Search - Hit the Spot - Pilates on DVD

A creative twist on the Pilates method if you can tolerate t

Naughty dynamo | Tierra maya | 04/29/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"These are seven 10-minute workouts that target "trouble areas"- waist, abs, thighs, hips, etc. You can do them all or you can select as many as you'd like. Each workout includes many movements taken directly from the traditional Pilates exercises, as well as some yoga movements and others that are a combination of both, or where you target different muscles at the same time. While the workouts are short and varied, and provide a welcome twist to the routine that can set in on regular Pilates mat exercisers, I got annoyed by Denise's overly protective, motherly style which distracted me from fully focusing on each exercise.

The workout includes 3 different sets which target the abdominal area, waist and laterals. Surprisingly no hundreds. (Hello, isn't that the most important Pilates exercise?). She includes the 'stomach series', boat pose, lots of T stands and variations of it, one legged downward dog pushing to one legged plank, side stretches, lots of side twists as well.

There are then 3 segments of 10 minutes each, targeting the hips, buns and thighs respectively. She covers practically every exercise included in the side leg mat series (if you are familiar with Pilates), T stands again, lots of inner and outer thigh work, as well as a standing Pilates series and lunges. A nice burner overall.

My complaints about this video:

1. While Denise sure knows her stuff and displays good form, she did make me wonder, is this a Pilates video or did I just pay to hear Denise's nonstop blabbing while she does Pilates at breakneck speed? I don't need to be reminded that "this exercise works the waist". I think I can get an idea of which area these exercises target once I do them, or at least she doesn't need to mention it 10 times. Or she often tells you how this exercise is her favorite (they all are!), or "how challenging this exercise is!". Is she trying to motivate you? I don't know. It takes away your attention from the exercise.

2. The workout is too fast with very few repetitions of each exercise. Yes, intermediate Pilates is faster, however, she could have added few exercises with more precision. She repeats some exercises in a couple of segments, which she could have avoided by adding more repetitions to each exercise.

To summarize:
If you are a beginner in Pilates:
There are other quality videos you could try before venturing to this one. I would recommend getting a Stott Pilates video before progressing to this one, which offer superb instruction. Denise makes occasional remarks about form but she moves too quickly from one exercise to the next so you may be better off with a Stott Pilates beginner's video or one of the Gaiam beginner's ones, that way you can learn proper form and breathing and then progress to this one.

If you have some Pilates experience:
Again, this will be a fun twist to your mat routine. You could add one lb ankle weights to the hip and thigh sections to add challenge. I do need to mention that there is music only option. You can listen to Denise the first time to get familiar with the routine and then try it with music only.
There are other great DVDs that present short sequences (10 to 15 min each) and with much more pleasant instructors. Check out 10 minute solution Rapid Results Pilates with Lara Hudson or The Method Target Specifics Plus. Both are greatly recommended. Karen Voight "Total Body Pilates" is an excellent routine as well."

Good Exercises, Poor Instruction

Stacey | Kansas | 09/25/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This was a very nice production as far as the set, music, and variety of pilates exercises. However, IMO Denise Austin is a very poor instructor. She does not count so you know how many of each exercise you're doing, the flow was strange to me (for example, you'd be on your back doing ab exercises, then switch to your side, then on your back again)so there was a great deal of changing positions. Also, Denise often wouldn't tell you the name of the exercise you were doing until you had completed several reps. I prefer a more flowing routine like those taught in the Crunch Pilates series with Ellen Barrett, the 10 Minute Solution Pilates dvd with Lara Hudson, or any of the pilates workouts by Michelle Dozois. I guess I've realized I'm just not a fan of how Denise teaches, and will stick to Ellen Barrett, Lara Hudson, and Michelle Dozois for pilates. Good thing I got this from the library to preview rather than buying it!"