 Breakthru — Pilates Plus(Anchor Bay Entertainment) 2002 What is it? A 47-minute workout that includes Pilates, Yoga and ballet moves. It really should be called "Pilates-Plus-Plus." Who is it for? Many of these exercises look easy, but they're not — you'd best have some experience at Pilates and Yoga if you want to get the most out of this tape. No equipment needed — just have a mat and a chair handy.
What to expect: This hybrid workout has two hosts — Tracy York and Michelle Dozois — and their camaraderie is as easy as some of their moves are tough. This is a challenging, well-cued tape that, if done from beginning to end, offers a full-body workout. After an eight-minute warm-up, Yoga and Dozois talk you through eighteen-minutes of Pilates-based floorwork. Not only do they work your core, they also focus on the upper body with a plank/ push-up series that few will be able to complete on the first try. The lower body — legs and butt — gets a workout next in the 12-minute ballet segment. The moves look deceptively simple, but if you work on achieving the proper form, it's not so easy to do after all. Dozois also gives you an education on ballet terminology as you go along. The final, nine-minute segment is Yoga-based and it continues to build strength as it stretches you out. This is a great video that can get you results without having to work up a sweat (but don't worry — you'll still feel it the next day!). The other advantage to this video is that each segment stands on its own, so it can be broken down into mini-workouts. Taken as a whole or in small doses, this one's a keeper. Other Exercise DVDs you may like:
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