I'm a daily exerciser who has been trying to work more Pilates into my regular routine. I especially like using Pilates as short, add-on segments, and because I enjoyed another 10 Minute Solution DVD by instructor Suzanne Bowen, Pilates Perfect Body, I thought I would try this one as well.

Pilates Slim and Sculpt comes with a long stretchy band that is used with each of the five workouts included on the disk (my band is green, not purple like the one Bowen is using). As with all of the 10 Minute Solution videos, the Main Menu of this DVD offers the option to Play All, Play One Workout, or to Create Your Own Routine by selecting segments in turn (I found the custom function to be a little tweaky; it kept double-selecting segments for me). For each segment, Bowen is exercising alone, instructing live in a large open studio. I have provided brief breakdowns of each 10-minute section below.

LOWER BODY PILATES
For this segment, Bowen begins seated with the band around the balls of the feet to briefly focus on the breath. She then rolls back, and with the band around one foot only, she performs leg circles and leg lifts down and to the side; she transitions with frogs before repeating on the other side. Coming to a side lying position, the side series work (band around one foot) includes up-down, 3-point, inner thigh lifts, and donkey kicks; again, the series is repeated on the other side. Bowen concludes this segment holding the band over the pelvis for reverse plank with leg pull-downs and pelvic lifts.

UPPER BODY PILATES
Starting standing with the band under the feet, Bowen simply holds the band for shoulder rolls forward and back. Next, she moves into the Pilates zip-up and bug. Lunging over one leg, she performs boxing and bicep curls and then triceps press and lateral raises on the other side. Bowen then moves into a side lunge position for draw-the-sword, paint-under-the-stairs (triceps extension), biceps press-ups, and chest presses; this entire series is repeated on the other side. She finishes the upper body work with a scapular press using the band doubled up, a beach ball chest press (band behind the back), and a few brief stretches.

PILATES FOR ABS
Bowen starts seated with the band under the feet for a brief spine twist. Coming to lying, she performs the hundred, roll-down (alternating the arms holding the band), and half roll down with the hands together holding the band. She then bunches up the band and places it between the feet for rolling like a ball. After brief hip lifts (band across pelvis), Bowen places the band behind her shoulders for single leg stretch, single straight leg stretch, and double leg stretch. The band then goes back under the feet for leg lowers. Bowen holds the doubled band between her hands for the teaser, and she concludes with a quick cat/cow stretch (no band).

TOTAL BODY PILATES
Here Bowen begins standing with the band under one foot for leg lifts out to the side and to the back. Lunging with the band under one foot, she performs rows and lateral raises on both sides. Next comes kneeling thigh work holding the band in the hands. Bowen then places the band on the floor for triceps push-ups, alternating with a side plank/arm raise using the band. Lying back on her forearms, she bunches up the band and places it between the knees for corkscrew and can-can to finish.

PILATES FOR FLEXIBILITY
This final segment again starts standing for standing mermaid holding the band. Still holding the band, Bowen proceeds to a chest opener and standing saw; she also performs a standing hip stretch and a plie squat with a triceps stretch. Coming down to the mat, Bowen puts the band aside to perform up dog to down dog, and then child's pose with rotation. She also does brief holds of low lunge and pigeon pose, rising from the latter into a seated pretzel stretch (using the band again in the hands). Bowen concludes the flexibility segment on her back for reclined leg stretches with the band and a lying twist.

Overall, I was disappointed in this DVD. First, I didn't think that Bowen made particularly good use of the band--for example, balling it up (i.e., instead of using it for resistance), just seemed like a total waste of time. Furthermore, Bowen gave little instruction for positioning the band in order to obtain maximum utility from it. Second, the pacing and general design of these workouts just felt off. Some exercises are only performed ONCE, while others are done for many repetitions. In addition, the holds in the flexibility segment were MUCH too brief to provide any real benefits.

I do think Bowen is a good instructor, and this is certainly a well-produced video, with nice production values. But personally, I would not recommend this DVD.

Instructor Comments:
I find Suzanne to be generally likeable--she is fairly low-key, speaking with a soft Southern accent and providing gentle encouragement. She does mirror cue and offers nice form pointers overall, but I thought she could have done a much better job of cuing how to use the band here.

Beth C (aka toaster)