Pilates is an excersize scheme that uses gentle movement and stretching to tone the body throughout. The muscles on the inside are particularly targeted.
Benefits of following a Pilates regime are a better posture, toned and streamlined muscles, better flexibility, a better sex life YIPEEEEE! ... Read review
No one wants to spend hours exercising - yet we all want results! Relaxing and remarkably ... more
effective, these three 25-minute Pilates workouts will create a calm oasis in your hectic schedule. Each exercise is designed to make the maximum use of your time by targeting the deep postural muscles, building strength from the inside out and re-balancing your muscles. This will give you the freedom to decide between one of the perfectly balanced workouts or to put them together for the ultimate weekly workout!The end result: A balanced body which is longer, leaner, toned and both supple and strong. No wonder it's the favourite exercise of movie stars and is backed by leading physiotherapists, osteopaths and sport physicians.Contents:- Introduction by Lynne RobinsonIntroduction: - The Three Fundamentals of Body Control Pilates - Alignment, Centring (Stabilising) and Breathing.Workout One: - Create a 'girdle of strength' by developing the deep stabilising abdominal muscles; breathing exercises, flexibility of the spine; toning of the arms and correcting upper body use.Workout Two: - Fabulous abdominal exercises, including the amazing 'Double Leg Stretch'; gentle stretches; mobility work; stabilising the shoulder blades; strengthening exercises for the buttocks and legs. Workout Three: - Exciting combinations of exercises that flow together to develop co-ordination skills; exercises to improve balance and sensory awareness - culminating in the best 'feel good' exercise ever - the 'Chalk Circle'.Relaxation: - After focusing on the movements of your body, your mind will be clear and you feel refreshed and revitalised. This wonderful relaxation is the perfect end to your workout session.Pilates works for all ages and all bodies, from the first-time exerciser to the top athlete, from sufferers of back pain to those that need release from stress. This programme is suitable for all and includes some advanced Pilates techniques.
Pilates Weekly Workouts - No one wants to spend hours exercising - yet we all want ... more
results! Relaxing and remarkably effective, these three 25-minute Pilates workouts will create a calm oasis in your hectic schedule.The Perfect Body - Step by step, you can change the way you look, the way you feel and the way you move. If you want a new body - reshaped, rebalanced and realigned - a body that is longer, leaner, more supple and yet with a hidden strength, then this DVD is for you.
"Pilates tackles the deep structural foundations of the body", explains instructor Lynne ... more
Robinson. "Every movement is performed slowly and with control, which means you can't cheat, and the end result is a body which is long and lean, supple and strong." This workout presents three 25-minute Pilates-based exercise sessions that aim to change the way you use your muscles. You can choose one to do each day, or put them together when you have the time and inclination for a long workout. Each movement emphasises the core muscles of the abdomen and back. You don't need any previous experience because the introduction shows you how to use these muscles through alignment, stabilising and breathing, and Robinson carefully instructs the nuances of every movement. The mood is quiet and controlled, similar to the concentration of yoga. Workout 1 emphasises creating a "girdle of strength", spinal flexibility, and arm and shoulder toning. Workout 2 keeps working on the stabilisation muscles, and adds buttocks, legs and feet. Workout 3 combines exercises and adds complexity for co-ordination, balance and sensory awareness. At the end is a relaxation sequence. Robinson is an excellent instructor: knowledgeable, mature, patient and clear. You will need a mat, ankle weights, light dumbbells, pole, towel, tennis ball and cushion. --Joan Price
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Advantages: A flexible excersize workout Disadvantages: You need a big enough floor space to really stretch out in
Pilates is an excersize scheme that uses gentle movement and stretching to tone the body throughout. The muscles on the inside are particularly targeted.
Benefits of following a Pilates regime are a better posture, toned and streamlined muscles, better flexibility, a better sex life YIPEEEEE! (this is because you work certain muscles around that area) and all round better health.
This DVD offers three 25 minute workouts ... ...bit once before you start Pilates - Lynne Robinson tells you about contacting your doctor first if you happen to have back injuries etc... )
Lynne uses some really good analagies to help you understand the message she is trying to convey...for example at one point she likens your body to a crane.... (you'll have to watch it to make sense of this bit!)
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
This is a very useful section that I recommend ... more
Pilates is an excersize scheme that uses gentle movement and stretching to tone the body throughout. The muscles on the inside are particularly targeted.
Benefits of following a Pilates regime are a better posture, toned and streamlined muscles, better flexibility, a better sex life YIPEEEEE! (this is because you work certain muscles around that area) and all round better health.
This DVD offers three 25 minute workouts that are equally balanced workouts in their own right. I like the flexibility of this DVD because you can combine two workouts to create a 50 minute excersize workout if you happen to have a bit more time on your hands.
The DVD comprises of : (these are the selections on the main menu)
HEALTH ADVICE (you only need to watch this bit once before you start Pilates - Lynne Robinson tells you about contacting your doctor first if you happen to have back injuries etc... )
Lynne uses some really good analagies to help you understand the message she is trying to convey...for example at one point she likens your body to a crane.... (you'll have to watch it to make sense of this bit!)
BEFORE YOU BEGIN This is a very useful section that I recommend you watch BEFORE you begin (as the title suggests) Lynne Robinson explains very comprehensively the basis of Pilates - Your positioning, and breathing, and spinal alignment. You also learn how to 'zip up and hollow' - if you don't know how to do that when you try the excersizes, you won't get far!!!!
It is essential that you watch this section to get a basic understanding of how Pilates works, and also to make sure you perform all excersizes safely - there is no point doing any Pilates excersize unless it is done properly.
Lynne Robinson uses a very clear pretend skeleton of the spine and pelvic bones to show spinal alignment - I thought this section was very effectively conveyed.
She also shows how to find the natural neutral position of your body. She uses her own body to demonstrate this next to the pretend skeleton.
A brief mention is made to Josef Pilates (the founder of Pilates) but not much history is given. This is a shame becuase it is really quite an interesting story.
Lynne also explains about the different muscle groupings in the torso - this is vital to understand - and luckily it is explained extremely clearly and effectively. (another of her great analagies is used here!)
PLAY EXCERSIZES This will start you at the beginning of workout 1
SELECT EXCERSIZES This is the most useful feature of the DVD - it shows you a list of all of the excersizes - they have funny names like 'dumb waiter' which helps you to remember the ones you like.
They are also categorised into the three workouts, so you could select a workout to play, and it will take you to the beginning of your selected workout - I always use this feature because I like to mix and match my workouts according to what type of workout I feel like that day!
However if you fancied doing only arm excersizes for example you could do that using this feature too.
****************************************************** What equipment will I need....?
You will need an excersize matt, a cushion, a tennis ball, a pole, a towel, hand and leg weights. These can all be bought specially for pilates, or you can get crafty and follow Lynnes suggestions at making your own.
Me.... I get by with a tin of baked beans, a blanket on the floor, and my husbands fishing rod for the pole.
The beauty of Pilates is that anyone can do it - young, old, fit, unfit. You really can adapt the excersizes, and push your self as far as you need to.... Lynne Robinson has a very clear voice and no strong accent so she is always easy to understand. She has a few favourite terms with 'zip up and hollow' 'soften your breastbone' beingthe most prolific. But if you watched the 'before you begin' section you wil understand these terms no probs! It is almost like a very simple code... or a ciao abbreviation such as VH, LOL, COT or GB - once you know em - reading reviews is easy!!!
I understood every excersize and did not find any of the excersizess difficult to complete.
1. buy this DVD - you'll make a saving on going to classes
2. get a Pilates kit together - baked bean tins, towels, comfy stretchy clothes, hubbies fishing rod etc and keep the whole lot in one place. I keep mine in the cabinet underthe TV, so now when we run out of Baked beans, my husband knows exactly where he can find them (shame... must find a new hiding place for my pilates kit!!!!)
3. Stick with it and you'll notice changes in your posture, tone, fitness and health almost immediately. You'll also feel very smug about being a couple of inches taller - esp if you are a short ass like me.
Pilates is not the be all and end all though, I would also recommend that this excersize regime should be combined with a more athletic excersize such as running, cyclingorswimming - you need to get yourself out of breath as well as stretching those muscles.
Advantages: Well explained and well demonstrated exercises Disadvantages: Can't think of any
I have a rather large collection of exercise DVDs and this is one that I keep going back to over and over again (the other pilates DVD favourite is Body Control, the Pilates Way which I also highly recommend).
This DVD contains 3 workouts which can be easily mixed and matched. I follow the DVD 3 times a week and only do 2 of the 3 workouts at a time, this means that I'm getting a little variety into my workouts and am at less risk of giving up due to boredom - hopefully this would work for you too!
I've kept going with this DVD for 2 years and have noticed definite improvements (I found that if you keep going you'll notice big improvements at the 3 week, 4 month and 8 month marks).
As with all the Lynne Robinson pilates DVDs the exercises are well explained, well demonstrated and the sequences well thought out. Where necessary ...
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