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Rating: 
Summary: It's OK
Review: After I do it I feel like I got a good workout...but the instructer really irritates me, it seems like she's trying hard to keep that "soothing voice" and stay sickenly calm. It was the first pilates DVD i ever did, so I didnt really have anything to compare it to, but now that I've done others I'd say it's more yoga-y. It's kind of long too....
Rating: 
Summary: Good start for Beginners
Review: Being completely new to pilates, I thought this was a very good start. There are (4) 15-minute segments, perfect for busy people. The instructor combines a variety of styles into the work, but it's all very effective. The workout is definitely challenging, but not impossible, so it has some longevity. Music is good, plus there are modified exercises for those of us who aren't strong enough yet. After adding this workout (1/2 hour daily) to my daily 1/2 hour walks, I lost 2.5 pounds in the first week. I recommend this dvd.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a traditional pilates workout
Review: Despite what the blurb says this is not a traditional pilates workout. It is more like pilates meets jazzercise. Not good for someone like me looking for a low impact workout.
Rating:
Summary: OW! Suprisingly challenging and effective for intermediates
Review: I bought this video to use on my light workout days. I thought that it would be a mildly intense workout. However, it proved to be more challenging than I thought it would be. This workout definitely is not for beginners. The flexibilty required alone is enough to classify this as a workout for intermediate exercisers. The movemements are very innovative and creative, but not Pilates movements. It was more Yoga than anything else. In fact, the only traditional Pilates movements were at the end, in the Ab section and even then, there were only two or three traditional Pilates exercises. The instructor does to a good job of reminding you to keep your abdominals engaged throughout the whole vodeo, however. Still, I don't think that they should sell this as a PILATES video, nor should they have PILATES written bigger than anything else on the front cover. Very misleading. That is why I give it a 4 instead of a 5. That, and also because, and I don't want to be mean, but, I found that the insructor lacked quite a bit of personality. I found her lack of facial expressions to be too distracting. It was like she was trying VERY HARD to be absolutely perfect. It drove me crazy.
Ellen Barret is exceptionally better at instructing a video. Anyway, I digress. This video was sectioned into 4 seperate, 15 minute workouts; legs, arms, [fanny], and abs. Like I said before, the exercises are more yoga based than Pilates, but being that they weren't your tradional yoga static postures, and that the movements flowed one right into the other, it was quite engaging and fun. The whole hour workout was finished before I knew it. And my [fanny], more than any other body part, was screaming at the end. (VERY NICE!) Also, this video was filmed indoors, but occasionally cuts away to the instructor demonstrating the movements outside near the ocean. The cut aways are quite often off cue and the transitions from indoor to outdoor is not smooth at all. (That is just me being nit-picky, though) I would recommend that anyone thinking about purchasing this video already be familiar with Yoga and Pilates, and also, already be quite strong and flexilable, especially in your upper body. Otherwise, you might find yourself very frustrated with the non tradional and creatively inspired movements. Overall, I liked this video and find it very useful for light workouts days. It is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Different but nice
Review: ok, we all know that this isn't pilates; it is, however, a pretty good workout to build strength and flexibility. i like the time-length on each section (most videos do only 10 minutes on each, so this is a little more challenging and fulfilling).
THANK HEAVENS i found a work out for arms that doesn't require an assortment of weights (if you want to travel with this video you don't need to drag along any accessories). It's actually interesting how many toning exercises she introduces that don't require gym equipment (weights, bands, balls, rings, etc.)
It's a pretty good workout - although doing it all the way through is a little boring (and the instructor does begin to annoy you after a while).
Rating:
Summary: Hard work, not boring - good core workout
Review: This DVD has 4 segments - legs, arms, butt and abs. Approx. 50 minutes all together.
For me, this DVD has many pluses, above all - the fact that I actually feel that I've worked hard, without noticing the time. I recommend performing all segments in a row, that way you really get to work every muscle (I don't know why it was divided that way, since the whole workout works on the core of your body, and each segment by itself won't do the job).
The downside is that it's not at all a Pilates workout - at least not as I know it. It's too fast to be a Pilates workout, and it's even funny that the instructor shouts "lengthen!" every now and then, as if she suddenly remembered that it's supposed to be "Pilates-y"...
To sum it up, I totaly recommend this DVD as an addition to your strength/power workouts, not to the Pilates section.
Rating:
Summary: Tough and effective
Review: This DVD is tough and effective. I recently purchased this DVD and after just viewing and doing the workouts. I could feel a difference and see a difference in my strength and flexiblity level in a as little as four nights. Of doing every single workout, because there are four segments. If this is your first pilates tape or DVD it's a good investment, even though you may feel as though the instructor is trying to kill you..lol! Her instruction is clear and percise and very effective. I recommend using this tape as a follow up to any cardio tape as a combination workout! For example: The Method Cardio Boot Camp in Combo with this tape or DVD!
Rating:
Summary: after baby exercise
Review: This is a great DVD. I just had a baby and am getting back into shape. The first week I did it I did the modified exercises. It was great motivation to feel like I was progressing to the regular exercises. Also its great that the segments are only 15 minutes long. As a new mom I'm learning that I only have 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there to myself. Elizabeth Young has a great demeanor; calm but not boring. I love this video and expect to use it long after I regain my shape.
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