Search - Pilates Core Challenge with Ana Caban on DVD

I love it!

JennyRN | 04/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After taking classes, I now do pilates at home and love Ana Caban. This dvd features some very creative and challenging pilates moves and the background is absolutely beautiful. This would be appropriate for those who are intermediate or feel comfortable with her intermediate mat workout, and very challenging but still appropriate for beginners familiar with pilates."

Pilates Core Challenge

KSB | Pittsburgh, PA | 03/24/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been doing the Pilates intermediate tape with Ana Caban for a month or two and wanted to try this to alternate between the two. I've only done it a couple of times and think it is aptly named. I found it was challenging and I was quite pleased that there were a significant number of exercises that were different from the Intermediate tape. I find Ana Caban is very clear with her instructions and easy to follow. Overall I'm pleased with it."

Quality video

Doug | IN USA | 07/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD is really my first exposure to pilates, but I find the difficulty to be an appropriate level. The 20- and 40-minute workouts both seem to be okay for a beginner or intermediate."

Gaiam's Reformer on the Mat offering

dnk | Boston, MA United States | 08/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This dvd has two workouts- the main workout about 41 minutes long, and the express about 18 minutes long. I'd say it is high-intermediate. The movements are all based on reformer movements that have been adapted for the mat. The main workout includes: the Footwork series, the Hundred, Coordination, the Rowing Series, the Pulling Straps Series, Backstroke, Teaser, Short Box Round, Flat Back, Side to Side, Twist, Tree, Long Stretch, Elephant, Arabesque, Stomach Massage Series, Short Spine, Thigh Stretch, Kneeling Arm Series (many of the movements have show up in other releases with weights, and done standing or in the Rowing Position), Snake, Tic Toc, Frog, Running, Pelvic Lift, Side Plank, Mermaid, Side Splits, Standing Saw, Front Split Series, Standing Straddle Stretch, Around the World and Running in Place. The express version contains a condensed bit of those movements, plus some standing balance and jumping movements.

I found the pace to be a little slower than I'd perform them myself. Had these been done "at pace", I'd say this was straight up advanced. However, I disagree with the reviewers who say that some of these movements are too easy. As Pilates himself said, "If it's easy, you're doing it wrong." The Rowing and Kneeling exercises might draw the most criticism in that respect, but only if you aren't consciously working all of the muscles of your powerhouse. The most difficult Pilates exercises are those where you have to supply the resistance, and that is going to be the case for many of these Reformer on the Mat movements."