Pilates - Beginning Mat Workout

Ana Caban is impressive in her easy-to-follow technique explanations, her understanding of beginning Pilates student pitfalls, and her ability to keep things light and entertaining while she instructs. She teaches Pilates breathing well, and reminds the student how their breathing sequence should be throughout each exercise, but leaves off so that they can get used to doing Pilates breathing on their own (as students ought to eventually do on their own). She is so familiar with the places tension easily goes in the body (but shouldn't) or the places that easily move during certain exercises (but shouldn't) that sometimes it feels like having her in the room with me. "Really anchor that right hip," she says just as my right hip starts to drift. "Don't relax yet! Higher!" she says just as I'm feeling like I should relax. It really helps me focus and become stronger.I had already been doing Pilates from another DVD, which is also a helpful DVD and has good exercises at a good pace, but it's doesn't give as much description. (Of course, I've been doing it from segments on YouTube--the DVD itself might have more description elsewhere on the DVD.) When I bought this DVD and started using it, I started to understand the exercises on the other DVD more easily too.This DVD also gives several levels of "Beginner" - almost like a "beginner 1," "beginner 2," and "beginner 3" - without actually having to have actual segments named as such. Ana's assistant, Tara, gives a modified version in the background, which is also very helpful. I advanced to the non-modified versions more quickly than I expected (perhaps because of using the exercises from the other DVD before) though I still struggle with some. It's nice having an easy starting point (Tara's modified version) and then a moderately easy point (Ana's actual version) but still having the good instruction with it. The "beginner 3" part is actually a bonus section on the DVD called "BONUS Pilates Energy Boost Workout." In that, Ana does exercises at her own regular pace, explaining them in a voiceover. It's only a 12-minute workout (the regular workout on the DVD is about half an hour) but the point of Pilates is that you focus your whole body so that you can do just a few exercises in a relatively short amount of time and still be using all your muscles.Another aspect of Pilates (involved in the Pilates breathing) is training your body to use those muscles regularly, so that you're continuing to "exercise" throughout the day just by using your body properly. Since I started this DVD, I've found that I really do hold my muscles differently. My husband says I look a little taller, I've had less pain in my back (in conjunction with chiropractic, but faster repair than what chiropractic used to do), and my leftover baby belly from when I was pregnant with my now-one-year-old is finally starting to go away. I would definitely recommend Pilates to anyone and everyone, and this DVD in particular!

I’m a beginner to Pilates and this is the first dvd I’ve purchased. I like that Ana has helped me begin to understand how to sink up my breath with my movements. I feel it has helped me from further injuring my back. There’s also a short intro that explains the basics of Pilates( breathing technique used, Pilates stance, ext.) she also gives good instruction on how to do each move. It’s a good foundation to begin with and the pace is pretty easy to keep up with. It’s a little old school but still effective, and I would recommend. The exercise is 20 min and there’s a separate 12 min energy boost routine.

For a beginner, someone who has never done pilates before, this is the perfect video. I am NOT flexible and she recognizes that most beginners probably are not either, so she has a "back-up exerciser" (what do you call the other people in the room working out with the instructor? haha) who demonstrates a simpler way to do each exercise. This is a very low-impact pilates workout that focuses mainly on your core. The leg exercises are more like stretches to increase flexibility and to strengthen your core muscles. The classic moves are all there and explained very well by Ana. There is also a short video that gives you a little background and insight into Ana and her motivation to teach pilates, which I appreciated.I give it 4 stars instead of 5 simply because there's quite a bit of talk between exercises, which gets old after you've done the video several times and it moves a little slowly from one exercise to the next. You can fast-forward through the talking and just watch for the title of the next exercise to pop-up on the screen so you know when to stop. :) That's what I do, anyway. It's a small criticism, I know.I highly recommend the video for beginners and/or for those who are looking for a core-strengthening workout between heavier exercise days.

Package came quickly with product described. Good price.

This is a great beginner level Pilates mat workout. It is as authentic a Pilates mat workout as I have seen, following both the prescribed movements and the pace and breathing of Pilates as it was developed by Joseph Pilates (I have taken classes for a number of years, bought numerous DVDs and I'm a complete book nerd - I've read lots about it too!). Ana Caban is excellent at cueing the moves and breathing and offers effective modifications for most exercises.Pilates is excellent for core stability, whilst being relatively gentle compared to other exercise styles. Because this programme is entirely performed whilst sitting or lying down, I feel it would be suitable for people with balance or mobility difficulties (provided they are able to get down to the floor and up again safely). I have Multiple Sclerosis and am able to complete this workout comfortably, using some of the modifications.This DVD is no longer available in the UK, but I ordered my copy from one of the US-based Amazon sellers; it arrived within a week and is a multi-region DVD suitable for all players.All in all, I couldn't recommend a beginner level Pilates DVD higher.

Love Ana's pilates workouts. Has modified for very beginner. Only wish the workout was a bit longer. (25 min) Does have a bonus mat workout which I have yet to try...(12 min).

Fantastic video, easy to do. Hasn't upset my lower disc at all (it has slipped) and enjoy the dvd. There are a couple of exercises which I do not do as I haven't been doing these in physio (which has now ended) and as they are so different I decided not to try them, and to be honest I can tell by looking at them I would be bending the wrong way for my back. I still get the benefits of the DVD and when these are on I concentrate on one of the other moves which I know wont hurt me.Would highly recommend. I am in my early 50's and consider myself reasonably fit and this was perfect for me. My advise would be do it to the degree you are comfortable with.

I like the documentary with Ana and I particularly like the modified versions of the positions.