Pilates on the Go

Former dancer and instructor Maria Leone guides viewers through this Pilates isometric exercise routine designed to strengthen and tone the body--particularly abdominal and back muscles--as well as improve posture. After a brief introduction touching on basic principles and offering tips on movement and breathing techniques, Leone jumps into a warm-up, followed by a lower body workout featuring roll-ups, rollovers, scissors, leg circles, criss crosses, spine stretch, and moves such as the swan dive, hot potato, and others, at times using a cloth band for support and providing modified beginner or more advanced versions for certain moves. In addition, the program includes an upper body session utilizing rubber exercise tubing, followed by a placid cool down. Overall, this program--primarily set in what looks like someone's patio area--sports mediocre production qualities balanced by excellent instruction from Leone, a certified master trainer whose celebrity clients include Jennifer Garner, Debbie Allen, and Stockard Channing. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (J. Williams)