Top Ten Pilates DVDs for beginners and beyond

This has been said about Pilates: “You will feel better in 10 sessions, look better in 20 sessions, and have a completely new body in 30 sessions.”

If a Pilates DVD is on your (or her or his) wish list, here’s a review of the best-selling Pilates DVDs for beginners and beyond and why these DVDs lead the collection of the best.

Pilates Beginning Mat Workout

Pilates instructor Ana Caban clearly demonstrates proper alignment and technique for 10 minutes, and focuses on how to use the core muscles to strengthen the abdominal and back throughout the workout. Then she introduces a challenging 20-minute series of Pilates moves, instructing clearly with demonstrations, with constant reminders about technique, breathing and form. For an introductory DVD, this one will leave your abs sore.

Element: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners

Similar to my favorite yoga DVDs, this DVD is filmed against a beautiful view overlooking the ocean. This is a beginner to intermediate workout that not only burns calories, but teaches you the basic alignment of Pilates. You’ll learn the core basics here: Control, concentration, precision, center, breath and fluidity.

On the Ball Pilates Workout for Beginners

This DVD by Lizbeth Garcia has been voted the Best Pilates Video of the Year by Health Magazine. Using a ball as a prop, this DVD teaches you how to do several Pilates exercises at home that you may have never thought possible.

Pilates Complete For Weight Loss

Many people come to Pilates for one simple reason: to loose weight. This DVD designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced students burns fat, builds muscles to tone the body. The DVD includes more than 15 customized mat workouts that range from 10 30 minutes.

Crunch – Super SlimDown: Pilates Yoga Blend

Ellen Barrett combines power yoga moves into a system she calls  “core-conditioning power pilates,” which makes good use of basic core yoga poses, Warrior II, extended right angle, cobra, locust. However, in these poses, Barret has you “pulsing” in and out of positions as if this were a aerobic class.  This generates heat for calorie burning. In the Pilates portions, there are leg lifts, core work, with a focus on breathing and alignment.

10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Pilates

This DVD is perfect for anyone who has no time to exercise. The DVD contains 5 Pilates workouts, each 10 minutes. Lara Hudson uses a technique called Power Precision Sequencing to gives you fast results. If you have more time, you can combine them for a longer workout –for 50 minutes.  Each workout works on a specific area of the body to tone, firm and sculpt your muscles.

10 Minute Solution: Slim & Sculpt Pilates

Just like the 10 minute Solution series, this one includes 5 10-minute dynamic Pilates workouts designed to slim and re-shape your body.  A DVD band is included in the DVD case, and gives you the type of workout traditional reserved by Pilates machines — the Reformer and the Cadillac.

Hit the Spot – Pilates

This Denise Austin Pilates DVD gives a selection of customizable Pilates workout to zero into specific areas such as hips, thighs, buttocks, abs and waistline — all while improving your alignment and posture.

Pilates For Beginners

This DVD is one of the clearest, best beginner Pilates DVDs that you’ll find. The pace is slow enough to keep you from getting lost – yet quick enough to give you a challenge and a workout.

Classical
Pilates Technique – The Complete Mat Workout Series English &
Spanish (Modified Basic / Basic / Intermediate / Advanced / Super
Advanced)

This amazing DVD received  2003 AWARD OF DISTINCTION . Peter Fiasca, is the founder  Classical Pilates Inc., who began the Pilates method during 1988 in New York City. This video moves fast — fully encompassing traditional poses in the way they were intended to be done.