Search - Karen Voight: Total Body Training on DVD

The same as "Total Body Pilates" but cheper $$

Customer | Washington, DC United States | 03/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As above reviewer described, this "Total Body Training Pilates" is the same as "Karen Voight - Total Body Pilates" but wtih quite cheaper price. I don't see any description on the case or even on the DVD, but when I put the disc in the player, I saw in the menu that this "Total Body Training" has two workouts, one for Total Body Training with resistant ring (~50 min.) and Abdominals & Back workout on the mat(~50 min.). There is also a bonus section how to use the ring (~8 minutes). The ring is a good alternative to the ball but less sapcious in my tiny bedroom.



If you don't have previous version and wondering which one to choose, I recommed this one as this is cheaper. You can also get the ring here at amazon, mine is "Bally Pilates Super Ring" under $10. I really enjoy the ring workout, very effective and great for thights. Her cue is also good.



The reason I took a star off is that Karen is wearing headset, annoying to look at her while working out. This reminds me of the telesales persons. Also, the music is quite noisy for me. But $8.99 for two good 50 minutes workouts, you can't go wrong, especially for your thights, abs, and backs.



PS. Be careful for reissued older tapes: Kathy Smith signed up with Giaiam and will reissue (May 2006) "Lift the weights to loose weight" with cheaper price available at amazon. Karen Voight has a lot of old tapes reissued with slightly different titiles. In this disc, ring workout has higher quality than abs & back workout.



Update: Karen Voight has another title: "Pilates Core Power - Abdominals & Back" (ASIN: B00067HP0U ), which is exactly the same as Abdominals & Back workout on the mat(~50 min.)from this DVD. Save your money not to buy all her workouts by reading fine prints. She has many the same workouts in different titles. Very confusing."

Buyer beware: Inaccurate title and description

Acme Edit | Los Angeles | 08/17/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The title of this DVD is actually Total Body Training PILATES. It appears to be a reissue of a 2002 video. (I really hate it when companies re-issue exercise videos without properly identifying them as such.) The Amazon description does not mention that you need a "resist-a-ring" and that it's a PILATES routine--a big omission if you're not interested in pilates!"

Challenging lower body workout, particularly for the inner t

Beth Cholette | Upstate NY USA | 08/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD has several prior names, including "Pilates Total Body Training" and "Body Reform Total Body Training." I'm guessing that "Pilates was removed from the title because it is not a traditional Pilates workout--at most, there are some Pilates-inspired moves, and the Pilates fitness circle is used. Also, although the title refers to "Total Body Training," this workout focuses mainly on the lower body (more specifically, the inner thighs0, and has only minimal upper body work thrown in. A final note is that a fitness circle/resist-a-ring is definitely necessary to the workout; although it is not used for every exercise, when it is used, it is vital for make the movements more focused and TOUGH.



All that being said, this is a challenging workout for the lower body. It begins with a brief warmup to lengthen and stretch the muscles and then moves on to some beginning inner thigh moves combined with concentrated abs work. Although the latter consists mainly of traditional crunches, the resist-a-ring is incorporated to make the moves more unique and more targeted.



The next section comprises the heart of the workout and mainly targets the thighs. The exercises are are done lying on the side and using the resist-a-ring to specifically focus on the inner thighs. The moves are small but tough, with a high number of repetitions at an increasingly quickened pace. Following the thigh work, it's onto the hands and knees (without the ring) for some tough buttocks moves, and then the entire thigh-buttocks sequence is repeated on the other side. Then, just when you think you can't take any more, there are several sets of pushups plus some plank moves for the abs. Finally, the workout ends with a brief stretching segment.



At 50 minutes, this workout is a definite challenge to your strength and endurance. I know that I will continue to challenge myself with this workout and that the results WILL be worth it."

Two fabulous workouts

e | 10/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just wanted to confirm that as another reviewer already stated, this DVD does in fact have TWO of Karen's Pilates workouts -- "Total Body Training" and "Abdominals and Back." The DVD case did not indicate this, but I popped the DVD in and sure enough, both workouts were there. That makes this DVD a great bargain. "Total Body Training" uses a resist-a-ring and is an amazing workout for your inner thighs. But I was most excited that "Abdominals and Back" was also included... it is the best ab video I have ever done. It really works your core but in such a calm, fluid, graceful way. It's tough but a pleasure to do, much more so than plain old crunches (which I loathe). Karen is a top-notch instructor, very clear and detailed and with a calm and soothing presence. Her form is impeccable and her physique is inspiring. I highly recommend this video if you like Pilates-based core work."