Description

A Pilates Method is a series created by Noelle, integrating the Pilates method developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920's. This product teaches the Pilates Method using an uncomplicated, easy-to-follow format, with an uplifting, energetic and motivating feel. Noelle has put together programs of her favorite and most proven and effective exercises that get results. The main focus in the series is on Pilates exercises using the Powerhouse: that is the muscles that support the spine, the abdominals, lower back, hips and buttocks. Focus on Abs is a 15-minute workout that targets all the abdominal muscles to streamline and reshape your abs and waistline. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good intro to Pilates for absolute beginners/out of shapes
I am new to Pilates exercise and this kit looked just the thing when I picked it up at a sports store the other week.It has a beginners' video, one of those stretchy bands, two shaped pillows and a foam block - mine were all done in a nice designer shade of lavender.It does not have the mat as the picture implies on the cover.

Now although I had never tried Pilates before I did have some body conditioning due to aerobic exercises.I had no trouble performing the pilates moves once I knew what I was doing, but on the video there is an assistant instructor who is performing easier versions of them if the viewer finds them to be too difficult for their fitness level.One hint:if you are in very weak physical condition, you will need the pillows, but others may not (I only used the neck pillow briefly during one exercise).On the other hand, I found that the instructor, Jillian Hessel, went a little quickly for me to both learn how to position myself correctly and complete the set of exercises the first time around; I did get lost several times, but after following along for a few workouts I was able to keep up.My advice to other beginners is to be persistent -- expect to have to practice several times before you "get it" completely.

When the first workout was over I felt disappointed, as if I didn't get a very thorough working out in the 35 minutes I spent on the mat.This workout certainly didn't elevate my heart rate or cause me to break a sweat.Then as I moved around during the day performing house and garden chores that required a lot of bending, reaching, and general body movements I realized that I felt physically "looser" and energized.It must have been doing something right.The next day I noticed the telltale soreness in my abdominals that told me they had been worked harder than I'd known.No other muscle groups seemed to have been worked out very well, however.So although this is a good introduction to the fundamentals of Pilates exercises, I can't recommend it for a total body workout, at least not to people who have some small level of physical conditioning already.BUT....it may be just the thing for people starting out from "rock bottom".
-Andrea, aka Merribelle
... Read more

Description

West Coast Pilates offers a wide variety of programs to suit the diverse needs of the Pilates community.Each program is built upon the strong foundation of Pilates principles and is designed to build functional strength for every level of fitness.West Coast Pilates specializes in continuing education workshops including Pilates for golf, tennis, and sports activities, pregnancy, scoliosis, back care, cardiac problems, arthritis osteoporosis and aging.West Coast Pilates is a leading presenter for Pilates on Tour, The Pilates Method Alliance and the Body, Mind, Spirit Conferences. Other titles from West Coast Pilates include:WCP CORE Band I Essential, CORE Band II Intensive and CORE Band III Maximum ... Read more

Description

West Coast Pilates offers a wide variety of programs to suit the diverse needs of the Pilates community.Each program is built upon the strong foundation of Pilates principles and is designed to build functional strength for every level of fitness.West Coast Pilates specializes in continuing education workshops including Pilates for golf, tennis, and sports activities, pregnancy, scoliosis, back care, cardiac problems, arthritis osteoporosis and aging.West Coast Pilates is a leading presenter for Pilates on Tour, The Pilates Method Alliance and the Body, Mind, Spirit Conferences. Other titles from West Coast Pilates include:WCP Magic Circle for Golf and WCP Magic Circle for Body Balance ... Read more

Description

West Coast Pilates offers a wide variety of programs to suit the diverse needs of the Pilates community.Each program is built upon the strong foundation of Pilates principles and is designed to build functional strength for every level of fitness.West Coast Pilates specializes in continuing education workshops including Pilates for golf, tennis, and sports activities, pregnancy, scoliosis, back care, cardiac problems, arthritis osteoporosis and aging.West Coast Pilates is a leading presenter for Pilates on Tour, The Pilates Method Alliance and the Body, Mind, Spirit Conferences. Other titles from West Coast Pilates include:WCP Magic Circle for Golf and WCP Magic Circle for Body Balance ... Read more

Description

West Coast Pilates offers a wide variety of programs to suit the diverse needs of the Pilates community.Each program is built upon the strong foundation of Pilates principles and is designed to build functional strength for every level of fitness.West Coast Pilates specializes in continuing education workshops including Pilates for golf, tennis, and sports activities, pregnancy, scoliosis, back care, cardiac problems, arthritis osteoporosis and aging.West Coast Pilates is a leading presenter for Pilates on Tour, The Pilates Method Alliance and the Body, Mind, Spirit Conferences. Other titles from West Coast Pilates include:WCP Magic Circle for Golf and WCP Magic Circle for Body Balance ... Read more

Description

West Coast Pilates offers a wide variety of programs to suit the diverse needs of the Pilates community.Each program is built upon the strong foundation of Pilates principles and is designed to build functional strength for every level of fitness.West Coast Pilates specializes in continuing education workshops including Pilates for golf, tennis, and sports activities, pregnancy, scoliosis, back care, cardiac problems, arthritis osteoporosis and aging.West Coast Pilates is a leading presenter for Pilates on Tour, The Pilates Method Alliance and the Body, Mind, Spirit Conferences. Other titles from West Coast Pilates include:WCP Magic Circle for Golf and WCP Magic Circle for Body Balance ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pilates Exercises for Osteoporosis
The quality of the tape is poor. The voice of the instructor is monotonous and at times speaks like she is not sure of what she is about to say, like it is hard to get her thoughts in order. I could not watch the whole tape due to the tape quality and the instructor does not provide motivation. It seems like it was a home made tape, due to the quality and setting.

Excellent workout
I bought a number of tapes for osteoporosis and this was the only one I have used. Sherri Betz is an excellent teacher, and as a physical therapist she is very knowledgeable as well. Her voice is melodic and perfect to work out to. I have found the workout just the right speed and length for me and has caused NO injuries. I have osteopenia and am very flexible. I had never done pilates but have really enjoyed doing this tape 4 times a week. I would highly recommend it to anybody.

Very helpful exercise routine
I had been looking for some guidance as to which specific exercises would be best for preventing further deterioration and rebuilding bone. I found this video very helpful in explaining osteoporsis and the rationale for the exercises. The instructions for the workout were clear and I could watch and see exactly what needs to be done. Options were given so that I could accomodate the exercise to my level of fitness and flexibility. The speaker seemed to be medically knowledgable. I have quite a few exercise tapes, some of which are very good and others very bad. I would rate this as among the best and very user friendly. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Challenging and fun!
This is a great video! I've been doing pilates for a few years and was surprised to be so sore in my abs for days after doing this workout. The foam roll really adds a nice challenge. Moira and PJ O'Clair do a great job alternating instruction. ... Read more

Description

Back-Fit® with Pilates is a non-impact stretching and exercise video that incorporates Pilates-based matwork, physical therapy exercises, and strength training using dumbbells. Whether you are new to exercise or already in great shape, this workout can be modified to accommodate your fitness level. If you are a senior or have a very limited range of motion, superimposed graphics are included for some of the more difficult exercises so that you will be able to do a modified version while the advanced version is demonstrated.

If you have been in a car accident and currently suffering from low back pain and/or sciatica, the physical therapy portion of this workout is exactly the same movements and stretches as your physical therapist is prescribing. If you are no longer in rehab for your back condition, this video is an excellent way to keep your lower back muscles toned, strong, and conditioned for everyday stress and strain. The best part of this workout is, since it contains many strength training exercises, it will help build bone strength while prevent osteoporosis.

No combination exercises are used so that only one body part will be worked out at a time allowing you to "focus" and build strength mentally as well as physically. There are no Squats, Lunges, or aerobics in this video making it ideal for those that have bad knees. You'll also appreciate the filmed-at-one-time-setting so that when you see that we can do it, you'll know that YOU can do it. Recommended for all ages and fitness levels. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good workout for the back and torso
This is a well-instructed Pilates-based workout that, as promised, targets the muscles of the back as well as the other body parts that support the back.

For the workout you need a dyna-band or other such band and a pair of dumbbells. You could wear sneakers, but it's not necessary.The workout begins with a brief warm-up and then some stretches for the upper body and lower body. Then it alternates between Pilates movements and Physical Therapy exercises. The Pilates exercises are the Hundred, the Single Leg Pull, the Double Leg Pull, the Single Leg Stretch, the Double Leg Stretch, the Bicycle, the Rollover and Scissors (I may have left one out, but I think that's it). The other exercises are two versions of pushups (one on knees with legs crossed, the other on toes with feet wide), Cobra and Child's Pose (again, I may be leaving one out).

Once we're done with the mat, we come to the wall and begin some weight work for the shoulders. Exercises included Lateral Raises, Military Presses, Lat Rows, Front Raises and Leg Lifts to the front and back. Afterward, we go back to the floor for a stretch, which is very similar to the stretches we did for the warmup.

Some comments:

+ Gern has excellent form on all of the exercises, even if you can tell that she's not a Pilates instructor. Also, she counts clearly and at an accurate pace throughout the workout.

+ The pace of the workout is, in my opinion, what the average exerciser should follow to get the maximum benefits from the exercises (I include myself in this category).

+ Although she doesn't go into great depth about Pilates instruction per se, she does discuss imprinting and the importance keeping the spine on the mat (this is open to interpretation among Pilates professionals, and she's in good company).

+ I wasn't crazy about the set when I previewed it, but I was too busy doing the workout and paying attention to the cues to care or even notice what was going on with the set.

+ The workout itself. Her exercises were sequenced very nicely to alternate which parts of the body were worked. Although she doesn't offer a great variety of exercises, it's more than enough to target the torso (including the chest). I used very light weights and she doesn't call for a lot of repetitions, but not even one day after the workout my chest and the rest of my upper body are nicely sore.

Conclusion: This is a very good tape. If you're someone who buys "parts" tapes, you should include this in your library, and I would feel confident buying such a workout or any other release from Gern. ... Read more

Description

Now you can experience a full pilate repertoire at your home or office with a nationally known, certified Pilates instructor. The "Pilates On The Go" video is taught by IDEA master trainer Maria Leone, former professional dancer, who is certified by ACE (American Council on Exercise) and the Physical Mind Institute.Her exquisite performance, combined with her extensive knowledge and experience teaching make this video a must have for people of all fitness levels. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Nice Pilates routine for advanced beginners/intermediates
I've been practicing Pilates for several years and am currently at an intermediate level. I always like to try new routines, so I checked out Maria Leone's "On the Go" video. At the start of the workout, Maria spends about five minutes giving instruction on the fundamental tenets of Pilates, including lengthening the spine, pulling in your navel, and breathing during the exercises. This is a nice overview of basic Pilates principles, but those already familiar with Pilates can skip this part.

The main part of this video is classic Pilates matwork, and Maria begins with a few minutes of stretches to warm up the body. During both the warmup and some of the mat exercises, Maria uses a stretchy band to assist with the moves. Unfortunately, use of the band was not mentioned anywhere on the video's box, but I was able to substitute a regular strap without too much difficulty. Maria then moves on to the matwork sequence, beginning with The Hundred. Before performing the full exercise, however, Maria starts with a "Hundred Prep"; she does this for several of the exercises throughout the matwork routine. Most of the exercises are recognizable from the classic matwork sequence, although Maria modifies many of the more challenging moves (eg, performing The Teaser one leg at a time) as well as adds her own twists to others. The Side Kick Series work is particularly strenuous; I really felt these moves in my hips and thighs. The matwork section concludes with three sets of pushups and some brief stretches for a total of 40 minutes.

Following the matwork, Maria performs 5 minutes of upper body exercises using rubber tubing. Again, the need for this equipment was not noted on the video's box, and since I didn't have tubing, I skipped this section. The workout ends with a few minutes of additional stretching moves, making the entire routine approximately 48 minutes in length.

Maria was a good instructor who cued well, offering tips on form and noting when upcoming moves would be particularly challenging. She was very easygoing, and so was the setting: a simple brick patio with soft, non-distracting music in the background. Furthermore, the moves form a nice, steady flow, but given that Maria did not spend any time explaining each individual exercise, this video would not be appropriate for those brand-new to Pilates. However, those with some prior familiarity with Pilates who are looking to further their practice would enjoy this video, as it is ideal for advanced beginner as well as early intermediate Pilates practitioners.

Not Challenging
I've tried quite a few Pilates videos and this is one I would not recommend. When I started the video, I was really disappointed to see that a pilates band was required for the exercises. But nowhere on the box did it mention that. There were a few movements such as leg circles, rolling and the mermaid that are done without a band but most of the workout requires it. Thankfully I rented this and didn't spend money on it.

You mean I've had "abs" under there all along???
If you've never "experienced" Pilates (pronounced 'pi-la-tays'; don't make the embarassing mistake I did by saying "pilots"), get ready to have your butt whooped. Joseph Pilates and his wife, a registered nurse, developed this routine under the realization that the abdomnial area is the "core" of wellness- it supports your upper body, back, posture, etc. In the past few years, Pilates has really come into the mainstream, and there are many classes and videos to choose from. I happen to like "Pilates On the Go", because it is mellow, very gentle and yet VERY effective. The DVD comes with an exercise band that will help you with some of the more difficult postions (such as the classic "roll-up", where you literally come of off the floor one vertabrae at a time from a lying down postion)and also helps you with stretching. After my first session, which I must confess did not last the duration of the DVD, my abs were sore for DAYS- that's how powerful this routine is (not just my abs, come to think of it- my legs, sides, back and butt were all "work-out sore). If you remember not to get too frustrated, work at YOUR OWN PACE, don't expect miracles from yourself right away, and keep at it diligently, you'll surprise yourself at how strong you will become in a matter of weeks. A great investment for your overall well-being.

Quite Impressed
This workout is a full-body workout with an emphasis on posture and core strength. You will be rolling up and down and learning to breathe deeply. No shoes needed and you can do this routine almost anywhere.

"Pilates On the Go" offers a full-body workout and includes every imaginable Pilates exercise. There were many new moves I had not seen in other videos, including the "swan dive" which was quite amusing. Imagine yourself as the base of a rocking horse. Yes.

IDEA master trainer Maria Leone has been teaching Pilates since 1989 and first encountered the exercises while studying dance at New York University. She has been certified to teach "The Method" and owns Bodyline Fitness Studio in Beverly Hills.

I love the way Maria Leone teaches because she is not interested in a fancy routine, just the basics. Her pleasant voice is calming and she places an emphasis on stretching and uses pace effectively to warm the body.

She also has the exercises set up in a logical and effective progression. You never feel uncomfortable moving from one exercise to the next. It is a slow floor dance to fitness. You are mostly on your back, side or stomach. There are a few exercises done while standing.

The Exercises Include: A warm-up, Pilates Hundred, Roll-Up, Roll-Up with Band, Rowing, Bow and Arrow, Rollover, Leg Circles, Rolling, Single Leg Stretch, Modified Double Leg Stretch, Scissors, Criss-Cross, Spine Stretch, Open Leg Rocker, Modified Corkscrew, Saw with Band, Saw, Basic Swan, Leg Lifts, Intermediate Swan, Swan Dive, Modified Double Leg Stretch, Double Leg Kick, Spine Twist, Side Kick Series, Teaser, Preparations, Swimming, Plank, Leg Pull Front, Reverse Plank, Leg Pull Back, Side Lift, Seal, Push-Ups and Upper Body exercises with resistance tubing (or you can use weights and a resistance band).

What I really appreciated was the "modified" exercises. When an exercise is new to you, you won't want to dive into the exercise immediately and Maria shows you the modified exercise and then asks you to repeat it if you are new to the exercise or continues with the regular exercise. There is no time lapse. You do the modified version and the regular version if you are doing this routine on a regular basis. So, no waiting. The modified version becomes a warm-up for the next exercise. If you are new to the exercise, you just do it twice while she continues with the advanced exercise.

The Benefits of Pilates are very encouraging:

Improves your Posture
Strengthens your Back
Strengthens your Stomach
Increases your Flexibility
Tones your Entire Body
Sharpens Your Mind
Gives you Confidence - the exercises are not too difficult to master and "no fancy footwork."
Encourages a healing of the mind, body, spirit
Improves your Life because it calms the mind

This exercise routine is normally purchased in a set and as far as I can tell from the site I went to, they do not sell the resistance tubing or Dyna-Band separately. The entire set is around fifty-five dollars. So, if you can improvise with items you already have, that seems to be a frugal way to go.

Items you will need to have if you only buy the DVD or Video:

A mat or you can just use a towel on a carpet
Resistance Tubing or you can use a Dyna-Band/Resistance Band effectively in places and alternate with a set of three-pound weights.
A Dyna-Band or you can use any "Resistance Bands."

If you have tried just about every other way to lose weight, give Pilates a try. I have been quite impressed with the results from these exercises. I started doing Pilates in college and in a summer I remember changing my body. Unfortunately life got in the way of exercise and I have recently gone back to these exercises because I remembered how fast they worked.

Honestly, I have tried everything from diet to walking to yoga and nothing works as well as Pilates. The bonus of this workout is the almost immediate results you start to see. That keeps you highly motivated. You can literally sculpt your body. While I'm still far from perfect, Pilates is working and I finally feel I will one day reach my goals.

If you are discouraged with other workouts and want to see fast results, try this routine. You may also love the Winsor Pilates workouts or anything by Karen Voight or The Method videos. What is nice about workout videos/DVDs is that once you have some of the fitness equipment, you can use it with many other workouts. So, buying the equipment is really an investment and when one instructor starts a trend, the rest seem
to follow.

What you will notice with Maria Leone is her leadership qualities. Her exercises have unique twists that are indications of originality. Originality prevents boredom. These are simple exercises, but never boring. I look forward to more workouts by this talented instructor.

How about "Stretching On the Go?" ... Read more

Features

• Extra-cushioned for stable support
• Includes Pilates mat, Energy Boost workout video and DVD
• Pilates mat dimensions 1/4Hx24Wx68D”

Reviews (4)

Giaim has good Pilates DVD's
The quality of Giaim DVDs for pilates are excellent. I have both Winsor Pilates and Giamim and I'm currently doing the AM/PM workout. Guest from the midwest is ingorant. Just like there is aerobic exercise that's fast paced and then you have low inpact, Pilates comes in different variations. Some people prefer to meditate and go at a fast pace and others have different reasons for doing pilates. The quality of Giaim Pilates is excellent the soothing pace was meant for a relaxing pilates workout to deal with stress. Some people are truly ingorant!!!!!

Good Starter Kit
The mat is a wonderful thick mat. It worked nicely. The video is quite short and does not really give any explanation to the different excercises. It's perfect for someone who wants to try Pilates out. You will most likely need to buy additional videos if you intend to continue doing Pilates as I did.

Pilates is good, but not from GIAM
I firmly believe Pilates is a good exercise. It will strengthen your back and stomach making your posture better and your back problems disappear. The body bands, ball and other equipment is good, but the corresponding tapes are terrible. The tapes that come in the kits are for demo purposes only. They are too short, too slow and very easy. You are forced to buy more tapes, which I did. However, GIAM doesn't make very good tapes. They are slow and simplistic. I felt like I was watching a cross between a meditation tape and a music video. I recommend Winsor Pilates. It has much better instruction and feels like a workout, not a show of how pretty the instructors are.

Pilates Works
My sister tried every diet imaginable for years.She wanted results, and wanted them fast.She ordered the Pilate tape and within two weeks saw results.The exercises are slow and concise.They don't hurt your back or make you feel if you can't do them.Try it, it really works!That's why I've purchasd the tape.What have I got to lose, but weight! ... Read more