Rating: 
Summary: Great Buy
Review: I really love this DVD. I have never done either pilates or ballet although I am a yoga enthusiast. I was looking for a way to get back in shape and in particular tone my back and abs and legs after pregnancy. Not only is this is a great introduction to pilates, but I feel immediate effects upon my posture after each class. Jennifer is a rare breed of excercise teachers in that she simply is not annoying- just inspiring. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow and she places the correct empahsis on breath (unlike Denise Austin in her DVD Mat workout based on Pilates). The excercises are not difficult but targeted, effective and sometimes challenging depending on where your particular weakness may be. The metabolic booster section is a real gem if you want to feel you are doing some cardio. Whether I will lose any weight doing these programs I dont know but I am toning visibly after only 2 weeks. I dont like excercise particulary (jumping around is not for me) but this DVD makes me feel like Yoga does - enervated, rejuvenated, graceful, strong, and excited about doing it again the next day.
Rating: 
Summary: Great workout.
Review: I am not in the best of shape, but I am also what I would consider an beginning to intermediate Pilates student, and I found this workout rather challenging. This is the first time I have done the DVD. The first section was not so bad, it got my heart rate going a little and my muscles nice and warm, but the Metabolic Booster section was a KILLER for me. I sweated and panted like crazy, and I feel incredibly winded after doing the 2 sessions back to back - so winded I am saving session 3 for tomorrow morning. The metabolic section is SO confusing and fast-moving, like a dance class, that it might take a few times to get it perfect. I found myself wondering when it would end, and that 20 minutes felt like an ETERNITY. But I will continue to do it, hopefully the reason it felt like hell is because it is a good workout, and that is what I need. Sure got me sweating!
Rating: 
Summary: Stop Talking Already
Review: This is a terrible video. I enjoy exercise videos but this is one of the worst. The instructor doesn't stop talking. It's nice to be guided through postures but she doesn't shut up. She also takes atleast five minutes of each segment and tells you how to breathe. It felt like a Lamaze class. The first segment is Core Conditioning. It concentrates on your abs and lower spine. It's not half bad and she does explain things nicely, which is good if you've never done Pilates.
The second segment, Metabolic Booster, is ridiculous. She's jumping and dancing all over the place. You'd have to watch it quite a few times to get the moves down. The last segment, Rejuvination, is based on yoga. Again, she babbles on for about five minutes then finally takes you through a few common postures. Thankfully I only rented this video.
Rating: 
Summary: Why hasn't anyone mentioned the terrible video quality?
Review: Yes, this workout is pretty good. The yoga and pilates segments are interesting and different, and they really feel effective. But why hasn't anyone mentioned the terrible video and sound quality?? This DVD looks like it was filmed with a home camera. The video is grainy, sometimes blurry, and very hard to look at. It gave me a headache! The sound is also bad. At times it sounds like she is talking into a cup. Also, the Pilates segment has no music until halfway through. But it's not just that. She spends a lot of time sitting and talking about the moves you are going to do. This is great - the first couple times you do it. After that, you are ready to just get to the workout and not have to sit and listen again. It's not really convenient to FF, you always go too far and have to back up. So, although this isn't the worst workout I've ever done (it's actually a pretty decent sequence) technical problems and slow pace hamper this DVD down. If someone already has it, go ahead and do it a time or two. You'll like it. Just don't waste your money on it, because you won't do it enough to get the value out of it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Video
Review: This is a great video and my second Pilates video with Jennifer Kries. Jennifer is inspiring to watch because of her flexibility. She describes the moves well and is good at encouraging the viewer. I usually do the whole tape to get a good workout even though it is broken up into three segments. It begins with good basic floor work to strengthen abs, legs and whole body. By the middle dance section I am beginning to sweat. The dance section is fun and challenging. The end segment is a good cool down. Each time I do this tape I feel relaxed, long and lean. Over the next few days I notice that my hamstrings and stomach muscles are pleasantly sore. My bestfriend said she noticed that I looked more toned after doing this 1-2 times per week than I did when we were walking 20 miles per week. I've definitely noticed a difference in my stomach and leg muscles. I have been doing the video for several months and still find it engaging - though I'm purchasing some new ones to help mix up my routine and advance my skill level.
Rating:
Summary: a "perfect" workout!
Review: I am so glad I ordered this DVD! I think Jennifer Kries gives great instruction, and unlike some new pilates videos out there being marketed by any fitness guru, Jennifer Kries makes certain that you understand proper breathing and "navel to spine". She also gives little reminders about form, that I found helpful. The core segment is classic pilates exercises with some yoga poses thrown in. Jennifer gives great instruction, and actually tells you when you *should* be feeling the work in the abdominals (and she was right!), she takes time to stretch between more difficult exercises, and shows ways to modify harder exercises. The booster segment is tricky the first time- and yet I still managed to do it. Although the movements are fast- they are graceful, and the cueing is excellant. This segment is alot like Jody Hoegstedt's "balletone" if you have it- only with weights. I definitely got my heart rate up, and felt like I had a good inner thigh workout. The last segment is titled "rejuvenation" and it is a relaxing yoga series. I sometimes skip the booster if I have already done cardio that day, but I *never* skip the final session. It is lovely, and I enjoy seeing how flexible Jennifer is, it gives me something to aspire to. Some have said this is advanced... This was my second pilates tape (I also have Denise Austins "Pilates for Every Body- different than this, but loved it, too) and because I am fairly flexible from yoga practises, I did not feel like this was too difficult. I felt challanged, and got a great workout, but did not feel overworked or strained. I felt lifted and relaxed!
Rating: 
Summary: NOT FOR BEGINNERS
Review: I am totally new to Pilates and Yoga. In the past, I have used excercise tapes that clearly and slowly described the actions to be performed including tips on what not to do if you don't want to injure yourself (Blanks Tae-Bo is especially good at that).
While this tape has a great workout on it, there is almost no instruction on the tape whatsoever and I found it very difficult to follow.
After a couple tries, I went to the bookstore and purchased 'The Pilates Body' and was amazed to find out that there are a whole slew of things one has to pay attention to while doing Pilates that Jennifer Kries never once touched upon. I also found out that some of the moves included on this DVD workout are considered 'Advanced' Pilates moves only to be tried after a lot of practice.
In short, I have found that Pilates is an excercise learned GRADUALLY and with a lot of instruction. I am sure that when I finally do get the hang of it, this DVD will provide me with a great workout, in the meantime, it is unusable.
In general, I enjoy Kries' style and low-key method of leading a workout, but more instruction would have been very much desired.
Rating:
Summary: Pilates Goddess Challenge
Review: Jennifer Kries is definitely the Pilates goddess of the workout video/DVD world. Not only does she create challenging Pilates workouts, she gives perfect instruction and teaches you to respect your body in a new way. This is her New Method style workout. It is a combination of Pilates, Weight Training, Dance and Yoga. Workout 1 - Core Conditioning - Classic Pilates routine and Yoga moves. You will recognize all the basic Pilates moves with the roll-ups and modified roll-ups. Jennifer gives a lot of advice on modifying, but I just have to say that I have my own secret ways for getting from the flat-on-back position to the bending over one's legs position. I'm not sure she would approve. While Jennifer shows each position, she gives even more "breathing" instructions. I love "rolling like a ball" and the challenge of making each exercise so precise. Workout 2 - Metabolic Booster - Light weight training segment to increase cardiovascular strength. I love this almost "dance-style" workout. Jennifer is working out with four workout partners/instructors. The music is motivational, the colors are inspirational and the setting is so classic. You flow through the stretches like a dancer and then learn to get fancy with the weights. You are moving fairly fast so it is advisable to really learn the moves before increasing your speed. I found that once I was distracted by anything, I had to refocus, rewind and begin again. This is the most challenging weight workout I've ever done. Not only does this push you to the limit of your coordination, you are also moving in a very creative way. I love this section because it will be one I will be perfecting for months. Your arms will feel toned and the addition of the weights also helps you burn extra calories during the cardiovascular moments. Workout 3 - AM/PM Rejuvenation - Yoga-based workout to release tension and promotes flexibility. You will recognize all the basic yoga moves and there are a few variations with an added dose of creative appeal. Breath of Fire is an exercise I've recently seen in many yoga workouts. Jennifer almost seems to relax into this workout, although she is still just as precise. Her personality comes across especially well in the newer videos. She not only talks the viewer through the exercises, she is very comfortable with the entire process. I like the way you can actually hear Jennifer breathing in various exercises, it reminds you to breathe! She teaches some breathing techniques I've been seeing in a number of yoga workouts. It only took me about three videos to get that breathing technique under control. Ironically, the secret is to let go of control. This workout is the most challenging Jennifer Kries workout I've ever completed. If you do all three workouts one after the other, there is no need to do any cardiovascular work before starting this routine. Normally, I'd suggest walking for about 30-40 minutes, but with this workout, you don't need any additional exercise. You will strengthen and tone your entire body in 60 minutes. "Perfect Mix" has all the elements of a full-body workout and stretch. I noticed immediate results in how toned my body felt and also in my posture. Jennifer has the perfect body and now we know why. It takes intense determination and when you do this workout over a short period of time, you will almost become addicted to the demanding aspects. Intermediate to Advanced. The workout you need to move into an entirely new realm of fitness. If you have working out for a few years and want to test your strength, "Perfect Mix" will invigorate and energize you. I highly recommend this workout. ~TheRebeccaReview.com P.S. If you are noticing a problem with the sound, try buying a pair of RCA headphones. I think the problem might be with an "older" TV which can't handle the sound on this video. I have noticed that a few movies and workout DVDs that are newer are not
working (sound quality is iffy and muffly) on my older TV. I first noticed this with a STING DVD and now with Workouts DVDs. It might be time to buy a new TV. If your TV was not originally set up for DVD, then you might want to consider that aspect when determining sound quality on a variety of new items appearing on the market. If you have the choice between DVD and VHS, I'd go with the DVD. This video sounds amazing on the RCA cordless headphones, so I figured out that it was my TV, not the quality of the video.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty average-good moves but lacks excitement
Review: This DVD is broken up into three 20-minute segments and I must admit I usually skip over the second "metabolic booster" part because it's just cheesy. The "Core countouring" first segment consists (of course) of lots of ab and back excercises and is the one I do the most. Although she covers a lot of different moves I always have to pause because I want to do each a few more times. The instruction was helpful the first couple times but she should do less of that and more repetitions of the exercises. Her exercises are good but could be a little more varied. I guess for a 20 minute workout she has to keep them quick and she does a fair job if you're in a time crunch. One other thing is the quality of the video is really poor, it seems very low-budget which isn't all that important but makes me feel like I paid too much for it. Being my first pilates DVD it taught me some basics and gets the job done, but it's not my favorite! Currently searching for a new and better one...
Rating:
Summary: DVD Doesn't run well on computers
Review: Just as a supplementary note to all of the other reviews - the DVD version stutters and ultimately freezes on both my desktop (Win 98) and laptop (XP) while both computers have no problems playing other DVDs, even those with multiple access points. I haven't tried it on a standard TV-connected DVD player.
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