Search - The Method - Pilates Fusion - A Ballet & Pilates Dance Blend on DVD

Beware!

Tatyana Bilyk | 04/11/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The workout is pretty good! But this is exactly the same workout "Pilates Standing Blend" with Katalin Zamiar."

Mostly ballet movements to increase balance for beginners

Lena, LMT | Nassau, NY | 11/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rebecca wrote a great review on this dvd on old title: "The Method: Standing Pilates Blend".
I tried this since I loved Katalin in her "The Method - Meditation Through Movement" video which I wrote a review for saying she has incredible form & presence, but the pace was a bit slow & too easy for me. She has great body awareness & calm, natural demeanor. I bought her old VHS G.I. Jabb martial arts videos because of her incredible energy/form in it that I saw on her site katalinusa com.

This video's menu only gives the options of the 2 chapter choices of the standing/balance leg work of 30 min & her mat work of 15 min, along with only a quick text bio of Katalin's extensive martial arts accomplishments & other fitness extensive training. The choice of not being able to do w/o the music is a poor choice since the music was so light w/a slow tempo, it put me to sleep. When my heater fan kicked in drowning it out, I enjoyed the workout much more.

Floor work - 30 min - was straight ballet with some lunges, plies, curtsy style drops. She puts it into combos like leg circles, lunge, leg lift forward, backward then down. It's all about balance & ability to stand on one leg. Though I loved that help with grace, I found it repetitive.
Mat work - 15 min - almost no crunches, some leg lifts & drops, a hundred was done, but in sets of 4 pulses then rest, then 4 pulses... the yoga bridge was done very quickly, then a lot of side lying w/more ballet style leg toning.

While I bought this because it wasn't straight pilates & enjoyed the ballet movements, I found the pace to be a bit slow & too easy for me. She allows rests in between & modifies things such as the hundred. I did feel my muscles work for toning, but I already have incredible balance from years of yoga. I did not do it as gracefully as they did, but on a first try, I was close. This is because of Katalin's awesome cuing & reminders of good posture/alignment. She also puts great emphasis on when to inhale/exhale which was great. She also tries to cue YOUR left & right.
This video is for beginners, those with limited balance ability, or those who are die hard ballet fans. This can also be used for toning for a lazy day for those who work out regularly. I will thank Katalin, because by following her cues, I did feel more comfortable, relaxed, & really did the moves more correctly then I do on regular ballet dvd workouts.

If you like this style, I would recommend "New York City Ballet" which is better for intermediates with good balance. If you're looking for something that will whip your butt that's a blend of ballet, pilates, dance, balance, I'd suggest Kari Anderson's "Angles, lines & curves" I or II & her "Reach"

you can see a clip at collagevideo com & another clip on youtube under totalfitnessdvds"