Cardio, legs, arms
My introduction to pilates was part of a great jazzercise class that incorporated cardio dance, weights, and pilates moves. This is my first Ellen DVD and I think it's a wonderful 50-60 minutes home workout. Pilates incorporates several moves into one so it's an efficient form of exercise/toning/cardio. Ellen uses 3 lb weights and most of the DVD is standing up working legs/inner thighs/arms with lunges and plies. Stomach/core areas are addressed through pulling in abdomen during standing part and during the last 10 minutes of floor work while doing pilates leg moves combined with crunches. I'm not a person that enjoys exercising nor do I have that much space at home for jumping cardio routines. This DVD had me breaking a light sweat in first 10-15 minutes so it's working and psychologically easier to get into after just crawling out of bed if you're not a morning person. I agree with others that Ellen comes across as a coach rather than a drill sergeant or annoying cheerleader. I discovered a very useful site that rates and allows you to preview fitness DVD's at collagevideo dot com.
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Fantastic!
After giving birth to my baby, I actually gained weight during nursing.I am also hypothyroid, so that didn't help. I would go to the gym regularly, but when I started going back to the office, juggling work and home got hectic, and I found it harder and harder to get dressed, drive,go to the gym,etc. The world of DVD workouts (though considered "cheap" by a lot of my friends) is fantastic for a busy work-outside-the-home mom like me. This way, I come home, can wear whatever I like, workout , shower, and not waste additional time outside the home.This DVD is my favorite workout. I did not lose weight at first, but my husband noticed my thighs, butt got firmer. I am on my first month since I started this DVD, and I have gotten more toned.
It's not super challenging, but you will get very toned.If you workout heavily in a gym, this may be a walk in the park for you. But for me, I usually ran, and did some weight training once in a while, and this was a good workout for me, and fun too. Not boring like in the gym
This is definitely one of my favorite workouts
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intense, lots of dance steps & mat workouts
This is a fun dvd - it involves using light weights (which is optional), some dance steps & working out on the mat. You have a choice whether to do the class with the instructor or follow one of the girls in the group (who does the class on a less intense level). It's just as effective. You have to focus on the core. That is the whole thing about pilates - the core. And to remember to breathe. I listen to my pilate dvds 4 - 5 times a week. It is less than an hour & I feel I get much from the lessons. The more you watch the more it comes to you in case you missed a few things in the beginning. You have to be consistent in order to get results. It's easy to stick to because it's fun & in the house. I use them whenever I feel like it - either morning or night. I ordered more - it's good to have a variety - it makes you want to exercise because you constantly learn new methods of pilates.
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Great for the thighs!
Thank God I found Ellen's Pilates inspired DVDs. Years ago, I first tried pilates by Mari Winsor and that was a complete turn off. I wasted time and money with Mari Winsor. I'll post a review on winsorpilates to elaborate. Anyways, Ellen's programs ( I also have her pilates/yoga blend and love it) may only be pilates inspired but they gave me results. This burn and firm is a total body workout but it especially helped slim down my thighs; they don't jiggle as much and I fit nicely in those 'skinny' jeans. I really believe it's from the million plies in this video. I don't look forward to doing those plies but I remind myself of what those plies had done to my lower body. This is low impact and I sweat buckets when I'm done with this. This has compound exercises like the seesaw and the swan combination and that works the entire body. There are many more kinds of compound exercises here that are so effective. I highly recommend this DVD 'coz it's completely wonderful....
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