If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best Pilates DVD for beginners is, then I’d recommend the Sculpt & Sweat – A Full Body Pilates Circle Workout as the best one.
Before you dive into the craze of Pilates, consider investing in an instructional DVD to learn more about the exercise.
It helps to find the best Pilates DVD for beginners though so that you can develop proper technique at home.
Our buyer’s guide and reviews of five products we feel stand out the most should help you find the right video program.
Here are the top Pilates DVDs we’ll be reviewing:
- Element: Targeted Toning Pilates for Beginners
- 10 Minute Solution: Pilates for Beginners
- Sculpt & Sweat – A Full Body Pilates Circle Workout
- Pilates for Beginners & Beyond Boxed Set
- Chalene Johnson’s PiYo Base Kit
Pilates for Beginners – Choosing the Right Fitness Video
DVDs have been used for years to teach different fitness routines at home. So, it makes sense that you may look toward them to discover the world of Pilates.
As beginners, it’s important that the training program is catered to your level so that you’re properly educated about the various moves and how your form should be.
There are a few aspects to look for when searching for the best Pilates DVD that may help you decide which one to take home.
The Nature of Pilates
Taking Pilates comes with understanding exactly what it is. First of all, the exercise came to be back in the 1920s, named after its creator Joseph Pilates.
It’s a low-impact exercise that largely targets your core, but certain moves aim toward additional areas of your body.
Although it’s low-impact, it is still a full-body workout routine.
There is an emphasis in helping you become stronger as well as working on your mobility, balance, posture, and endurance.
There may or may not be any equipment involved in the exercise. You can use a mat or an apparatus known as the Reformer. In spite of that, you can also just use your floor.
Benefits of Taking Pilates
Even in the comfort of your own home, you can take advantage of Pilates using the appropriate fitness videos.
If you’re here, then you may be aware that the exercise is a healthy option that’s versatile enough for people of different ages and health conditions can take.
One of the benefits Pilates can give you is better awareness of your body. This may aid you in developing proper posture or making you more knowledgeable of any weaknesses you might have.
Other useful traits you may notice is an improvement in your flexibility as well as developing leaner muscles, especially around your core.
Features of a Quality Beginners DVD
Not all DVDs are made the same, of course. Like any market, there are competitors fighting to get your attention. That’s why it helps to understand what features to search for.
Focus on Your Fitness Level
The best Pilates DVD for beginners should actually focus on beginners. It shouldn’t offer any advanced moves from the start as you haven’t yet learned the right forms.
A lot of beginning classes may focus on common breathing exercises, leg circles, or the common roll up that helps you stretch out your spine.
Quality Instructor
The instructor is everything, especially when it comes to a fitness DVD. You aren’t there in class for anyone to correct you.
So, a quality instructor needs to be clear when it comes to each move.
It isn’t exactly necessary, but it might help if the instructor mentions some ways you may adapt the moves to suit certain health limitations.
Design
Some Pilates DVDs are intended for lengthy workouts at a time, stretching to an hour or so.
Others focus on keeping things short, usually falling somewhere around 10 minutes to 30 minutes.
You should choose one that best suits your individual fitness level and goals.
Also, be aware that some DVDs may focus on different parts of the body. For instance, one may take advantage of the full-body aspect of Pilates.
Others might opt to make certain body parts the central focus. Even more DVDs may provide a mixture of full-body exercises and specific areas of interest.
Precautions of Doing Pilates
As you are just embarking on Pilates exercises, your routines may not be that intense, allowing for a multitude of people to hop on the program.
However, there are still some precautions to keep in mind before you do it.
For the women out there, if you are pregnant, consider speaking with your health care provider first.
This is true for any workout routine you may want to start, but especially for Pilates considering it focuses a lot on the core.
There are some DVDs though geared toward pregnancy if that is best for your situation.
Other health-related precautions to address with your doctor stems from if you have any injuries, chronic conditions like back pain, and age.
Best Pilates DVD – Top 5 Reviewed
Element: Targeted Toning Pilates for Beginners
The Element: Targeted Toning Pilates for Beginners provides you with three different fitness programs.
There is the Long Lean Waistline Program, focusing on toning and stretching your core and waistline.
Next is the Lower Body and Sculpt Program to shape the lower half of your body, and then there is the Total Body Program that defines and tones all of your major muscle groups.
All of the programs are 20 minutes in length. As a bonus, the DVD even comes with a separate core strengthening program that’s 10 minutes long.
All of this is shown to you by Elizabeth Ordway, who is a recognized Pilates expert.
Although she generally moves at a steady pace, if you are completely unfamiliar with these exercises, you may want to watch her before trying them as there isn’t much explanation on how you do the moves.
Also, some of the routines can get a touch advanced.
Nonetheless, it’s still done in a rather relaxing backdrop that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The music is soft enough that it may not disturb or distract you while you learn.
Pros
- Relaxing backdrop and music
- Steady pace
- Variety of lessons
Cons
- Some advanced moves
- Instructor could explain a bit more
10 Minute Solution: Pilates for Beginners
As the 10 Minute Solution: Pilates for Beginners title explains, this DVD emphasizes teaching you some moves in 10-minute segments.
This seems geared more toward those of you who may not have enough time in the day to do any long routines.
Because of the short segments, the instructor may move a bit fast between the workouts.
However, you are given an opportunity in the beginning to sort of customize things.
You can select the specific segments you want to follow as well as whether you want them to transition into each other automatically, or if you want to do it manually.
There are five separate workouts involved: Core Basics, Lower Body Basics, Upper Body Basics, Total Body Combo, and Long and Limber Stretch.
All of it totals to 50 minutes of sculpting, toning, and stretching.
These are generally easy to follow along with, but the instructor doesn’t appear to address what proper form you should have for the various moves.
Something else to be aware of is that some of the segments might include some high-impact moves like jumping, which may be hard on some people.
Pros
- Simple to follow
- Brief routines
- Customized workout segments
Cons
- Some high-impact moves involved
- No instruction on proper form
Sculpt & Sweat – A Full Body Pilates Circle Workout
The Sculpt & Sweat – A Full Body Pilates Circle Workout uses two different instructors to handle the routines.
One focuses on the intermediate to advanced levels that the moves can get to, while the other offers a modified variation of the same moves.
For beginners, it may be best to focus just on the one performing the modifications so you may better understand everything.
Also, equipment may be needed in order to complete these routines. The instructors both make use of the Pilates “Magic Circle”.
Even though they claim you may do most of the routines without the circle, there is an emphasis on using it, so you might have to purchase one separately.
Compared to other similar DVDs, this one is a bit higher priced than them. Still, it appears to offer you a nice variation of different Pilates workout routines.
All of them are broken down four ways.
The instructors themselves, experts Kristen Matthews and Andrea Speir, seem to take a fun approach that may help keep you motivated while you exercise.
Pros
- Instructors seem motivational and enjoyable
- Offers variations
- Multiple routines available
Cons
- Intermediate and advanced moves
- Equipment may be needed
Pilates for Beginners & Beyond Boxed Set
With the Pilates for Beginners & Beyond Boxed Set, you receive three different DVDs with more than 50 various workouts to utilize.
One DVD is the Pilates for Inflexible People, containing over 15 routines that are modified to help you adjust from beginner to intermediate student.
The second is the Pilates Sculpt and Tone, which provides 20+ routines. You can choose from certain body parts to work on or choose based on the specific routines.
Lastly, there’s the Pilates for Weight Loss DVD. This gives more than 15 workout routines aimed at cutting out fat and building muscles.
Everything seems to go at a steady enough pace so you can keep up, but at times, it may become a bit too slow.
Some of the routines also require the use of a number of different equipment, which may or may not be an issue depending on your home situation.
The instructors do seem to provide some detailed information to help you through it all though.
They may keep things basic enough so you can learn the moves and modify if need be.
Pros
- Several workouts to choose from
- Seems simple enough for beginners to keep up
- Detailed instructors
Cons
- Requires a number of different equipment
- Pace might become too slow
Chalene Johnson’s PiYo Base Kit
The Chalene Johnson’s PiYo Base Kit is a rather extensive program that combines Pilates with some of the flexibility given by yoga.
There are three different DVDs, all of them providing a total number of 10 workouts. The instructor comes across as upbeat and encouraging.
She also seems to provide some good explanations of what you’re doing.
In spite of that, the transitions between the moves may seem abrupt at times, not allowing you much time to keep up if you’re just learning everything.
Still, there are modifications available if you aren’t too sure of the moves.
You can also choose from different levels of the exercises.
This way, you might be able to move on from the beginner stage when you’re ready and transition into the intermediate level without having to purchase a new DVD program.
This may be helpful considering this collection is a bit expensive.
There are a number of ads that appear during your use of the DVDs that may get a touch excessive at times.
As a whole though, this is a well-rounded program that even comes with a calendar, eating plan, and measuring tape to help you keep track of your progress.
Pros
- Encouraging, detailed instructor
- Various levels of workout
- Modifications available
Cons
- Transitions may be too fast
- Some of the ads seem excessive
Final Thoughts
Pilates may be a good way to get into shape or stay fit without resorting to anything more than low-impact workout routines.
For those just starting out, it helps to have an easy-to-follow program that respects your minimal level of Pilates experience.
To choose just one from our list, we feel the Sculpt & Sweat – A Full Body Pilates Circle Workout is the best Pilates DVD for beginners.
It’s average-priced, and although you may need more than just your floor to do the exercises, it’s just a single piece of equipment needed.
There are multiple routines involved, and the instructors appear to be well-educated and offer modifications for those of you that need it.
