10 Minute Solution: Pilates

I bought this to add to my DVD workout collection. I rotate through the DVDs. I completed these workouts on my busy workday mornings. Great workout that didn't take too much time!

This is a great, great pilates workout dvd. It features 5 10 minute sections which can be done alone or combined in any order you choose to create 20, 30, 40 or 50 minute workouts. The customization of your workout is a nice touch. In addition to choosing which segments you do you can also choose the order to do them in. I typically do all 5 at once, but it's nice knowing I have this option on days I don't have as much time.This is really my kind of workout. I felt the burn for the entire 50 minutes but not to the point where I felt discouraged or like I had to stop. It was a nice, achievable challenge. The 5 segments focus on abs/core, thighs/hips/glutes, arms/shoulders/upper back, cardio/all over toning, and stretching. Each section really works at all of your muscles in that area and the instructor keeps it moving from one exercise to the next. The instructor is really wonderful. She gives excellent cuing and has a very natural, approachable personality. Not at all fake, overly peppy or too demanding. She reminds you how to breathe and what to focus on throughout the exercises, which I found helpful.The ab section features a nice variety of exercises and the instructor focuses a lot on proper form and keeping the lower back safe, versus other dvds that I feel can try to push you to the point where you put the lower back at risk. The thighs/hips/glutes section was very effective and featured a nice side kicks and circles series. The arms section uses light weights and gets at all the muscles in your arms, shoulders, chest and upper back. She switches between weight work and stretching throughout the workout. The cardio/all over toning section is a little difficult to follow at first only because it's constantly flowing and moves somewhat quickly in order to get your heart rate up. I didn't have much trouble following along but it probably would have been helpful to watch through first. This section was not your standard cardio. There was no jumping, jogging in place, or dancing around. Instead it uses a constant flow of movement, stretches and strengthening. The constant movement elevates your heart rate, never leaving you out of breath but still working your cardiovascular system. I was surprised to find that by the end of this 10 minutes I did feel as though I got a good cardio workout, even though it was not something I would have necessarily thought would do so. The stretching segment was a good overall stretch that isolated most of the muscles in the body, with extra focus on areas of the leg and back. There were some different stretches included that I had never seen before and worked very well. I found myself still stretching afterward, but 10 minutes is just not enough for me. That's one of the nice things about this dvd... the instructor has many standard pilates exercises included (the hundred, roll ups, leg circles, teaser, etc.) but also some unique moves and stretches that were new to me. It was nice to see something different that still fit in with the pilates workout.I am a big fan of shorter workouts on one dvd, and doing them all in one workout. This is one of the best I've found. As a whole I felt challenged within each segment, but not to the point of frustration or defeat. And I'm definitely looking up more dvds with this instructor. She was fantastic. Highly, highly recommend. Both for those new to pilates as well as veterans.

I'm a big fan of the short workouts, because I have a very demanding and irregular work schedule (long hours, lots of travel). As I get further away from my college years, I also find that there's more "trouble areas" developing on my body, so I prefer workouts that hone-in on specific body target zones. This DVD fits the bill. I enjoy the pilates-inspired workouts because they leave me feeling like I get a good workout without working too hard. The thing that makes this DVD so special is that it works my muscles even harder than previous pilates DVDs I've tried: the workouts give me that "good workout soreness" the next day, but do so without exhausting me so much that I can't bring myself to do it again after another long workday. I also like that in addition to focusing on my favorite trouble spots (abs, buns and thighs), this DVD has a 10-minute pilates sculpting workout (get out your light weights, everybody), a 10-minute cardio-toning pilates workout (get that heart rate up, everybody) and, my personal favorite, a 10-minute flexibility workout, which is relaxing--not strenuous--and is the perfect workout nightcap for any exercise routine (I truly mean that, it loosens all the muscles with a great, unique set of stretches). Another great benefit of having this DVD is that it allows you to build the number and order of the 10-minute workouts so that you can play as many or as few as you want, in whatever sequence you like.To top it all off, Lara Hudson is a fantastic instructor. I didn't realize the importance of a good instructor until I found some folks that I didn't like (for example, Denise Austin's raspy voice gets on my nerves). Lara Hudson, on the other hand, is sweet, motivating, and explains the exercises with just the right amount of dialogue. She's also very attractive without being impossibly in-shape (so she's pleasant to look at and you can actually imagine yourself having a body like hers someday). The scenes are all in a well-lit studio with modern exercise music playing softly in the background. Overall, I have no complaints. The one word of caution I must say though is that I think these exercises are better suited for people who have prior pilates experience or who are at least moderately in-shape, because they are quite challenging and do not offer modifications on the movements. So for those of you who like short, challenging, effective pilates-inspired exercises with variety, a good instructor, and a pleasant ambience, I strongly recommend this DVD.

Good for the short time exercise, but for beginners people!

Voilà un an que je pratique ces exercices chaque dimanche soir. C'est devenu indispensable, mon moment à moi. Je ne saurais pas m'en passer. Bien sûr il ne faut pas hésiter à regarder et écouter attentivement car parfois on se détourne des bonnes positions. J'aime la bande son bien équilibrée, les enchaînements proposés et le menu mix and match.La coach est ravissante et très souple mais elle motive et ne complexe pas. Work at your level right?

Distintas series de ejercicios para realizar en 10 minutos, trabajando zonas determinadas. Es fácil adquirir la costumbre de hacerlos diariamente, y aunque sean solo 10 minutos, si son diarios, se notan!

I do martial arts, and train for that, and thought i would try Pilates to improve mussles & streching as i dont want size, but strong toned light figure.This DVD is very very good for you to get flat stomach and toned strong figure.If you are a complete beginner then i would suggest alot of the exersise's would be difficult for you, however if you currnetly do some working out and want to inmprove your figure, then this DVD is recommended.If you can complete the whole DVD workouts 5 or 6 days a week and correct diet, then you should be slim & fit in no time.The type of exersise's are good for streching mussles and toneing your figure, also very good for your back, as most peoples back problems are always related to been over weight and no stomach strenth, these workouts will stretch your back, & increase your stomach stenth.The DVD is easy, put it in and play all the workouts on a large tv, get yourself on that workout mat or carpet and your away.5 stars DVD *****

If you don't have time to excercise regularly, this is definitely the solution!! The instructions are very easy to follow, the movements are challenging and effective, and each section can be done in only ten minutes! I just started these Pilates Workouts a week ago, and my stomach is already much firmer. It feels really good to get in shape without taking too much time!! 2 sections(20 minutes) before rushing to work, and another 2 sections after getting back from the office, I think I can totally keep this up. A wonderful buy!!