Social Workout

Pilates in the Home   Meet Kristin McGee, a tall blonde beauty of a Pilates instructor whom I really wanted to hate for all those reasons, but who turns out to be kind of stellar. Her exercise video is called Pilates for Beginners -- more or less like every other Pilates video on the market -- but it's one of the best I've ever taken. And I've taken hundreds. This is Pilates "mat," (no machines required), and McGee eases you into each position step-by-step, until miraculously you find yourself perfectly aligned, mid-routine. My one gripe about McGee is that she's a bit light on the breathing cues. Breathing is key to Pilates, as in yoga, but save for one section, McGee glosses over the breathing instructions. Still, if you’re new to Pilates, and want to experment in the safety of your home, (fantasizing privately about the lean ballerina you will someday be), McGee is a wonderful teacher with whom to start.