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Jennifer Kries Pilates Method 3-dimensional Toning
Sexy Creative Dance Style Workout, January 28, 2004
"Our bodies move in every conceivable plane of motion,
in varying ranges of expression. Most traditional exercise
formats are comprised of linear one-dimensional or at best
two-dimensional movements and are geared towards enhancing or
changing appearance, rather than improving the body's efficiency
or level of functionality. With this three-dimensional fusion of
Pilates, Yoga and Dance, you will feel better, stronger, more
flexible." ~Jennifer Kries
You might be surprised by Jennifer Kries' sassy red top and
short hairstyle. Her personality shines in this beautiful
workout filled with sapphire yoga mats, marble style floor and
open-air temple in Athens feel. The workout is an invigorating
dance and yoga experience that will test your creativity,
balance and coordination.
Workout 1 - Pilates Based
workout that will give you a lean, straight, limber new figure.
This is a standing/dance style workout that I would call
intermediate to advanced because this workout builds on the
knowledge you have gained from previous Jennifer Kries exercise
videos. This workout involves a lot of leg work, balancing,
bending over, stretching hands to the ceiling, dance positions,
stretching legs, lunges, side stretches and some very creative
new moves/poses I had never tried before. If you enjoy ballet
workouts, this one will be very interesting to you. I found the
balancing exercises to be a wonderful challenge and when I did
them without falling over, I was so proud of myself. In this
workout, there are four other instructors/workout partners.
Table is still the ultimate challenge for me. I'll be working on
that pose for years.
Workout 2 - Core Conditioning
for buns, abs, sculpted legs and thighs. You don't need high
impact aerobics to see wonderful results. Jennifer Kries has one
of the most beautiful bodies in the world and when you do her
exercises, your body starts to improve at a rapid pace. In this
section, Jennifer works out on a purple mat, same outfit. I love
the individual instruction, all the helpful tips and the pace of
the second workout. This is almost a reward for working out in
"Workout 1." You are flat on your back to start and
then you will start to recognize yoga and Pilates based
exercises. She starts with breathing exercises, roll-ups and leg
stretches. Leg circles will be familiar to you if you have been
doing Pilates workouts. I love the rolling like a ball and
stomach exercises. Jennifer takes you through all the basic
poses and concentrates on precision. I like the way you can
actually hear Jennifer breathing in various exercises, it
reminds you to breathe! She ends with a teaser and a deep breath
and then magically disappears. I'd like to see a nice
relaxation/stretching section added to her workouts.
Jennifer Kries is definitely the Pilates goddess of the
workout video/DVD world. Not only does she create challenging
workouts, she gives precise instruction and teaches you to
respect your body in a new way. I love her new workouts and I
see fast results in all-over body toning. In fact, your skin
will be softer and radiant and your entire body starts to become
smooth and sculpted. Of course, I still have a way to go!
If you have the choice between a Video and a DVD, go for the
DVD. Isn't rewinding a video the bane of the workout existence?
It is so eternally slow.
This is truly an exciting new workout from Jennifer Kries. I
always look forward to trying all her new workouts. Also look
for: Perfect Mix and Precision Pilates. These three workouts can
be used together to add variety to your workout routine and will
help to get you into shape fast.
~The Rebecca Review
Ultimate Pilates
Detailed Illustrations and Pilates Exercises , April 5,
2007
"The program is planned first to address your body's
structural problems and improve its posture, and then to
integrate each change in to your way of moving, so that it
becomes a part of your natural movement pattern." ~ Dreas
Reyneke
When Dreas Reyneke retired from dancing, he began teaching at
the first pilates studio in London. In this book, he presents
his system to promote perfect posture, balance and well-being.
This whole body approach is based on the original 34 exercises
developed by Joseph Pilates who said they would "transform
the body if practiced regularly." The main sections
include:
Timelines & Historical Facts about Fitness
The Exercise Experience
Body Conditioning
Body Structure
Muscles and Movement
Dynamic Posture
Principles of Practice
The Exercises
Breathing to Reduce Stress
Planning Your Program
Level 1-3
Special Adaptations
Pilates for Pregnancy
Pilates from 55 to 105
Full-color illustrations and drawings explore the postures and
what is happening on every level from the muscles being used to
how the brain responds to new exercises. The section on Key
Muscles gives illustrations for every main muscle you are using
in the exercise along with names and pictures of the exercise.
This gives you an inside view of what is happening as you
exercise and this section will be especially appreciated by
teachers of Pilates.
All the exercises are shown in detail with more than one picture
to illustrate the posture or motion especially where exercises
have various steps progressing from one movement to another.
Variations and "Points to Watch" make the exercises
safe and effective.
This book will compliment any Pilates routine and may give you
additional exercises you may not find on a Pilates DVD. I can
highly recommend this to Pilates teachers and students or to
anyone who wants to understand how the body works while
exercising. You may also enjoy:
~The Rebecca Review
New York City Ballet Workout 1
Authentic Ballet Workout, April 5, 2007
Ballet improves your posture and gives you a sense of grace even
when you are not working out. The New York City Ballet workout
presents exercises in a formal ballet style setting. For minutes
at a time you forget you are not a ballerina as you work through
the warm-up with first and second position.
Fluid movements follow as you move from side to side and then
put a spring in your step. A floor routine follows with leg
stretches and then you work your abs in every possible way,
although each movement is so precise you are getting double the
workout in half the time.
The unique and challenging postures and dance steps are
explained as you are doing them, although at times the
choreography takes center stage as the narration lessens and you
focus more on the dancers instead of following the cueing.
This is a well structured, intermediate to advanced workout that
requires a sense of determination, some experience with Pilates
and possibly Yoga. The jumps are the most challenging and the
entire workout fine tunes your balance. There are 17 exercise
sessions and bonus programs including video diaries, behind the
scenes footage and interviews.
Back exercises appear during the floor workout, but you are
using your entire body at all times because most of the workout
requires you to be super focused and keep your balance so you
may feel this the most in your back after the workout.
Throughout the exercises classical music guides you into a
peaceful space where you feel relaxed even though you are
working out at a fairly high level that requires patience and
endurance.
~ The Rebecca Review
New York City Ballet Workout 1 & 2
Ballet from the Viewpoint of a Dancer, February 9, 2007
Workout 1
Ballet improves your posture and gives you a sense of grace even
when you are not working out. The New York City Ballet workout
presents exercises in a formal ballet style setting. Your body
becomes a paintbrush, sweeping along walls and floors in
beautiful choreography like an artist painting on black art
paper.
For minutes at a time you forget you are not a ballerina as you
work through the warm-up with first and second position. Fluid
movements follow as you move from side to side and then put a
spring in your step. A floor routine follows with leg stretches
and then you work your abs in every possible way, although each
movement is so precise you are getting double the workout in
half the time.
The unique and challenging postures and dance steps are
explained as you are doing them, although at times the
choreography takes center stage as the narration lessens and you
focus more on the dancers instead of following the cueing.
This is a well structured, intermediate to advanced workout that
requires a sense of determination, some experience with Pilates
and possibly Yoga. The jumps are the most challenging and the
entire workout fine tunes your balance. There are 17 exercise
sessions and bonus programs including video diaries, behind the
scenes footage and interviews.
Back exercises appear during the floor workout, but you are
using your entire body at all times because most of the workout
requires you to be super focused and keep your balance so you
may feel this the most in your back after the workout.
Throughout the exercises classical music guides you into a
peaceful space where you feel relaxed even though you are
working out at a fairly high level that requires patience and
endurance.
Workout 2
With frequent pacing changes, you are working out slow one
minute and fast the next. The rapid movements get your heart
beating faster, but the graceful flowing movements make you feel
more relaxed.
The narration made me feel very relaxed, so the entire first
two-thirds of the second workout seemed more relaxing and
centering than invigorating. The exercises begin with a warm-up
and progress to dance steps, floor exercises for the abs, legs
and arms. During the exercises you do have to count for yourself
and there are bonus exercises later in the program that you can
add in to your own routine.
While I found it much easier to follow the first DVD, the second
DVD has much more complex moves and you need a much higher
degree of intense concentration and precise balance to enjoy the
exercises. Having some split-sole sneakers might help with the
jumping, but you can do most of the workout in bare feet or with
ballet slippers.
The booklet in the second DVD shows more of the exercises and
has a glossary for Turnout, Demi Plié, Grand Plié, Releve,
Tendu, Dégagé, Passé, Fondu, Grand Battement, Changement de
pieds, Pas de Basque and Piqué Arabesque. On the DVD, all of
these are shown in detail in a section in the special features.
After trying the workout a few times, you may also want to
personalize it and there is a way to select specific exercises
and then play them all at once for your own personalized
routine. The sections you can choose from include:
Upper Body
Lower Body
Comgined Movement
Stretches
Abdominal Strengthening
Floor Barre Supine
Floor Barre Side Lying
Floor Barre Prone
Plié & Tendu
Dégagé
Passé & Fondu
Grand Battement & Little Jumps
Reverence
An inspirational "Born to Dance" segment features all
the dancers in their daily life and there is also a
behind-the-scenes bonus feature as well as a number of promos
for fitness studios in New York. What do dancers do after
exercising? The first DVD gives a more detailed look into the
dancers' lives, but this DVD has a combined section that briefly
explores the dancers' interests when not dancing. Overall, the
second workout is more complex and progresses into real dance
steps so you can feel like a real dancer.
~ The Rebecca Review
Braun Blender
What you need for blending protein and vitamin powders,
January 28, 2004
I have had my sturdy Braun blender for years. I use it to mix
protein drinks right in the "jar" or to smooth out a
lumpy gravy when I forget to use a whisk. Most chefs have one of
these tools to make smooth sauces and creamy rich gravies. Definitely
a must have in the modern kitchen. This is the only tool I have
that will adequately blend my All-One Vitamin Powder into
milk and fruit juices. So, basically, if I didn't have this
item, I'd be less healthy. Great product that lasts for years
and years.
~The Rebecca Review
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