Rating: 
Summary: BE WARNED! Don't be mislead and disappointed
Review: I bought this video based on the reviews and was very disappointed. The instruction does not cover all the important elements of The Pilates Method and leaves you wanting. In addition, the workout itself is very short and for me, it did not give me the satisfaction I look for at the end of a workout. I was so baffled by the positive reviews that I went back through them to see what people were writing-- I found that there are several reviewers that echo my disappointment, but they are buried and definitely the minority. My advice is not to follow the crowd and if you really want a Pilates video stick with a video by an instructor that's been in circulation for a while-- Jennifer Kreis, for example-- that shows that the quality has passed the test of time. This one is definitely a passing fad.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Hard
Review: I tried this tape and I was not able to do the first 5 minutes. This is NOT a beginners tape. What they mean is a beginner who is already in very good shape. They do NOT mean people who have never done this before and are not in good shape.Be for warned!
Rating:
Summary: Ana HYPE
Review: I bought this because of all the "rave reviews" and was very disappointed. Forget about the poor quality of the video production itself but the instructor's annoying personality and lack of solid instruction on The Pilates Method is a disgrace. I'm not surprised now since I found out from a friend of mine who knows Ana and says she is arrogant and doesn't give students the proper time and instruction, even in person when they pay her! I would recommend a video from someone who is a true instructor.
Rating: 
Summary: Yes! This is probably the video you are looking for!
Review: I would recommand pilates to anyone! I tend to be somewhat uncordinated, so aerobics has never been an option for me (plus, I find the hostesses usually very annoying. The hostess on this one is easy to deal with). This is a great video for beginers. Also consider purchasing (from Drugstore.com) the set that includes the mat, body ring and body ring workout video. For under $100, and after only doing this 4-5 times, people will notice! I didn't give this video a 5 becuase it is a little slow, even for beginers.
Rating:
Summary: Pilates Beginning Mat Workout
Review: I have never done Pilates before and I was surprise for that kind of excercise for work my abs. With only 15 sessions I'm feel better, and improve my stability, and I'm more healthy and powerfull.
Ana Caban explains perfectly all the movements, breathing, and the correct form to do the excercise.
Well done video.
Rating:
Summary: Good introduction
Review: I actually enjoy this exercise video. I was pleasantly surprised by Ana Caban's moderate tone -- not too much "perk," but not ponderous, either. Her video includes a "student" who demonstrates a modified approach to the exercises, which can be useful for the real beginner. Caban is clear, using imagery that I found very helpful. And of course there's the Pilates method itself, which is sensible and challenging but accessible. And some of those moves have been echoed in other excercise regimens (yo, Jane...!) I'd recommend this for anyone interested in the Pilates method.
Rating: 
Summary: Caban is a wonderful instructor
Review: This video is very well explained and Caban makes Pilates a very light and fun experience with her bright smile and work ethic. The tape is challenging enough to push you to do your best and want to IMPROVE! My posture has already striaghtened up and my abs are firming and i have not yet reached 10 sessions. It's 20 minutes well worth it. I have the itermediate video and can't wait to get to it once i have managed the beginner video.
Rating:
Summary: It's harder than it looks, and my abs are getting strong
Review: My wife bought this video and I decided to try it. I am a martial artist and core strength and flexibility are very important to me. This was a hard workout that left my abs acheing. I enjoyed the clear instruction. After you do the workout a couple times, you may think the instruction takes too long between exercises. But this is a beginner's tape. The modifications are good for those who are not ready for the full effect. There is a lot of beginning instruction on breathing and basics, the workout actually starts 9 minutes and 30 seconds into the tape. This is where I now fast forward the tape to begin the workout. So the actual workout is about 20 minutes. I have been doing it for a couple of weeks now - three days a week and my abs are getting rock hard. I also feel taller and lighter after the workout. In a week or so, I will probably move on to the intermediate tape as I am already noticing a big strength improvement. This tape will also help your balance, flexibility, joint stability, and coordination. That's probably why dancers really take to Pilates.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, basic, quick Pilates workout!
Review: I felt a difference after just one workout! I was definitely more aware of my posture (which is a problem area, causing me back pain). After three weeks of doing this tape about 3x a week, I am more flexible, looking leaner, and feeling more fit. But since the workout is not strenuous, I couldn't tell at first that it was working. Now I'm hooked on Pilates. The reason for just 4 stars is that the production value of this tape is mediocre. The set looks like an empty function room in a hotel. The techniques used, like changing colors & panning from unusual angles (back of a post), do not enhance the video at all, but rather detract from it. I thought at first that there was something wrong with either the tape or my VCR, since the picture suddenly lost color, then became all pink, etc. I'm a communication major and I've studied video production, so I find all this WEIRD! Also, I agree with an earlier review that some of the moves can hurt a problematic tailbone. With my back problems, I cannot do the rolling exercises at all! Although there are modified moves demonstrated by Tara (the other reviewer was incorrect; Ana & Tara do not switch from advance to beginner -- Ana always does the advanced versions of the moves), I feel shortchanged that I cannot completely perform nearly half of the exercises in this video. I love that the workout is only 20 minutes long -- and yet it is effective.
Rating:
Summary: Good for a beginner like myself
Review: I just tried this DVD for the first time and really enjoyed it. Ana Caban is clear, concise, and not "ditzy" like other fitness instructors on other DVDs. My one complaint is that she goes a bit too fast during some of the actual exercises. However, she does have a model doing less advanced moves in the background--- which was really helpful. I generally found it easy to follow and an effective workout--- my abs are killing me right now!
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