Pilates TV - Intermediate Pilates (DVD)

...frequent at the gym was pilates but work commitments made it more difficult to make the class so I decided to give the DVD a go. I think I paid about £10 on the internet.

Pilates is a way of toning your body whilst concentrating on breathing and relaxation. It is not a form of aerobic exercise, it is quite gentle. It can be enjoyed by all ages and there are variations on each movement and degrees of difficulty. It helps very much with ...
...chose the intermediate version of Pilates TV DVD.

I am not super fit but I enjoy maintaining a moderate fitness level by exercising afew times a week. When I first started pliates it took me afew sessions to really appreciate it, I must admit I did find it boring initially. I went for a little while and practiced all the movements at a basic level finding myself competent at these. We had a different instructor for afew weeks, she ... more

I have tried exercise DVD`s before and they are usually 5 minute wonders. It is with good intentions that I buy them and with great enthusiasm that I try them but then they take pride of place in my DVD collection not touched again for months. I am not lazy, I attend a gym and enjoy exercising but find it difficult sometimes to become motivated at home. One of the classes that I used to frequent at the gym was pilates but work commitments made it more difficult to make the class so I decided to give the DVD a go. I think I paid about £10 on the internet.

Pilates is a way of toning your body whilst concentrating on breathing and relaxation. It is not a form of aerobic exercise, it is quite gentle. It can be enjoyed by all ages and there are variations on each movement and degrees of difficulty. It helps very much with posture and alignment. The movements are very precise to ensure that the body is working correctly. It focuses on relaxing the mind at the same time as working the body. It is a slow form of exercise which some people find boring. You need to apply yourself, focus and concentrate on doing each movement well. Done correctly it will condition the muscles, tone and strengthen. I used to enjoy the classes at the gym but I would enjoy some more than others depending on the instructor. Some I felt that I could be working much harder, others I felt were at my level, this is why I chose the intermediate version of Pilates TV DVD.

I am not super fit but I enjoy maintaining a moderate fitness level by exercising afew times a week. When I first started pliates it took me afew sessions to really appreciate it, I must admit I did find it boring initially. I went for a little while and practiced all the movements at a basic level finding myself competent at these. We had a different instructor for afew weeks, she worked more at an intermediate level which some of the class found more difficult. I felt that I needed to work at that level which is why I selected the intermediate Pilates TV DVD.

The Pilates TV DVD has an introduction explaining about pilates. It explains also that the intermediate Pilates TV DVD is designed for those who have mastered the basics of pilates. The explanation at the begining is interesting. It is then possible to select which screen you would like meaning that you can either perform all of the exercises which last about 45 minutes or choses 1 of 4 screen selections which allow you do work for a shorter period of time whilst still maintaining maximum benefits. I liked this because when time is short you could exercise for 20 minutes as it is designed this way but when you have time you can do the whole thing. This is not the same as doing part of an exercise DVD and then stopping when you run out of time. It also means that you can work on the part of the body that you think most needs it.

Before you start the DVD you need to ensure that you have enough room to lie down and stretch out and you need some sort of mat, the best sort is a yoga or pilates mat. These are anti-slip and provide comfort for lying down. You may also need a small towel. Once you have all this and decided which screen to select, you are talked through the exercises whilst 3 women are doing them. It is easy to follow. The main woman at the front is the one talking and the other 2 are doing the same exercises but may also show easier alternatives if necessary. They say the name of each exercise so obviously the more you do, the easier it will become as you will not need to look as much at the screen. I find it very easy to follow. The thing that I paticularly like about this Pilates TV DVD is that there are not really any pauses. It is slow enough at the begining to explain everything to allow you to take it all in but once the exercises start, they all follow on. They are all done slowly enough to achieve maximum benefit as is important in Pilates but there are no boring pauses. I have tried other Pilates DVDs and have not found them as good due to having to wait and listen to find out what the next move is which can be very frustrating.

I would highly recommend the Pilates TV DVDs. I advise that anyone looking finds their own personal level and buys the DVD which corresponds to this. Many will need to start off on the Basic Pilates TV DVD if they do not already have a knowledge of Pilates. Those with experience can go straight to intermediate or even advanced. I find the Intermediate suits me the best, it really works my muscles. I do not think I would attempt the Advanced at the moment as I am gaining enough from the Intermediate but it is good to know that they are catering for all abilities. I would also advise beginers of Pilates to persevere if they find it boring initially like I did, you really need to give it a bit of time to learn how to use your muscles correctly. Also, anyone with any medical condition may need to consult their doctor first before embarking on the programme without supervison, in this situation I would advise joining a class as he instructor can suggest variations or advise against a certain exercise. I think that the Pilates TV DVD series is a good teacher of Pilates but it is up to the individual to work within their capabilities and know their own limitations to avoid injury.
 

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