Rating: Summary: A flowing, blended workout Review: This review refers only to the third tape of this series, "Strengthen," which I found to be a blend of Pilates and yoga movements. The best part of this tape is the way that the movements flow into one another, as the moves are presented in a series of sequences. Each sequence consists of 5-6 exercises, and each exercise is repeated 5-10 times before moving to the next.Alhtough I liked the flow of the workout, there were several things I didn't like about it. First of all, because instructor Dian Nissen-Ramirez moves smoothly from one move to the next, there are few cues to let the viewer know what is coming next. Similarly, Dian spends little time on instruction. I also was surprised to discover that the workout uses a Dynaband, as this is not mentioned on the box; I was able to substitute a yoga strap, but this did not work as well. Finally, I felt that the sequences themselves were repeated too many times, as I became bored after the first couple of repetitions. This tape would probably work best for someone who wants a faster paced Pilates/yoga practice and who doesn't mind viewing the video several times before actually doing the workout. However, those who prefer uncomplicated, slower routines should look elsewhere.
Rating: Summary: Quality over Quantity, the way Joseph Pilates wanted it Review: This video is better than any mat class I have taken recently. There is a lack of qualified and experienced mat teachers right now and this set fills that need. I wasn't sure about the workout when I first viewed the tapes but I "get it" now. The moves on Mind Body Matwork are slow and controlled, not fast and sloppy like so many instructors are teaching right now. The more I work out to these videos, the more I appreciate them. These tapes successfully retain the principle of the original Pilates method and it's a good workout.
|