Rating: 
Summary: Mixed feelings
Review: I was looking for a workout that's more geared towards a dancer. The parts of this DVD that are more like dance are quite simplistic and not challenging at all. The other parts are all on the floor, which is nothing like dancing, of course! I would say that 85% of the movements take place on the floor. The cuing isn't great. The thing is that a lot of the time you have to face the floor during the exercises, so cuing becomes incredibly important. Sometimes the movements are not complicated at all, but because they aren't explained and I'm facing the floor, I'm totally lost. The music is fine, just a subtle drum beat. There are way too many dancers, a bit distracting. The movements aren't terribly complicated, but of course few are as flexible as the dancers, so don't get discouraged if you can't lift your leg up to the sky like they do. How will this affect my overall toning and flexibility? I don't know, since I haven't been able to force myself to do the DVD more than 5 times. I can't even suggest an alternative, since I haven't found any workout DVD yet that's very much like dance without a lot of floor work.
Rating: 
Summary: The most empowering, challenging, and effective DVD so far!
Review: I'd done other pilates DVD's before, and enjoyed them, but there are only so many moves you can do. I just love this combination of pilates, yoga, and ballet exercises.... they all prioritize form, strength, and flexibility. If you want toned arms (which most pilates vidoes neglect), this is the DVD for you! Even though you may be working on legs with simple ballet moves, holding your arms out gracefilly is toning them at the same time. You really feel it.
I love Jennifer's attitude, she's direct, pleasant,inspiring, and not over the top. The music, a simple drumbeat, fades into the background (which is great after the 20th time) and helps with timing.
Someone else here wrote that they'd tried it once and never would again. Maybe it would help to use a beginner pilates video and save this one for when you've mastered the first one. This is an intermediate skill level, which I was ready for. It's my favorite Workout and I will be looking for more from the Method Series!
Rating:
Summary: Great workout!
Review: I've been using this DVD for a quick 15 or 30 minute exercise every day, and it works wonders. I alternate which routine I do (stomach, arms, hips or thighs) for a total "toned" look. Jennifer Kries is a great instructor. She speaks in terms that someone new to pilates can understand, and really gives you motivation without being annoyingly perky. I've been using this DVD for a couple months now, and haven't tired of it. Thats a record for me. Since I started this DVD, I look more fit and toned than I have in years. My husband is very impressed with the results, especially on my butt. I highly recommend this for anyone at any fitness level.
Rating:
Summary: Great workout!
Review: I've been using this DVD for a quick 15 or 30 minute exercise every day, and it works wonders. I alternate which routine I do (stomach, arms, hips or thighs) for a total "toned" look. Jennifer Kries is a great instructor. She speaks in terms that someone new to pilates can understand, and really gives you motivation without being annoyingly perky. I've been using this DVD for a couple months now, and haven't tired of it. Thats a record for me. Since I started this DVD, I look more fit and toned than I have in years. My husband is very impressed with the results, especially on my butt. I highly recommend this for anyone at any fitness level.
Rating:
Summary: Challenging 4-Spot-Toning Workout
Review: Jennifer Kries has created a challenging intermediate to advanced workout in response to requests for workouts to address specific areas of the body. If you are looking for a great full-body workout, you can do all four workouts one after the other. If you are short on time or just want to work on one area of your body, you can choose from four workouts: Abs (15 minutes)
Arms (15 minutes) - Need 1-3lb weights
Hips (15 minutes)
Thighs (15 minutes) You will recognize many of the signature "Method" postures and exercises in this workout, however there are quite a few surprises. Not only are all the exercises even more precise than before, they seem to be the "next" challenge. The pace is slightly faster at times and the "dégagé" reaches a new level of intensity. Some of the Exercises: The Hundred
Roll-Up
Leg Circles
Rolling Like a Ball
Double-Leg Lower Lift
CrissCross
Active Moving Cat
Active Cat with Yoga Press
Down Dog
Exercises from the Side Series for Legs
Swimming
Sun Salutation
Standing Sculpting Series
Chest Expansion
Boxing
Plié Series (makes you feel like you are doing ballet) It is helpful to have Jennifer Kries' new book: Pilates Plus Method to learn the names of all her exercises and read the finer details of how your body should feel as you work through each exercise. She also gives excellent advice about the dégagé: "Try to feel as if you were pushing your foot through the sand on the beach, moving with great resistance." (from her new book) There is hardly time to give extra advice, but Jennifer still manages to give you tips throughout this workout. If you have been doing her exercise videos over the years you will almost "hear her advice in your mind" as you go through the exercises. If you are just starting to exercise with Jennifer Kries try: The Method - Pilates: Precision Sculpting (1996)
The Method - Pilates: Precision Toning (1996)
The Method - All in One Workout (1997)
The Method - Precision Yoga (1998)
Pilates Method and 3-Dimensional Toning Box Set (2002) The Method Pilates "Target Specifics" seems to be the most advanced workout I've tried so far when I do all four sections in one hour. If you can make it through the list above, you are ready for this workout. Once you complete Target Specifics, you will reach a new level of confidence and fitness. For me, this was the next level in my Pilates practice. The drums keep you motivated and keep you at the pace you need to be to burn those calories! Definitely an intermediate to advanced workout. If you are just starting to do Pilates, it might be difficult to learn the moves and keep up with the fast pace. Start with some of the slower paced workouts from 1996 and learn the basics. I'd also recommend finding the Winsor Pilates workouts because they are excellent for anyone who is just discovering these amazing exercises. Results from The Method workouts include: Flat, firm stomach without having to do sit-ups or crunches
Defined buns without lunges
Sculpted Legs without bouncy aerobic exercises
Tones arms without heavy weights
Improved posture and flexibility. Even your feet become more flexible.
Mind and Body Healing - Your mind becomes calm and your body feels invigorated. If you are looking for a Pilates/Ballet/Yoga challenge, this is it. ~TheRebeccaReview.com
Rating: 
Summary: Good to mix in with other tapes
Review: Jennifer Kries is a great teacher. She teaches you about breathing and technique, most of the time. She doesn't cue great, but a few times through the video and it's very easy to pick up. I usually do 1 segment daily, added on to another workout. I have seen great results!
Rating:
Summary: Great "non-traditional", parts toning
Review: My first Jennifer Kries purchases were her newest set, The New/Pilates Method. Between those three videos, she covers a lot of ground- anyone who enjoys yoga, Pilates and dance would do well to take a look at those. When I heard about about Target Specifics, I wasn't sure that I would find a whole lot that I didn't already have in that series. Curiousity got the best of me, and I made the purchase. This is a great DVD to have in your collection. If you're short on time, you can pick the area that you need to work on that day. If you want to make this a full workout, you can use the entire program. For abs, Kries includes almost the entire Intermediate Pilates mat program. As with all Pilates programs, proper form is important here if you want to feel the work. If you're new to Pilates, you may want to watch this section a few times before you join in. For the arms and upperbody, Kries uses most of the Standing Sculpting series as well as a few yoga-inspired moves. A lot of people have mixed feelings about this work. It would be very difficult to get large muscles or even gain significant upper body strength using these light dumbbells (3 to 5 lbs is the maximum recommended). However, proper technique will contribute to overall integrated strenght, that is, properly using your center as well as your limbs. Again, this may be better done after viewing a few times. At first glance, there is quite a bit of repetition between the Thighs and Hips section, and that can be annoying. However, upon closer examination, there are enough differences to justify doing both sections. The Hips section is predominantly ballet and Pilates movements. The moves here concentrate on lateral movement, thus more effectively targeting the hips. A bunch of plies as well as tendus and degages (ballet kicks) are performed here. You may want to modify if you have sensitive knees. The Thighs section uses a small bit of ballet and Pilates, concentrating on yoga. This section includes Sun Salutations (sneaking in some upper body strengthening as well), Awkward Chairs/Fierce Pose and Lunges (again, modify if your knees are not your strong suit). There is quite a bit of overlap between this and Kries' newer offerings. However, it would be a good way to introduce yourself to her fusion-style in small pieces before you take the plunge into some of her longer tapes.
Rating:
Summary: Great "non-traditional", parts toning
Review: My first Jennifer Kries purchases were her newest set, The New/Pilates Method. Between those three videos, she covers a lot of ground- anyone who enjoys yoga, Pilates and dance would do well to take a look at those. When I heard about about Target Specifics, I wasn't sure that I would find a whole lot that I didn't already have in that series. Curiousity got the best of me, and I made the purchase. This is a great DVD to have in your collection. If you're short on time, you can pick the area that you need to work on that day. If you want to make this a full workout, you can use the entire program. For abs, Kries includes almost the entire Intermediate Pilates mat program. As with all Pilates programs, proper form is important here if you want to feel the work. If you're new to Pilates, you may want to watch this section a few times before you join in. For the arms and upperbody, Kries uses most of the Standing Sculpting series as well as a few yoga-inspired moves. A lot of people have mixed feelings about this work. It would be very difficult to get large muscles or even gain significant upper body strength using these light dumbbells (3 to 5 lbs is the maximum recommended). However, proper technique will contribute to overall integrated strenght, that is, properly using your center as well as your limbs. Again, this may be better done after viewing a few times. At first glance, there is quite a bit of repetition between the Thighs and Hips section, and that can be annoying. However, upon closer examination, there are enough differences to justify doing both sections. The Hips section is predominantly ballet and Pilates movements. The moves here concentrate on lateral movement, thus more effectively targeting the hips. A bunch of plies as well as tendus and degages (ballet kicks) are performed here. You may want to modify if you have sensitive knees. The Thighs section uses a small bit of ballet and Pilates, concentrating on yoga. This section includes Sun Salutations (sneaking in some upper body strengthening as well), Awkward Chairs/Fierce Pose and Lunges (again, modify if your knees are not your strong suit). There is quite a bit of overlap between this and Kries' newer offerings. However, it would be a good way to introduce yourself to her fusion-style in small pieces before you take the plunge into some of her longer tapes.
Rating:
Summary: Good workout
Review: The video is great to work out with if you just need toning in specific areas. It definately will not help you loose a lot of weight if that is what you are looking to do. Her explanations of the exercises are great. They are a little challenging at first especially the ballet movements. All in all it is a great video for toning.
Rating:
Summary: good work-out
Review: The video quality isn't the greatest, and you can even see the boom in a few shots, but it's a good workout. I do the first half of the DVD only, as the second half requires little hand weights. Also, I've lifted weights for years and don't think I'd get a workout out of it. I do the 'ballet leg' part of that work out, though, which is somewhat challenging. It was my first intro to Pilates, and after doing the tape for some time, I was able to take an advanced Pilates class without much trouble.
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