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Summary: Wow! What results!
Review: I love this video. Not only is it upbeat, but you don't feel that you are exhausting yourself. I did the video and thought, well that was way too easy! Then the next morning, my abs ached (the good ache!), so much that it hurt to laugh. My quads ached, and my butt felt tight. This is great! I would highly recommend it!
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Summary: An Amazon Customer From the Big Easy
Review: I have purchased several Pilates tapes and I find this one to be the best. The pace is perfect for a beginner's tape. The exercises follow the traditional Pilates Method and Ana does a good job explaining everything. Of all the Pilates tapes I own, this is my favorite. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to begin Pilates. It is a great workout, but one does not finish feeling fatigued, but rather, energized, while at the same time feeling a sense of well-being. If you are tired, you will feel better after doing this workout.
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Summary: Great Exercise Video for Beginers to Pilates
Review: I just bought this video this week, and I have been doing it every day because I just love it so much. The first part of the video has Ana explaining basic concepts of Pilates and an overview of the video. Then Ana explains and shows you a move and then follows with 5-8 reps. I liked the style and flow of the video because it incorporates many different moves that work on different parts of the body. This was my first video of Pilates, but already being very physically fit from ballet, I was able to follow Ana instead of the other woman who demenstrates a more modified version. If you aren't used to exercising everyday, don't worry about not being able to keep up. Ana is really good about explaining how to do each move and what it should feel like. She is also a personable and informative instructor, but not too peppy or bubbly. The only things that I don't like about this video is the intro which is about 8 minutes long, just showing Ana and her helper doing Pilates. The intro, ending "bloopers", and explaination of Pilates take up a lot of the 40-some minutes of the tape, leaving only about 25 minutes of actual workout.After doing this viddeo several times (and not needing an explaination to each move), it is helpful to just continue another few reps while Ana is explaining how to do the next move. Some reviewers complained that the camera angles and switching from color to black and white for a few seconds was distracting. I didn't have an problem with it, and I actually thought that it was a nice touch. Overall, I would recomend this video to anyone who is new to Pilates or an semi-experienced Beginner.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: From someone who was introduced to pilates at a studio, this video was disappointing. The instructor moves way too fast to properly complete the moves. She misses key tips to help execute the moves properly. I recommend trying another instructor!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A good beginner's workout
Review: If "couch potato" accurately describes both your life-style AND the shape of your body, you might want to look into Pilates. This video is meant for beginners; Ana goes through each exercise (noting correct posture and focal areas on which you should concentrate), and also has a student beside her doing a drummed-down version of the exersice for those of us who don't have abs of steel. You WILL feel the burn (notably the next morning after your first few sessions) if you do the exercises correctly. But remember that this is a toning workout; it's not designed to help you lose weight. Work-outs like this one need to be combined with a cardio session if you want to really trim your middle and see those long, shapely leg muscles emerge. After you've become familiar with the exercises (say, 6 weeks or so, if you use the video every day), I'd recommend stepping up to a more challenging Pilates video.
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Summary: Disappointed. Only 20 min.
Review: I've started a Pilates class and had thought that this video would help quide my private workouts. I was quite disappointed with it on several levels. First, there are only 20 minutes of exercises. This is hardly a workout, and nothing comparable to a typical hour long mat class. Second, the teacher, Ana Caban, moves much too quickly through the moves, neglecting to reinforce the abdominal and breathing activities throughout the various exercises. Without this constant vigilance, necessary to the beginner, the exercises can strain the back, which is exactly what happened to me. Although Ana brings a lot of spunk to her presentation, I would have appreciated much more attention to the subtlies of doing the movements properly, as to get the full benefit of the Pilates method, without straining the back. As a beginner in Pilates, with many years experience in yoga and martial arts, I found this video to be inappropriate for beginners who have not already strengthened their powerhouse.
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Summary: Spend your money on a class instead!
Review: ... The quality of the video is quite poor, both the instruction and the filming technique leave A LOT to be desired. The instructor barely cues breathing at all, which is such an esential part of doing Pilates correctly. The class itself is way too short and the sequencing of exercizes doesn't flow. ...
Rating:
Summary: This Is the One to Buy!
Review: I love this workout! The DVD itself is exceptionally set-up. Whether you want an introduction to Pilates, to learn about the intructor Ana Caban, or to go straight to the workout, you can navigate all the options with ease. Plus, the DVD includes a bonus energy-boosting workout that is fun and works! The workout itself is about twenty-five minutes and moves at a slow, easy to follow pace. Once you are familiar with each exercise, the pace allows you to fully concentrate each movement for the greatest impact. Ana Caban gives clear, concise intructions for the beginner and more advanced. She also adds a sense of humor to the workout and is very likable. I have no crticism and will purchase her Intermediate Mat Workout as soon as I am ready!
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Summary: Thumbs up for Ana
Review: I highly recommend Ana Caban's Beginning and Intermediate Pilates mat workouts. It was more demanding than I expected. Ana does an excellent job explaining the movements, and I like that she offers modified versions to either increase/decrease the level of difficulty. It's also very helpful (believe it or not) that she constantly reminds you to breathe. Through her instruction, Ana helps you to see/understand that the movements are challenging when done correctly, and not necessarily as easy as you'd think. Stick with it until you've become completely familiar with the workout. Then you'll really be able to focus on mastering the movements, and you won't be just 'following' along. I noticed that as I got stronger, I was able to perfect the movements rather than just keeping up with the video. Most importantly, Ana is very likeable and pleasantly motivating. She is not annoying or overbearing as some other instructors can be. Although the production quality isn't the best, I don't find it distracting. I find I'm focusing more on my breathing and body movements and not the music, for instance. Be sure you are completely bored and unchallenged before moving onto the intermediate tape. I don't think I was fully prepared. I've been using the intermediate tape for over 6 months and have not out-grown it. I absolutely love it! I'm happy because I can see an overall difference, including my posture. Even my husband tells me he can see the difference . . . and that my "whole body feels toned".
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Summary: Clear introduction to Pilates
Review: This tape is a great beginner's introduction to Pilates. Ana Caban is a good instructor (a bit on the "trendy" side), and her gentle reminders to correct your posture are well-timed and helpful. Her partner in the tape demonstrates each of the exercises, modified for a beginner. Very clear demonstrations. I have done other introductory Pilates videos, and I find this one really good because it introduces the exercises to you as individual movements, labelling each of them on the screen as you progress through the tape. You will get "the lingo" after watching this tape a few times (great if you plan on taking a formal Pilates mat class). The program follows the classical Pilates syllabus, starting with "The Hundred" (an isometric abdominal exercise) and progressing to exercises like leg circles, rolling like a ball, and the corkscrew. Overall, Pilates is a great workout for releasing tension in your spine, tightening your abs, and lengthening your arms, legs, and torso. It is a great alternative to jerky, weight-dependent strength training, because it tones and doesn't add bulk. It is also a very relaxing workout...no stressful movements, no fast pace, and all exercises are mat-based. If you're just interested in learning more about Pilates and getting in a decent strength-building workout, this video is definitely a must-try!
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