What can i say? Another success!!!!!!! Great DVD and terrific workout. I am a huge fan of Ana Caban. I have been "working out" with Ana''s DVDs for almost six years and she never disappoints me.Even if i really don''t have a favorite Ana''s DVD (i love them all), the Total Toning adds a twist to the Pilates work out. At the end of each routine, you really feel that each single part of your body has worked out! She is the BEST!!!!!!!
Ana Cabán has been a mainstay of Pilates media for almost a decade now, but she is constantly adding new and varied challenges to her workouts. Here she includes 2-lb. hand weights fashioned into a unique "S" shape to increase the intensity of the program. The DVD offers three different 15-minute workouts, each of which incorporates the weights and yet are still based on the traditional exercises first introduced by Pilates founder, Joseph Pilates. Cabán works out alone in an outdoor setting; her purple mat is featured on a raised platform against a mountainous background. The music is generally pleasant and unobtrusive.
The Main Menu of the DVD offers options to select the Introduction, Mat Series, Equipment Series, or Standing Series. If you choose to start with the Mat Series as Cabán recommends, you can easily continue to complete the entire 54 minute workout, as there is only a brief pause between each section. In Mat Series (15 mins.), Cabán first uses the weights to move the arms from over the head to down towards her sides. Still holding the weights, Cabán does the Pilates Hundred move, keeping the weights still at her sides rather than pumping the arms as is customary. She continues with a classical Pilates matwork sequencing of movements, sometimes holding just one weight--for example, she performs Rolling Like a Ball holding one weight with both hands in front of the calves. All five exercises of the Series of Five are performed, using both weights for the first three exercises and just one weight for the last two. Cabán concludes the Mat Series in a seated position for the Spine Stretch forward (holding one weight behind the head) and the Spinal Twist (holding one weight straight out in front of the body).
The Equipment Series (19.5 mins.) is also performed entirely on the mat. Cabán begins with one weight in each hand for a move called Coordination and then continues on to the Rowing series, a sequence of several different classic Pilates exercises. Other exercises performed seated include Shaving the Head and Hugging a Tree. Still holding both weights, Cabán then moves to a prone (face-down) position for the Long Box series, which involves reaching the arms up and back as well as up and out to the sides. Next are several movements completed while on the back or seated, including a Back Stroke (again coordinating the movements of the arms and legs), a Teaser variation (holding the Teaser position while pumping the arms with the weights; repeat several times), and Short Box variations. After a brief side stretch, Cabán comes to a kneeling position, still using both weights for Chest Expansion, Thigh Stretch, Arm Circles, Bicep Curls, and Rolling In and Out. Cabán concludes this segment with the Mermaid, incorporating one weight at a time to increase the stretch.
The final segment is the Standing Series (19.5 mins.). Here Cabán beings in a standing position for Running in Place and Rolling through the Feet, adding in arm movements (holding both weights) to each of these exercises. These moves serve to pre-fatigue the upper body for a traditional series of Pilates arms work, including Bicep Curls, Tricep Extensions, Zip Ups, The Bug, Little Circles, and Boxing. For many of these exercises, Cabán begins with the heels grounded but then rises onto the toes as she repeats the exercise. She continues to hold both weights for all of the remaining moves, which include Lunges, Side Bend, "Hide Your Hands," Pick a Flower, Wall series, Arm Lifts, Arm Circles, and finally, Roll-Downs.
Overall, I was very impressed with this workout kit. The design of the S-weights seemed very ergonomic in nature, as they were extremely comfortable to use, offered even distribution of the weight, and were very easily incorporated into the flow of the workouts. Given this, I actually felt the exercises more intensely than I ever have before. I consider myself to be an a perennial intermediate level in Pilates; although I have always enjoyed Pilates matwork, I have never gotten much out of the other Pilates exercises--e.g., the Rowing series, the Pilates Arms work, etc.--in the past. But Cabán''s distinctive method of putting these movements together along with the S-weights truly made a difference.
Cabán does not mirror-cue, but she has an excellent, easygoing instruction style; she does assume some pre-existing familiarity with basic Pilates moves here. In summary, I would highly recommend this workout set, particularly for intermediate level and above Pilates practitioners.
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these "s" shaped weights are so easy to hold and perform the exercises. holding dumbbells always feel so awkward in alot of dvds but these are fantastic!Read Best Reviews of Gaiam Pilates Total Toning Kit Here
Ana is great and the dvd may look easy but doing the moves along with the hand weights does work up a great sweat! It''s a nice and different way to get toned and work out if you need a break from more vigorous work outs that you may be doing. I would recommend starting with the beginner''s dvd''s before trying this but if you end up liking Pilates then this is another great dvd to have in your library!Want Gaiam Pilates Total Toning Kit Discount?
If you already have a great base in Pilates, and it does not do enough for you, then this is the type of workout you should seek. I bought this thinking it was general toning with some borrowed or ''inspired'' Pilates poses. Nope, this is straight up Pilates with little explanation of poses; rather it just states the pose coming up and orders you to lift the weights.That in itself is not my complaint. It is the fact that the vast majority of poses chosen by Caban put immense strain on the neck area. I have taken classes that focus on strengthening the back and proper execution of poses for the abs (specifically because my neck has been a problem area), and I still found this very straining. If you have neck pain/strain issues, avoid this completely or you could really hurt yourself. The only instructional dvds that mention the neck area and work around it are the Yoga Zone dvds.
That said, I still gave this 2 stars because the ''S'' shaped weights are great. They are so easy to hold and move with; it makes you wonder why we used dumbbells for so long.
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