Noelle's Powerhouse- A Pilates Method- The Complete Mat Workout

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS THE BEST PILATES DVD EVER!
Review: I have been doing Pilates for over a year now. I have tried many different Pilates DVD's. I have also taken several Pilates classes. Noelle's Powerhouse Complete Mat Workout is by far the best I have seen. I know of several ladies in my class that have ordered this after trying it in class. It gives you a workout that tones almost every part of your body. Most Pilates DVD's I have tried only target a particular area. This is an overall workout. I have seen the results!

Rating:
Summary: Something different for intermediates interested in Pilates
Review: The following is a list of the exercises included in this workout.

Hundred
Roll up
Rolling like a ball
Single leg stretch
Scissors (lying on your back)
Double straight leg stretch
Crisscross
Pelvic tilt/glute squeeze
Bridge, raise one leg, then the other
Lower ab crunches with one leg crossed over the other, which is straight and pointing to the ceiling
Pendulum (drop bent knees to one side, then the other)
Back extensions with heel beats
Side lying leg lifts (first both legs, then lower and lift bottom leg)
Scissors (lying on your side)
Up and down
Outer thigh leg lift
Small circles, both directions
Outer thigh small leg lifts
Modified teaser
Plank with leg lifts
Reverse plank
Side stretch

The set is bright, with a white floor that has concentric circles painted on it. Noelle lies in the center. One modifier shows an easier version throughout; another shows an advanced version, and Noelle does the intermediate version. The production values are high, with no odd camera work or other distractions.

I would rate this workout as intermediate, because while Noelle gives form reminders (keep your legs glued together, pull your abs in, etc.) she does not really explain each exercise enough that a beginner would be able to understand how to do it. Also, I noticed that Noelle didn't put her legs in the traditional position when doing the leg work lying on her side, so this would not be a good workout from which to learn proper Pilates form and techniques.

This workout does not include some of the traditional Pilates matwork exercises, such as the seal, neck pull, saw, etc. I must admit, I missed those exercises. I've been doing a lot of Pilates lately, and while I can't reliably do a full teaser every time, my abs have gotten pretty strong. So, while I appreciated some of the different exercises this workout includes, none of them seemed to really work any part of my body quite enough.

I really liked Noelle. She's warm and encouraging, and seems more like a "real person" than other Pilates instructors who sometimes seem superhuman. She looks a little like Jennifer Jason Leigh, and is wearing a red top and cropped pants. She reminds you to have proper form throughout the workout, and makes some other comments (like about one movement being "small but mighty, just like me"). She doesn't really talk to the other exercisers at all.

One odd aside-I searched a bit, and couldn't found Noelle's last name anywhere. The credits simply say "Noelle," as does the bio on her website and some other sites online.