Product Description : Excellent DVD edition with three 45 minute workout routines which focus on muscular isolation and breath awareness. Designed for weight loss conditioning or maintaining a desired weight, pilates instructor Suzanne Deason demonstrates effective practice while promoting mind-body awareness. Also comes with a four-page weight management, exercise and nutrition guide. Additional on-screeen instruction provided. Total DVD length is 220 minutes, so you can have variety in your routines. I bought this DVD because I have a yoga DVD (All Day Yoga for Beginners) with Suzanne Deason that I like. I'm haven't done much pilates and I'm definitely not an athelete but this workout (except for a few moves) was way too easy. Since it's a DVD for weight loss I was expecting to sweat or feel a burn in my muscles but I did this for an hour and afterwards I didn't feel like I had exercised at all. I've only done the workout twice because it just doesn't seem worth it. If you're looking for a good pilates routine that will challenge you, I'd recommend The Method pilates series. I've had this workout for years on the shelf, and recently came to appreciate it again when recovering from an injury and surgery that had zapped my exercise program for several months and left me mushy-muscled, tense, and uncertain of how to build back a foundation for exercise.The title is a clue that this is designed for heavier bodies who, even with a reasonable level of fitness, won't be able to safely do the more gravity-defying moves such as The Teaser which can pop up even in beginner workouts sometimes. It also has an emphasis on body awareness, with the first 10 or 15 minutes of the workout being devoted solely to minimal exercises that build body and breath awareness. This is important for anyone, but especially for those of us who are overweight and spend so much time at war with our bodies, ignoring or neglecting them; for the beginning exerciser; or for those recovering from injury or even emotional trauma. Suzanne Deason accomplishes this sensitively and thoroughly.Next comes an approximately 35-minute workout that has many classic Pilates and some yoga-inspired moves. This portion starts with flexing and working your feet and ankles, a unique little bonus. Then you get into typical Pilates moves including The Hundred (using an eight count rather than ten), Roll-Up, Single-Leg and Double-Leg Stretch, Rolling Like a Ball, Criss-Cross, some modified Swan movements, Spine Twist and Saw, modified bridging, and side-lying leg work.Here is where the workout builds up to a nice little burn for me. The side-lying leg work is more challenging than other versions I've done in beginners' workouts, and it's followed quickly by bicycling and a double-leg circle. This isn't an aerobic workout and it's not meant to be, but here I think Deason is pushing the aerobic endurance of a beginner or overweight person. It works for me! This is followed by a nice cool-down, using moves such as Side-Lying Stretch and a yoga-like relaxation pose to finish off.All moves in the workout portion are demonstrated clearly by separate instructors simultaneously showing three different difficulty levels. There is thus no problem in both learning the moves and in modifying them to your fitness level. The backdrop is a lush Hawaiian field and seascape. There is the typical calming music and voice-over, something I don't particularly like but it's not distracting.Overall this is a solid beginner workout that helps a person build or re-build both the mental and physical foundations of fitness. Excellent introduction to Pilates. Even though I was overweight and out of shape when I bought this DVD, the pace and difficulty level was perfect for me. I was still able to follow along. There are 3 levels. You can watch all three levels or only the single level you are interested in.One of the best things about this DVD is that it encourages the mind-body connection. Not a quick fix.There are 3 segments, Introduction, creating awareness and the workout. I find the creating awareness segment very relaxing. The video is filmed along the ocean beach and green pasture overlooking the ocean coast, a very beautiful setting with vivid colors and crisp photography. The instructor, Suzanne Deason has a very pleasant, calming voice.Good beginners DVD. If you are new to Pilates, realize it is low impact and not active like aerobics. It has a calm pace but enlivening.
