Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8104 in VHS
• Released on: 2001-04-09
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Color, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 50 minutes

Amazon.com
In this excellent, intermediate Pilates workout, you add muscular power and endurance to the core stability you've developed. Skillful instructor Moira Stott-Merrithew starts with a review of basic principles, demonstrated in the warm-up, before taking us through a nonstop workout. Many of the moves are the essential exercises taught in Essential Matwork but performed without rests in between (45 exercises in 49 minutes), building flow as well as adding endurance and intensity. Stott-Merrithew slows down when she introduces difficult new exercises, such as the rollover, which involves lying on the back, legs lifted off the floor (held up by the abdominals), then slowly bringing the legs up and over the head with control, touching the feet to the floor behind the head, opening the legs from that position, then flexing the feet and slowly bringing them back to the starting position, closing the legs, and doing it all over again. Whew. As always, Stott-Merrithew, calm and competent, instructs throughout, so we're learning as much technique as we can handle. Her form is impeccable and inspiring. --Joan Price

From the Actor
One of the safest and most effective exercise programs available, STOTT PILATES focuses on developing core abdominal and back strength to help you achieve optimal strength, flexibility, endurance and posture, without building bulk or stressing joints.

About the Actor
Moira Stott-Merrithew, has spent more than a decade refining the method of exercise to include modern principals of exercise science and spinal rehabilitation to make it safe and effective. Her clear and detailed approach, known as STOTT PILATES – the contemporary approach to the original works of J.H. Pilates – forms the basis for the basis for STOTT training programs offered around the world as well as the most comprehensive pilates video collection worldwide, over 30 video titles.

Customer Reviews

Just what I was looking for!
I tried every Pilates tape I could find, trying to find one that was not BASIC. I had learned the poses, but I wanted a tape that moved along with little or no extra instruction. This tape was just what I wanted. Each of the movements is done with form reminders, but no practice poses, and because of that, I don't feel like I'm just lying around waiting for the instructions to be over. If you have mastered Beginner level Pilates, here's where you go next. This tape, alternated with traditional abdominal work, will definitely get those abs in shape!

Excellent
This is the best for instruction, she cues like noone else, and the attention to detail is phenomenal. She knows when to tell you not to tighten your neck, when to keep your shoulders down - incredible. It is not flashy, and her videos in fact have been criticised for being monotonous. Well - give me that and don't give me someone grinning at me and whooping - or fillling up a set with candles.
However I should stress that it is TOUGH. I used her Essential level tape for months before moving on to this, and it has taken me months to work up to doing all the exercises - the rollover is still difficult to do without momentum.
To the user who found it too hard and fast - and had decided to skip the beginner's tape - please note above - the Essential is inbetween! You don't actually need the Beginner's tape unless you are really unfit - her explanation in the essential tape is of course perfect. It is slow - all the exercises you do fast in this tape are explained and demonstrated much more slowly.
Anyway - these are the best tapes for explanation and content - and the plus is that the order has been rearranged to reflect current knowledge of physionomy and the need to balance forward bending and backward bending of the spine.
If you really want to learn Pilates properly - this is the series to go for, believe me.

Good Pilates Video
I have been taking Pilates classes and this is a great additionto my training. It's a great way to do Pilates without having to payfor a class. Since doing Pilates for the last 2 months, I have lost 3-4 inches around my waist. It is a great video, representative of a live Pilates class. The instructor provides good cues to get you to work the right areas and do the exercises correctly. The only downside is that it is the same workout every time and the instructor cannot correct your movements, which is an essential part of Pilates. Overall as good as a video can get.