I'm reviewing this workout after previewing it twice and doing it once.

General workout breakdown: This advanced Pilates matwork sequence runs approximately 22 minutes. (Lisa’s already listed all of the exercises, so I won’t repeat that!) This is a traditional Pilates matwork sequence, with the usual moves in the usual order, although Hilary’s high bridge in particular seems to come more from yoga than Pilates. The moves flow from one right into the next; in fact, Hilary instructs you to think of the routine as one long exercise. The pace moves along at a fairly quick clip, but it is not as quick as some more traditional matwork practices. It leaves no hang time, but there’s still just enough time to set up and complete each move. Hilary does a minimal number of repetitions, from 1 to 5, emphasizing quality over quantity.

Level: I’d recommend this to exercisers practicing at a high intermediate through low advanced level of Pilates. This is in no way suitable for beginners to Pilates, no matter how advanced of an exerciser you are, as Deb and Beth have already written, nor is it one of those it-says-it’s-advanced-but-it’s-really-low-intermediate-at-best workouts. At the same time, truly advanced Pilates devotees may find this lacks a sufficient challenge. Thus, this is best for solid intermediates looking to move onwards and upwards. There is a significant jump from the Intermediate to the Advanced workout within this series, and Hilary does not break down the new moves. You will need to get your instruction and your practice elsewhere before tackling this video. I’ve been practicing Pilates for five years and consider myself a solid intermediate and rising, and I found the more advanced exercises challenging due to a lack of experience as well as a need to continue improving my strength, flexibility, and control. I plan to work on them some more before coming back to this video, but I expect it to be a suitable challenge for me at that point. I will say I had a nice buzz in my core the day after I did this.

Class: Hilary alone, with instruction via voiceover

Music: pleasant but forgettable instrumental

Set: somewhat dark interior set. Hilary performs the routine on a Persian-type rug in front of what looks like a marble altar draped with a tiger skin; pillows and throws of rich fabrics and colors stand in between the two, while the back and side walls consist of wooden cabinets or walls.

Production: clear picture and sound, helpful camera angles. The only quibble I have is that Hilary wears a long dark outfit in a somewhat dark setting.

Equipment: mat (or equivalent). Hilary is barefoot.

Space Requirements: enough room to lie down with arms and legs extended and to sweep your limbs around, with enough space behind your head while lying on your back for your legs to stretch out behind you (for the rollover, boomerang, etc.)

DVD Notes: This DVD is chaptered not by exercise but by small groups of exercise (Introduction, Footwork, Roll-up, Single Leg Circle, Single Leg Stretch, Open Leg Rocker, Double Leg Kick, Spine Twist, Side Kicks, Swimming, Sidebend, Twist, Crab, and Closing Talk).

Comments: This is a keeper. It’s nice to have a video that goes through a number of matwork exercises in such a short time, and I appreciate the minimal pausing for instruction, even if it means I will have to work my way up to this video by other means. This video has some advanced Pilates exercises that rarely appear on video. For example, I’ve only seen the Control Balance in videos from Romana K and the Classical Pilates series. This video would be great for someone looking to complement their intermediate / advanced Pilates class. I plan to use Brooke Siler’s The Pilates Body and Alycea Ungaro’s Pilates Body in Motion for instruction and practice of these moves, too.

Instructor Comments:
Hilary speaks calmly and clearly, with helpful cues and just enough form reminders. She demonstrates good form. She uses far fewer visual images and flowerly language here than in the Intermediate.

KathAL79