Four short Pilates routines — two 10-minute segments and two 20-minute segments — geared towards beginners. Kristin McGee instructs.

Pilates beginners and advanced beginners. If you're new to Pilates and can't get to a studio, this is a good place to start. You will just need a mat.

I loved Kristin McGee's MTV Pilates DVD (in fact, I still use it), so I was happy to see her return with some new workouts. But what really surprised me was when I handed this disc to my boyfriend when he was looking for a quick ab workout. He'd never done Pilates before, but I thought he might get something out of the 10-minute beginning workout (he's a musician, not some macho guy, so he's pretty open minded about the exercise DVDs I hand him, unless they involve dance). He wound up raving about McGee's instruction, and not even because she's blonde and pretty. In fact — and I quote him — "her instruction was so good I didn't have to look at the TV all the time." The first two segments — the shorter ones — are perfect for beginners who need detailed cueing and modified versions of the exercises. You learn about breathing, core stabilization and basic Pilates moves. The two 20-minute segments are more advanced — they're a good step up if you've graduated from the first segments, or a great place to start if you've done Pilates before. Exercises such as the Teaser and Open Leg Rocker are still modified, but definitely more difficult than what you saw in the earlier routines. The first 20-minute segment focuses more on the series of five (Single Leg Stretch, Double Leg Stretch, Criss-Cross, etc.), while the second segment involves the side-lying leg moves and back exercises. The little booklet inside the DVD is a great supplement, with beginner's tips and a few additional bonus moves. If you're new to Pilates — or even if you've been doing it for a little while — this DVD is highly recommended.