| | |  | Videos | Home » » Pilates - Beginning Mat Workout | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | Pilates is a full-body conditioning exercise program that uses a series of machines and exercises. It works the entire body, both the right and left sides, in unison. It focuses primarily on what Joseph Pilates called the "powerhouse," the group of muscles that begins two inches above and below your navel, then wraps completely around your front and back--kind of like a corset. It also includes your buttocks. The DVD features the Pilates Beginning Mat Workout, plus a bonus workout and interview with instructor Ana Caban. | | | Features: | |
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| | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Ana Caban | | Format:
| Color, DVD, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Gaiam | | Run Time:
| 60 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| July 20, 2001 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 290 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 Ok, but not long enough or detailed enough for beginnerJul 29, 2010
I would say I'm reasonably fit and have been focusing more on cardio and strengthening. I needed to lose some weight a few years ago and have since lost 27lbs and am down to 112lbs, so thought this would be a good time to go back to Pilates, which I'd tried on and off, as I really need to strengthen my core due to recurring back issues. A friend recommended this DVD to me and I decided to give it a try as she'd had good results. I find Ana Caban to be OK, but her instructions and pace for someone who needs to get the techniques right is too fast and without enough details. It's like she's assuming that everyone can do a roll-up off the bat, and doesn't give helpful tips like anchoring your feet properly, etc. Also, the workout finishes in no time because of the fast pace, so I find myself doing the 12-minutes energy boost segment just to feel like I've had a decent workout. After using it for 2 weeks, I became a little frustrated and decided to give Pilates for Dummies with Michelle Dozois another try and realized that the instructions are more in-depth and she takes the time to show the moves slowly first and encourages you to only do as many as you're comfortable with first...I will go back to Ana Caban, but not until I've comfortably mastered the techniques and strengthened my core more.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Forced MarketingJun 29, 2010
I can't comment to the quality of the instruction as I couldn't bring myself to actually sit through the forced marketing in order to get to it. I've owned Gaiam DVDs before and have been frustrated that they force you to watch, at normal speed, their little marketing spiel with windmills and lots of "Gaiam" plastered all over the place. This DVD had four screens of excessive warnings (e.g., menstruating women shouldn't do inverted poses) that you can't fast forward through and then their typical marketing spiel. You can fast forward through the marketing spiel, but, if you do, the DVD will stop when it gets to the end and you have to start over. I would understand this forced marketing if the DVD were being given away for free, but, in fact, I paid a price similar to other exercise DVDs that don't have forced marketing. While I could put the DVD in, press play, and then go into another room until the forced marketing is concluded, I shouldn't have to do that. I'm returning the DVD and will never make the mistake of buying another Gaiam DVD.
works!Jun 17, 2010
I am a beginner of Pilates and this DVD was the first one I purchased. This workout's pace is slow enough and yet challenging enough for me. I can feel my powerhouse is working really hard during the exercise. I purchased Brooke Siler's "Pilates Weight Loss for beginners" DVD and alternate the workouts. Brooke Siler's DVD is slightly harder than this Ana Caban's DVD but both are effective and fun to practice.
As many other reviewers mentioned, the recording of the DVD is bad, but the content of the DVD is good so it is worth buying this!
 The BestMay 06, 2010
I also have the Pilates Intermediate Mat Workout. I like them because she really explains what you are doing and takes you thru the process. There is no loud music or scantly clad people jumping around. She gives clear directions even when you are upside down and can't see the screen.
The Pilates Beginning Mat Workout is harder then most other videos I've seen, and I have seen many. This is a good workout.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
not worth itApr 05, 2010
This routine was extremely short. I felt like I had just gotten started and it was over. I got this at target with the intermediate workout but I will be buying a different routine to work out with in the future.
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