A.M. And P.M. Pilates Mat Workouts

Rating:
Summary: Can see why you should bother with this one
Review: All exercises are done very quickly with a high chance of injury if you are a beginner to pilates. I had hip and back pain because the instruction is not very helpful. I found "Pilates conditioning for weight loss -Suzanne Deason" much better."

Rating:
Summary: Make Your Pilates Training Work For You
Review: First of all, this is not a Pilates class for beginner's video. Do not buy this video (at least not yet) if you have never done Pilates before or you are still fairly new to it. You will be lost, as you do need a decent knowledge of properly performing Pilates movements to keep up. This video was not produced with newbies in mind.

However, with that being said, this is an excellent video for using your Pilates knowledge and experience to benefit you and your lifestyle. I purchased this DVD a while back and enjoyed doing the AM Pilates with Jillian Hessel - and I was still fairly new to Pilates. I had the basic knowledge that I learned from the Beginner's Mat Workout (with Ana Caban) to help me along. The AM workout left me feeling energized and refreshed - a feeling that stayed with me most of the day long.

I found the PM Workout more challenging and is more geared for the more experience Pilates user. (The PM workout is an end goal for me...what I want to be able to do eventually, but it certainly is not for me right now as a novice.) Definitely not for me right now.

I purchased this DVD before, but then sold it, then I decided to buy it again as I really did enjoy the AM Pilates. No regrets. I plan to keep this video. I still won't do the PM Pilates until I feel I'm more competent in Pilates.

If you're looking to do an AM/PM exercise that doesn't require prior training, but gives you that wake-me-up or de-stressing benefits you need in your life, try AM/PM Stretch with Madeleine Lewis (also by Gaiam). Since I haven't fully pursued and learn Pilates like I want to, I've gone to this gentle workout and absolutely love it.

However, if you do know Pilates and looking for great ways to use it to benefit you, this is very much a viable option.

Rating:
Summary: P.M. Program is great
Review: I agree that this DVD isn't great for beginners, but it is the one I started with and I got hooked! I'm not a fan of the AM program but I really enjoy the PM program. It's perfect for right before I prepare to go to bed-- it's challenging and it's fun! I think the music and scenery are great.

Rating:
Summary: How fast can you do pilates?
Review: I gave up on this DVD about 5 minutes in. It moves SO fast, if you have no prior knowledge of pilates you'll find yourself going "What? How? What do I..?"

I haven't tried pilates before and was really looking forward to this DVD, but with Hessell bolting through "Breathe in 2-3-4, out 2-3-4, now bring your knees up to your abdomen, move your hands down, breathe out and do this, do that..." at a million miles a minute I had to give it up.