Basic Pilates

Rating:
Summary: Not impressed
Review: I found this dvd to be very slow. There is only one workout on the tape and it is only 20 minutes long. Most of this time is spent talking, not streching.

Rating:
Summary: Great Start!
Review: I was totally new to Pilates when I purchased this video, but have now been doing Pilates quite seriously for a couple of months. This video hooked me. I like Moira Stott's style and method of giving instruction. I still use some of the warm-up moves she gives to demonstrate the basic principles of PIlates. Pilates is a very different kind of exercise than anything I had done before -- with its emphasis on control and precision as opposed to either "throwing your body around" or high-reps. The moves are deceptively difficult to do well, so this short workout with not too many moves (and with some modifications to make them more approachable) is a very good idea -- I think it is a good way to see if this form of exercise is for you.



Rating:
Summary: as an introduction to pilates in DVD form, it can't be beat.
Review: One of the best ways to get into anything is slowly, and that's the genius of this DVD.
You have an obvious expert (Moira Stott) who is very good at explaining and demonstrating, and who has a very kind and patient demeanour.
You have a simple 20 minute workout, one that will challenge you (I could not complete it the first time around, but I'm really out of shape), but not wear you out or frustrate you. Also, you don't need anything more to do it than a simple mat.
This is an introduction DVD, and it does it's job excellently.

Much better than, say, the annoying Pilates for Dummies DVD.