( 5 reviews )
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Posted: Jan 19 2009
This is my first time doing Stott Pilates. It's a little different from traditional Pilates. I don't think this DVD would be ideal for someone who's never done Pilates before. There isn't any real detailed instruction to break down the exercises and the pace and intensity might be too fast. If you know the basics of the mat workout and want to mix up your Pilates and work on some trouble spots then I think you'll like it.
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Posted: Sep 12 2008
I really enjoy Stott pilates. I had the benefit of training privately with a certified Stott Pilates instructor who recommended the professional series of DVD's to me to continue my work at home. Previously I have used Winsor pilates which I really enjoyed and which definitely toned my body in ways I had never been able to achieve before. Stott Pilates however is more true to the principles of Pilates in that they really emphasize breathing and warming up through a series of releases e.g., hip release, neck release and preps e.g., ab prep, spine prep, etc. I also really like that Moira continuously reminds you how you should be breathing throughout each exercise. I do not have the breathing down yet, but my instructor says eventually it comes and in the mean time it is very helpful to have her remind you to breathe. The exercise do not feel very difficult however I can feel it the next day. For anyone new to Pilates or looking for a good addition to their collection I highly recommend this video.
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Posted: Mar 16 2008
Caveats: 1) If Pilates practitioners are divided into "Authentic" Pilates and everyone else, I'm in the first camp. I "get" the original system, and I respect what it can do. 2) I'm a Pilates instructor, so my level is probably more advanced than the average practitioner. I have heard great things about Stott over the years as far as the quality and precision of her instruction. People did remark before that she was very dry, but what little I've seen of her in the last few years has shown her warm and friendly side. Finally, I decided to pick this up and give it a shot. If you are a more traditional strength trainer in that you like to work one body part at a time and then move on, I think Stott's style is something you will enjoy. We warm up, we work our abs, we work our back, we work our legs, we work our arms, we stand and lunge, and then we cool down. While she does stress abdominal stabilization at all times and mentions the need to stabilize through the shoulders during some of the lower body movements, it feels a lot like a parts workout, which is fine if that's what you're looking for. I enjoyed the variations on the Hundred, Rolling Like a Ball, the Single Leg Stretch and Double Leg Stretch that she used. I think my students will enjoy those as well. However, I thought that for many of the exercises she used too many repetitions, particularly for the Pushups. That is something you can get away with to some degree when you're working sequentially, as she is, and not continuously alternating back and forth as in the original system, but since this is designated as a Level 2 out of a possible Level 5, I couldn't help but think that some beginning participants would find some of that discouraging. I also thought that if this was indeed a low intermediate release some of the exercises themselves- such as the Side Bends and Leg Pulls- were inappropriate. Having said that, everything is cued well and Stott's decades of experience is evident- many times I didn't even need to look at the screen to follow along. Maybe this would be better for true or high intermediates.
