Search - Pick Your Level: Weight Loss Pilates on DVD

Katie L. from GLENWOOD SPGS, CO
Reviewed on 4/17/2013...

Ellen Barrett makes my workout so much fun! I love how cheerful and encouraging she is. The video quality is good with different angles, close-ups, etc, so it's easy to see the correct way to do each exercise, plus plenty of clear explanations from Ellen. This DVD is great for beginners up as it has three levels. I sometimes go back and forth on the levels, depending on how I'm feeling that day. This is a great length too: you get a lot done in a short time yet it's not too intense. Will keep this one for a long time!

Three different segments of Pilates with three different lev

Beth Cholette | Upstate NY USA | 08/26/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The concept behind "Pick Your Level: Weight Loss Pilates" is that you can customize your workout by choosing the level which best suits your needs for each and every exercise. This is done through the use of three different exercisers displaying three different levels of difficulty. Instructor Ellen Barrett always does Level 2, the intermediate version, while her two background exercisers show the beginning (Level 1) and more advanced (Level 3) versions.

The workout itself is broken down into three 10-minute segments: Standing Pilates, Side-Lying Pilates, and Pilates Matwork. The standing work is similar to several of Ellen's previous videos (eg, Crunch Burn & Firm Pilates) in that you are doing moves such as plies, leg lifts, standing leg circles, etc. This segment focused mainly on legwork, although the Level 3 modifier added arms movements to increase the intensity. Still, this section felt like light toning at best, and it certain lacked the cardio benefit to produce the "weight loss" promised in the title. The side lying moves are a bit more intense, beginning with a side plank. Some of the exercises here were similar to the Winsor Buns and Thighs video, and I could feel them in my glutes/outer hip. Again, Ellen does the middle level while the two background exercisers show modifications. Unlike in the standing section, however, each new move does not begin until Ellen explains all three levels, which makes for a lot of unnecessary downtime. In the final segment, Pilates matwork, Ellen has her Level 3 modifier add a few twists to traditional Pilates moves, making them more challenging. However, I found this to be a fairly easy matwork sequence which failed to incorporate any of the classic Pilates intermediate and advanced moves. Also, Ellen continued to focus on the lower body here; the abs work was not very intense, and no back work was included.

Overall, I did not enjoy this video. Even following the Level 3 modifier, I found the intensity to be a low intermediate level at best, and so I did not feel like I got much of a workout. Also, as mentioned above, there seemed to be too much down-time while Ellen set up the levels, particularly in the second and third segments; she also spends too much time at the end of each segment just breathing. Similarly, the workout seemed to move at a very slow pace throughout, leaving me bored and eager to finish it. A final issue was that I just did not click with Ellen's perky personality. I do think that this DVD is nicely produced and likely to appeal to some, mainly those who have enjoyed Ellen's prior Pilates videos and who are at a more beginning/low intermediate level in their Pilates work."

Great for basic, very good for Intermediate

H. Woodbury | Texas | 10/31/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the perfect video if you want something to 'grow with you'. Most Pilates videos have one person doing alternate on a few moves, but not many.

If it's not emphasized enough, it's important to keep your body comfortable and not strain it--tighten your 'core'. That's more important than getting all the moves just like the video. As an overweight person, I always find the roll forward Pilates moves and the pushups to be difficult. And most videos have them. This one does, too. SO I have to alter those exercises on every video. Even below Level 1. (One time I tried to roll forward and it was at an angle and I strained my shoulder!)

On the other hand, there were moves that I could upgrade easily to Level 2. And some that Level 1 was just right and was glad to have examples I could aspire to as I get stronger.

The movements were smooth and slow, but not all of them were whole-body intense, so this really isn't an aerobic pilates. However, I love how she transitioned between each move so that you don't get the stop. start. feeling you get with other Pilates videos.

She is a great leader, speaking as she moves and not fussing about describing every breath. As she takes time setting up each level in the floor segments, I just went ahead and started, keeping the flow going and getting more work in.

One more plus. The video just requires you press play then it starts immediately. The 3 segments follow each other with no long breaks. None of the wait to start. Press PLay. Choose a segment. get up. Choose another segment. You know what I'm talking about!

If you are already advanced in Pilates then this video won't challenge you enough, but it's great to help you step up the ladder as you get stronger and more practiced."

Quite good :-)

Little Miss Cutey | Melbourne, Australia | 07/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While very short, these routines can be done for any level, whether you are only a beginner or advanced. Each routine is shown at three different levels so everyone can benefit from it. Ellen is a good instructor and she's down to earth and it makes it easy to follow. The other exercisers in the routines are visible for most of the time so it makes it easy to choose your positions. All up, it's about 35-40 minutes and it's short, but effective. You will feel like you've done yourself some good which is the whole point, and if done enough, you'll see results soon. I just got this the other day, so I've done it only once, but I can tell that if I keep it up, I'm going to be very happy I bought this."