Rating: 
Summary: Annoying
Review: If you like Denise Austin, then stop reading right here. I love the Pilates workouts, and was hoping that with a video instructor I could get some better tips on form and movement since there are no Pilates studios where I live. Unfortunately for me, I find Denise Austin's voice quality grating. I watched the video twice, once to get a feel for what she does, and a second time to see if I could stand her. It's still sitting on my shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Not very good instruction
Review: Do not buy this... Dangerous for beginners and not challenging for intermediates.
I purchased this video as a beginner and have since started instruction at a pilates studio. At the time I first tried it, I thought it was ok, but now I know that the moves are dangerous and incorrectly performed. Austin does a very bad job explaining the tecniques, which are crucial in getting the desired results and more importantly, in protecting you from injury. If you know what you are doing, you could do this workout safely, but I think there must be a better workout out there.
Rating: 
Summary: Great workout with results!
Review: I bought this to go along with my yoga workout. I found it to be a great workout that seemed to be easy, but I could feel it working! I enjoy this workout and it pairs great with the yoga!!
Rating: 
Summary: Fitness buffs
Review: Mostly I am writing this in defense of Denise from a previous reviewer who admitted she doesn't know much about yoga but slammed Denise anyway. I have been studying yoga for 23 years and the form that Denise uses in this video is called Ashtanga and it is a form of yoga wherein the 'poses' are done in rapid succession. It is more for fitness than for spirituality. The classes are taught by you following along, the poses are not demonstrated first. People who are fitness oriented and are looking for a good workout from yoga in the manner they are used to follow this path. My only intent was to clear up any misunderstandings from the review stating Denise does the yoga badly. Otherwise, it is a very nice tape, different from Denise's other more 'active' ones. If you would like a combination workout that is challenging, this is very good.
Rating: 
Summary: More like 'Pilates takes aerobics'
Review: Denise Austin is usually great, but her aerobics background is definitely a minus when it comes to Pilates. I've watched a few Pilates tapes, and smooth careful movements are usually emphasized. In this tape, Ms. Austin goes through each exercise quickly without the usual care about stretching, moving to lengthen the muscles, etc. I guess this is a good intro to Pilate's for the aerobics croud, but it seems to miss the point of the Pilate's technique!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Calming
Review: I was very skeptical when I bought this vid but it was really worth all the money and more. This is a great workout but it does not make you sweat up a storm. You just feel tight and like you really stretched for the first time in a long time. Don't let the cheesy cover fool you -- this is absolutely worth buying!
Rating:
Summary: Oh Denise!
Review: Denise Austin is totally awesome! She explains how you will benefit from the workouts and clearly explains each work out step by step and she is even doing the workout on a moutain rock cliff! That looks painful trying that but she is a pro and it shows! Check this out for yourself if you need some positive reinforcement in your life!
Rating:
Summary: Great Video
Review: When I bought this tape I was looking for something that would be a break from videos with girls frantically hopping around, desperately trying to burn every calorie they could. The first time I did it I was impressed; the cuing on this video is the best I have ever seen in an exercise video. I usually give up after a few tries with normal videos because I just can't master the complex moves. This workout is more sedate, but very challenging. Even someone, who like myself is not in great shape, can benefit immensely from this well-planned, and not-too-long video. It grows with you; Denise shows beginners modifications they can do to get the same benefits from the exercises. After doing a few times, I feel more flexible, I have more energy to do my other workouts, my posture is better, and my appetite has actually gone down. Yes, Denise is slightly goofy in a kindergarten teacher sort of way, but it's great for those of us who want a rigorous workout without feeling like we've been left in the dust by Amazonian instructors executing complicated moves that are oftentimes not suited for beginners at all. Denise seems to me to be a real person in great shape who makes you believe that you too will improve your health. My advice is, is you have an inclination to buy his video, do so. If you are in really great shape, you might consider just doing both workouts on the video back to back.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect mix of stretching and toning-it's excellent! Try it.
Review: First off, Pilates is more for toning up than losing lots of weight. I'm 24 but this video is good for any age. It gets you a flexible body as well as a very toned body. I use this and bike a bit and that's all I need. If Denise bothers you, just mute it (though she is pretty subdued in this one). Personally, I think she is pleasant enough that I watch her 5 out of 7 days and if I do mute the TV its just so I can listen to my own music. I also have Jennifer Kries and she is obviously more hard core, but somehow I just opt for Denise much more often. Do this video a few times a week and you will come to love it just for keeping you sleek. The best thing about it is you will be firm all over without fear of bulking up. This was key. But I guess that's more about Pilates than about this particular video. Still, I've tried several Pilates videos over the last year and a half and I ALWAYS go back to *this* one (its better than her most recent one BTW). I recommend doing both workout segments though (20 min. each). One is not enough.
Rating:
Summary: Very good workout for the abs and entire body
Review: I really, really enjoy this workout video (which I'm going to do as soon as I'm done writing this review). These exercises are so beneficial, and I noticed dramatic results in no time. My abs became much firmer, my waist more defined. Even my leg and arm muscles look more defined from doing this workout video alone! Some of the exercises are advanced, and I know that after practicing the moves a while and builing strength, they can be achieved (i.e. the V-sit). The only downfall to the exercises is the fact some are a little hard on the neck and back. And the second workout session is a little hard on the wrists. Otherwise, I highly recommend this video. Denise Austin is a great instructor and I'm very happy I purchased it!
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