Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in Germany by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. According to a 2009 Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) study, almost 9 million people in the United States practice Pilates. Pilates focuses on using the mind to control the muscles, particularly the core postural muscles, essential for body balance, spine support and torso strength. Pilates DVDs allow you to practice at home.
Beginners
"Pilates for Beginners with Kristin McGee" provides a solid introduction to Pilates matwork, starting with fundamentals and slowly adding on more challenging moves, and is recommended in the July, 2009 "Shape" magazine. The DVD includes four segments. The first two are core-focused and teach breathing and control as well as all the Pilates basics. The other two sections emphasize the lower body.
"Denise Austin's J.H. Pilates Matwork" has been rated highly by nearly 200 consumers on Amazon.com. This DVD includes two 20-minute workouts. The first workout is filled with basic Pilates classics. The second is a more challenging Pilates workout that incorporates a variety of standing and floor yoga poses to build a lean body and strong abdominal muscles.
Intermediate Exercisers
"Slim Sculpt with Ellen Barrett" is a balanced program that blends Pilates techniques and weight-room style toning. It's a format that stretches and lengthens your body as it shapes and tones each muscle. This DVD earned a 5-star average consumer rating on Collage Exercise Video's website by more than 30 users.
"Stott Pilates Firm & Fit DVD" was recommended (4 out of 5 stars) by SNEWS, an outdoor and fitness industry publication. The workout focus is on flexibility, firming and stabilizing moves. This workout is appropriate for intermediate exercisers. The DVD includes 10 warm-up moves, and then transitions into 30 different exercises, emphasizing quality, not quantity.
Advanced Levels
"Ten Minute Solution: Pilates on the Ball" was rated a one of the best exercise DVDs by the editors of "Fitness" magazine in August 2008, and also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Collage Video's website. You use a stability ball to enhance the effectiveness of each segment--which emphasizes a different body part. The ball boosts resistance, increases range of motion and/or adds the element of balance.
"Ten Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates with Ball Kit" (made by the same minds behind all of the "10-Minute Solution" DVDs) was recommended by the editors of "Fitness" magazine as the best Pilates DVD for 2009, for intermediate to advanced exercisers. The inflatable ball adds resistance to the usual Pilates exercises and increases the sculpting power of every move.
References
- "Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology"; J. Pilates; 1998
- "Shape Magazine"; DVD of the Month: 10 Minutes to a Sexy Middle; M. Stephenson; Jul 2009
- SNEWS: Product Reviews: Stott Pilates Firm & Fit DVD
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