formerly titled Breakthru Hard-Core Conditioning
Michelle Dozois and Tracy York
What a pleasant workout! There's something very appealing about this tape -- everything from the personality of the instructors, to the soft "new-agey" music, to the exercises themselves. It's a 40-minute Pilates-type workout. Michelle teaches the first part, and Tracy the second. You do a lot of different exercises that work your abs, core, and back. It's seldom that I have the patience to do 40 minutes of this type of exercise (20 or 30 is usually my limit), but this one goes by so fast that you don't even realize how much time has gone by. They do several different exercises, but they don't do a horrendous number of repetitions. You do something, and then you move on. It gets increasingly challenging toward the end. After I do this tape, I stand taller and feel more graceful, and I really enjoy it. Grade A+.
Annie S.
ann.s@worldnet.att.net
9-21-00
I'm surprised there's not more reviews of this tape. This is a great workout for only $9.99. I thought about purchasing the tape for awhile and then got a smokin' deal on the exchange and I'm so glad I did! The workout is about 40 minutes total. It's high beginner to intermediate level. I wouldn't recommend it for someone brand new to Pilates, because they didn't explain the breathing patterns well (except Michelle did give a good example of how it should feel to exhale- like a seat belt tightening all around your core, and to expel all the air out). I would say I'm a low intermediate, I took a series of classes last year, so I know the techniques but let my Pilates practice go for awhile. What I love about this tape is they dont do the advanced moves, like jacknife or roll-overs--- I have other tapes that demonstrate those exercises but I do not have the core strength or flexibility to attempt them at this time. With the other tapes, I end up fast-forwarding through those sections and get a guilty feeling, like why can't I do these moves (silly, but I am very competitive!) It's nice to have two instructors so one does the move (example: one-leg teaser) and the other can show the advanced way (regular teaser). They switch between the abs and back alot, which I feel is important to get a balanced workout. The music is quiet, new-agey. I think I am going to enjoy this tape and grow with it.
Instructor comments:
Both are friendly and explain the moves well.
Sally Reese
8-6-02
Indoor studio, no music that I remember, no problem with clothing. No background exercisers.
Michelle Dozois does the first 17 min. It includes crossover, rollover but she adds little bits of the whole move and then does the whole move.
Tracy York does the next 16 min. Does a variety of planks and a variation of the spine stretch forward. Hers is a more active segment.
I am not sure why one of them doesn't always continue doing a modified version of the move instead of mirroring each other. Also, because of the attempt to gradually add segments to the final move, I had to keep stopping to strain and turn around to look (especially during the plank sessions.)
Beginners to pilates can learn some modifications possible before attempting to do complete moves with other videos.
Negative is that they don't do a good job of telling you what the move is they are doing so you can really learn about pilates or continue to do the modifications.
Total wo time: 38 min mat wo which incl 5 min cooldown which has at least 2 downward dogs.
Beginner to pilates only. I think there are probably better videos than this one though.
No advantage that I can see to dvd which I have as opposed to cheaper vhs.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Instructor comments:
Instructors end up stumbling on words and quite a few "uh"s and um's."
I don't particularly care for Tracy York usually but her loud hyperness is not present here.
Linda (aka fanofladyvols)
1/3/05
