I’ve reviewed each workout separately; I’ll just give a brief overview of the DVD here.

The DVD contains Jillian Hessel’s A.M. Pilates as well as Ana Caban’s P.M. Pilates and Energy Boost Pilates (1). In addition to the brief introductions before the AM and PM segments, there are interviews with and little written biographies of each instructor. The AM and PM Pilates workouts are each chaptered as segments: introduction, brief warm-up, matwork, and short ending exercises. Energy Boost Pilates is found under “Extras” and has no chapters. All three workouts are set outdoors, captured with Gaiam’s usual sharp camera work. The soft instrumental music is pleasant but not very loud or particularly memorable. As to be expected, you have to do with the standard Gaiam introduction after the long disclaimers.

All three Pilates routines focus primarily on the abdominals, with minimal back, leg, or upper body work.

AM Pilates is a good 25 minute routine for experienced beginners to low intermediates that focuses on proper breathing while performing a very abbreviated form of the basic matwork series. There are a number of pauses between exercises while Jillian sets you up for each move, and the overall pace is relaxed and slow. This is probably my least favorite routine on the DVD.

PM Pilates is a good 25 minute routine for low intermediates that incorporates a number of stretches before and after the abbreviated classic matwork series. This is definitely a step up in the difficulty from AM Pilates. It’s not just for evening; I find it great to do in the morning when I’m a little stiff. The overall pace is deliberate, not too fast or too slow. This is probably my favorite workout on the DVD.

Energy Boost Pilates is a good 11 1/2 minute routine for solid intermediates that incorporates a lot of exercises, including several that don’t appear in most other Pilates videos. There are a couple of stretches and cardio moves included at the beginning to warm you up. This has the least amount of instruction of all three workouts, and it’s the most challenging workout for me on the DVD.

I consider myself a low intermediate. I have about two years of Pilates experience but still have limited strength and flexibility. I’m keeping this DVD, because it’s one that I can grow with right now, even if AM Pilates is a little easy, because PM Pilates is just the right amount of challenge and EB Pilates is something that I will be able to work up to in the foreseeable future. Even when I’ve managed to advance enough that all three are easy, I’ll still keep this DVD because the first two routines will make nice light day workouts, and EB makes a great workout for a time crunch.

Instructor Comments:
Both instructors cue well and know their stuff when it comes to Pilates. They instruct via voiceover.

KL (KathAL79)