Rating: 
Summary: A good buy for a beginner
Review: I was intrigued with something new to try as far as workouts go. I had tried the workouts that have you jump around and get up on your feet. This one took much more concentration, and it wasn't hard to follow. Only thing though, I didn't feel as though it worked on the abs as much as I thought. You do get a great workout on your upper thighs and lower legs. Overall I really enjoyed it, and I like the fact that there is an intermediate section after you've mastered the beginner section.
Rating:
Summary: In Shape, Indeed!
Review: When I ordered the Pilates for Dummies DVD I was very excited because I thought that it would be the type of exercise that would keep me motivated. However, while Michelle Dozois is in VERY good shape and she does explain the moves, they are too complicated for the BASIC learner. I do admit that I have a few extra pounds, but it's a prerequisite that you are already in decent shape before picking up this video. It should be a definite purchase once you reach that point because it's easy to see how pilates can tone and strengthen your posture and poise!!
Rating: 
Summary: Anyone doing Pilates 4 the 1st time needs to buy this tape!!
Review: I ordered this to give me a foundation on Pilates. Unfortunately, I had ordered, (Jennifer Kries' "Pilates Method") another Pilates workout that just assumed you knew how to do each exercise. It moved from one exercise to another without explaining how to do them.
I became somewhat disappointed. I really wanted to do Pilates because I heard the great benefits it provided.
I recommend anyone doing Pilates for the first time to buy, "Pilates Workout 4 Dummies" first. Michelle, gives the name to each exercise, explains how to do each one correctly.
She even gives different alternatives to doing some of the exercises, in case you have had an injury or experience discomfort. She is very patient and informative. I was really
impressed with her.
Thanks to this tape, I didn't give up on Pilates. I am now doing the "Pilates Method"
Precision Pilates and 3 Dimensional Toning, smoothly.
Rating:
Summary: Good intro to Pilates
Review: I recently bought this tape because it's a great price and I was interested in trying Pilates. I think it is a good place to start for beginners. The instructor, Michelle, is very friendly and demonstrates each exercise before we get to try it at home. (Do follow her advice at the beginning of the tape and watch it through first before trying the exercises. I made the mistake of diving in and wound up getting lost.) The pop-up dummy icons, while helpful at first, get sort of annoying becaue they interrupt her cueing. And, Michelle could have probably done a bit more cueing, because this is a beginner's tape. However, even doing slight modifications on some of the exercises, I feel tighter and leaner already. Pilates will help you look and feel better, and for the price, this is a great place to start.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!
Review: Pilates is a great alternative to sweaty aerobic tapes. Not being a devote member of the gym across the street, I enter the new year with 1 goal: to get FIT. Yes, I own aerobics tapes, but face it, I'm too tired in the evening to jump around. So what does Pilates For Dummies have that aerobic tapes don't? A friendly, not intimidating, pilates work out. The results? Increased flexibility, toned muscles, flatter abs, and improved posture. Pilates are great for those looking for a fun way to practically melt the fat off your body [don't we all want a leaner figure??]Check it out: From Fitness Magazine, Michael Youssouf recommends Pilates to target the "loin of apollo" (the muscle shown when wearing low cut pants). Famous celebs who shape their healthy bodies are Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liv Tyler as well as supermodels Shalom Harlow and Amber Valetta. Buy Pilates for Dummies because frankly it's worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: This is the Gateway to your Pilates experience....
Review: CURIOUS ABOUT PILATES? This tape is perfect for you! This video is empowering for a broad range of people... from those just learning to even pronounce the word "exercise" to the professional athlete.
Pilates is not just about how to move your body. It involves other factors that you would not notice without an instructor pointing them out to you (breathing, focus, resistance).
This tape is like a parable. The first few times through, you will most likely be focusing on "am I doing this right?" After you are familiar with the actual movements, you can move to the next level by focusing on resistance, keeping your body tight, and breathing deeply. After that, you will notice your posture, strength, and body-position awareness improving.
I think people who find this tape too-easy/ boring/ unchallenging are probably the same ones who jerk their bodies doing sit-ups and/or do not put a lot of emphasis on form.
As the instructor on this video informs, Pilates is a mind-body exercise... And if you do not use the mind, this video gets old fast.
I recommend this video to EVERYONE interested in beginning or improving in Pilates. Once you internalize all the factors covered in this video, all other Pilates videos and programs will make MUCH MORE SENSE and become A LOT EASIER TO IMPLEMENT.
Rating:
Summary: If My Sore Muscles Could Give a Review..
Review: they would say "I feel the burn!". The first time I tried this tape, I thought "Wow, pretty easy stuff!". But when I woke up the following morning, I could sure feel the effects! I think thats the beauty of Pilates. You don't exactly get all sweaty and out of breath, but you get a great workout. I am not a very coordinated person(ok, I'm clumsy, alright?)so I never really liked aerobics tapes. I love being guided through these toning movments without having to jump around for 30 minutes first!
Rating:
Summary: Great intro to Pilates
Review: I have to agree with a recent magazine article that one should attend at least one private Pilates session or a group series to get the basics down. But I started with this video and already had a lot of it. This is a great video -- much of proper Pilates position is well described. And it's an excellent pace.
Rating: 
Summary: There must be something better out there to spend your $$ on
Review: While the workout on this dvd is effective, there are a couple of disappointing aspects about Pilates for Dummies.
1: The instructor isn't motivating. This may be because of the "Dummies" format (see #2), but she makes this the least favorite of my workout dvds.
2: The Dummies format gets old really quick. If you're planning on using this dvd often, prepared to get annoyed by their little tips & hints after a while. Also, because of the format, there's NO flow throughout the workout.
3: The excercises are rushed. If there weren't so many Dummies-style tips & hints popping up all the time, there'd probably be more room for the workout. The instructor mentions that this is mind-body work and stresses quality over quantity, but the pace of the excercises doesn't seem to allow for these things.
Rating:
Summary: Almost to easy
Review: I found that this video was easy. I have just started my pilates routine and after a week, I find the video too short and unchallenging. If you are just starting up from a sedentary lifestyle , then this should be perfect. Great for someone who is recovering from surgery, you're not jumping around like an aerobic workout, but still getting exercise by strengthening your body.
|
