Rating: 
Summary: Good workout
Review: Not for beginers, but it does work on problem areas.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but basic
Review: This video consists of two workouts. The first is a very good, basic introduction to pilates. It gave me energy and I could definitely feel my abs working. The exercises made my lower abs work especially hard! This video is not difficult at all, just challenging. She offers modification tips for those of us who are not flexible enough. The second workout is a lot of yoga poses. It is very rushed and a little too fast for someone who has no experience with yoga. There are no explanations for the poses and she seems to think we all know these poses already. I suppose the more you practice, the better you will understand the poses, but I would suggest a different yoga video for beginners. Also Denise Austin's voice is a little annoying, but you'll get used to her calm, breathy voice.
Rating: 
Summary: annoying
Review: Denise has a high whispery and very annoying voice. Therefore, it makes it very hard for me to work out with her. Also, she moves a little too fast, with too few repetitions on the moderate exercises, and too many on the way too hard exercises. Not that good.
Rating:
Summary: Denise should stick to aerobics
Review: I've done many many a pilates tape, and this one ranks low on the list. Denise appears to be a novice just hocking the latest trend in fitness rather than a true practitioner of pilates and/or yoga. In addition to a lopsided workout, her form is off and she leaves out important information - which could cause injury to a beginner. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Dissappointted
Review: I previously purchased Denise's Ultimate Fat Burner DVD, and I felt like I was in the best shape of my life. But I felt jumping all the time wasn't good for my knees, I then decided to get her Pilates DVD. Something more low-impact on my knees. The first time I tried the DVD; I felt that the DVD was working. After the first time though, it went all downhill with Denise because I didn't feel like I was working at all. I also felt that some of the moves where close to impossible for me to do on her second workout. If you want to get in shape, I strongly don't recommend this DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: I Hate to Say It -- Props to Denise
Review: I wanted to dislike this video. I was unfamiliar with Denise Austin when I bought it, but the minute she opened her mouth I felt an immediate, "Oh god, I've gotta listen to THAT for the next forty minutes!!" Her baby voice grates on me, I feel she's talking down to her audience, and I hate how she addresses the camera like she can see thru your TV screen ("Let me see those straight shoulders! Beautiful!") Nevermind all that, though. I gotta hand it to the lady, her first workout on this tape kicks .... Or, more appropriately, kicks ABS! It's why I gave this tape five stars, even though the second workout is [bad]. That's how good it is! Some reviewers indicate the first segment wasn't challenging enough. I suspect this is because they were not using their core so much as they were using momentum & their hip flexors to do the bulk of the work. Pilates is unique in that the more proficient you become at controlling your core, the harder you will work. I know this from experience, not just from all the pilates stuff I read. When I first started this tape, I'd had a few years of yoga under my belt and got a "three-star" workout from the first segment. Since then, I've mixed things up with running & lifting & cycling, too... I come back to this tape every few weeks, and it's amazing how much stronger my abs have become. *NEVER* have I ever done this workout without feeling it -- intensely!-- the next day. I've never been able to say that about a workout tape. Now, this progress didn't happen overnight and I'm pretty sure crosstraining has a lot to do with my strength gains, as well, but still -- this is one killer ab workout, when executed correctly. Best of all, it's also calming & gentle & even relaxing, in some ways. And, it's only 20 minutes long. Dammit, Denise, you done good. The second half of the tape, though, well, that's awful. No flow to the poses, underwhelming instruction, weird cuts to her demo'ing some postures on a rock, for some reason... blech. Stick w/ the first 20 minutes and this tape is still a value. Exercise fads may come & go but strong transverse abdominals will keep your frame supported for a lifetime!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! I LOVE this CD!
Review: The first part of this CD is a great workout that I can do in 20 minutes, which is very important to me in the morning. I haven't tried the second part of the CD yet. I alternate this every other day with one of Denise Austin's other Pilates CD's - "Pilates For Every Body", also highly recommended. I especially like Denise's instruction...she's very much in tune with her body and health and it shows! I've read some mixed reviews about her personality, so I'd really like to add that I find her enthusiasm very genuine and inspiring! It's also encouraging that she's close to my own age (45) and is so physically fit. I think this is a super Pilates CD...I can feel results after only 3 sessions, and am much more aware of my posture during the day.
Rating:
Summary: An effective, fun, and strengthening workout!
Review: This is one of Denise's best tapes. It contains 2 segments: the first is pilates, the second is yoga. Both are very energizing and stimulating! If you're looking to loose a few pounds, firm up those abs, or just get more fit in general, then this is the video for you. Anyone (beginner or advanced) would bennefit from it!
Rating:
Summary: Denise Austin Mat Workout Based on JH Pilates
Review: I was interested in Pilates as I had recently given birth and wanted to tone my abs. I had heard Pilates was a good strength/toning concept. I found this video to be a very good introduction to Pilates. The first segment was challenging without being to difficult to follow! I liked the pace and the length of the workouts. But I have to say that I found it more difficult to follow the second segment. I just wasn't sure if I was in the right positions. But the first matt work out has been a great addition to my fitness plan. And for a busy working Mom (of 2 little ones) time is very important! I use this in addition to cardio and other strength/toning workouts. This particular workout is incorporated into my fitness plan apx. 3 X per week. I could definitely see a difference in my abs after a couple of weeks! There was definition in my abs that I did not have before having children so that was pretty exciting!
Rating:
Summary: Aerobic Pilates
Review: Pilates is program that began as a physical therapy and rehabilitation program almost 100 years ago, although it is currently the "fitness rage". This video does demonstrate some of the positions and postures (there are over 200) but they are performed at high speed and the Pilates technique is never explained. Pilates should be performed in a deliberate, flowing, smooth way. The transitions in the video were too fast and choppy and reminded me of aerobics instead of yoga or ballet. A certified Pilates instructor will tell you that the exercises take some time to perfect and that form, not repetitions, is important. While it is based on the work of Joseph Pilates, this video is just a variation on Denise's other videos.
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