Weight Loss: Pilates

Wow! This is a phenomenal workout. I have been doing pilates for years, and would consider myself advanced level. This workout still challenged me. It got my heart rate up, and worked my abs really well. Actually, it worked my entire body really well.Kristin is outrageously GORGEOUS, fit, strong, healthy, and totally knock-out beautiful. She is obviously very fit and healthy, and it is inspiring to come back to her videos everyday, knowing that this is what pilates can achieve for a body. Strong, lean, healthy, energized. I like that I can do pilates and then have a fresh, healthy glow and be energized, and continue on with the rest of my day, which is very different from sweating it out on a cycle at the gym, leaving sweaty and exhausted.The video itself is uplifting, calming, and energetic, but neither the images nor the music are in any way obnoxious or obtrusive. In fact, it is in every way energizing yet also calming. As well, the scenery is beautiful. I love the surprise switch to the outdoors. It's very dream-like, refreshing, spirited, mentally cleansing.I love Kristin and each of her workout videos. I have a whole stack of Kristin McGee DVD's and it is thrilling to be able to change it up. I have done other pilates DVD's with other instructors (who shall remain nameless), but what I find especially wonderful about Kristin is her positive, refreshing, upbeat, hip, yet calm energy. She doesn't sound nagging or parental or pushy or scolding. Instead, she is warm, engaging, admirable, fresh, and friendly. She is someone I want in my home everyday, someone I actually look forward to working out with. If you're going to exercise several times a week, you might as well find a joyful route.I can't say enough good things about this video or Kristin McGee in general. Pilates has changed my life and my body dramatically for the better. Just stick with it and you can achieve this for yourself, too. Kristin is magnetic. You will want to stick with it, not only to look as incredibly fit as she does, but to enjoy her warm and beautiful company while you get there.Bottom line: ORDER THIS VIDEO. For less than the price of a few pilates classes, you can order an entire collection of Kristin McGee yoga and pilates DVD's, and ultimately transform your energy level and fitness for the better.

This workout is definitely for those who are familiar with an intermediate to advanced Pilates routine. The cardio portions fit well into the mat/Pilates routine, although working on one's hands to do the vigorous cardio portion on segment two of the workout can cause quite a bit of wrist and shoulder tendinitis strain. Also, it seems that many of the movements are quite rushed, as Pilates was meant to be done in a more focused, concentrated, and refined manner. Sometimes it feels as if Kristin is rather rushing through some of the Pilates exercises without really breaking down the important elements of the movement (this is where an instructional book might be better, as it describes the finer points about a specific exercise for best execution and allows one to achieve the perfect form at one's own pace). Of course, this is meant to be a cardio workout, so it the pace must be maintained to keep the heart rate up, and so technique suffers slightly in the end. However, once I become much more adept at some of the intermediate to advanced Pilates moves on my own, I'm sure this workout will become more pleasant to run through without feeling like I'm being left behind. Kristin is energetic and strong, but just a tad bit too much on the anorexic side, which appears a somewhat concerning if one is trying to convey an image of good health and a reasonable body image of someone who works out regularly. However, this may just be her body type/disposition.

Never met Kristen McGee in person, but hope to join one of her classes next time I'm in NYC as this is my ultimate Pilates DVD. I'm 35 years old, married, no kids, busy work-schedule and this DVD simply keeps me in shape. I like her attitude, which is not obnoxious as some trainers tend to be... I can relate to her and her instructions are always very clear.Not to get bored from the same routine, I've also got her Kristin McGee S3 - Strong, Sexy Svelte DVD. As there are 2 different workouts (that can be combined if you have time, I usually don't) on this DVD and 3 different workouts on the her S3 DVD (that can be combined if you have time, again I usually don't), I can do five days of different workouts without ever getting too repetitive. All you need is a mat for this DVD, while you'll also need light weights for her S3 DVD.In addition, there are short warm-up, cool-down sessions that can be added before and after the main workout on the DVD. With those the actual workout comes to something around half an hour.If you can motivate yourself to work out at home (which was a bit hard for me at first), this DVD should definitely have the top place in your pilates collection.I've been a long-time member of Amazon and Kristen McGee is the only reason I actually set down to write a review. Maybe that may prove how much I enjoy her routines. I'll probably only buy her DVDs from now on for workout purposes. I'm definitely a devoted fan as her routines put me in best shape I've ever been in my life.