Ya Don't Gotta Be A Size 2 To Do Pilates - DVD

Here's a twist: Pilates with a sense of humor

" Ya Don't Gotta Be a Size 2 to Do Pilates"

The playful title of this exercise video captures the playful nature of its participants. Instructors Doreen Remo and Erin Grady are almost as much comedians as they are Pilates teachers with 20 years of experience between them.

The video begins with an explanation of form and breath by Remo and Grady. Then you move on to a quick standing warm-up with the instructors and a half-dozen other equally spunky women. As the title suggests, none of these women is a size 2, but they all look to be in decent shape for their body types.

After the warm-up there is a 20-minute beginner session. The instructors stand, explaining the moves, while three participants do the workout on tables so you can see their movements. One, who has a prosthetic leg, does the beginner moves and moves for the disabled. Another does the intermediate moves, while a third modifies the moves to make them even tougher.

The exercises are traditional Pilates fare, though some have been toned down to make them easier. For example the 100 (100 arm pumps while lying on your back and engaging your abs) has become the 60.
It does become the 100 again in the second 20-minute segment of the video, which has intermediate exercises. This portion takes some of the moves from the beginner session and makes them more difficult, and also adds a few new moves. Three different models do the variations on the tables.

The video wraps up with a standing cool-down. If you put the whole thing together, you have about a 50-minute workout, but you could choose to do just the beginner or just the intermediate session.

Remo and Grady do a lot of explaining about form and various modifications. That makes this video great for beginners or for people who want to take a class but are worried about that whole size thing. However, it doesn't make for a very efficient video. Without all the explanations (and joking, which may get annoying on subsequent viewings), you could probably cut the workout time in half.

Running Time: 55 min.