Features

• VHS
• 87 minute DVD, each workout is approximately 20 minutes
• Improves posture so you move with more balance & grace
• Improve strength and flexibility
• Relieve tension and stress for a feeling of mind/body centeredness
• Flattens and strengthens abdominals

Features

• Color

Features

• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC
• Imagine your body, no matter its shape having the posture, lightness and elegance of a dancer
• Zero in on your abdominals, strengthen your back and learn to breathe from this "powerhouse" area of the body from which all movement should begin
• 50-minute floorwork routine, you'll concentrate on keeping your abdominals flat as you flex them throughout various movements
• You'll alternate abdominal sculpting with simple back-strengthening and stretching moves to create a more balanced and stable center
• Add this workout to your regular strength-training regime and you'll create more power from the inside out, stand taller and develop a longer, leaner silhouette

Reviews (10)

Good for strengthening back & abs
This is a good workout if you are looking to focus on your back and abs.As someone who works out regularly, I would not choose this as my everyday routine.It is a good addition to help add variety to your workouts.I have back problems due to an accident and I find that if I don't use this on a regular basis, I can detect a decline in my overall back strength.This is one of my favorite workouts but that is largely due to the fact that I specifically have to target train my back and abs. This workout left me feeling GREAT!
First of all, I want to note that although this workout is now being advertised as "Pilates: Abdominals & Back," it was originally packaged under the name "Body Reform: Abdominals & Back."This 44-minute, all-floor routine is a blend of Pilates, yoga, and traditional abs and back work.You'll find some classic Pilates moves such as the hundred and single leg circles, but many of the exercises are done with a twist--eg, modified corkscrew and modified teasers.Similarly, instructor Karen Voight incoporates movement into traditionally static yoga poses such as bridge and boat pose, and finally, she includes crunches and back work.The result is a smooth, flowing routine that will leave your entire body feeling thoroughly stretched and relaxed.
Pilates-based
This video is not for the Pilates purist.This is for someone who wants to thoroughly strengthen and stretch through the torso.Unlike more traditional intermediate Pilates workouts, this is not a total body workout.Your legs and arms get some stretch, but not a lot by way of strength.Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness    2. Fitness/Self-Help    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Fitness/Self-Help    2. Foreign    3. Foreign Film - Spanish/Misc Sa    4. Movie   

Editorial Review

"Pilates tackles the deep structural foundations of the body," explainsinstructor Lynne 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 andlean, supple and strong." This workout presents three 25-minute Pilates-basedexercise sessions that aim to change the way you use your muscles. You canchoose one to do each day, or put them together when you have the time andinclination for a long workout. Each movement emphasizes the core muscles of theabdomen and back. You don't need any previous experience because theintroduction shows you how to use these muscles through alignment, stabilizing,and breathing, and Robinson carefully instructs the nuances of every movement.The mood is quiet and controlled, similar to the concentration of yoga.Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (16)

True Pilates Method -- for body control (contrology) & correct muscle recruitment - *not* just for beginners
As an American living in the UK, I am amazed at the different styles of teaching pilates by teachers from around the world. Lynne Robinson was a history teacher and a "mum" (as they say in the UK) of three kids with severe headaches and back trouble who was turned on to pilates by her osteopath. 20 years later and she's the world's leading pilates instructor -- yet she is hardly known in the USA.That's a shame. The Body Control Pilates method she helped to found (along with other long-time pilates teachers in London from the world of dance) is incredible.
It's for body control, not a hulking work out
I've used this DVD for the intention of unwinding, streaching out and centering.I don't expect to get a super fat burning workout from this dvd.It's perfect for in the morning if your back or neck is stiff.It's very controlled and meant for beginners, people with injuries, or people with medical conditions that keeps them from doing all out, break your neck, pilates moves such as the "jacknife".So don't bash it if you didn't get sweaty doing it...that's not it's purpose.

Disappointing
Well, I agree with a lot of the comments people had here, one thing that wasn't brought up was that the flow from exercise to exercise wasn't there. One minute, she's doing a standing routine, the next second, she's on the floor and doing the next exercise. I found that quite distracting and unhelpful. The best Pilates workout video is Winsor pilates. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness    2. Fitness    3. Fitness/Self-Help    4. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness    2. Fitness/Self-Help    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

tough workout, good mix of pilates and yoga
This tape is an interesting blend of yoga and pilates. It is definitely more yoga than pilates, but they do work in some good core exercises. I gave it four stars because I got tired of the teacher's (PJ O'Claire) constant comments, but I know that her commentary and instruction will really help beginners. Overall, this is a great vinyasa flow workout that that will leave you sweating. I think tape is good for beginners as well as intermediate yoga and pilates lovers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness    2. Fitness/Self-Help    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Fitness    2. Special Interests   

Features

• Color
• Digital Sound
• Full Screen
• NTSC

Reviews (10)

I love this workout.
My baby is 6 months old and I am still trying to get back into shape.I am a swimmer without the time to swim now, and this Pilates video is the only exercise that I've ever found to almost replace swimming.It moves quickly and gets my blood moving, while challenging my abdominal and leg muscles.It is intense but goes so quickly that it's more energizing than draining.I am excited to find a workout that doesn't aggrevate my bad knee and shoulder, and that requires little gear.
Good Pilates, but not tailored for post-pregnancy
This video is perfectly good as a normal Pilates workout, but it does not seem to be tailored at all for after pregnancy.Melinda does not suggest any variations for women with abdominal wall separation or C-section (though there is a small section at the end of the video of exercises that can be done in bed after a C-section, the one pregnancy-oriented section of the video).The primary workout seems quite rigorous for immediately post-birth, especially with no modifications suggested.The intro says that this workout should not be done until at least 4-6 weeks postpartum, which makes sense given its rigor.But then the cover shows a perfectly skinny Melinda, with the headline, "Look at her now!... Just 8 weeks after Melinda gave birth..."Has perfectly skinny, toned Melinda really only been doing her workout for two weeks?I was looking for a video which would show me a gradual way back to fitness, with appropriate modifications, and this video does not do it at all.I began my pregnancy extremely strong (I'm a professional dancer), but I have abdominal wall separation, and I need a sensible, gradual way to get my strength back, not a full-on Pilates workout with a video cover that claims that a perfect body can be had in a couple of weeks after recovery.

Melinda Bryan Knows Her Stuff!!
This video is amazing and works immediately!I was not a workout fanatic after I had my baby and was hoping the pounds and inches would fall off by themselves.It didn't happen, so I tried this video-under 20 minutes, no sweating, and only 3 times a week!I found it to work after only 4 times.BEWARE-it is doing more than you think, and I even overdid it one time.Thanks Melinda!I feel and look great! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fitness    2. Fitness/Self-Help    3. Movie    4. Special Interests   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Delivers what it promises--a nice abs-focused Pilates practice in a short amount of time
For some reason, 15-minute Pilates programs seem to be a rarity--there are plenty of practices in the 20-25 minute range, but the shorter offerings are generally 10 minutes each. At exactly 15 minutes, Noelle's Focus on Abs allows you to work the abs a bit more deeply while still being quick and efficient.
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Subjects:  1. Fitness    2. Special Interests   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Fitness    2. Special Interests   

Features

• Dolby
• NTSC

Reviews (4)

Pilates Golf DVD doesn't work
The money would be better spent on a beer after the round of golf than for this product.The movements are gone through too quickly and are not explained nearly well enough.

Golf and pilates
Good excercise but too fast to follow for a beginner

Improvements in strength and flexibility
The exercises presented in this DVD are very useful in building strength and flexibility and if practiced regularly will enhance fitness. While it is difficult to correlate between regular Pilates sessions and any improvement in golf scores, it certainly brings benefits in stamina and most especially in post-round recovery. I have personally found a significant reduction in post-round stiffness and tiredness as a result of regular Pilates work.
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Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. Fitness/Self-Help    3. Health/Nutrition    4. Movie    5. Sports   

Features

• Color
• Digital Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Pilates Challenge
Diane Ramirez takes Pilates to an entirely new level. If you have made it through workouts by Karen Voight and Jennifer Kries, you are ready for Diane Ramirez. She has created one of the most challenging Pilates workouts I've ever tried and she increases the intensity by using a ball and exercise band. Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness    2. Fitness    3. Fitness/Self-Help    4. Movie    5. Special Interests   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness    2. Fitness/Self-Help    3. Movie   

Features

• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Fitness/Self-Help    2. Movie   

Features

• Box set
• Color
• NTSC
• Extra-cushioned for stable support
• Includes Pilates mat, Energy Boost workout video and DVD
• Pilates mat dimensions 1/4Hx24Wx68D”

Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness   

Features

• Box set
• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness   

Features

• Box set
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (20)

very little instruction
I was not impressed with this DVD set.I scanned each video and found it very difficult to follow along with the exercises when you have to keep twisting your head to look at the TV so you know where you are and what stage of the exercise you should be doing.The fast pace really wasn't the trouble, it was the lack of instruction.Truly, I think this could have been so much better by using cues, reminders (breathe, belly in, etc) and analogies to complement the workout.Actual teaching!For all the hype of how fabulous Romana is as an instructor, I was sorely let down with this production.It looks like she's great to work with in person, appearing to be a very kinesthetic (teaching/learning by feel & touch) instructor. But that's why others are involved in the production of these DVD's - to make sure the communication makes it across to the viewers.That's why I buy DVD's to workout with and not a book.

Bloated presentation, lots of duplication on the 4 DVD's
Real interesting footage, but I'm just BARELY glad I bought all 4 DVD's, since there's LOTS of duplication among the 4 discs. The amount of unique content on one DVD out of the four is as little as 12 minutes or so.In other words, all this content could have been placed on one or two DVD's, not FOUR.Just so you know.
Beginner Pilates Student/Beware Negative Reviews
I am a beginner Pilates Student.I take my classes by a certified Pilates trainer who trained and now teaches Pilates at Romana's studio at Dragos in NYC.She was taught and certified by Romana.I bought these DVD's as soon as they came out and before there were any reviews.I am shocked as I now come back to this site to purchase another set for a giftand see all of the negative reviews of this set of DVD's.
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Subjects:  1. Exercise/Fitness    2. Fitness    3. Fitness/Self-Help    4. Gift Set    5. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (7)

Not What It Could Be
For over thirty years I've taken lessons from Romana's students, and sometimes from Romana herself. I've often watched Romana teach. She is a wonderful person. This video unfortunately does not live up to Romana's greatness. What's strange is that Romana only teaches a little bit. So, it's really not an instructional video. In addition, the exercise titles, which cover the entire screen, interrupt the exercises themselves so it's hard to feel a sense of flow. The demonstrators look great but there are some obvious mistakes recorded on video.

Still Inspired
I'm the granddaughter of Romana Kryzanowska, and I've been surprised by a few of the not so favorable reviews some folks have issued here.I think this video series is great, if you're a beginner and have not had much exposure to the Pilates method, then this is a great way to start the learning process and have something you can follow at home.From what I can tell, many individuals who possess more experience with Pilates than the average person or are instructors by trade have very lofty expectations and are looking for a video product that will help them learn more advanced exercises or become better Pilates teachers.Simply put, these folks are missing the boat; with the exception of the Mat Challenge Workout video, this series is geared towards beginners or folks who are new to Pilates, not certified instructors or experienced students.As my grandmother tells you at the very begging of each video, this series wasn't designed to replace a private lesson with an instructor, let alone a seminar of any kind.This is because you can?t put your hands on someone or adapt to their specific body type or ensure the student is applying the appropriate rhythm and dynamics on tape like you can in person.Also, the vast majority of Pilates exercises should be learned and practiced under the direct supervision of a certified instructor, otherwise individuals can take on unnecessary risk when trying to work out at home.While later videos may focus on more advanced pieces of Pilates equipment and exercises for more experienced Pilates students and teachers, this series does not.My grandmother has always been reserved about providing instruction through video, for one simple reason...SAFETY.As a result, her video series takes into account beginners are most likely to buy and use videos; therefore Safety was the primary driver of the exercises that were selected and taught in the first series.If you?re new to Pilates, buy it and begin your Pilates journey in a safe manner, while learning more about Joseph Pilates and Romana Kryzanowska in the documentary; experienced instructors and students get yourselves to the studio and take a lesson with a certified instructor.

Oh Well...
This video has good old timey footage of Joseph Pilates teaching Romana. They are both very inspiring. This archival film is probably the best part of the video, because the workouts seemed under practiced. The workouts didn't flow smoothly and strongly with confidence and style. I felt inspired to continue my Pilates practice, but I wasn't sufficiently instructed about what I should do or feel during the exercises.Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. Exercise/Fitness    3. Fitness    4. Fitness/Self-Help    5. Movie