Customer Reviews:
Brilliant workout!!!.......2008-02-05
Have done this workout 3times so far and its every bit as good each time i've done it...good warm up section followed by alternating cardio and plyo..routines are very easy to follow and the instructor gives good cues on next move....but after 3times i know whats coming up now anyway. It has a really good variety of moves some of which use weights at same time making it tougher - lunges(side/forward/backward), squats, kicks, skiing, hamstring curls, pushups - so it doesnt get boring and with each section the time flies in(i find that with all The Firm's dvds)overall i found it great workout for upper body and lower body as well as the abs which includes standing and ground work...and finishes off with cool down! The girl on right of screen does a less intense version if you finding the routine too tough - this might come in handy if i'm not feeling too energetic LOL! It is a TOUGH workout but i'd highly recommend it...i've been using Firm dvds for a few months now and i'd swear by them!
Great all round workout.......2008-02-04
I really like this DVD. It combines short plyometric and weight sections with short cardio sections so your heart rate stays high but you don't get bored or strain anything through repetitive movements. Alison Davis is really personable too.
DELIVERS ON PROMISES!.......2008-02-01
This is one of the best workout DVD's I've come across and I've done a few! Only Aerobics Oz Style comes close. The routines are easy to follow, instructions are clear and straight forward. I like that you can follow the low-impact version with one of the other ladies working out, the camera angles even make it easy to always see what's happening. I loved seeing Alison sweat - great to know I wasn't alone! Broken into 6 short sections that mix up cardio, cardio with weights and then plyometric "power bursts", it's always interesting and the time just flies (52 mins inc cool down). The abs section is really good also; very thorough but not to the point of being injured! This will be one of my favouriters now and a hard one to beat, I'm seeing the results after just 5 sessions. 5 stars!
I've LOST WEIGHT!.......2008-01-30
I've been doing this video for three weeks and already I've lost weight ( whilst cutting down my calorie intake a little!) and my stomach feels and looks great. My love handles are vanishing! this is a great workout video, if not the best!
I would suggest doing the beginners level a few times before moving up. It helps you learn and the moves and still works you hard. You haven't worked out until you've used this video!
I love it!.......2008-01-16
Love this dvd!!! Its 50 minutes long and includes a warm up then it varies between sections of around 10 minutes each cardio and plyo also using handweights and includes some core work and a warm down. Its challenging and really gets your heartrate up I incorperate my kettlebell as well as using handweights. Ive read that interval training burns the most calories so this dvd must burn loads!
Customer Reviews:
Excellent - it works!.......2005-05-04
I have just ordered the DVD, but the video is excellent! It really does work. You must follow the work out and use it regularly, every day if you can for three months, then as you can. At least three times per week. Every day revitalizes you with energy, you lose inches, and gain shape. Very, very good with Radu.
OK for toning but too serious.......2005-01-07
This is similar to her previous vid where it can be repetitive and a bit boring. It is effective though and you do know you've toned your muscles.
This is purely toning and not cardiovascular.
We could do without the touchy feely of the trainer though....hmmm
Way Too Hard.......2004-09-06
This excercise vid is great if you really want a solid, good and serious workout. And when ever I do this vid my body really aches all over. And you will see results. I have.
But I have found that I am way too lazy to do this one. Instead I tend to chose easier and more fun ways to excercise. Elle McPherson's Body excercise for example is a lot more easy going and lot more fun to do, not as hard as this on but you still get the desired effects.
Cindy Crawford on the other hand is a great motivator and she actually seems like a nice person. But I just find this one way to serious and too hard.
Great, Great, Great.......2004-08-06
I love this video. Ok so it's a bit old, and certainly looks quite dated when you watch it, but it is the single best exercise video I have ever done.
I am quite an exercise video-a-holic, with no motivation to go to the Gym I do manage to do 1 to 2 hours a day at home. This video seriously had me exhausted, and I had to have a break for a few days afterwards. I like to think I am quite fit, but this video really toned up areas I did not think could get more toned up!
The only reason I have knocked off a star, is the saftey aspects have a lot to be desired. Cindy warms up WAY to fast, especially around the neck and back areas. She provides little explanation of the safe way to complete the exercises and does not give enough opportunity for stretching. Quite how practical exercising in a little pair of denim hotpants is, I'm not sure.
If you take the warm up at your own pace, slow the actions down and add your own stretches this video is worth twice the price.Not really for beginners.
fun.......2003-06-12
I like it a lot. This video and New Challenge I have for about 6-7 years. Cindy does great job, and excercises are giving me energy and motivation. I play viola and have to spend many hours practicing. And those excercises are giving me energy that I need to keep up with my busy schedule.
Great attitude, great music...and fun.
Customer Reviews:
Short and Effective.......2007-08-17
I use to train in the mornings and I like this workout because it takes only 30 min. but it is effective (I could feel my body next day) and it's nice filmed. I would not recommend it for beginners.
Amazing...it actually works!.......2007-07-12
I've just had my second baby by c-section so my abs were in bad shape. I have used this dvd for 7, days each morning for 25 mins (when my little one who is 4 months is a asleep). I notice results already. Even though I am not getting a full night sleep yet I find I have increased energy...I also feel more positive and proactive.I am getting things done rather than talking about it! I know this sounds incredible but I suppose besides the benefit of doing abdominal exercises I am also making time for myself and that has far reaching effects.It is a very challenging DVD but each day I seem to be able to achieve more. The first time I tried it I couldn't even get my legs off the floor without lifting them with my arms!Buy it.You will notice a difference. My husband has!
Great abs workout!!.......2006-10-30
An excellent workout specifically for strengthening and toning the abs. It lasts around 30 minutes and progresses in intensity. There isnt a lot of help given for beginners to you do need to know your stuff, such as focusing on the powerhouse and inner centre. Ana Caban is a good presenter - simple, easy to understand instructions. The exercises are very beneficial as you can actually feel your abs strecthing as you do them. All in all, the dvd is a simple, half an hour workout that will (hopefully) give results!!
Impressive -- not for absolute beginners though.......2006-05-27
This was just the DVD I wanted -- pilates to focus in on the abs (and lower back) not the legs or upper torso work. So, does exactly what it says on the tin.
The instructor is very pleasant and her voice is easy to listen to over and again; nothing grating or annoying in the script; just basic instruction.
But that's all the instruction you'll get -- the basic do-this now, modify here, and go. So, if you are an absolute beginner and have not yet learned about holding the pelvic floor or firming your core while you work, etc., you need to get that somewhere else. There's a bit of lip service to it, but not much more than a gentle reminder afterwards.
I like the fact that this DVD is for the experienced-beginner thru intermediate to advanced. I'm often p-o'ed hearing the nubie chit-chat over and again. But it's important to caution complete newcomers that you can hurt yourself if you don't already have the basics -- particularly, you could strain your back muscles if you haven't learned somewhere else how to engage your pelvic floor and core muscles to stabilize yourself while working out.
Other than that -- this is a great abs workout!
Customer Reviews:
Documenting Arnold was a star before Arnold was a star.......2004-07-24
You will never get a better chance to see a movie star in embryonic form than watching 28-year old Austrian body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger in this 1976 documentary about bodybuilding. Arnold is "Pumping Iron" to win his sixth straight Mr. Olympia title and the future Terminator steals the spotlight from his competitors (including Lou Ferrigno in his pre-Incredible Hulk days) with relative ease. Directors George Butler and Robert Fiore capture the world of competitive bodybuilding on film, but it is Arnold who makes it all seem like such a noble effort. With his natural charm and his single-minded determination, it is easy in retrospect to see why he became such a box officer star. This is a man who has always been comfortable with who he is and what he is doing. Even if you find the sight of muscular men covered in oil to be somewhat disquieting (I am pleading guilty here), you will find this look at their world to be both fascinating and insightful.
Pumping Iron.......2004-01-03
Features Arnold Schwarzenegger and a load of his bodybuilding mates training and pasing, and training, and posing... you get the idea. If you are a big fan of bodybuilding or Arnie himself you will probably love this, if however like me you aren't, then this will probably start to bore you after a while.
brilliant.......2003-08-27
this movie is amust see not only for weightlifters but ordinary people - brill
Motivating and fascinating.......2003-07-29
Enter the crazy world of body building in 1975 with Arnie accompanied by Lou Ferrigno, Mike Katz and Franco Columbo. It's a documentary that focuses on Arnie and his main competitor - Lou Ferrigno. You get to see the crazy workouts that each guy has to endure, but you also see Arnie demotivating and playing mind tricks with Lou.
Overall this is a superb film for any weight training fan, and I can definitely recommend this as a motivational and entertaining film - excellent stuff.
Customer Reviews:
Easy to follow and very pleasant to participate in.......2007-06-06
I bought this DVD together with Suzanne Deason's "Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss" DVD, but with no prior experience to Pilates. As much as I raved about the other DVD, I actually preferred this one in terms of seeing very rapid results if you follow the workout on a regular basis.
It is paced well, so I found I wasn't getting bored, or getting confused by the change in positions. I really liked the fact you can either watch the two modified versions of the exercises either alongside the original position or seperately - I found it easier to focus when I had the fully modified version on its own, yet the combined version allows you to see how each modified pose relates to the original.
The workout lasts for just under an hour, and if full effort is put in then you will indeed feel pleasantly knackered, but with lots of energy. The instructions are clear and precise, yet with a gentle and friendly manner. You are advised when to inhale and exhale, and how to avoid common mistakes such as overstraining your neck.
I'm still using this DVD at the fully modified version of the exercises, so cannot fairly comment on if this DVD is relevant for those who have experience of advanced Pilates. I thoroughly reccommend this DVD for beginners or intermediate levels though.
A great DVD which I cannot reccommend enough without sounding like I was payed to review it.
Disappointing.......2007-03-01
From the positive reviews from others I was expecting something better.
My problems with this DVD are as follows:
1. There is no information on the box or on the DVD to tell you how long the various exercise sessions are. This wouldn't matter if the sessions were short, but they all see to be 45 minutes or more. I like to be able to plan how long I spend on exercising and this DVD doesn't help that.
2. The instruction sound track at the difficult level also includes the instructions on how to do the the same exercise at a lower level. This means you are being talked at a lot and you spend much of your time listening attentively only to find the instructions do not apply to you. This is not restful.
3. The camera angles are not always suitable for explaining what she is doing.
4. The terminology she uses on the sound track for the names of the various levels is not the same as that use in the written menus in the DVD screens. This is confusing.
A previous reviewer is right, it is a very calm DVD. Almost too much so for my taste. There must be better DVDs out there.
Calming and effective.......2006-12-13
I loved this DVD, very calm, perfect setting, the exercises are easy and very well explained..A definite must have for home exercisers!
Pilates made easy!.......2006-05-11
good clear instructions with extra information if required. moves easy to follow, ideal product for newcomers to Pilates. Have yet to see the weight loss though.....
Pilates - Conditioning For Weight Loss.......2006-03-25
This is a great pilates workout. It offers all levels, so beginners and advanced alike are catered for. It is a good hour long, so it is a complete workout, and works different areas of the body. The moves are referred to by their name, rather than with lengthy explanations, which for me (a more advanced pilates person), was great. Yet there is the option to pause and select an explanation for beginners too. The location is really nice, and Suzanne Deeson is not at all annoying in her instructions. Positions and movements are paced well to be effective and smooth in transition. Highly recommended.
Customer Reviews:
READ THE BOOK.......2007-11-27
I am a massive fan of the book and when I heard there was a film I was very excited. But! oh dear, this just goes to show that not ever book can be made into a film. It has no impact at all. Ther characters were flat and the story told way too quickly.
If you love the book, then stick to the book as this was a big let down.
inspiring.......2007-09-24
The film may not be as broad as the book but its enough to get people to start thinking past what they have been conditioned and will inspire many to read the book.
Oh dear.......2007-08-22
Only an american teenager would find anything of value in this painfully embarrassing drivel. Nick Nolte must have some gambling debts to pay.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for a short workout........2007-09-14
This is a very good DVD for someone who already has a knowledge of Pilates. What I like about it, is that Ana uses the original Pilates exercises, which are designed to flow from one to another, so that it's almost like learning a sequence. You do need to have a prior knowledge of Pilates however to use this DVD as it's not that easy. However, these exercises really work and you will see results if you use it regularly. What's good about it, is that it doesn't take too long to do, so it's ideal if you want to exercise daily.
Good especcialy if you have a band.......2007-08-07
It's a really good dvd especcialy if you do the exercises with a band!The impact is not very high, the scenery is nice, and the voice of the instructor is helpful. Most important, she does not forget to remind us of our breathing.
Other than that, its nothing so special.
Challenging and also very instructive.......2007-07-31
This is a great DVD because it not only teaches the correct technique so that back problems can be avoided, but also presents the exercises in a way which continues to challenge, even if one uses the DVD repeatedly. The exercises are done slowly so there is time to complete each one properly (which I think is the best way to do pilates anyway). The only criticism I have is that the main workout is only 25 minutes and not sufficiently challenging without doing the quick booster workout as well, however since the booster workout is more or less a repetition of the main workout, it can get a bit monotonous.
Simply Brilliant.......2007-03-06
I can't praise this dvd enough. In a few sessions, this has drastically toned my stomach, waist, thighs and even the tricky triceps. More than that, I feel stonger and energized after every workout. If you're new to pilates, then I'd recommend trying the Beginner's Mat Workout by Ana Caban first, as you'll probably need some preparation before attempting the intermediate workout (it took me a while to work up to this one!). Also, Ana explains important concepts such as alignment and breathing on the beginner's dvd, but doesn't touch on them much during this workout. In fact, the only complaint I have is that the instruction could stand to be a little more informative at times, especially for trickier poses which may strain bad backs, such as 'the teaser'. Still, the workout is so effective that I can't bring myself to deduct a star! Ana's assistant demonstrates the easier versions of the moves, so 'improvers' like myself should find this useful.
The routine may only be 30 mins long, but the pace is rigorous and the moves are challenging, so it's plenty long enough. Also, there's a bonus 10 min workout for those who want to do that little bit extra.
My previous experience of pilates was limited to Lynne Robinson DVDs, and as good as they are, they didn't give me nearly the workout and results that this one does. Highly recommended.
Fantastic Pilates DVD.......2006-11-26
Having been a Pilates Instructor for 20 years - I think that this DVD is one of the best I have ever seen. The Ana Caban interview is extremely good in that she explains the Pilates Philosophy brilliantly! The teaching is clear and precise; the demonstrations are of a very high standard indeed and beautiful to watch. This is certainly not for a Beginner or someone that does not have the foundations firmly in place! If I have any criticisms they are that the main workout is only 30 mins long - 50 mins would have been perfect. Also there is no inverted work - which I found surprising, as it would have completed the balance of the excellent workout.
Customer Reviews:
Really felt it the day after!.......2007-11-30
I love the 10 Minute Solution DVDs, I have three others and then found this one. My only criticism of this particular DVD is that the moves were done so quickly that I had trouble keeping up and sometimes I didnt think they were explained properly. But maybe I will get better at them the more I use the DVD.
Other than that, I really felt it in my muscles the next day which gives me hope that its working! I will persevere and see if can keep up with her next time!
Excellent Tummy Toner.......2007-09-19
This is a fantastic DVD, it has 5 x 10 minute sections designed to keep boredom at bay and to flatten your abs. They are broken up as follows: 1. Flat belly fast which is Core Based exercises, beginners and advance exercises are offered here, 2.Pilates perfect abs, 3. Belly fat blaster great areobic style ab exercises which are easier on the neck, 4. Ab Ripper and 5. Six Pack Abs, real intense exercises. I highly recommend this DVD.
Customer Reviews:
immensely useful.......2007-12-11
Having taken a few 'beginner' ballet classes recently i was becoming frustrated at not being able to hold positions for long enough and at the weakness of my muscles, a great workout for toning and strengthening plus aids technique. Highly reccomended.
Very good DVD.......2007-03-14
I have never done Ballet and thought I would give the work out a go to compliment my style of dance and I thought it was great. Having had no previous knowledge of the names of the moves etc, I was pleased to find that the instructor described each move well and did not assume you could do it all superbly. A must for a home workout!
Excellent.......2005-07-12
Great floor workout, great barre workout, and sectioned into level one and two for those days when you want an easy or hard workout. a must for home practising.
UK DVD:
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Hole [2003] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Hunger [1983]
- The Incredibly True Adventure of 2 Girls in Love [1996] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Killing of Sister George
- The Killing of Sister George [1968] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Lost Room [2007] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The L Word: Season Two [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Object of My Affection [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Pest [1996] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
UK DVD List
UK DVD
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Video
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