A 56-minute, high-intensity Pilates routine from Jules Benson.

Intermediate exercisers and up — parts of this workout were really tough! You will need a mat and some prior Pilates experience.

When I reviewed Benson's Step and Core Pilates a few weeks back, I really enjoyed its 20-minute Pilates routine so I figured I would like this DVD too. I was not disappointed! For nearly an hour, Benson works your core from the inside out in every way imaginable — flowing moves, stabilization work and isometric holds. Instead of running you through the usual Hundreds, Teasers and the like, Benson puts a spin on many of the exercises... and the spin always makes it harder than it was to begin with. You start off on your mat with unusual variations on roll-ups, Teasers and the like, then move to your side for 20 minutes of killer core/ leg work. You finish up with a variety of Plank moves (regular, side, moving legs, etc.) and back strengthening work. This workout doesn't feel as long as it really is, thanks to Benson's friendly, likeable persona. She cues nicely, but this is geared toward the experienced Pilates exerciser, so you need to know your way around the moves before giving this workout a try. If you've been doing Pilates for a while and want to ramp up your workouts with a great DVD, then this one is definitely a must-have. It's one of the best Pilates workouts to come out in the past couple of years.