I’m reviewing this workout after doing it several times over the 1 1/2 years or so that I’ve had it.
This workout has also been called Body Reform: Abdominals and Back and Pilates Core Power Abs & Back.

General workout breakdown: This workout combining Pilates-based and traditional abdominals moves focuses on strengthening the abs and lower back. It runs just over 40 minutes and is done entirely seated or lying down.
The routine begins with shoulder rolls, side stretches, twists, neck stretches, and hip stretches; then comes cat and dog tilts while on all fours moving back and forth into child’s pose, ending with more stretches done in child’s pose. Next comes butterfly with both straight and rounded spine, countered with a chest stretch. The exercises proper include Karen’s versions of the Pilates half roll back, roll up, and hundred; after a lying twist come single leg circles, an exercise done in the one-legged (or full) teaser position, bridge with leg lifts, single leg stretch, reverse curl, corkscrew with reverse curl, toe dips building up into single straight leg stretch (i.e. scissors), and then some reclined lower body stretches / spinal twists. Next comes a back series with breaststroke prep, locust, and a slower version of the breaststroke, all done with a short rest in between. A short seated back stretch leads into a teaser series (beginning in the V-sit position and rolling down), a curl series with an oblique cross and a double curl, a curl series with legs in butterfly, more oblique crunches with a leg lift, and another short stretch. Another back series includes swimming and breaststroke. Spine stretch forward, saw, seal (no clapping), and chest stretch end the workout.
The pace is leisurely, with enough time to get into position and execute the moves effectively, but you’re never waiting around for Karen to set up a move. In other words, things flow together smoothly. Karen includes a good number of repetitions, enough to feel the workout but not enough to make you bored.

Level: I’d recommend this to someone who feels they’re at least at the beginner / intermediate crossover point through someone at the intermediate / advanced point. While Karen’s form instruction and pointers are very good, I think this would be too overwhelming to someone new to abs workouts. Karen does offer some progressions for some exercises, but there are few modifications mentioned for those without much flexibility. Some Pilates experience is helpful but not mandatory.
I consider myself almost a solid intermediate; I have about three years of Pilates experience but am still working on improving my flexibility and strength. I tried to do this video fairly regularly when I was at the beginner / intermediate crossover point, but my lack of flexibility and strength became frustrating, even with my modifications. When I did this last week, I enjoyed the workout more since I felt I could do the exercises better and more fully. I felt a slight burn in my abdominals that day and the next.

Class: 1 woman joins Karen and sometimes shows more advanced progressions of the exercises.

Music: nice instrumental music that complements this type of exercise.

Set: bright interior studio space with hardwood floors and neutral walls with different shapes cut out of them and different colored and patterned lights shining on them.

Production: clear picture and sound, helpful camera shots (almost always showing all of both exercisers).

Equipment: mat (or equivalent). Both exercisers are barefoot.

Space Requirements: enough to lie down with arms and legs extended, with a little space to each side.

DVD Notes: I have this on the Total Body Pilates DVD, which also has Total Body Training. There are no chapters within the workout.

Conclusion: This is a nice workout. It doesn’t have much of a fun factor, but this will leave you feeling stretched out and relaxed, yet energized, thanks to Karen’s careful balancing of exercises and stretches as well as flexion and contraction.
If you don’t care much for traditional Pilates, don’t immediately disregard this because of the “Pilates” in the title. In truth, it doesn’t follow the traditional Pilates order, and Karen offers her own variations of the exercises; thus, it doesn’t have the “feel” of most Pilates workouts on video. Conversely, if you’re a Pilates purist, you may not enjoy this workout for those reasons. This would be a good video to shake up your abs routine if you only do traditional crunches, for example, or if you dabble in Pilates but don’t want to give up crunches.

Instructor Comments:
As always, Karen’s instruction is clear and helpful, and her form is impeccable. She is a gently encouraging but professional instructor—definitely not the perky cheerleader.

KathAL79