All tapes lead by Jennifer Kries
Review by Cheri Sicard

Jennifer Kries new series of "Pilates Method" based videos are simply wonderful. I personally have been doing these tapes regularly for about 2 months now, and I have to say I see a visible difference in muscle tone and flexibility. They really are amazingly effective.

Like all of The Method tapes they combine elements of yoga, dance and Pilates into an exercise fusion that works, tones and challenges your entire body, without endless boring repetitions, heavy weights or joint damaging high impact moves. Unlike previous Method tapes, each of the tapes in this new series is divided into two or three shorter (usually 20 minute) workouts. Each mini workout has a different emphasis (upper or lower body toning, flexibility, or core conditioning) and can be done either separately or together for a longer more balanced session.

If you're not familiar with Pilates, be sure to read my interview with Jennifer, America's number one Pilates expert for over ten years.

Precision Pilates
Equipment - Light weights (3 lbs.)
$12.98 *
Precision Pilates: Click to Order from Amazon.com

A great total body toning workout that uses the body as an integrated whole. Jennifer recommends this tape as a wonderful place for beginners to start Pilates, although it's challenging enough for more experienced exercisers. That's really the beauty of all of these tapes, they do allow you to progress at your own level. If an exercise require more strength and flexibility than you have, you can always scale back to an easier version.

This tape contains three mini workouts: 20 minute upper body sculpting, 20 minute lower body sculpting and 20 minutes of flow of flexibility.

Section one is a wonderful upper body workout which uses light weights and the principles of Pilates exercise (relying on your core strength, using opposition to simultaneously lengthen and strengthen the body) to completely tone the entire body with an emphasis on arms, shoulders and chest. This is followed by a lower body toning segment that utilizes a lot of lunges and power yoga type moves. All of these tapes intermingle yoga and Pilates techniques for a wonderfully soothing workout that's challenging at the same time. The lower body routine also has a nice ballet section that include pliés and tendus and a Pilates side series that sculpts hips and legs.

The tape ends with a Flow and Flexibility segment for stretching. The stretching is done as a series of movements, like you're dancing, eliminating the usual boredom associated with stretching. This a fun and invigorating stretch that you might be tempted to do on its own, when you don't have time to do the entire workout.

Emphasis throughout all three tapes is on form and breathing to get maximum results from each movement. What this means in practical terms to the home exerciser is that there's no need to use heavy weights or do endless repetitions to see visible results in your body.

3D Toning
Equipment - Light weights (3 lbs.)
$12.98 *
Precision Pilates: Click to Order from Amazon.com

3D Toning is another tape that is suitable for beginners but still challenging for those more fit. Comprised of a 30 minute Pilates based workout that will help tone your muscles into long, lean dancer-like lines and a 20 minute Core Conditioning segment that will help flatten and strengthen abs, side muscles and back as well as sculpt legs and thighs, the tape focuses on stretching as much as toning.

The Pilates segment begins with an invigorating workout that strengthens and stretches the legs and hips, then progresses to ballet and yoga segments. Of course at all times, you're using the principle of opposition so important in Pilates.

The core conditioning segment here is somewhat easier than Jennifer's other tapes, but still quite challenging. There are no endless crunches, instead precision movements sculpt the muscles. Based upon principles of Pilates and yoga, this segment starts with a short but detailed explanation and practice of breathing techniques and the proper form that will help you make the most of the upcoming moves -- moves that will strengthen your abdominals and center core.

The Perfect Mix
Equipment - Light weights (3 lbs.)
$12.98 *
The Perfect Mix: Click to Order from Amazon.com

Every element for good health is included: core conditioning, metabolic booster (barely, the tape does lack on the aerobics), and stretching, lengthening and flexibility. While the "Metabolic Booster" section only raises the heart rate moderately at best, it is challenging and quite effective, especially for toning the arms. It's also a lot more fun than typical boring weight routines.

Because of the principles of Pilates, it is not necessary to use heavy weights to still get great results (Jennifer uses 3 lb. dumbbells on the tape). The workout concludes with a yoga and stretching segment that can also be done on its own. In fact, Jennifer designed this routine to be done either upon waking in the morning or in the evenings, after working all day. It stretches the muscles and manages to be both invigorating and calming at the same time.

* Amazon.com prices subject to change, please click for links for details.