Part documentary, and part Pilates instruction, this video is centered around master Pilates instructor Romana Kryzanowska, who inherited the studio and legacy of Joseph Pilates. The 35-minute program includes prep for Pilates and a brief beginner's routine.

Those who want to learn about Pilates from the beginning, including its history. While it only offers the smallest of workouts, it sets up a good foundation.

Be forewarned: this program isn't a Pilates session, except for the last five minutes. Instead, it's an introduction with basic instruction, featuring Romana Kryzanowska, who learned everything she knows from Joseph Pilates himself (she refers to him as "Uncle Joe"). Now, at the age of 80, she still practices Pilates the way she learned it, and teaches the authentic Pilates style to her students. The first part of Introduction to Pilates Matwork is a brief documentary on the origins of Pilates, with accompanying footage of Joseph Pilates in his prime, teaching groups of students. One of them is a very young Romana Kryzanowska (who was 17 and a dancer with George Balanchine when she first met him). Next, Romana takes a student through basic Pilates exercises — the Hundred, Leg Circles, Rolling Like a Ball, etc. — and then she has three more students demonstrate some excellent wall exercises that serve as prep for a Pilates session. The ending routine is just five minutes, so it's really only a taste of Pilates, and it covers all the exercises demonstrated earlier by Romana's student. For those who are completely new to Pilates, this is a good place to start, and it will help other, longer workouts make more sense.

 

 

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