one with one on the way so I have to do my exercises right before bed, I don't have a lot of time to waste. It's too bad that I wasted my money because I dread doing this tape, but make myself do it since I paid for it.

The other tape I use - and love - is the Perfect Pregnancy Workout. Look for it, use, love it! Don't bother with Leisa Hart's fit mama, that is horrible too.

Happy working out!

Rating:
Summary: poor work, instructor is too inexperienced
Review: this is a poor quality exercise video; i was hoping the prenatal activity would be better, but its hard to do with the inconsistent instruction from the teacher, who is nice, but she doesn't exude much confidence and doesn't seem very polished at being in front of the camera, which makes a video workout hard to follow...I'd recommend Fitmama or something else, this is not very good.

Rating:
Summary: BORING!
Review: This is a well done DVD but what a snooze fest! It takes so long to get moving and feel like you are really exercising. I felt like I could fall asleep during this workout. As a mother of 1 with 1 on the way - I want to cut to the chase and get a good workout during my 22 month old's naptime! Buy FitMama instead - you'll get up and moving and be done before you know it!