20 Responses

1. Great for Beginners and Everyday Workout

   March 16th, 2009

   This dvd is manageable for the absolute beginner and someone who wants a daily workout. There are 2 girls to follow in the dvd, one who modifies the workout, so when you are just beginning you can complete the workout. The other gal does the full range of motion workout, so when you are feeling strong and ready to do it you transition to watching her. It is a great core workout and I rotate between this and a walking routine/dvd “walk away the pounds”.

2. Beginner Pilates

   March 16th, 2009

   This is a great Pilates workout. Even though it is a beginner level it moves at a good pace and provides detailed instruction on proper form and breathing. You definitely need a mat but other than that no equipment is required.

3. Good introduction for novices

   March 16th, 2009

   I purchsed this DVD to supplement my gym workouts (bodybuilding) and to expand on some of the core strengthening exercises I had been doing on my own. I had never done any formal Pilates before and I found Ana Caban’s instructions to be clear and easy to follow. She is upbeat without being overly “chirpy” or cutesy. The “modified” (i.e. easier) demo is very helpful, especially for someone like me who is pretty inflexible. I don’t find the exercises to be too challenging, strengh-wise, but I do know that I am sweating by the end of the 20 minute workout. The pace feels too fast the first few times you’re doing the routine but once you develop some familiarity w/ the moves, it feels just right. One of the best feature of this DVD is the Bonus 12 minute Pilates routine that follows the basic routine. It moves along at a faster pace yet is easy to follow. I do this immediately following the the basic routine for a 30 minute workout.

4. Great intro to pilates

   March 16th, 2009

   This is a great beginners pilate dvd. My only complaint was that I wish there were more work outs on this. There is only 1 main work out of 25 min, then a 10 min power boost. Both are really good, but I just wish there were more options on the dvd. The instructor is excellent – the only one that doesn’t annoy me out of all the pilates videos I have done.

5. Just what the doctor ordered

   March 26th, 2009

   My doctor had me go to physical therapy for back pain caused by degenerative bone disease. The PT did a great job short term and for long term treatment recommended a really boring set of daily exercises. She stated they could be replaced with Pilates as the purpose was to strengthen the core of the body and thus take strain off the back. Fancy versions of Pilates were not necessary – just the basic moves developed by Joseph Pilates. That is the beauty of this program. It works great and is suited to beginner or intermediate levels.

6. A nice introduction to basic pilates moves but...

   April 2nd, 2009

   You would benefit from in-person training with an experienced Pilates trainer to fully understand some of the movements that Ana explains. Ana explains the basics of proper form well, but she speaks a little too quickly sometimes, and people who are totally new to Pilates may find themselves rewinding every now and then to listen to what she just said or to get another view of the movement she’s demonstrating. It is a good idea to rewind if you do not understand something Ana says\demonstrates because if you do not use proper form, you can end up either not getting the full benefit of the exercise or straining your back. I bought this DVD for my girlfriend who is looking to get in shape this year. She is a beginner, but with some rewinding and my help (I’ve been part of a Pilates Mat Class for 3 months now), she was able to make it through most of the workout on her first try. After repeated viewings of Ana’s videos and adding cardio to our exercise regimen, my lady and I look forward to making significant progress over the next 3-4 months.

7. Tough but doable

   April 26th, 2009

   This is a tough work-out that will leave you perspiring. I would not consider some of the exercises for beginners, such as the corkscrew, but overall this is a good workout and accessible for anyone in reasonably good shape. Also, the more you do pilates, the easier it becomes as you develop core strength. I don’t give this workout 4 or 5 stars because some of the essential back strengthening exercises, such as swimming, rising swan etc., are missing. Also, I think the breathing cues are reversed on some exercises with Caban telling you to inhale when you should be exhaling. I also take issue with the her lack of emphasis on starting the curve in your lumbar spine in spine-stretch forward. But as I said, it is overall a good workout and I like Caban’s cues and emphasis on form better than many others.

8. not a five for only one reason

   July 2nd, 2009

   The reason is that she explains thing very well and takes her time, but after the 20th time doing the video your like come on just do it. Other then that I got the video after a tummy tuck to help my muscles get strong, and it worked wonders. I went from barely able to sit up from a laying down position (like a turtle on its back) to some very strong abs, with compliments after just 3 weeks of 3 days a week. I recommend to any one.

9. Ouch!! Lower back problems!!

   July 2nd, 2009

   I did this video once and experienced horrible lower back pain that had me out of work and laying on a heating pad for almost 2 full days!! I would like to point out I am a dancer and have experience with pilates and yoga as well, I am not an inexperienced exerciser or out of shape. I have other pilates videos that are way better than this like 10 minute solutions pilates perfect body which is challenging but doesn’t put the user at risk of back injury like this one does. This is not a beginners workout, its the worst workout video I own and I am putting it in the trash where it belongs. I would give it zero stars if I could!!

10. Happy with purchase!

    July 3rd, 2009

    I was pleased with the prompt shipment of the Pilates DVD I purchased. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone who is thinking of making a purchase.

11. Don't Waste Your Money

    September 2nd, 2009

    I have been doing Yoga for a few years and wanted to try pilates as I have heard they are a great compliment to yoga. I decided on this video because it had decent reviews, I wish I hadn’t. The quality of the video was pretty unimpressive and reminded me of a late nice cable access show bad graphics and all. Also, it wasn’t challenging at all. There weren’t enough reps to really do anything; I felt nothing. Another problem is that if you are a beginner, there is not enough instruction and you can hurt yourself. I assume the breathing is similar to yoga, so I didn’t have a problem, but if you didn’t have either as a background this DVD would not be a benefit to you and may even hurt yourself. I have to say this was a huge disappointment, I should have read more of the negative reviews and less of the positive. This is going straight for sale, if I can even sell it…

12. Not sure what to think...

    September 2nd, 2009

    I bought this DVD because of all the great reviews. I just recieved it today and tried it. The exercises were very easy to do. Also the cover does not look like the same cover from amazon when I ordered it so it makes me wonder if I’ve recieved the correct one. I’ve been using the 10 minute solution by Laura Hudson but read that it wasn’t real pilates and that this DVD by Ana Caban was the real thing so I decided to try hers. I’ve found that every exercise Ana does in hers is also in the 10 minute solution by Laura Hudson but the 10 minute solution gives far more instructions on how to breathe and how to preform each exercise. Plus the recording is far more superior than Ana Caban’s version. There are no arm exercises on Ana’s but Laura has a section for each section of the body. One for the abs, one for the buns and thighs and one for the arms. She also has a 10 minutes solution for burning extra calories and another one for flexibility. I really like the 10 minutes solution and plan on using it from now on.

13. for beginning..

    September 14th, 2009

    i guess this is finefor a beginner, but it was soooo boring to work out to.

14. Awesome DVD

    September 16th, 2009

    I would give it a 5 except the recording is a little crappy. There are spots where the colors flash from black and white back to color. I have this both on VHS and DVD so it is the actual program that is filmed this way not just a mistake that happened while recording from the master. I did this program a couple of times a week while recovering from back/shoulder/neck injuries. It really helped with my back and I also happened to lose a decent amount of weight when I combined it with more mindful eating.

15. I do the beginning mat workout following my regular workout

    October 9th, 2009

    I love this video. I do it almost every day following the 30 day shred (which doesn’t have a great cool down/stretch). It gives me time to stretch my body thoroughly, breathe deeply, and basically feel in tune with myself. I am new to pilates and never took any kind of dance, so the beginning mat workout was perfect for me. The instructions are clear, the moves are basic, and Ana has a soothing and calm voice. It is very low impact, so you don’t have to worry about injuring yourself. I would recommend this video to anyone who is interested in pilates. In the last month since I started doing this, I have definitely noticed a change in my core and my inner thighs. I have much more abdominal strength than before. I am usually doing pilates when my boyfriend comes home from work, so he makes fun of me for all of the rolling around on the floor, especially “the seal”. Despite the teasing, I love doing these stretches and will probably be moving on to an intermediate mat workout soon.

16. great for the inflexible beginner

    October 27th, 2009

    I really like this dvd. It was recommended to me by a pilates instructor. It goes at a nice slow pace. She demonstrates the more advanced and the beginner version. I was able to do most of the moves because I had a choice of how much to push myself. It’s 20 minutes and I really felt it in my abs. There’s another workout on this dvd but I’m not at that level yet.

17. This is a great workout.

    November 24th, 2009

    This is a great workout. I have tried out 5 another pilates video and all of them were boring, too long or not easy to follow instructions. This is the first video that I fell in love with. Actual workout takes just 20-25 minutes so I can do it on mornings before going to work. It’s just one thing I did not like about this workout: I feel like I need more belly exercise. So after doing this workout I also do belly exercises for 5 additional minutes.

18. Pilates - Beginning Mat Workout

    November 29th, 2009

    Very happy with the quick delivery and comparable price! Just the workout I was looking for.

19. Boring

    December 28th, 2009

    I bought this dvd and was really disappointed with it. I used it two or three times, but I was so bored by the slow pace and “relaxed” setting that I gave up on it. I guess it would be good for someone looking to slow down and take the stress off, but I have enough trouble getting motivated that I don’t need something putting me to sleep!

20. Authentic

    January 15th, 2010

    I have taken Pilates classes for a few years. My instructor is very traditional. She studied at the studio in New York under a woman who was a protege of Joseph Pilates. This is the only beginning Pilates DVD she recommends. I use it occasionally between classes, just to reinforce the basics. It is very true to what I have learned from my instructor.