Pilates for Abs

Ana Caban
Year Released: 2004

Categories: Pilates/Core Strength


This tape is set outdoors. For some reason, I'm not crazy about Gaiam's outdoor settings, but I know they're more popular than the indoor settings used in some of the earlier Pilates releases.

Ana is joined by Tara again, who shows easier modifications for most of the movements. The camera does a pretty good job of keeping the two of them in focus throughout the workout.

As is to be expected from the title, the focus is on the abdominals. However, it's still enough of a traditional Pilates workout that I wouldn't recommend it for "parts" toning only.

The movements are: the Hundred, the Rollup, the Rollover, Single Leg Circles, Rolling Like a Ball (with hands crossed at shins), Single Leg Stretch (first with a bicycle motion, then with no hands), the Double Leg Stretch (which also progresses to a variation with no hands), the Single Straight Leg Stretch, aka Scissors (which moves onto a variation with no hands), the Double Leg Lower and Lift, the Criss Cross, the Open Leg Rocker, the Closed Leg Rocker, Corkscrew, the Neck Pull, Shoulder Bridge (first with both feet down, then with a leg lift), the Spine Twist, a Full Teaser (legs and upper body lower and lift, then progresses to a variation with arm circles), Hip Circles, then a movement combining the Open Leg Rocker, Teaser and Reverse Teaser. Finally, we stand, walk to Plank, rise to Neck Roll, then return to seated.

This workout includes some of the more challenging movements from the Pilates matwork (Rollover, Full Teaser, Hip Circles), but is not done at a breakneck pace. It should be challenging, but not impossible.

Instructor Comments:
Please see comments for Easy Pilates and Cardio Pilates.

Deb

07/14/2004