Pain Free Pilates with Stretch-eze

This is a great choice for people who want to do Pilates, but find typical Pilates workouts too difficult or complicated. What makes this workout unique is the use of the Stretch-eze band, which offers full body support for some exercises and extra resistance for others. The Pilates workout is short (about 25 minutes), easy-to-follow and is both challenging and accommodating all at the same time.

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I've always been a fan of Kimberly Dye's interesting exercise products, but this is probably my favorite. When I first pulled out the Stretch-eze band (which is big enough to wrap around your body), I admit I was a little skeptical. But, Kimberly is such a great instructor, she made it easy to situate the band with a minimum of fuss. What makes this so great is that the band provides support for your body so that you engage the right muscles (like the core) and relax the 'helper' muscles (like the hip flexors). This is especially great for people who tend to muscle through Pilates instead of really focusing on initiating the movements from the pelvic and core muscles. The Pilates workout is about 25 minutes long and includes all the basics, 100's, rolldowns, leg circles, the teaser, bridges and the swan. With each move, you position the band in different ways to provide both support and added resistance, making it easier to have good form. The 'Dyenamic Stretch' segment is about 20 minutes long and also uses the band for moves like hamstring stretches, chest and oblique stretches, inner thigh and moves targeting the lower back. I love the simplicity of the video, Kimberly's excellent cueing and, particularly the Stretch-eze band. It really makes Pilates more relaxing and, as she says, pain-free. This would be a great choice for beginners or exercisers like me, who want to focus on learning the ins and outs of each move with some added support.

Updated: March 13, 2006