Classical Pilates Technique: The Complete Magic Circle Mat Series & Reformer Mat Workout

Excellent DVD. I gave this one 5 stars. The Pilates technique is well implemented in this DVD. This DVD starts with the basic technique that is important to people who are starting out. It demonstrates perfect form, which is important when learning the technique. The intermediate has more exercises that are a little more advanced for people who just want a good workout. The season pro will love the advanced, and the super advanced reformer workout. This is a tough workout, and not for someone who does not have enough pilates background. Also the wonderful thing about this series is that it is demonstrated in real time. When the exercise is presented, it shows the name and the number of repetitions on the screen. This makes each exercise easy to understand. You will not be disappointed.

I am a retired professional ballett dancer ( 20 years) and was looking for something more challenging than pilates what my gym offers...(big chain, the instructors don't have a clue, not well educated, they can't do half of the pilates excersises...so class stay's at the beginner level...sounds familiar? LOL).This video is great, advanced very challenging...I work up a sweat... I can recommend it to anybody which get's bored in the gym... One thing I don't like, the talker should speak a little bit more with energy, and fun... it sounds very boring...Hope this group produces more videos...Pilates has much more to offer...

Because this is entitled "The Complete Magic Circle Mat Series," I expected this to be a DVD filled with exercises that are unique to the Magic Circle, as there are a plethora of them. If that is what you are looking for please know, this isn't what you'll get with this DVD.What you will get is an excellent DVD that incorporates the use of the Magic Circle into every exercise of the classical mat routines, from Beginner to Advanced. For me, that was a major disappointment. Yet it's hard to complain about a DVD with such high standards.The exercises are extremely well demonstrated. One of the most valuable tips I picked up was to use the Magic Circle in the sidekick series to gauge how much I am relying on my arm rather than the powerhouse for stability.Also, the Reformer mat routine is incredibly creative and again, expertly demonstrated. Because I own a Reformer, I don't think I'll actually use this portion of the DVD much but just watching it was a real treat.If Amazon allowed an individual rating for value, this would be off the charts. It's amazing how much you get for the price on just this one DVD. The producers of these DVD's deserve major kudos-- it's obvious they are motivated by the love of their art (Pilates) rather than seeking to simply cash in on the home exercise/Pilates phenomenon.

I bought this as a three part package of Classical Pilates DVDs. I then had to buy a magic circle, but it was really worth it. I thought I had pretty much conquered Pilates with the mat exercises so I was really surprised at what a strenuous workout this was, all because of what appeared to be a simple circle! I had worked up a sweat by the time I was done and I couldn't even finish the workout.

I purchased this DVD, and could not get it to play in my DVD player. I sent it back for exchange, and received another identical disk that it too would not play. I sent it back for a refund, and was never able to view it. I never thought to try it in my computer, bur realize now that could have been the compatibility issue. Oddly, the DVD has the symbol on it that it should work in any and all DVD players in the US...

If you are used to the typical work out type video this is not for you. It's hard to explain - there is no real workout, it is one or two people demonstrating each move with a narrator. At the top of the screen they tell you how many reps to do. It goes way too fast to work out with the DVD, it is more educational to learn the moves and then do them on your own. If you already know the moves and form as I do, this will not give you a good workout.

Excellent. In this series, the magic circle is used to 'enhance' the pilates mat workout. Again, you get to chose your level and the instruction, angles and practitioners are superb. Amazing that just adding in the magic circle can make the mat series "that much tougher." Amazing; build your powerhouse!! The Super Advanced Reformer series done on the mat is inspiring and ah-mazing to watch. Such beauty in the movement.

I'm a pilates instructor but before I became certified, I looked very hard to find a tape that would be a no nonsence, straight pilates, no breaks workout. This was a very challenging task to accomplish until I found Classical Pilates. Every one of their tapes is excellent. It teaches REAL pilates and doesn't try sugar coating the exercises or changing them from the original method as Joseph Pilates designed. If you want to learn the real deal, Classical Pilates is the way to go!

Todo ok

Think your very good at Pilates? Maybe but I challenge you then to have a go at this. This is a USA release in black and white (certainly on my player anyway) so its clearly not a recent release. However this is classical Pilates of the ilk both taught and practiced by Joseph Pilates himself. This is the real Mccoy. I don't pretend I can do very much of this yet, I can't. But I have bought a magic circle myself and my goodness what a serious difference it makes to the depth of muscle in the powerhouse that is engaged. As an added bonus with side move work it is fantastic for helping with stabilisation and knowing whether your correctly positioned with your hip bones over each other and teaching you bettere balance control and powerhouse muscle working. The DVD however has different levels starting with "beginners" and going to super advanced!!. Never seen that on anything else on the market and your that level well I bow to you then. Seriously however I bought this partly because it is very difficult and I now have a real goal to work towards because believe me these are people are SERIOUSLY good and so SERIOUS about Pilates and how it should be done. I also bought this because I dont know how long such an excellent DVD which is obviously not a recent release will still be available and then will the real Pilates die too? I cannot recommend this highly enough HOWEVER it is NOT for beginners in any way, shape or form and you need to have started with someone ideally in a class or otherwise have been using a DVD for a while to get you an element of suppleness and unrestricted movement before ever attempting anything on here. This is a dvd with serious WOW from start to finish from the presentation to the artists. WOW!

マットのいろいろなバージョンが見られて興味深い。動きも綺麗で見応えあり。

Most modern Pilates classes are either too gentle, focusing on injury rehab and muscle rebalancing, or, at the so called advanced end, nothing more than gym type core strengthening. These DVDs will show you the real benefits of tough, challenging and precise Pilates as originally taught and designed by Joseph Pilates.

First of all, it won't play in my DVD player. I think it's foreign in origin and has compatibility issues. I can play it on my computer, however.The best thing about this dvd is that the workouts are truely challenging--something to work towards.The worst (other than it won't play on my dvd) is the difference between the beginner's workout (too easy and slow) and the intermediate (challenging, but very quick in the transitions--and the commentary does not always follow the movements so you have to continously look at the screen).The advanced workouts are truely advanced--some of the moves impossible (and dangerous I'd venture) for someone at the intermediate level. It certainly gives you something to aspire to.All in all, this isn't a bad dvd if you want something authentic. No cheerleaders here. These guys are serious about their pilates