It's probably pretty obvious by now that I'm quite a fan of Pilates. I've tried to coax many friends (ahem, mom) who want to try it but are intimidated by large classes and don't want to pay for private lessons. Now, there's no excuse. Pilates expert Kristin McGee has a new Acacia DVD with the straightforward title Pilates For Beginners ($14). After a quick 10-minute warm-up, Pilates virgins will have the confidence to take on the rest of the exercises daily. They can feel the comfort of their own home while getting used to the basic exercises. For those who are more advanced, it is still a useful video as you can add your own challenges and almost guarantee a burn in the bod.
Included in the DVD are two 10-minute and two 20-minute segments. The 10-minute Core Warm-Up and the 10-minute Core Connection can help ease newbies into the exercises while both offering even experts the opportunity to burn their core muscle groups with teasers, planks, sawing the toes, and simple oblique twists. When time isn't an issue, the longer 20-minute Foundation Work and Strong Backside sessions are simple enough yet challenging. They include scissor kicks, the 100s, and other basic Pilates moves. The ultra-thin Kristin McGee explains all the stretches and motions in great detail, which helps to ensure safe execution. Additionally, she tells viewers how to make it harder or easier depending on their skill levels. And more importantly for novice users, she also gives ample time between the exercises for home users to rest and stretch.
To learn more about the video and see what I would change, read more
