Pilates/Yoga for Any Body

I got this in the mail yesterday and popped it in immediately as I was curious about the Pilates for Anybody's award-winning status. Since there are 2 workouts (the Pilates, and the Pilates/Yoga), it comes a single DVD, but double-sided. To give a bit of my background, I have been taking Pilates home video exercises for about 6-7 months, and I like the Stott pilates series as well as Suzanne Bowen's 10 Minute Solutions Pilates workouts.As another reviewer noted, Pilates for Anybody moves along pretty slowly, but very precisely and she explains where you should be feeling it, and what you shouldn't do. It really helps with body awareness and alignment and placement, and the camera work is good because different angles show exactly how the body should look. Her imagery is pretty on-spot, and there are nifty arrows on screen pointing to the direction you should go, as well as an occasional pop-up small screen showing what you should NOT do. She has a very kind presence and sweet voice, and her style is more explanatory than instructive, which I like. The screen is all in white, but the white looks classy and 3-dimensional, not like some tacky space with white carpets and white screens at the backdrop. This whiteness is seamless, almost like it's computerised.I really wish that I had the Pilates for Anybody workout when I started out, because now it's a little too slow and easy for me. It is broken up into the different parts of the body: upper torso, lower, core etc (not in that order). I only fully did the upper torso portion. It has very good back-muscle isolating exercises, all without the use of weights - which is good as I feel too many instructors rely on weights to train and tone. She does say you can opt to use weights, but that you are then sacrificing flexibility training. Towards the end of the upper torso workout, she went into a brief plank workout but it seems more geared for older women - she goes into a plank and immediately rolls back into a child's pose, then repeats it many times. Other workout videos I have done, like Stotts Pilate's sunrise workout which is a level one, would have you go into a plank, then do 8 push-ups, so this is relatively more light-weight.I checked out the other portions of the video and it seems that she does classic pilates exercises but slightly modified. I haven't fully tried the Yoga/Pilates DVD but did select a 'flexibility' option on the menu and caught the first 5 minutes. It seems like a modified sun salutation. Overall, I'm impressed with the quality of production and the clarity of her explanations and cues. I do think this is terrific for beginners to Pilates and for those who require modified exercises for whatever reasons. For me, I have just found my light-morning wake-up workout. It's also so gentle/ light that I don't have think I can find excuses to skip this workout on the days I'm feeling lazy and blah! Hope this helps.

I really like the workouts on this DVD, equal attn is given to Yoga & Pilates....the only con for me is the instructor moves a bit fast ....for someone like myself, just starting out, I had to pause the DVD several times to be able to move into & out of the postures at the correct pace and still keep up with what the instructor was doing. That being said, the more you do the DVD the more you get used to the routine.

Yes - as another reviewer pointed out, the cover photo is misleading. Theresa Borgen is a real woman who is sharing the culmination of her life work in teaching Pilates for the benefit of people of all ages.This is the most beautifully filmed workout video I have seen. It received the Aurora Award and Award of Distinction for Videography, and is a true pleasure to watch and follow. With no visual clutter, you can fully focus on the actual graceful movements, and a great soothing coaching voice (Borgen's) to help you tune into your muscles and your position make this pretty close to having your own pilates instructor leading you through the progression of the postures and deeper refinement of the movements.If you're looking for a fast-paced aerobics or kick-boxing routine, this is definitely not the one for you. But if you want to locate, stretch, move and develop your core and all upper and lower body parts with some class and elegance, no matter what shape you start out in, I would surely recommend this one.Like another reviewer, I am also a horse rider, where balance and subtlety in the use of our bodies is very important. I love this video, and its companion "Pilates Yoga" for the gentle, yet challenging and invigorating workouts they provide.

Just celebrated my 65th birthday this past summer and had been doing this routine for about 5 years then quit while traveling for 3 months 2 years ago; didn't get back to it until this past summer after injuring my back (ouch) AND was having flexor muscle pain/problems in my hip so I decided to start up again. I love it as much as I did 2 years ago! After 2 weeks I'm almost pain-free in the hip (also added rolling on a foam roller to focus on the hip problem) . It's the perfect workout for anyone beginning or older (like me) or a person who needs a gentle, reassuring program. I used to do the Margaret Richards bouncy routines until high impact became an issue for my joints. I am the envy of people much younger than I when they see how flexible (and strong) I am at my age. An added "thank-you", Theresa, for teaching us how to focus on breathing properly throughout the routines. I'm one of those people who "forget" to breathe when they tense up or focus on other issues...your constant gentle reminders are SO appreciated. The cool down is also a good discipline for the "kangaroo" in me that wants to just hop up and move on to the next item on my agenda!! Bless you!

The exercises are spot on and we actually feel and see a difference (my family and I)! This truly is a Yoga/Pilates video anyBODY can use - we love it!

This is my current favorite workout! I have been doing this workout once or twice a week, alternating with cycling, weight lifting and standing pilates, and I feel a definite improvement in core strength, upper body strength and flexibility. If you really try to perform the exercises as instructed - instructions given in an encouraging and sweet manner - you will become more fit. The workout is broken up into warm up, torso focus, lower body focus, upper body focus and cool down. I find that if I do the warm up, and three focus sessions I get a thorough workout that makes me work hard and tones my body. Theresa is an older person than the cover of this DVD lends you to believe, and I was so glad because I'm middle-aged and can better relate to her than the cover blonde. I wish Theresa would do more videos as I love her instruction!

Ich habe die DVD für wenige Euro erworben. Nachdem ich das Cover gesehen habe (Bei meiner Ausgabe eine bauchfreie Frau, die die Arme in den Himmel streckt), habe icherwartet, dass zwar Pilates draufsteht, aber wohl eher Cardio-Training mit nervigen Motivatoren gebotenwerden wird.Meine Erwartung wurde "Gott Lob" nicht erfüllt.Theresa Borgren bietet ruhiges, nicht von nerviger Musik oder Motivationssprüchen begleitetes Pilates. Die Übungen gliedern sichin drei Teile :* Übungen für Torso* Übungen für den Unterkörper* Übungen für den OberkörperDie Übungen werden in einem Warm Up vorbereitet, indem in den Mustern des Warm Ups einzelne Übungen des des Hauptteils enthalten sind.Der Abschluss wird von einer liegenden Körpermemditation, wie im Yoga, gebildet.Die Übungen werden in einem weißen Raum vorgeführt. Theresa Borgrens trägt Lila und verwendet keine Matte, so das die Übungen leicht nachzuvollziehen sind.Während des Trainings werden zu vermeidende Fehlhaltungen eingeblendet und diese auch beschrieben.Die Übungen werden langsam durchgeführt, man kommt wenig ins Schwitzen, dennoch sind die Übungen anstrengend.Am Besten hat mir der Übungsteil Oberkörper gefallen, denn die Übungen werden im Schneidersitz durchgeführt, was mir "unflexiblen Knochen" alles abverlangt hat.Fazit: Das DVD - Cover lässt unter Umständen etwas anderes erwarten. Die DVD ist für alle geeignet die ruhiges Pilates , bzw. bewusste gymnastische Übungen machen wollen. Nicht geeignet für jemand der sich an die Fitness-Leistungsgrenze bringen möchte.Die Aufmachung und Darbietung der Übungen sticht nach meiner Meinung aus dem Masse heraus.Ich konnte die DVD + die DVD Yoga - For Anybody bei Amazon zusammen für 2,5o Euro erwerben. Das hat mich auch überrascht. Normalerweise erwarte ich diese Qualität nicht in diesem (wenn auch Secondhand) Preissegment.

I love love love this dvd.I was initially put off by the front picture of a young woman with no body fat and perfect abdominal tone, but the reviews were positive so I bought the dvd.Theresa Borgren gives excellent instruction, encouragement, and body cues in this exceptional beginner pilates workout. It feels as though she is talking just to me, encouraging me every step of the way in a gentle manner.I have some health issues, and this level is perfect for me, and will continue to be one of my favorite exercise programs for a long time to come.

Fast delivery. Content is good for any body, as it said. A good buy. We are very happy with this purchase. Thanks!

I bought two CDs.One of them does not work properly

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