Rating: 
Summary: A Mat Class whenever you want...
Review: It's like doing a mat class in a pilates studio but instead it's in the comfort of your own environment! Great idea, I was able to listen to the cd and focus on my form (as opposed to watching a video where I would have to move my head and therefore compromise my alignment). The instructions were great: very clear and easy to follow and really kept me in the flow! I highly recommend the The Pilates Body Kit!
Rating: 
Summary: Great cues but very basic exercises
Review: Siler gives fantastic instructions, and her workouts are filled with helpful cues. I love the CD format because you can bring it to the gym or on vacation. Unlike most other Pilates programs on video that combine instruction on each movement with the Pilates exercise session, this program moves at a pace fast enough to have a real workout. There are separate instructions on how to do the movement. The main criticism I have is that even the Intermediate session is very basic and includes only the exercises that Brooke Siler's paperback book describes as Basic. I hope she comes out with a more advanced CD.
Rating:
Summary: good for home or travel
Review: The pilates kit is great if you don't have access to vcr.
The Pilates Body Kit consist of:A/ Workbook:
-Explains the principles and guidelines for pilates
-Journal to record progress B/ Flash Cards - which provide the visual components of the
exercises (Beginner to Intermediate Exercises) C/ Two CDs organized as follows: CD1 Beginner/ Intro to Intermediate -
1. Welcome to Beginning Pilates
2. Beginner Preliminary Principles
3. Beginner Mat Exercise Breakdown
4. Beinner Mat Class
5. Welcome to Intermediate Pilates
6. Intermediate Preliminary Principles CD 2 Intermediate
1. Intermediate Mat Exercise Breakdown
2. Intermediate Mat Class In the CDs Brooke Siler prompts you through each exercise as if you were in a actual mat class. Her instructions are clear and she informs you of proper hand and body placement, as well as when to breath.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: The two cd's that come with this are strictly audio ( I was hoping for visual examples of the movements.) You hear a female voice basically walking you through each movement. Really redundent since the cards cover the same material. The flash cards are alright, but really don't show you very many different exercises. The workbook is basically a blank book for you to record your workout progress. Pilates in nothing more than hyped up callistenics/gymnastic/yoga/isometric/stretching moves, which if done religiously will tone the body, but most of the exercises are ones I have alreay seen and done reading other basic exercise books. If you think this is going to do more for you than any other exercise program, stop dreaming and just get to work with what you already know and save your money, wish I had. This product is nice packaging and slick marketing but nothing more. Pilates for Dummies which I bought with this order will be the product I use.
Rating:
Summary: Best Ab Workout
Review: This easy to follow and understand audio workout is great for toning ab muscles. The audio portion gives clear and concise directions while the cards help you to visualize the excercises. I started using it after having a baby and it really helped me to get back those stomach muscles and return quickly to my prepregnancy shape. I'm definitely going to keep using it now to get even stronger!
Rating:
Summary: Flash Cards are Worth the Purchase
Review: This is an excellent item for someone starting out in Pilates. The Flash Cards give you an excellent opportunity to do a program at your own pace.
I do not feel the CD's are really a great asset to the program but as in my title the Flash Cards along are worth the purchase. You will learn the basics and some good intermediate programs.
Rating:
Summary: Very thorough Pilates guide
Review: While I enjoyed Siler's "The Pilates Body" and found it to be a comprehensive reference, I could not imagine myself using the book while performing the exercises or even walking away with all of the important points she made about each movement. She veered too far into the wordy side at times, and I could see how absolute beginners could find her intimidating. This kit is a great follow-up or add-on to her book. Her instructions for each of the sections are very clear, and the cards that she provides for each movement give just the right amount of information about what you should be thinking about for each exercise. I enjoy the CD format of the workout. The format makes it very easy to skip over to the section that you want to work on that day without having to skip around as you would in a video. Much has been made about why Siler would come out with an audio version and not a video or DVD. Having read interviews that she's given, I know that there are plans to come out with a video. Frankly, I suspect that she wanted to expand her market cautiously by coming out with an audio version first, which, I believe, would be somewhat less expensive to produce than a video. Also, while some may disagree, I feel that a more advanced Pilates mat workout really requires a visual component. I would be very nervous about a product that instructed, say, the JackKnife without giving an idea of how it should look. While that could be gotten across to some extent on flash cards, I think it would be very helpful to see the more advanced movements in motion to give the viewer an idea of the speed and care necessary to use when performing them. While I enjoyed the workouts and recommend them to any Pilates student, I'm giving this four stars instead of five because the constant references to "Authentic Pilates" in the first two or three sections of the CD became very annoying. Most students acknowledge the superiority of the original method Siler and her mentor teach, but constantly bringing it up don't further convince me, just irritate me.
Rating:
Summary: Very thorough Pilates guide
Review: While I enjoyed Siler's "The Pilates Body" and found it to be a comprehensive reference, I could not imagine myself using the book while performing the exercises or even walking away with all of the important points she made about each movement. She veered too far into the wordy side at times, and I could see how absolute beginners could find her intimidating. This kit is a great follow-up or add-on to her book. Her instructions for each of the sections are very clear, and the cards that she provides for each movement give just the right amount of information about what you should be thinking about for each exercise. I enjoy the CD format of the workout. The format makes it very easy to skip over to the section that you want to work on that day without having to skip around as you would in a video. Much has been made about why Siler would come out with an audio version and not a video or DVD. Having read interviews that she's given, I know that there are plans to come out with a video. Frankly, I suspect that she wanted to expand her market cautiously by coming out with an audio version first, which, I believe, would be somewhat less expensive to produce than a video. Also, while some may disagree, I feel that a more advanced Pilates mat workout really requires a visual component. I would be very nervous about a product that instructed, say, the JackKnife without giving an idea of how it should look. While that could be gotten across to some extent on flash cards, I think it would be very helpful to see the more advanced movements in motion to give the viewer an idea of the speed and care necessary to use when performing them. While I enjoyed the workouts and recommend them to any Pilates student, I'm giving this four stars instead of five because the constant references to "Authentic Pilates" in the first two or three sections of the CD became very annoying. Most students acknowledge the superiority of the original method Siler and her mentor teach, but constantly bringing it up don't further convince me, just irritate me.
Rating:
Summary: the best pilates at-home guide I have found!
Review: With all due respect to the reviewer who expected DVD's, this kit of CD's, cards, etc. is the absolute BEST at home pilates guide I have ever used. Unlike exercise guides that come in the form of books, these cards can be laid out flat on the ground or scrutinized while attempting a specific exercise -- no pages flopping around, no losing one's place! Brooke Siler is an amazing teacher -- not only does she explain the exercises and set the stage for one's success, her technique tips are totally accessible and unique. I've seen other Pilates guides and NONE are as thorough as this kit. Likewise, I was very impressed with her first book. By using it, I was able to LITERALLY change my body following the birth of my son. I've NEVER enjoyed an exercise regiment as much as this one and that is largely due to Siler and her teaching technique. BUY THIS KIT! You will love it!!!
Rating:
Summary: CDs work for Pilates - videos do not
Review: With all respect for the two reviewers who were disappointed in getting audio only CDs and not a video, I would like to remind them that watching a video while doing Pilates is virtually impossible as the act of watching will almost certainly pull you out of proper alignment (unless your TV is on the ceiling). These CDs are terrific - They include reminders of all the crucial mental aspects of Pilates, the breathing, the control of movement, and extension and opposition of body parts - and allow you to do a Pilates routine with proper sequence, pace and form while listening to important cues but allow you to concentrate on your own form, movement and breathing. Pilates done right is hard work - if it seems like just another form of calisthenics/yoga, as one reviewer suggested, then it simply isn't being done with proper focus. By the way, I credit Pilates with helping me gain the body control and flexibility to become a much better ice hockey goalie.
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