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The Pilates Body Kit: An Interactive Fitness Program to Strengthen, Streamline, and Tone (includes 2 audio CDs, flash cards & workbook) (Audio CD)
by Brooke Siler
| Category:
Health & Fitness |
| Market price: ¥ 258.00
MSL price:
¥ 238.00
[ Shop incentives ]
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
Brooke Siler does it again! The Pilates Body Kit and the book almost make her a personal trainer. And the flash cards are useful too! |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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Jill Lightner (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
Whether you're recovering from back surgery or looking for a decent full-body workout, Pilates has something to offer - and this practical kit from well-known guru Brooke Siler pulls a complicated system together with finesse. Emphasizing equal stretching and strengthening of the muscles (especially those throughout the torso, referred to as "the powerhouse"), Pilates mat work is conveniently portable thanks to its total lack of fancy equipment. Combining a video with Pilates is asking for poor muscular alignment and a lot of mental distraction, so while the kit's components may seem a little old-fashioned, they're both effective and appropriate. Two CDs and 70 illustrated flash cards work together to supply visual and oral cues for each exercise; a simple book and exercise journal complete the package. With a portable player, you'll have private instruction in public gyms or hotels without expensive classes or tight schedules. The first disk provides a solid grounding in the fundamentals and progresses up the ladder. Many postures are possible for everyone, regardless of fitness level, and it's also a good backup for advanced students if an accident or illness forces you to start again from scratch. The second disk takes you through the intermediate exercises, some of which may be difficult (or impossible) at first but remain inspiring - Siler's gentle authority and creative metaphors make it easy to visualize a day when we'll all be as lean, strong and flexible as she is. |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
As a beginner to Pilates, I find Brooke Siler's books and methods easy to understand and follow ... I travel a lot and most hotels do not supply a DVD/VHS player in their rooms. Even if they did, personally I would stay away from the DVD/VHS versions of Pilates. Unlike other workout routines, Pilates is not just a physical one. It is also a mental exercise. Watching a video while trying to concentrate on the interaction of one's body, mind, and Pilates would be too distracting for me. The other advantage of the audio book is that using my portable CD-player, I have the freedom to take my Pilates outdoors to the park or to the beach. Well done Ms. Siler for giving us the best of Pilates and the mobility to take our Pilates with us, no matter where we go. End. |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
While I enjoyed Siler's The Pilates Body and found it to be a comprehensive reference, I could not imagine myself using the book while performing the exercises or even walking away with all of the important points she made about each movement. She veered too far into the wordy side at times, and I could see how absolute beginners could find her intimidating.
This kit is a great follow-up or add-on to her book. Her instructions for each of the sections are very clear, and the cards that she provides for each movement give just the right amount of information about what you should be thinking about for each exercise.
I enjoy the CD format of the workout. The format makes it very easy to skip over to the section that you want to work on that day without having to skip around as you would in a video. Much has been made about why Siler would come out with an audio version and not a video or DVD. Having read interviews that she's given, I know that there are plans to come out with a video. Frankly, I suspect that she wanted to expand her market cautiously by coming out with an audio version first, which, I believe, would be somewhat less expensive to produce than a video.
Also, while some may disagree, I feel that a more advanced Pilates mat workout really requires a visual component. I would be very nervous about a product that instructed, say, the JackKnife without giving an idea of how it should look. While that could be gotten across to some extent on flash cards, I think it would be very helpful to see the more advanced movements in motion to give the viewer an idea of the speed and care necessary to use when performing them.
While I enjoyed the workouts and recommend them to any Pilates student, I'm giving this four stars instead of five because the constant references to "Authentic Pilates" in the first two or three sections of the CD became very annoying. Most students acknowledge the superiority of the original method Siler and her mentor teach, but constantly bringing it up don't further convince me, just irritate me. |
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Birkmurphy Stout (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
I highly recommend this book. I am not a dancer by any stretch of the imagination, unless if you consider being able to trip over your own shoes an art form. Yet I have had no trouble picking Pilates up and even seeing (and feeling) results after only 3 wks. I have had 13 surgeries in my life resulting finally in an auto immune pain disorder, and so I have been at a total loss for exercise recently. Everything makes me hurt. People have been recommending Pilates to me, but I couldn't afford to (and was afraid to) take a class. This book has really been a godsend for me. I do it 4 x week, and I have become so strong. (Stronger than my fiancé, if you ask me!) I can hold poses for much longer than I could even a week ago. It's really fun to see the rewards of your work- it keeps me going. I love Pilates- and Brook Siler for making even me able to say "Yeah, I do Pilates." |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
Siler gives fantastic instructions, and her workouts are filled with helpful cues. I love the CD format because you can bring it to the gym or on vacation. Unlike most other Pilates programs on video that combine instruction on each movement with the Pilates exercise session, this program moves at a pace fast enough to have a real workout. There are separate instructions on how to do the movement. The main criticism I have is that even the Intermediate session is very basic and includes only the exercises that Brooke Siler's paperback book describes as Basic. I hope she comes out with a more advanced CD. |
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Ronda (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
I bought this for the two workouts. I have several Pilates videos. But once you know what you are doing, it is frustrating to have to stop to listen to the alignment cues each time. The two workouts allow you to flow through the routines, moving from one exercise to the next without stopping. Since they are CDs, they are also excellent for taking on vacation or business trips.
If you have been doing other videos/DVDs or taking classes, you might find the beginner workout too short, around 15 minutes. The beginner and intermediate exercises used correspond to those labeled as such in her book The Pilates Body. Therefore, they don't include intermediate exercises that might be on a beginner video/DVD or advanced moves (like swimming) that you might find on an intermediate video.
I give it 5 stars for use by people familiar with Pilates. I would never try to learn Pilates, however, by using these. You really need to see the moves to understand them and to be able to do them properly.
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Perlman (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
With all respect for the two reviewers who were disappointed in getting audio only CDs and not a video, I would like to remind them that watching a video while doing Pilates is virtually impossible as the act of watching will almost certainly pull you out of proper alignment (unless your TV is on the ceiling). These CDs are terrific - They include reminders of all the crucial mental aspects of Pilates, the breathing, the control of movement, and extension and opposition of body parts - and allow you to do a Pilates routine with proper sequence, pace and form while listening to important cues but allow you to concentrate on your own form, movement and breathing. Pilates done right is hard work - if it seems like just another form of calisthenics/yoga, as one reviewer suggested, then it simply isn't being done with proper focus. By the way, I credit Pilates with helping me gain the body control and flexibility to become a much better ice hockey goalie. |
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A Canadian reader (MSL quote), Canada
<2007-01-04 00:00>
I bought this kit to take with me on the road. I have the Mari Windsor videos and wanted to continue my workouts while away from home which is usually 3 days a week. With my knowledge from the tapes, these cards guided me through a great workout I was able to do in my hotel room. The step-by-step breathing instructions, movements and visualizations ('a balloon pulling me upwards') really helped. One trip I had three colleagues join me in the hotel gym and conducted my own Pliates Class. It was easy to instruct as I just read the card. They were able to understand and follow along(none of them had ever tried Pilates before). The next couple days they were all feeling the effects from the great workout. When I see them they always want to get together for Pilates. This is a great card set; easy to pack, take on the road and follow along. Definitely recommend for those that want to keep up with their program or for those that want to an easy & fun exercise program on the road. |
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Evelyn Garing (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-04 00:00>
I love Pilates and have used variety of Pilates equipment, DVDs, books, , but was confused how to feel and move from powerhouse, also how to breath position my body correctly. I knew something was lacking from my form and the various DVDs and books did not help, either they were confusing, or the workouts were tedious, joyless. After using this set, I realized that you cannot "see" the fine details of Pilates, by looking at someone else doing the movement, You have to find them through tuning into your own body. Pilates is subtle, complex. And wonderful to do when you grasp the basics. This set shows me what it must be like to train with top trainer. Wow! What a gift. It is like having one of the best trainers in your room, giving you private instruction! Now I understand and feel my powerhouse and know how to breathe and how to use my breath and powerhouse to do the exercises. And have much clearer understanding of correct positions, movements of exercises than I ever did from the other sources. Plus she makes it fun. What a difference! If you've never seen the Pilates exercises, then it might be helpful to borrow video or dvd from library and to see the basic movements. then take it back, and use this set to learn the details, to learn how to do them correctly, with joy, from one of the best trainers out there. |
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1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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