Rating: Summary: Negative Reveiws are true Review: I really should have taken the negative customer reviews more seriously before buying this tape. I believe some moves are well targeted to the abs while others are just too difficult, not to mention unsafe (the roll ups can easily cause injuries to your spine if you do not do them properly or if you're not on a cushioned enough mat or carpet). I also do not like the fact that she does not stretch at the end of the workout. I bought this tape along w/her "Pilates for the lower body workout" and I must say the latter is much better. Sadly, she uses the same Intro almost word for word.
Rating: Summary: The Worst Video Ever Review: I sent this video back immediately after I watched it. The first 20 minutes of the video is just one long infomercial for the rest of the Kathy Smith videos and the "ab workout" lasted 10 minutes at the most and it didn't do anything different then what a few crunches would do. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
Rating: Summary: That's it? I want more for my money!!! Review: I thought this video was too short and not challenging enough for my abs. I was looking for a pilates video that specifically targets the abs because that's where I want to "feel the burn". It didn't do a thing. It was an o.k. workout, but more for a warmup, when it suddenly ends. My first reaction was: "I want my money back", cause you can easily have a much better workout, and even feel it more in your abs with another pilates video that is not exclusively for the abs such as "Breakthrou Pilates Plus", now that's a video where you will feel your body working out. Don't bother buying "Pilates for abs" unless you have never done any exercise whatsover and want to start working your abs doing pilates. Still, I think there are better videos out there.
Rating: Summary: Very disappointed.... Review: I usually love Kathy's workouts, but this one is just too short, easy and more geared for beginners. It almost seemed like a warm-up and then it's over. There are better Pilates DVDs out there. (Try Jennifer Kries Pilates Method for a true workout!) I prefer workout DVDs that also give more for your money, like 2 workouts on one. This one could have been combined with her equally short Pilates for the Lower Body.
Rating: Summary: Great Pilates Introduction; Great Ab Workout Review: It's hard to imagine who could provide a better introduction to Pilates, which stresses form over high reps, than Kathy Smith. She is ingenious in creating images to help you understand, without benefit of a personal trainer, how to achieve the core stability that is central to Pilates.Kathy's cuing, as always, is superb. Even the most basic beginning exerciser, could benefit from this tape. It provides a superior ab workout and gives you better posture and form to do any other type of exercise. Highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: This workout is easyyyy...or so it seems... Review: It's my frist Kathy Smith's video and i'm not as pleased as I thought I would be...it's short and I didn't feel the ab muscles at all after the workout. I,however,loved the intro where kathy explains Pilates. It is worth giving a try but don't get too excited. It is reserved for beginners because I, as an intermediate/advanced exerciser, am only going to use this one when i'm cranched for time.
Rating: Summary: Good for beginners, too slow for the rest Review: Kathy goes carefully through the exact positioning and moves in a manner that is great for beginners, but for the rest of us it is too slow to get a really good workout. For a better workout once you get the positioning and the moves down, go to Denise Austin.
Rating: Summary: Only Ok Review: Kathy Smith's pilates for Abs is only ok. There is not much information on how to do each exercise or what to do when you cannot do it fully. I was unable to do most of the exercises completely and there was no support for that scenario. There should have been more reps because the chances that someone will do those moves 100% correctly each time are slim. Also the DVD is uninspiring and I will be selling mine soon. A good effort but not fit for beginners..
Rating: Summary: Challenging Workout for Abs Review: Kathy Smith's Pilates for Abs workout is a challenging workout for the abdominals. This DVD is great for both beginning and more advanced work outs. The Pilates philosophy is all about perfect repetitions every time, so you're not going to be doing sit-ups for the entire workout. The movements are isometric and difficult if you maintain correct postures. This workout focuses on the shoulders, ribs, abs, and engaging your hamstrings. Kathy has Leah working out with her, and Leah demonstrates more advanced versions of the movements when you are ready to move up to that level. This feature will keep you using this DVD over time. While the workout only runs 20 minutes, I find it a great complement to an existing routine of cardio and light weights. I combine this workout with a 30-minute cardio segment for a well-rounded day.
Rating: Summary: Very effective workout, so-so scenery Review: Kathy's Pilates workout is extremely effective and will help guide you through proper pilates form. It's a great workout, very challenging to perform all the way through if you are following her excellent cues and working from your 'powerhouse'. Kathy makes that easier to do by using accessible imagery for you to use as a tool. With cues such as "imagine you're stopping the flow of urine", it's hard to not understand what you should be feeling and where to tighten up your muscles. I think this tape is very successful as a workout, however I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I know Kathy's workouts and I know she usually pulls of a first-class production in content as well as visually, but it looks like not a lot of thought went into the set in this video, it is pretty boring to look at. Otherwise, GREAT.
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