Our favorite Pilates videos: we stretched, extended, and crunched our way through more than a dozen Pilates videos to find you the best workouts to do in your living room. These four impressed us the most. They range from beginner to intermediate, but all provide basic lessons if you're new to Pilates. . - Lifestyle - video recording review

Natural Health, August, 2002

Hilary Burnett's Pilates Basics 24 minutes; $19.95; 800-433-6769; www.mindbodymat.com

Comments: Initially the setting for this beginners' video distracted us with its tiger-striped throws and velvet pillows. But once the exercises began, the nicely paced, easy-to-follow instructions made us forget about the setting and focus on the instructor.

Living Arts Pilates Beginning Mat Workout 40 minutes; $14.98; 800-254-8464; www.gaiam.com

Comments: Those of us who are beginners favored this tape because the instructor's assistant gave us basic modified moves while the instructor showed the more difficult exercises.

The Method Pilates Precision Toning 50 minutes; $12.98; 800-272-4214; www.currentwellness.com

Comments: The instructor's excellent verbal coaching on this intermediate tape let us look away from the TV as often as we needed to. The pace was engaging, but not exhausting.

Stott Pilates Intermediate Matwork 49 minutes; $15; 800-910-0001; www.stottpilates.com

Comments: We liked Moira Stott-Merrithew's clear explanations of right and wrong moves. A sterile setting helped us focus on this challenging workout. There's also a Stott Pilates Essential Matwork for beginners.