| Customer Reviews (or write your own review) |
Pilates for Dummies |
  THUMBS (AND TOES) UP! |
| This has been a great video for me to learn the very basics of Pilates. It's a fun break from "the usuals" (Kickbutt, old Firm, Step, etc.) and fun to do when I didn't get as much sleep as I should have the night before. Plus, it makes the body feel good to just stretch and you feel 1" taller when you've finished it. :) This has made doing some of the Giami Pilates videos easier as well. - posted by Heather on 12/10/2007 |
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| I liked it. |
| I have this on VHS, I've had it for over three years and just started to use it. I thought it was very helpful. I've only used it once, but will continue to practice until I get it right. I have other for Dummies tapes. I like them! - posted by Juanita on 6/14/2007 |
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*The star rating system began in April 2007. Reviews posted before then do not have stars.
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| Not for Me |
| I did not like this video. I found its instructional format very boring and I could not comfortably do many of the moves. I'm a beginner and found many of the exercises in the basic workout to be difficult and hard on my back. I'll stick with Ellen Barrett's videos from here on out. - posted by Elizabeth on 10/11/2006 |
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| Wonderful |
| I really loved the Pilates for Dummies DVD! It's very thorough about the techniques and doesn't move too fast. I am a beginner and am about 100 lbs overweight. The video was a challenge but not too hard. And I felt great afterwards. My muscles felt stretched yet worked. And my back wasn't as tight as usual. Michelle Dozois is very pleasant and non-intimidating. Thanks for a great workout Michelle! - posted by Naomi on 12/20/2005 |
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| SO great!!! |
| I bought this DVD because I wanted to get fit. I must admit when I first saw that it was dummies I did not think it would be that great! But it really works!!! Already after a week I was able to hold my legs in a 90 degree angle which I could never do before! I do the dummies DVD about 3 times a week, and it feels great! I have not started the intermediate program yet, (I've tried, but it was too hard) but I think I'm getting there! - posted by PilatesFan on 6/29/2005 |
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| Good pacing during Exercise, BUT be Careful of your BACK |
| Only a few of the exercises are for beginners, most are for Intermediate or Advanced excercisers. That said, you MUST watch the video first as there are several exercises that should NOT be done at all if you have a bad, or iffy back. My back was fine until I did the workout - several exercises hurt my back each time, such as the "Swan Dive" (AVOID IT), "Swimming" DON"T raise TOO HIGH, and a few others that I forget the names of. Also modifications should be given at the beginning of an exercise not in the middle/near the end because beginner's cannot remember all the modifications all the time. I did like the other exercises and the instructor is clear, knowledgeable, personable and very poised like a dancer (and advanced, watch how straight her legs are at 90 degrees). I like Prevention's Flatten Your Belly video better, and her Walk Your Way Slim video that each show three different levels so you can modify exercises for weaker areas and do the higher levels for stronger areas (we all have different flexibility and strength in dif areas), plus you can move up as you progress in any area as you can see all three clearly at all times (Not hidden way in back, not behind several other exercisers, and shown on camera most of the time). In Pilates for Dummies there is some talking in between exercises which wastes time but the pace while doing the exercises is EXCELLENT - you can actually follow along without always being behind or always having to rewind so you can stay in correct form and I believe that is the idea. (The popups were NOT annoying at all, there were only a few!) Overall I'd rate it a B- and worth a try if you have been working out for a few months or more. (I am an intermed. to low-adv. exerciser who works out 5-6 times per week and does Pilates 2-3xper week & started adding Pilates a couple of months ago.) - posted by DC from North Reading, Mass on 2/6/2005 |
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| I agree with some of the other posters that this isn't really for true beginners, as not all modifications are shown. Also, the Dummies' popups and sounds become highly irritating and disrupt the flow. Instead, I highly recommend Prevention's Flatten Your Belly with Pilates, which features the same instructor, plus 2 modifiers for all moves. And no annoying popups! - posted by Virginia on 11/21/2004 |
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| Nice format, but flawed |
| I think the "For Dummies" format is great--well-produced, easy to follow, and low-key without being dull. However, the fact that beginner's modifications aren't mentioned or shown until well into the exercise is a serious flaw. I think Stott provides a safer and better introduction to Pilates in her beginner's workouts. - posted by Deb on 8/19/2004 |
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| Undecided |
| I did this workout for the first time last night and my back hurts. I am not very flexible and am not in top shape so I knew this was going to be a challenge, but this was my first attempt at Pilates and I was frustrated. I didn't like their method of showing the easier variations after she had already started the move. If this is truly for beginners I would think all the positions would be demonstrated before the actual reps begin. I also thought her cuing was poor, and I would have liked it if she would have counted out loud. I have no idea how many reps I did! I was concentrating on my form, not counting. I am going to keep trying it, but will look for a replacement as well. - posted by Joanne on 7/21/2004 |
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| Danielle |
| I have had this tape for at least 9 months. Have tried to do it several times and thought it was so boring, I would always stop before completing it. A couple of months ago, I decided to give it yet another try. I did complete the tape and I am so glad I did. I thought this was an excellent tape. I have been doing Pilates for a couple of months now. I have noticed that I have lost a lot of inches in my lower body & abs. I would highly recommend this tape. - posted by My first Pilates tape.... on 7/17/2004 |
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