Though this DVD offers many levels, they are not offered alongside one another making the actual time spent performing the exercise at any given level very short. The background and scenery are uninteresting and uninspiring and the models performing the exercises are certainly quite fit but in no way friendly or encouraging. More importantly, there are no verbal cues during each exercise that relate to posturing or form, so if one were not experienced in pilates, it could be easy to injure onself. So, all in all, this dvd is fine but not spectacular.

I regularly use the DVD Pilates program. It is quick and easy to follow. I worked my way up gradually to the intermediate and advanced programs, depending on how much of a workout I want. People ask me what I do to stay in such great shape. I attribute my core strength, muscle definition, and flexibility primarily to this program. I keeps me injury free and complements my modest running routine. I am a wife, mother of two young children, and work full time. This is much easier than going to the gym or to the Yoga studio. I am grateful I found this DVD. Just 15-20 minutes several days a week and significant results.

I've been taking Pilates classes for about 6 months and keep looking for a good video... careful, interesting, not overly easy or impossibly difficult. This isn't it. I think it is really designed for people who are at an expert level.

I rented this viedo from Netflix because I had bought Alycea Ungaro's book, "pilates body in motion" and this DVD was recommended by a reviewer on Amazon because it closely followed the book. I wanted to see if it was worth buying. I have to say I am impressed at how closely the DVD does follow the book, which, by the way, is probably the best book to get if you could only buy one book on the subject. First the book: The book starts out with a concise introduction to Pilates principles and philosophy. It then offers complete routines from introductory to advanced levels. The best thing about the book is that each exercise is fully illustrated with photographs of every step with a brief explanation of how to derive maximum benefit from each step as you go through the motions. Now the video: There is a textual introduction as well which explains that this series of videos teaches Pilates as intended by the founder of the method himself. Then it offer you a menu selection of levels from modified basic to super advanced, which is one step beyond the advanced level in the book. Alycea Ungaro does the voice-over at the beginning of each level, commenting on what is to follow with some general advice. The exercises of each level follow in order with a demonstration by an accomplished pilates student of how to go through the various motions accompanied by pointers given by the narrator. Each exercise is show only once. This is not a workout video. Pilates is not anything like aerobicize and the like. It is a serious exercise activity that requires diligent study and attentive thoughtful practice. This DVD is a perfect complement to the above-mentioned book or to any good book on the subject. The best way this video can be used is to lie on the floor with the book and watch each exercise as it is done perfectly by an expert. Pause the video and try it yourself. Between the book and the video you should have no problem understanding exactly how to do each exercise correctly. My only complaint is that each exercise isn't given a video chapter of its own so you could easily repeat or loop the exercise. But on the whole I think this video is of excellent quality as is the book. It purports to teach Pilates as was intended by the founder of the method and it does succeed in doing so. The DVD is definitely worth buying and I think it should be a part of the collection of any serious student of the Pilates method.

For those of us who are looking for a pure, excellent, and VERY rigorous pilates workout, this is the best video on the market. It is totally devoid of the fluff that fills most other pilates videos that I have tried. Granted, it is a very bare-bones video -- but what it lacks in style, it makes up for in challenge and technique. Excellent for even advanced skills.