Educational Media Reviews Online

This 4-DVD set is a well-organized, focused and thorough program of Pilates instructions for pregnant and post-natal women. Divided into individual DVDs with exercises specific to the trimester or post-birth term, each disc also includes trimester-specific health and safety precautions as well as the option of a workout with or without gentle background music. The instructor, Tasha Lawton, is a certified Pilates teacher who began filming the series when she was in her first trimester of pregnancy with her second child. Her presentation, delivered in a charming Australian accent, is encouraging and down-to-earth as she demonstrates the rather long (45 to 58 minutes each) workouts step by step. The primary focus is on strengthening the core muscles of the back and pelvic floor, important for labor and delivery as well as post-natal recovery and avoidance of incontinence. There are a couple minor complaints: the “Health & Safety” precautions for high risk pregnancies include some medical terms, such as “diastasis,” without explanation (for viewers with lower literacy); and, the post-natal workout especially might be challenging for busy new mothers to complete due to its length (50 minutes). (It should be noted however, that Ms. Lawton acknowledges the time limitations at one point in this disc and suggests at least one way to incorporate holding the infant while exercising.) All in all, this series should find a welcoming audience among fitness-minded pregnant women.