Pilates Reviews Fall 2006 Pilates Fitness Journal Review  Core Athletic Conditioning for Golf Level-1 Released By:  Personal Performance Programs LLC Description  Three-part video consisting of Pilates Mat routine (about 30 minutes), an animated section with "Alex" exhibiting the Alexander Technique for tension release, and a short segment working on your golf swing with tips.  The mat routine includes the use of the resistance bands, optional weighted handballs, a cushion, and a golf club.  Quality    The picture quality is good.  The setting has the instructor, Dona Duke, raised on a platform in a golf themed room.  The instruction focuses mainly on movement and number of repetitions.  The animated section features a figure, which sometimes shows the skeleton on a body and sometimes a wooden articulated artist's model. It has a good relaxation technique.  It may be useful to do this segment first. The production of the mat routine could have a little more of a professional feel. Concerns  If you are not already familiar with some Pilates techniques such as imprint/scoop or neutral, how to breathe, or pull your navel to your spine you might not get the full benefit of the exercises because there is no in-depth instruction on these techniques.  Additionally, sometimes the breathing cues are a little confusing as to when to inhale or exhale. Overall   It is a good basic Pilates mat routine which could be helpful in improving your golf game by strengthening your core and helping you release tension. Our Favorite Feature  It is very interesting to see the bodily movement in the animated skeleton form.  It can give you a better sense of how you are moving from deep within.  The breathing animation here will be helpful in doing the Pilates routine. Where to get it  www.pilatesgolfer.com Available in English or Español Also available: Every Day Back Care and Optimum Sculpt: Strengthening the Dancers Body Pilates Fitness Journal Review Fall 2005 Louise Solomon Yogalates   Released By: Alliance Atlantis Entertainment DVD Release Date: 02/24/2004 Run Time: 72 min.   Description  Yogalates consists of a five-minute introduction to breathing and spinal alignment, two workouts, and a short relaxation meditation at the end. Workout One is a low impact 26-minute mat-based workout for beginner/post-natal people focusing mainly on Pilates.  It addresses the center of the body, abdominals, lower back and pelvic floor muscles, with a few arm and leg exercises.  The curl-up preps and full curl-up have great tips and form for keep the belly in while flexing the upper spine. Workout Two is a 30-minute workout strengthening the midback muscles with an equal balance of Pilates and Yoga exercises.  It also concentrates on toning the arms, legs and bottom. There is also a bonus corporate workout with chair exercises to be done at a desk as well as a Louise Solomon interview   Quality It is a very good quality video.  The instruction is clear, concise, and informative.  The picture quality is great.  The setting has the main instructor raised above six participants with an all white background.  The introduction and relaxation segments have beautiful scenes and cinematography.   Concerns  the main concern is that you need a Band for a few of the exercises and not all copies of the video come with a band.   Overall  This video has some great exercises and instruction.  The Workout One is much more of a Pilates workout while Workout Two incorporates more yoga moves that are not too advanced but can still provide a challenge for the beginner as well as the more intermediate exercise participant.   Our Favorite Feature   Where to get it Pilates Fitness Journal Review Spring/Summer 2005 Post-Natal Pilates with Sarah Picot   Description   This 27 minute video is marketed to postpartum women who may or may not have already used the Pre-Natal Video.  There are a few classic Pilates exercises adapted to include the baby.  Sometimes the baby is used during the exercise sometimes the baby is placed beside the mom to watch.  There is a mom who delivered vaginally (15 weeks postpartum) as well as one who delivered by cesarean (12 weeks postpartum).    Quality   It is of okay quality.  There are only a few exercises; it is a short video. There is little explanation about proper Pilates technique especially use of the transversus abdominus, which is crucial for postpartum exercise. Proper breathing is not addressed until the Child’s Pose which is the eleventh exercise.  Modifications are not introduced until the exercise is almost over.   Concerns Many Moms have diastis recti an abdominal separation, which can be worsened by too many exercises that involve using the rectus abdominus (the six pack muscles). These muscles are activated during exercise where the head and shoulders are lifted off the mat such as the Hundreds. The modification for this exercise may help but it is not given until the exercise is almost over.  It would be better for most moms to do the modification. This video includes many of these exercises and would not be good for women who have the abdominal separation or possibly other women close to their delivery date.  Check with your doctor.  For further information see Lose Your Mummy Tummy  by Julie, R.N. Tupler   Overall   Most likely this video would also be safer many months after delivery anywhere from three to six months postpartum and not as soon as the typical six week after delivery okay.  We recommend you skip exercises 2-7 from the Roll-Up to the Stomach Series until you are at least 3-6 months postpartum  (check with your doctor) and have learned how to activate your transverses abdominus. The other 12 exercises seem fine (1—Bridges and 8-18 Spine Stretch to Squat). We would  only recommend the whole video to experienced Pilates participants who know whether or not their abdominals have any separation and who have checked with their doctor.   Our Favorite Feature    It is fun to exercise with your baby and this video does have some good ideas for incorporating Pilates exercises with playing with your baby.    Where to get it          DVD VHS