Rating: 
Summary: Easy workouts that work!
Review: This exercise video is suitable for people who have never exercise before and do not have a lot of time. I've been using this video for two weeks and enjoying it. The exercises are easy to follow because Denise Austin gives such clear and easy to understand instructions. Even a beginner like I am could follow the whole first workout at the first time. The video has two separate workouts: the first one is basic mat pilates based on the works of Joseph Pilates, the second one is pilates and power yoga. The first workout is not very challenging, which is suitable for beginners, while the second workout is more complex and requires a lot of flexiblilty. My reccommendation for beginners is to work on the first part of the video until you are familiar with all the moves and then alternatively work between the first and second part as suggested at the beginning of the video. Also in this video, you will find Denise more gentle and calm than before. I have other videos from Denise but this one is my favorite because of the above reason. So if you are a beginner and need to strengthen your abs and have a straighten posture while not having a lot of time, "Denise Austin- Mat Workout Based on the Work of J.H. Pilates" is the best for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Introduction to Pilates: Hungry for More!
Review: After watching several infomercials on the benefits of Pilates I decided to try this out.I have done the first mat workout every day now for 2 weeks. I definately feel stronger, more flexible, and am starting to tighten up. The first workout is very relaxing, and yet it still makes my muscles a bit sore the next day. (Proof it is working!) I would not recommend the second workout, as it is very hard on my wrists, and the movements do not flow well together. Overall, I have enjoyed working out with Denise and would recommend this video to anyone wishing to get started on Pilates, and cannot afford the luxury of a personal trainer. I am now ready for something more advanced and am considering purchasing the Pilates Conditioning for Weight Loss DVD.
Rating:
Summary: New to yoga, but I like the tape.
Review: It seems like the biggest complaint about this video is that it's not a good Yoga workout. Well, I know nothing about yoga, but I enjoye this workout anyway. The poses stretched me out, and after only five days, my flexibility has improved. Now, maybe it's not traditional yoga in any sense of the word, but I can tell a difference after a very short period. I'm incredibly out of shape, and uncoordinated is a very mild ajective when applied to me. The second time through the workout, I managed to figure out what she was doing in every exercise/pose series. I still lose my balance on the balancing stick poses sometimes, but I can reach past my toes for the first time in a few years. That's quantifiable change. The second big complaint for the Dense Austin workout videos is her voice. She does talk the whole time. My first thought on that was "How can she talk when I'm practically panting" (like I said, I'm out of shape). I don't really mind her voice. I do like the continual commentary because it frees me up to concentarate on balance. Now that I've been through the workout several times, I can just use her words as a guide instead of having to watch the screen constantly. Overall, I highly recommend this dvd to beginners. When I get more yoga experience, maybe I'll come back and recommend it to other levels.
Rating: 
Summary: i don't think pilates/yoga is ms. austin's strong point
Review: i've been familiar with denise austin's low-impact aerobic workouts since the 80's when she had a regular show on espn. being a familiar face, i purchased this video to add variety to my collection of yoga tapes and to get introduced to the pilates method. the beginning ads at the start of the tape are very bothersome to fast-forward through. as for her 2 20-minute workouts: the first one is okay for a basic introduction to pilates, but it seemed a bit too brief for me to feel like i got much of a workout. her yoga instruction in the second leaves much to be desired; it would be best to purchase a more proper yoga tape if one wants to get into yoga. i felt i made a mistake in purchasing this video just because i was familiar the instructor. i'm sure there are better pilates-based tapes out there.
Rating:
Summary: Great Pilates/Yoga Beginning
Review: I have to admit I'm a fitness beginner but the whole Pilates thing was extremely interesting to me. So I thought I'd try a video. First I got the All-In-One Workout by the Method because I thought it seemed like a good mix. Boy, was a wrong. Maybe it was a good video to some but not for a beginner like me! Especially when I was expecting more of the Pilates workout. I bought Denise Austin's tape afterwards and I love it! She gives a great (and short) presentation at the beginning on the basics of the workout and you start. I've only had the tape about a month or so and I've yet to actually try the second workout. The first is just challenging enough to keep me motivated and excited without making me feel like an inadequte moron. And the benefits... I've already noticed a improvement in my posture and abs. I've really been pretty bad about getting down to exercising. If I manage it twice a week I'm amazed! But as soon as I pop this tape in I realize what I've been missing. For a great introduction to a Pilates/Yoga based workout this is an amazing start and I recommend it to anyone who finds Joseph Pilates work and theories interesting.
Rating:
Summary: First-time fitness viewer
Review: I'm a 17-year-old girl who is thin, but not toned. I want to be more toned and have firmer muscles (especially my abs) and I have scoliosis in my back, so I wanted to increase the strength of my back and abs. I've heard good things about Pilates, so I bought this video after reading good reviews.
All in all, I agree with the majority of people. Although I wasn't sweating after doing the video, I could definitely feel it in my muscles- in a good way, though. Although I've only done the video once (I got it today), it was a nice workout, and I'm definitely motivated to continue doing it.
I did NOT find Denise Austin to be annoying, as some other people did. Her voice and demeanor were pleasant and encouraging. The set was just so-so, but that didn't bother me that much.
I also liked the structure of the video- the two workouts can be done at two separate times (I'll start off doing that), or done one after the other for a more intense workout.
I think this video should last me at least a month- it seems like it will grow with me as I get stronger and am able to do more of the moves. One thing I especially liked was that if I found it too hard, I could just go slower or relax for a moment. Also, there's a chunk of basic posture and muscle in the very beginning, which can be easily skipped after one or two viewings, but throughout the video, she gives little reminders about posture and breathing, which were helpful (and I don't think it will bother me later on either). While I don't have much to compare this to, it met my expectations- a video that's easy enough for beginners, but will grow with me, and an exercise to strengthen and tone my muscles. I would recommend this to any beginner Pilates (and exerciser). Good job Denise!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Video from Denise
Review: I have purchased a few of Denise's videos in the past and they all were just so-so. This however, is wonderful. Her calm soothing (yes, it is Denise) voice and great instruction are a plus. I give this four stars due to the fact that the second session is a little hard on the wrists. Thanks to this video, after 3 weeks of doing it 5 days a week, I have lost 12 pounds and my abs, legs, arms and buttocks are much firmer and toned. I love the way I feel after completing the short 20 minute workouts and the results speak for themselves! I reccommend this video to anyone who is just starting to practice Yoga and/or Pilates, and also for those who are advanced. (She offers more challenging variations of the moves throughout the sessions.)
Rating:
Summary: Post-Baby
Review: I have had two c-sections in the past three years. I bought this video during my second pregnancy. Anyone who has had a baby or had a c-section knows that your abs loosen up and lose some of their strength. I had never done Pilates before trying this video but had heard a lot of good things about it. I find this video very relaxing and challenging. I have now been doing this video three times a week in conjunction with other exercises. My abdominals are better than ever and I was able to tell a drastic difference in how my abdominals were responding with this video than I had after my first c-section where I just did traiditional crunches. I recommend this video to all my friends who are mommy's and they love it as well.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE this video.
Review: First off, I have to say that I love most of Denise Austin's videos and I also do her Fit&Lite and Daily Workout on Lifetime TV. I exercise in general for about 3-4 hours a day, so I'm not exactly a beginner, but I absolutely love the pilates to firm my legs and abs. The first part of the video seems easy to me, but the second part is more challenging. I would not recommend, however, doing the second workout if you don't know some basic yoga principles, but its great if you do. The only real problem I do have w/ the video is that she does tell you when she changes sides. Other than that GREAT VIDEO!!!
Rating: 
Summary: fad shouldn't have to mean bad
Review: 1 out of 5 stars = Austin not a yoga teacher which makes me question her pilates knowledge! do not buy this tape! I have been practicing Ashtanga yoga at an advanced beginner/early intermediate level for about a year. I have been fortunate enough to have great live instructors in my area who taught me the forms and breathing well. Lately, due to cash and time constraints I have been practicing at home - generally I do Freeman's 2 hour primary series tape which is excellent but I don't always have 2 hours every day to devote to Yoga and I craved a little variety. One fo my yoga instructors recomended trying pillates as an exercise form that may improve my yoga practice. I tried this Austin tape because it was supposed to be a mix of yoga and pilates. I am here to say that Denise Austin practices dangerous Yoga! She does not explain the moves well enough and does not appear to know them well enought to accurately discribe proper breath and positioning. I very much know what I am doing and found myself questioning many of the movements and motions she was suggesting I make. Many of her moves seemed unplanned, and made without intent or focus. Her version of exacution seemed especially dangerous for the knees and joints. As a side note, the pillates was not chalenging. though it did provide some diversity form my regular practice, and she is super peppy which is great if you need encouragement, I am certain primary series ashtanga or any serious vinyasa flow series tapes could deliver a better core strength workout- while improving mind, breath, and body at the same time.
| 
