Photo: amazon.com

Pilates is something that's always been on the easier end of the exercise spectrum for me. I might not be super fast or wildly flexible, but core strength? That, I have.

Add to that my mentality that I can do anything for 10 minutes, and you'll understand why I expected to breeze through the 10 Minute Solution Quick Sculpt Pilates.

I was wrong.

Each of the five sections (Total Body Toner, Buns & Thigh Sculptor, Strength & Flexibility Pilates, Core Conditioning and Standing Pilates Sculpt) offered different challenges. I did them in order, and by the time I got to the end, I was taking more breaks than I care to admit. (There might have also been a few "Are you nuts?" glances at the screen, too.)

Level of Difficulty
I said this about another video not too long ago, but once again, I have to say intermediate to advanced. The moves aren't difficult to follow, but doing each move properly for every rep and not taking a break is a major challenge.

Next Day Soreness
It's hard to say, because my abs were already screaming from a class I'd done a couple of days before (which could be part of the reason I found this video to be harder than most, come to think of it). But I think it's safe to assume that you'll have trouble sitting up for a couple of days.

Who's It For?
Pilates fans and anyone who's interested in focusing on core strength. But, you'll need to have a bit of strength to start with -- there's no "easy" modification for some of these moves.

Likes
Where do I begin? The video comes with a ball prop, which is extremely useful throughout the video. The instructor, Andrea Leigh Rogers, is likeable, encouraging and easy to follow, and the music helps keep you on beat. I'm always a fan of the 10-minute segments that 10 Minute Solution offers -- I can almost always fit 10 or 20 minutes of exercise in! Plus, you know I like a challenge, and this was tough enough to elicit a few choice from me.

Dislikes
Like I said, I liked the challenge, but I would have liked to see some modifications so more people could work up to the moves. As it is, someone with very little ab strength simply wouldn't be able to do some of the exercises.

Bottom Line
I really liked it, and if you enjoy a tough Pilates class, you'll like it too.



Looking for a Pilates workout geared toward beginners? This video might be a good choice for you.