10 Minute Solution: Tighten & Tone Pilates

I just got this DVD in the mail today, and of course, I had to work out with it immediately. The DVD includes a purple latex resistance band. Nothing on the DVD tells you what level of resistance the band is, but my best guess is that is light resistance. The only other thing you will need for this workout is a mat. First impressions: 1) This is a difficult but enjoyable workout. There is a lot of balance work, and the use of the resistance band added challenge and interest throughout. One of the great things about Lara Hudson is that her workouts reward your effort. The better your form gets, the tougher they get (and the better your results.) The workouts literally grow with you. 2) Her cuing is excellent and her instructions on how to position the resistance band were spot on. Despite this, I needed to go twice through the first segment, "tightened and toned core" to get the moves down. I think that this is a good thing -- learning new moves is part of the reason I work out with Lara Hudson -- but if you haven't done a lot of balance work you might want to try another ten minutes solution pilates DVD first. Suzanne Bowen's 10 Minute Solution: Slim & Sculpt Pilates may be an easier pilates plus resistance band workout for you, or if you are a total pilates beginner Lara Hudson's 10 Minute Solution: Pilates for Beginners will acquaint you with Pilates basics. 3) This, more than any other of Hudson's pilates DVDs, is a fusion workout. She includes lots of moves from ballet, classic strength building and yoga. So much so, that after the first segment, I was uncertain of how much of the workout was really derived from pilates. However, pilates loves to borrow and adapt from other traditions. What was important was that the workout was interesting, challenging and effective. My muscles felt this workout all over my body. 4) Like the other Ten Minute Solutions Pilates DVDs, you can get a great workout from a single ten minute segment, but you'll probably enjoy it enough that you'll choose to do more. TIGHTENED & TONED CORE: This segment had more traditional pilates moves than the others. It included classic moves like the hundreds and teasers done with the resistance band, as well as a number of moves that I had not seen before. This was not only a core workout, but it also worked the arms heavily. There was a lot of balance work and twists. One of the things that I liked about this workout was that the resistance band not only provided resistance, but also helped me with the balance work and going deeper into the moves. DEFINED ARMS & SHOULDERS; TRIM & SLIM LOWER BODY; TOTAL BODY TONER These three segments blend classic strength building with toning moves derived from ballet and yoga. Lara Hudson works multiple body parts throughout each of the segments. For example, while the focus of the "Defined Arms & Shoulders" is upper body, it also worked the legs and core. I found that I got a great arm workout and a decent lower body one no matter which segment I chose. LONG & LEAN STRETCH I liked how this section pushed my flexibility, but it was not easy. The resistance band allowed me to work deeper into many stretches than I normally could go.

I have four other "10 Minute Solution Pilates" DVDs, two of which are with Lara Hudson. This is the most challenging Pilates DVD I own, in a great way! Lara is a great instructor and is easy to follow. I have one other Pilates DVD that uses a band and it was not my favorite just because I found it cumbersome at times to try to keep up while using the band. The first time I did this DVD I felt a little behind because obviously all the moves were new and it was slightly time consuming to adjust the band in time with Lara. But I anticipate after doing this a few times I will have no problem keeping up. I am very happy I purchased this DVD, it has renewed my confidence in being able to do Pilates with a band. The "total body" segment in this DVD is particularly challenging and fun. It has mostly standing exercises which are my favorite total body workouts. If you are on the fence about this DVD or Pilates in general, I highly recommend trying it! You will love Lara's instruction and notice a physical difference after only a few weeks of doing these exercises.

Way too complicated for a DVD instructional!! I do enjoy the stretch workout and use it regularly. The rest of it is overkill : ((

When I started working out again about three years ago, the first video I did regularly was the "10 Minute Solution: Slim and Sculpt Pilates with Pilates Band" starring Suzanne Bowen. I really enjoyed the 5 segment format, each segment focusing on a different area of the body, (i.e. abs/core, arms/upper, legs/lower, full body, stretch) and I love using the resistance band. The band is a great low-impact way to workout, and I noticed increased muscle tone/definition quickly, especially in my arms. Plus it's fun - kind of like playing with a toy while you're working out, and keeps me from getting bored. I've got an array of workout videos now, but I still go back to that one fairly regularly. So, on to "10 Minute Solution: Tighten & Tone Pilates". I was familiar with Lara Hudson from a previous video, "10 Minute Solution: Pilates" (not too perky, she's definitely got a dancer's background and her transitions are very smooth) and was excited to see that this one incorporates the band (scarcer than regular pilates/yoga videos). I have a few workouts that use resistance bands, and I have a few bands of varying strengths that I rotate around. For this video, I started off using my medium-strength resistance band. **NOTE: I did not order the actual DVD. I streamed this workout via Amazon Instant Video and used bands that I already had. So I have no opinion regarding the band that is included with the DVD. However, the bands that I use the most are ones that came with DVDs, so I feel safe in assuming that the one that comes with this workout is similar and of fine quality. The medium band worked fine through the abs segment (stronger bands give extra support during ab work) but pretty soon after starting the second segment (legs/lower body) I switched to my least-resistant band. A lot of Lara's moves in this video are more complicated than most of the band exercises that I was used to or had done before. The majority of the moves (regardless of what segment you're doing) are full-body, where all four limbs use the band at the same time, instead of just your arm or just your leg. I really liked learning new ways to use the band, it was refreshing as well as challening - It's not a cardio workout by any means, but my heart rate was elevated throughout the four exercise segments. However, there is definitely more opportunity for injury if you haven't used the resistance band much before. When I first started doing band workouts, I often strained the muscles in my neck, sometimes badly enough to where I couldn't turn my head one way or the other without sharp pain for a few days. It doesn't happen very much anymore, mainly because my abs are stronger than when I started and I've learned to use my core muscles to support my neck. But in this video almost every move involves doubling up on the band - holding both ends in your hands instead of one - which is good because it helps with stability, but it also means doubling the band resistance, and this makes arm moves particularly hard, and that's when it is easiest to strain your neck. There's also a lot of balance required for many movements, which without a base level of core strength would be difficult and possibly injurious. Therefore, I would not recommend this particular video for a resistance band rookie. However, if you're familiar with pilates and with bands and are looking for another workout to add to your rotation then I this one is great. Like I said, I have a handful of resistance band workouts (10 Minute: Tone Trouble Zones with Amy Bento, Pilates Bodyband Challange with Ana Caban) and the individual exercises are really quite similar if not identical. But Lara has a lot of really fun moves that I had never done before. I just finished the whole video for the first time, so I will have to wait and see if and where I'll be sore tomorrow, but I definitely woke up some muscles that I hadn't been using that way before.

I love Laura Hudson's 10 minute Solutions DVD's, but this one is not one of my favorites. The Resistance band gets all bunched up and practically cuts off my circulation... her other DVD's are so much better. Don't waste your time on this one.

I used to have pilates VHS tapes, so it's been awhile, and I am just now getting back into it with this DVD. I like Lara Hudson, she very soothing, elegant and a great teacher. I never really got into working with bands before (I always preferred weights) but I have to tell you that this workout with the band is challenging and I feel muscles working that I may not get fully with weights. I'm thinking it has to do with the fluid movements and pulling the band to the full extent of each range of movement while stretching or twisting. I did one of the Taebo 10 minute express workouts, the Abs, and then in the evening I did the tighten & tone the core section, I believe it was, and wow did it hurt on the teaser exercise I think it was called. I must say that I hurt in places more internally within my ab muscles that I don't normally feel when I did the two on the same day. I like to mix up my exercises so I am working different muscles and to keep from getting stagnated. This is good stuff and I highly recommend this one with the band, it really does increase the toning benefits. I will definitely be looking for another pilates dvd with a band workout.

Wow, what a great workout. The five sections feel more like 5 minutes each (an intense 5 minutes) than 10 minutes. I actually had to check the time. The bands really help with form and flexibility along with providing a fantastic resistance workout. The band is light low resistance and is latex. I'll be replacing it soon but it's good enough for a start. Lara Hudson moves fluidly through all the moves with good instruction but at a pace that required me to pause a couple times to get the moves and use the band with correct form. This is not for beginners, more for someone with intermediate or higher Pilates experience. I'd recommend 10 Minute Solution: Pilates for Beginners as a good starting place. You can work your way up at your own pace.

I am a fan of Lara Hudson. I love her style of teaching pilates. This new video does not disappoint. Its easy to follow, yet tough and you get a great workout in a short amount of time. Pilates has been the only exercise i have ever been able to stick with and it really does shape and tone the body. Not to mention that it relieves my back and joint pain and increased my flexibility remarkably.

it good exercise but the band isn't inside that isn't not good value

I have been using this DVD for a couple of months' now, and I am still working hard to improve on my form and to do the exercises exactly like the instructor. I really like Lara Hudson's calm, pleasant demeanour and careful instructions. This is on par with Lara's other pilates DVD: 10 Minute Solution - Rapid Results Pilates [DVD ]This looks easy but is anything but! I would rate this as intermediate to advanced, but saying that it is one to build on and work up to. I find that exercise dvds that are too easy won't really challenge you at all. I was a bit dubious about using a band DVD as I had problems using bands before - I have found that the band slips about, rides up, bunches up etc and I have trouble moving from position to position. This DVD is different - the instructor has addressed these problems and designed it so you don't have to tie it the ends up into a loop, you just hold the ends. Saying that, I found the band still bunched up a bit around the toes, so I have to pause the DVD to straighten it out. Not good! Note, if you are tall like me it is much more of a challenge - I have to really pull the ends to get the same extension as the instructor. This is a great DVD - there are loads of exercises I have never seen before, its really effective. There are five sections: TIGHTENED & TONED CORE: The band enhances stomach exercises by really stretching the moves that little bit further. The whole of the stomach area is worked hard whilst doing roll ups with the band. DEFINED ARMS & SHOULDERS: This is so hard! I found my arms ached in a completely different way from using dumbbells, I found I was begging for mercy as my arms felt like falling off! I couldn't believe that a band could be so hard! TRIM & SLIM LOWER BODY: This tightens, tones and firms the thighs, bum and legs. This is the hardest section (and, to me, the least enjoyable) of the lot as you need to be pretty fit to lean on your side and extend your arm and leg whilst pulling on a band - the core strength required for this move is very much one to work up to. Lots of leg lifts etc. TOTAL BODY TONER: This is a standing routine which improves your posture, with some lovely leg moves to really stretch the legs out. Trying to stand on one leg whilst doing exercises with a band is difficult when you are wobbling around! LONG & LEAN STRETCH: my favourite! If you do any sports or need blessed relief from tired muscles or niggling injuries this will really stretch your legs and hips out. The final back stretch really stretches the back out effectively with the band. I can thoroughly recommend this after a run, you will recover a lot quicker and feel less tired afterwards.

L'aiuto del band permette anche i beginners a cominciare ad affrontare questi esercizi. Uno dei must dei dvd pilates!! I risultati si sentono praticamente subito!

Dinheiro mal gasto, nao voltaria a comprar. Funciona mas nao vem com a banda como diz que vem, o estilo do video é como se fosse aqueles workouts intensivos dos anos 2000 e a onda não é nada de pilates. Tem uma musica super mexida por detrás que não dá para desligar e numa situação de pilates que deveriamos estar tranquilos e focados tal não possivel com a música. Os exercicios são todos de banda elastica o que não é bem explicito no anuncio

Bought this for my wife only to find there is no band included even though it says there wil be one inside on both the front and back covers. Luckily, she has other bands so did the exercise this morning, and says it os one of the best home DVD's she has tried and absolutely loves it. So give it a go, but be prepared to invest in a separate band as the exercise can't really be done without one.