5/5 Pilates Power
  by gitchy (New Orleans, LA)
This is as close to taking an actual Pilates class as possible. Rael takes it slowly and gives you an intensive pilates session. Love it!!!

4/5 just alright
  by R. Waldron (Virginia)
Rael's voice is annoying, but this is a good beginners tape. It is really slow, so it would be best for beginners.

5/5 Great workout!
  by Hilary R. Marinich (Indianapolis, IN USA)
I hate exercise. I've tried many different workouts, and I've hated all of them, so I'm very out of shape. One of my friends recommended that I try pilates, so I did some research and found that Rael's DVDs were highly recommended on many pilates websites. I popped the System 7 (the most basic) DVD in last night, and I had an exercise experience like nothing I've ever felt.

Rael is an amazing instructor. Some (many) exercise DVDs leave you wondering whether you're doing a movement properly. Rael explains all of the positions so thoroughly that I knew exactly what I was doing wrong (even if I don't yet have the muscle strength to do the exercises properly yet). He also explained exactly how I should be breathing on each exercise and explained which muscles I should feel working. He even told me which parts of my body should be relaxed during specific exercises. At the end of the workout, my body felt relaxed and refreshed, which is something I've never felt from exercise. The stress from my day had also melted away. And I'm only on the first workout! I can't wait to master the system 7 positions and move on to the more advanced positions.

4/5 Excellent but 3 pack is unnecessary
  by SM (MD)
I am a complete beginner to Pilates and haven't exercised in about five years. I found the first 2 DVDs in the series to be completely unchallenging. The instructions in the 3rd DVD are complete and sufficient to pick up the basics of Pilates without having to endure the boredome of the first 2 DVDs. It's a challenging workout with a wonderful pace. Just get the Rael 27 DVD.

5/5 EXCELLENT!
  by Talitha00Cumi (Sweden)
This set of 3 Pilates dvd's is the 3rd I've tried, the other 2 being Winsor Pilates and Classical Pilates with Consideration of the Neck and Back.

Mari Winsor is perky and friendly and her workout really is OK. But I borrowed her dvd from a friend, gave it back, and did some research on Pilates and Pilates dvd's.

That led me to the Classical dvd and to Rael's set of 3 dvd's.

The instruction on the Classical dvd was poor. Having back problems, I tried to stick with it a few times, thinking it would be the best way to get my back in shape again, but gave it up in frustration and turned to Rael.

What a difference! Rael is thorough, knowledgeable, and an excellent teacher (he's been a Pilates Master for over 25 years and is known as "teacher of teachers"). His workout goes at a natural pace, his style is relaxing yet professional, and his dvd is very well done. He explains everything, reminds us when to inhale and when to exhale (basic stuff in Pilates, but unnatural to the beginner) and goes through the movements in a way that sets the foundation first, building upon it with each successive movement. This set of 3 dvd's is the next best thing to having Rael as your personal Pilates trainer.

For beginners, intermediate, and advanced students, Rael's dvd's are excellent!