Rating: Summary: Excellent instruction Review: This is a great program for those who have mastered some of the basics and want a more challenging Pilates workout. Unlike beginner videos, Caban doesn't stop the flow of the exercise to give instruction, but she does give excellent cuing that still keeps the workout safe. The energy sprint is great for days when workout time is limited.
Rating: Summary: Pilates Intermediate Mat Workout Review: This is a horrible pilates workout. First of all the production quality is the worst. The camera jumps around and the sound is barely audible at times. If I am paying for something it better be done professionally. There is no warm-up. There is no real instruction to each exercise so you better know what you are doing. And if you do know what you are doing then what is the point of buying this video. You are wasting your money. If you know how to do pilates no need to buy this video. Just do it yourself. Unless you want to be annoyed.
Rating: Summary: True to Joseph Pilates Review: This is an excellent video for those interested in learning pilates. Ana Caban stays true to the pilates method developed by Joseph Pilates, down to the form and flow from exercise to exercise. Unlike other knock-offs, this video promises a Pilates workout and delivers it without watering down or modifying the exercises.The instruction is easy to follow for those familiar with the Pilates method. Ana Caban is an engaging instructor who provides an easy and advanced form for each exercise. These exercises target the core muscles and you will notice results. With my VHS version, there are one or two spots where the sound quality isn't the best and the instructor's voice echoes slightly. However, this does not really take away from the video as a whole and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in learning pilates.
Rating: Summary: Good intermediate Pilates workout Review: This tape is NOT for those new to Pilates; it's meant as a Part 2 to the Beginners Mat Workout. In the first tape, instructor Ana Caban takes the time to carefully explain each move and to describe in detail how the moves are performed, but in this more advanced workout, she skips the instructions and moves quickly from one move to the next. Ana is a very likeable instructor who is motivating and energetic without being overly peppy or intimidating. She offers encouragement using simple, sometimes amusing language such as "be long, like a noodle!" The entire workout builds on the Beginners tape by adding new moves, all of which smoothly flow from one to the other in the classic Pilates tradition. It's true that the sound and video quality is a bit off here and there, but this is easy enough to ignore once you have practiced the workout a few times. This is an excellent tape for strengthening the entire midsection, and perfect for those who want to further advance their Pilates practice.
Rating: Summary: Pilates Beginning Mat Workout Review: This video is excellent. The DVD is even better than the VHS because of the 12 minute workout. It's perfect for after work. The best thing about pilates is that you feel awake and alive again after the workout rather than like you need to take a nap. Ana Caban is an excellent instructor because she allows for many stages of accomplishment in your workout. Even after you have done it 30+ times, you can still adjust your workout to be effective and feel challenged.
Rating: Summary: Very Poor Quality Review: Unfortunately I cannot rate the instructional quality, because the quality of production was so poor, I never watched the entire thing. The image flickers, jumps about, and shifts to black and white at random. I returned the first DVD for a replacement assuming it was just defective, but the second one that was sent was just as bad.
Rating: Summary: Exactly What the Title Says Review: Without getting too verbose, this dvd is a VERY GOOD Pilates Intermediate Mat Workout. *Beginners Beware* because there's no instruction per se. The flow of the mat workout is exceptional thanks to Ana's cueing. What I really like is that she doesn't get real chatty like others I have seen. Therefore I'm able to concentrate on my form & breathing. The first time I'd used it I was sore the next day, but felt GREAT! I concur the production isn't the best but the workout itself IS. What's more important than that?
Rating: Summary: Solid workout Review: Yes, the sound quality suffered in this video, as the instructions switch from clear to tinny (like she's talking in a seashell) and back again- but think of it as an extra challenge for the Pilates goal of developing concentration. Seriously, if you're bored enough with the tape to be bothered by those flaws, you obviously need a more advanced workout! This is a solid intermediate Pilates workout that's a definite step up from the basic tape. You'll do some of the same excercises as in basic, but more reps, less rest in between, and interspersed with new exercises that overall will really challenge you. After several months of doing Pilates I am definitely noticing the benefits. There are so many things you need torso strength and stability for: daily posture, or moves in other exercise routines that require you to hold your body in place. This is exactly what Pilates works on, along with flexibility, balance and breathing. So it's a method that will yield results both in daily life as well as in your other workouts.The Ana Caban videos do not go overly into detail on form, which is a drawback at first. It can be remedied by getting Brooke Siler's book and/or getting a few pointers from a Pilates trainer as I did. (Not a bad idea anyway, even for advanced users. I've heard that people sometimes come into studios having done Pilates for years thinking it was "easy"- and all along they'd gotten the form wrong so they were cheating!) In the end, once you've gotten the forms down, you want a video like this- one that will give you a solid workout with a minimum of fuss.
|