Good for beginnners This is a great dvd for first timers. Some of the moves should have more reps to be a bit more of a challenge. Since she demonstrates each move before you are supposed to do it, once you learn them you can do the extra reps on your own. I think this is best for beginners and those who can't do low or high impact workouts.
Perfect for beginners! I'm 46 years old and though I'm on my feet all day and moving around, I'd noticed that I was groaning every time I had to bend down to pick something up off of the floor. My knees and legs were behaving as if they belonged to someone else and weren't all that interested in listening to what my brain told them to do. So, I went in search of an exercise routine that wouldn't require me to start out by using heavy weights or bouncy balls - both of which you need muscles and coordination to use. If I had those, then I wouldn't need to exercise! Anyway, I found Tracey's wonderful workout dvd and I couldn't be more pleased with how it's making me feel already - just in two weeks! Each exercise is broken up into small sets. You don't feel like you've been doing the same routine over and over and over until you're ready to just switch it off and go have a bowl of ice cream. She keeps things moving and you really don't feel like you're working too hard, even though your heart's pumping and the sweat starts trickling down your face. You end the workout feeling like you've had a real workout but not feeling like you'll "never do that again!". I feel like my body is moving more fluidly and I can bend over without groaning. My legs and knees aren't ignoring me anymore, either!
Yes, I highly recommend this workout for people who are starting out with pilates, or just starting out with exercising, period! It will help loosen you up, get you a bit stronger and ready for more challenging exercise if you so desire!
Sad Representation of Pilates I found this at a thrift store and decided to take a chance I'd done Winsor pilates before and thought it was great. This video is a joke.
Great Beginner CD I am new to Pilates and I found this CD to have everything a beginner needs. Easy to follow instructions, explaining breathing and posture. Exercises are not difficult or strenuous but definately gets the heart rate up. Would recommend to anyone who wants to give Pilates a try.
Creative, Fun and Low Impact, Standing and Mat Pilates Workout! I just did this program a few minutes ago and wanted to review it while it was fresh in my mind.
I've been working out regularly for well over 20 years using a variety of disciplines. I also have enjoyed using "media" (VHS/DVD's) at home for many of those years along w/ working out at gyms.
I find it always interesting to see how various teachers put together exercise programs and the variations they use to challenge your body in different ways. Variety in exercise helps keep workouts fun and actually makes them more effective since you're body isn't always doing the same movements.
This program starts w/ 20 minutes of standing work which incorporates a lot of plie' type work which really targets your lower body. While lower body work like this isn't really "cardio" (in terms of challenging your aerobic or anerobic system very intensely), you still burn calories since you are using larger muscle groups.
The last 15 minutes of the program is mat based pilates. It's not the classical sequence (no "hundreds") but there are still several familiar mat exercises ("rolling like a ball", "single leg stretch", a variation on "teasers" etc.).
I found Tracey Thompson to be an upbeat, yet not overly perky, teacher who explained things clearly and demonstrated beautifully! Also, the "dummies cues" were well done in terms of providing options and tips without becoming overly distracting.
This program had a great flow. It moved along better (IMO) than the "Pilates for Dummies program" w/ Michelle Dozois. This is not to knock that program or Ms. Dozois who is an excellent teacher. That other program did need more explanation due to the nature of the exercises, so it's understandable that it had less flow. Still, this workout w/ Tracey Thompson, has a flow that I believe would be more enjoyable to use more long term.
I highly recommend this workout for any level because even though I'm an advanced exerciser, this workout isn't exactly like any other workouts I have. This stimulates your body's neuromuscular system in a different way. Also, for an advanced exerciser it can be used as more of an "active recovery" type workout, just enough challenge to stimulate your body without overdoing it.
For a beginner, while they might find it somewhat challenging, you can always modify moves to accomodate your current level of fitness and build up to harder versions of the exercises as you feel more comfortable. NEVER try to do more than you can do if your form suffers, just find a way that is enjoyable and comfortable for you while giving yourself enough of a challenge so that your body will adapt and improve.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
