What pilates workout???

L

lov2bfit

Cathlete
I'm sorry if this has been asked a million times, but I think I am going to purchase a pilates workout, but how NO idea what to get. I caught a minute the Winsor Pilates infomercial this morning, but don't know if that's a good choice. It seems like there are so many different options.

Any advice on the best pilates workouts out there? I want something to really help tone and lean me out.

Thanks!

Katie
 
winsor is alright but stott goes more into breathe control and form. she studied under romana(she has a series of shorter workouts out) who studied under joseph pilates himself. i also find mari winsor annoying but that is my personal opinion. i also have caribbean workout pilates. its not hard but i like them for short(about 20mins)workouts.

kassia



When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey
 
MTV Mix! It is without a doubt the best pilates workout I've done. I haven't tried Winsor, but I have a couple of Stott's--she's OK but she doesn't come close to the MTV Mix. Rael is OK too, on about the same level as Stott.

Also Ana Caban has a 25 minute Pilates for Abs that's great. You can get it on its own, or you can get it combined w/a Rodney Yee yoga workout.
 
I agree with LauraMax about Ana Caban's Pilates for Abs workout. The pace is slower than other DVD's I've used, which makes the moves more difficult, and her background exerciser shows easier versions while she demonstrates harder ones.

I have several Pilates workouts, but the ones I reach for the most are Hilary Burnett's Intermediate Pilates (I prefer it to her advanced DVD, which moves lightning fast) and Ana Caban's Intermediate Pilates. They're both about 30 min and well-chaptered. If you're brand new to Pilates, you might want to try Pilates for Dummies, which has basic and intermediate workouts with good instruction.

I've never tried the MTV DVD. I think I'll have to pick this one up!
 
I recently purchased a pilates workout that hasn't arrived yet. It was HIGHLY recommended to me by Lisaannjam, a personal trainer on these boards. I had to say that before I tell you that the workout is by Denise Austin. Yes, Denise Austin. I never thought I would buy a workout by her in a million years, but Lisa says she doesn't care for Denise either, but this is hands-down the best pilates workout. The reviews on Amazon were really good, too. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0784018235/002-8741962-4635264?v=glanceSo I went with it. For $11.98 if I don't like, no big deal.

I already have Winsor pilates and Karen Voight pilates and I don't really care for either of them.
 
I have denise austins pilates and power yoga and love both of them, the pilates has 2 twenty minute workout. their great.
 
I do mostly Pilates Reformer workouts and when I do mat I found I prefer Stott for technique and proper form. Moira Stott is not entertaining, but she is excellent. IMO, after you master the technique you should be able to do any Pilates DVD and get the best workout out of it. When I don't do a Stott workout, I do Winsor, MTV mix, Romana's, Ana Cabana's, Karen Voight's, Tom McCook's etc....(not Rael's because I find him too annoying). Mostly it's Stott to perfect my form, but it's really all good:)

Robin:)
 
Nancy, I have that Denise Austin workout and it is great. It seems so easy and relaxing but you really feel it the next day. She incorporates some stretches into the workout also. I am NOT a Denise fan by any means but highly recommend that workout--"JH Pilates Matwork" for beginners, intermediates, or advanced who just want a nice lite Pilates workout day in 22 min.
Beth
 
I know a lot of you suggested Denise Austin, but she really irritates me. I think she talks on her workouts like she's talking to 2 year olds. If she really irritates me in that way will I still be able to enjoy her Pilates workout?

For those who have done the MTV Mix, do you need any equipment? Also, I have NEVER done Pilates. Will I be able to do this workout?

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I looked into Stott too since many of you recommended her as well. There are SO many choices!

Katie
 
Katie ~

I also love MTV Pilates Mix and Ana Cabans Pilates for Abs. There is no equipment required for either workout (other than a mat) and you will definately feel your core the next day. I bought these because LauraMax highly recommended them and she was right on the money!
 
>I know a lot of you suggested Denise Austin, but she really
>irritates me. I think she talks on her workouts like she's
>talking to 2 year olds. If she really irritates me in that
>way will I still be able to enjoy her Pilates workout?

I know what you mean about D.A. but I have that dvd and I got good results with it. Suprisingly she grew on me. What I noticed about her is that her pilates/yoga stuff is pretty effective. Her new one "Hit the Spot Pilates" is great. It has 5 "10 minutes" programs and a 14 min. pilates challenge. Do you have a Netflix account? you could try to them out that way first.

I like the Ana Caban dvd also:).

Good luck,

Katrina
 
Another vote for MTV Pilates Mix. I also like Fitchic Pilates, Hilary Burnett Advanced Pilates and IM=X Advanced Floorwork, that is with the ring and a body bar. Classical Pilates with the Magic Circle is also very good. Mari
 
I also like the Denise Austin Hit the Spot Pilates. It's tough and I always feel it the next day. For those people that don't like Denise's voice, it has a Music Only Option (mutes Denise!);-)

Valerie
 
I also have the MTV Pilates mix.. good workout but very annoying as the "mix" option does not work like they say it does.
 
>For those who have done the MTV Mix, do you need any
>equipment? Also, I have NEVER done Pilates. Will I be able
>to do this workout?

>Thanks for all the great suggestions. I looked into Stott too
>since many of you recommended her as well. There are SO many
>choices!
>

You don't need any equipment for the MTV mix. It's a wonderful and certainly challenging workout. I iust don't think I would pick it if it is a first choice because, IMO, you are not learning technique.

I, too, have the same problem with Denise's voice but the DVD, Mat workout (JH Pilates), has two good short workouts...I just prefer not to mute my workout DVDs and, if you don't either, you may not want to pick that one. I don't own the Hit the Spot Pilates so I really can't discuss that one.

If you look into Stott, the Stott's Intermediate Mat workout would probably be a good choice (that's one of the DVDs in a series that they use to train their pilates mat teachers). The Stott Intermediate Mat is a fine core workout which excells in technique and form. Yes, Moira Stott is dry...so don't buy it if you need to be entertained. Seriously. Do buy it if you want to learn good form, technique and breathing. (I found with pilates, you get what you put into it.) The Stott stability Ball workouts are also wonderful core workouts. Some of them actually mimic many of the movements performed on the Pilates Reformer.

Sara Picot's More than Mat Pilates (Intermediate) is also a good one that mimic's reformer work, but you do need resistance bands.

If you want to learn more about Mat Pilates. Barnes & Nobles online University offers a free online course every 6-8 weeks or so using Ana Caban's Beginning Mat Matwork DVD and the Book "Pilates: Body in Motion" by Alycea Ungaro. I took it quite a while ago (before I went for Reformer certification). I found it was good way to learn the basics, although Ana's Beginning Mat Matwork DVD really is VERY basic. If you have a little knowledge of pilates and only want to workout, IMO, Ana Caban's other DVDs or Intermediate Mat would be a much better choice than the Beginner DVD. She also has a great outgoing personality. JMOs...

HTH,
Robin
 
I have done the WInsor Pilates videos for the past 2 years and have had wonderful results!1 I always recommend them! Susan
 
Thanks so much ladies for all your suggestions. I went to Netflix and put the Denise Austin Hit the Spot Pilates and the MTV Mix Pilates in my queue. I can't wait to try them out and see if I like it.

Katie
 
After reading this thread at work today, I came home and game the MTV Pilates Mix another try. Yuck. I even did the "bonus" and I feel that it was a waste of time. For over an hour of working out, I feel I could've gotten a lot more bang for my buck. Maybe I'm getting old, but I just couldn't get into it. I'm no pilates expert, but I thought it moved too fast and didn't focus on technique or proper form enough. Not very good cueing and I kept having to lift my head up to see what the heck to do. Oh well. To each their own...

At least you are able to get it via Netflix to try it before you buy it. Maybe you'll like it. Denise Austin bugs me, but I'd be curious to see how you like her pilates workout. Let us know!

Melissa
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top