Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9150 in VHS
• Released on: 2001-02-06
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Color, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Amazon.com
If you enjoyed Ana Caban's exceptional beginning-level video, Pilates: Mat-Based Workout for Beginners, and you've progressed enough to continue on to the next level, Caban is back with an intermediate workout. Assuming you have already mastered the first workout, she makes the exercises more intense, with fewer breaks between exercises, and adds some new ones that will really challenge your "powerhouse" muscles. Fortunately, another exerciser demonstrates modifications for the hardest exercises. Caban is a superb role model and instructor, piling on technique tips so that you don't mistakenly think these exercises are easy by cheating. It's unfortunate, though, that the sound quality isn't up to the instruction quality. Caban sometimes sounds just fine, and a moment later she sounds like she's in an echo chamber. This problem persists through the whole 40-minute video. Still, this is an excellent Pilates program and will become one of your regular workouts. --Joan Price

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Follow-up to the Beginner's Workout
After about 4 weeks of Caban's Mat Based Workout for Beginner's, I have stepped up to her intermediate version. First of all, if you are new to pilates do not attempt this tape without first doing the beginner's tape. There are several poses in this workout that are the same as those in the beginner's, but as more advanced versions. It's important that you should learn the beginning versions first in order to understand exactly how the poses are executed.

As for the intermediate workout, it's wonderful. There are a series of poses where you are not allowed to rest your head back in between each one. This is where you will really start to feel that powerhouse at work. The side poses feature new exercises that tone your waist moreso than the beginner workout.

Ana's trusty sidekick is back, as well. However, she does not give as many simplified examples. In case of emergency, I go back to the old beginner poses. This time, you go much further with the teaser. If you've been doing the beginner workout religiously, fear not, you CAN do it.

Yes, the production value of this video is pretty bad. But don't let that hold you back from a fabulous workout by a wonderful instructor.

Effective and enjoyable workout
This DVD is fabulous. Really. I started off using the Pilates for weight-loss with Suzanne Deason and moved on to this one when I wanted to get a stronger workout with a more traditional Pilates approach (Suzanne Deason's is more yoga-centric technique, using Pilates fundamentals, but with greater latitude). The workout in the Pilates intermediate mat workout is challenging, with modifications offered if you need then. Ana Caban does an EXCELLENT job of cueing and explaining how to execute a movement (and what not to do) in terms that are clear and helpful. The workout is about half and hour, which seemed short to me, but the reason is because you are working towards being able to perform the full Pilates floor mat set and the more advanced movements are left out. Even though it is only half an hour (and its flies by) the workout leaves you feeling as though you have accomplished more that you would have in an hour at the gym. I have been using this workout for two weeks and the results are incredible - my posture, waist size, abdominal strength and weight have all improved. I only wish that Ana Caban did an advanced video so that I could have something to look forward to when I get there. I do suggest getting a book for additional reference when needed - the Brook Stiler book and the Alycea Ungaro are the two best out there.

I love this tape...
I first tried Pilates and Yoga with a Denise Austin's version of it. I had no clue how bad that tape was until I tried this one! The instructor is good at demonstrating, the exercises are great! I just LOVE this tape. When I finished this tape I immediately sold my denise tape on an online auction!