I’m reviewing this video after doing it several times since getting it a little less than a year ago.

General workout breakdown: This DVD contains classic (rather than fusion or reworked) Pilates mat workouts ranging from 5 to 35 minutes in length, with most programs lasting 10-20 minutes. The general instruction is included separately from the routines, which focus just on the movements; this means that the workouts flow quickly from one move to another. Add to that the fact that Karen performs each move quickly with just a few repetitions, and you’ll see how you accomplish a lot in just a few minutes.

Level: There are five levels of workouts: basic (i.e. introductory), beginning, intermediate, intermediate / advanced, and challenging. I would say the first three levels are accurate; I haven’t worked my way through the other two to verify their labels as accurate or not. I’m not sure how it would work to a true Pilates beginner, especially with the quick pace, but I would think this could be a good supplement to a Pilates matwork class. Of course, if you’re teaching yourself Pilates, it would be helpful to take a Pilates class or at least work with someone experienced in Pilates to check your form before tackling advanced routines.

Class: Karen only with voice over instruction.

Music / Set / Other Production Notes: The soft instrumental music is bland. The interior set is minimal, with a wall and floor daubed with pastel shades. The sound and picture quality are fine in this otherwise no frills production.

Equipment Needed: mat (or equivalent). For some segments you’ll need 1-2 lb. dumbbells and/or a Pilates ring.

Comments: You don’t need a lot of space for this workout. You should be able to lie down with your arms and legs extended and sweep your legs to either side.

DVD Notes: I believe this is only available on DVD.

Conclusion: I’ve kept this and probably will continue to keep it, even if I don’t use it often. It’s not exciting or even particularly fun, but it offers so much flexibility.
This would make a good DVD to grow with because it provides a variety of routines offered at each level, with 28 workouts total: 3 basic, 2 beginner, 8 intermediate, 8 intermediate / advanced, and 7 challenging. In the intermediate level and beyond, you have the option of performing some routines with a Pilates ring (for leg and arm work) or with light hand weights (for arm work). The DVD is actually pre-programmed routines involving a number of different clips, so there is a slight pause between some segments. However, as I mentioned above, since the instruction is included before the routines the routines actually flow pretty quickly.
For some reason I thought of Brook Siler’s The Pilates Body while using this DVD. I think the two would complement each other well, at least until Brook puts out that long awaited Pilates Body DVD.

Instructor Comments:
Karen’s cueing and explanation is clear and precise, although I find it disconcerting to hear a Pilates instructor say “stomach” instead of “abdominals.” You can tell she knows the sequences so well she could cue the workout in her sleep, so her voice lacks some personality. She speaks quickly; in fact, she sounds almost like an auctioneer during the hundred! (In two, three, four, five, and out two, three, four five . . .) Since instruction is included in the introductory segment for each level and the exercises’ names appear on the screen during the workout, Karen focuses just on cueing for each exercise with some important form pointers rather than instructing or even announcing the moves. And Karen is super flexible, along the lines of Jennifer Kries.

KathAL79