Core Essential Fusion: Pilates

Rating:
Summary: Also Known As Core Essentials (Pilates)
Review: Workout Description: 30 minutes of toning (5 minutes of standing legwork; 25 on the floor: 10 legs, 5 upper body, 10 abs) w/ 5 minute warm-up and 6 minute stretch for a total of 40 minutes
Workout Level: intermediate
Instructor: Karen Voight (fitness instructor since 1978; IDEA Instructor of the Year and Business Person of the Year; an IDEA's 5 Star Presenter; certified ACE Group Fitness Leader). Karen is an excellent cuer and very focused on proper form and technique. She exercises each side evenly and intends for you to mirror her moves.
Class: Karen only. Most of the time Karen is instructing and performing the move, although sometimes the camera focuses on her executing the move while she does voice-over narration.
Music / Set: The synthesizer music isn't too loud, which is a good thing because I wasn't too fond of it. At some points, Karen pauses to wait for the music. The interior set is rather dark and almost sci-fi-looking.
Equipment Needed: sneakers for standing portion only, 1-2 pair(s) of dumbbells (your choice of weight), 1 pair of Green Genie balls (substitute any 3 lb. weighted ball or, if in a pinch, dumbbells), mat, towel
Caveats: Be careful of the squat-pivot-lunge series if you work out on carpet. Pay attention to your form; never let your knees go past your toes during squats or lunges.
Additional Comments: This workout doesn't require a lot of space. You need to be able to take one big step front and back and two big steps to each side; you should also be able to lie down with your legs and arms extended. I have to do the squat-pivot-lunge series diagonally across my 6' by 8' room, but all other movements are small.
Originally this video did not have Pilates in the title, and rightly so. There is very little of Pilates in this video. Some of the moves are not exactly traditional strength training moves, but that doesn't quite make them Pilates. Still, this is a good workout-just don't expect a Pilates routine.
Karen does not intend for this to be part of your regular muscle-building rotation. Rather, this is a good program to shake up your routine by forcing you to pay attention to technique and either working your muscles in a different way or working muscles that are normally neglected. I'll probably throw it in once a month, probably towards the end of a week of harder strength workouts. There isn't enough arm work for this to really stand alone, but the leg work will get to you, particularly that lying leg series.
The DVD allows you to do the entire workout or choose one of the floorwork sessions. It is also available on DVD with YogaSculpt as Yoga & Sculpting.