Denise Austin has come out with a “new” version of her twist on a Pilates workout on the Hit The Spot Pilates DVD, which is just a repackaging of an aerobic class style workout that very loosely incorporates some Pilates movements and lingo.
This DVD is broken down into seven sections and allows you to mix and match between the following components, core, abs & waistline, power abs, hips, thighs, buns (sic) and something called the “Pilates Challenge.”
Despite the assertion that this is Pilates, these sections are really not that different from the age-old mat work exercises that Jack La Lanne did back in the day, and have been used ever since.
I don't recommend this DVD both as an exercise junkie AND as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer (through the National Strength and Conditioning Association), a USA Weightlifting Certified Coach, the Head Strength Coach of a high school and as a professional strength and conditioning coach who has conducted more than 20,000 personal training sessions during the past sixteen-plus years.
The six “body part” sections are very similar to each other in most respects. Since true “core” training incorporates all of the muscles of the trunk, as well as the muscles that are responsible for moving your legs, it's impossible to try to separate these functions in an isolated manner. Your hips, upper leg/groin and buttock muscles are all tied together and work together with the muscles of your trunk at all times.
Breaking up the workout in this manner is not an effective or efficient way to design a workout, and in this instance makes most of these sessions very similar.
The “Pilates Challenge” is nothing more than an aerobics class that has been slowed down and had the bouncing movements removed. As a matter of fact, if you hit the fast forward button on your DVD player, this section of the session looks exactly like an aerobics class.
Hook: Denise Austin has come up with a unique way to target specific areas of the body by giving a Pilates twist to traditional aerobics training.
Gimmick: Pilates. The Pilates and Yoga fads have been played out for at least the past five years and this DVD gives you a bit of both. If you want true Pilates instruction visit the web sites for the Pilates Alliance, Stott Pilates or Windsor Pilates.
Also, “core training” has been done to death and in most cases – like this one – done incorrectly.
Inconsistency: The mix of easy beginner type exercises such as the crunch with high degree of difficulty/expert type movements such as the “teaser,” the “v-sit” and the “t-stand.” Thirty seconds after Mrs. Austin shows the fitness model how to protect the neck while doing crunches, she progresses to a series of difficult moves that will clearly strain the neck.
Article comments
1 - george
Buyers beware of purchasing Denise Austin's Fit for Life. Be sure to read all the fine print. These videos can be purchased on ebay for alot cheaper and you will not have to worry about their annoying marketing tools.