Hilary Burnett -- Soothing Pilates

I've been doing so much Pilates lately that I'm realizing how many great Pilates instructors there are. I've only talked about a few so far. I think I've only posted about Ellen Barrett and Brooke Siler. So today I'll tell you a little about Hilary Burnett.

Hilary Burnett is a certified instructor at The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado, at least she did when she made her videos in 2001. (I just checked and she's not listed as an instructor there anymore, but she did teach a variety of classes, workshops and personal fitness training while there -- and may somewhere else now). At the end of her videos during the credits, it shows her teaching this huge class -- always fun to see.

She made 4 videos -- Pilates Basics, Pilates Intermediate, Pilates Advanced, and Zen Stretch. They all came out on video orginally, then were produced on dvd in 2005, which was very exciting for those of us who loved Hilary's Pilates. It doesn't look like Zen Stretch ever made it to dvd. Maybe it wasn't as big of a seller. After I explain it, you'll probably see why it didn't reach a wide audience.

The thing I love about Hilary is that her Pilates routines have a peaceful yogic feel without incorporating yoga. It's pure Pilates, but the production and her voice give it a feeling that many yoga asanas have -- relaxing and peaceful. The set has dozens of candles lit on the dark, marbly steps of the Bastyr University Chapel in Seattle. The set also has pillows and draped clothes tossed here and there with soft guitar music playing in the background. Hilary Burnett's calm teaching style amidst a room of pillows and candles provides a relaxing escape into Pilates.

Her Pilates Basics dvd is a perfect way to be introduced to Pilates because she explains the breathing and movements well. She also provides a window with modifications, which are very helpful when you are first starting to learn Pilates exercises and especially while doing the roll up. This workout is just 24 minutes long and includes the following sequence (commonly known as the Series of 10) of Pilates exercises:

Breathing exercises

The Hundred

Leg Circles

Rolling Like a Ball

Single Leg Stretch

Double Leg Stretch

Spine Stretch Forward

Side Series - Forward and Back Kick

Kicks to the Ceiling

Seal

Pilates Intermediate is a little longer (just over 30 minutes) and the moves go at a slightly faster pace. This is the dvd I've done the most. I love some of Hilary's visualization cues like on the kicks to the ceiling, she says "Up through water, down through clay." That help me know to float my leg up and bring it down with resistance. She also says to imagine your waist in a tight corset or mermaid suit. It helps me bring everything inward. Hilary does a few sitting stretches at the end, which are nice (and not always the case for Pilates workouts). She shows that you can put weights over your ankles on the neck pull, which is extremely helpful. I've yet to master the neck pull!

Here is the sequence in Pilates Intermediate:

Breathing Techniques

Roll-up

Single Leg Circles

Rolling like a Ball

Stomach Series: Single Leg Stretch

Double Leg Stretch

Scissors

Double Leg Stretch

Twist (or Criss Cross)

Spine Stretch Forward

Open Leg Rocker

Corkscrew

Saw

Swan

Single Leg Kick

Double Leg Kick

Neck Pull

Shoulder Bridge

Spine Twist

Jack Knife

Side Kick Series: Forward and Back Kicks

Kicks to the Ceiling

Teasers

Hip Circles

Swimming

Seal

Light Stretches

In Pilates Advanced, it's actually shorter than the Basics and the Intermediate (22 minutes) and moves at a brisk pace. Brooke Siler says in her book that Pilates becomes aerobic when you flow quickly between moves. Hilary definitely does that in this dvd. And she does less repetitions of each exercise. That's my only regret for this workout, that she only does 3 or 4 reps on some moves that I'd rather do double that. But it's still nice to do when I want a challenge, but don't want to spend too much time either.

I did this one last week and realized that since Hilary does so many inversions (where your feet come up over your head or up in the air above your head) that for me, it's better to do at the end of the day instead of first thing in the morning when my body is less flexible. I don't know if you'd experimented before, but I can easily do a plough pose at night time, but am hit and miss (more often miss) when I attempt it in the morning.

Here are the exercises she does in Advanced Pilates:

Standing Balance Pose

Footwork

The Hundred

Roll-up

Roll Over

Single Leg Circles

Rolling like a Ball

Single Leg Stretch

Double Leg Stretch

Scissors

Double Leg Lower Lift

Twist (or Criss Cross)

Spine Stretch Forward

Open Leg Rocker

Corkscrew

Saw

Swan Dive

Single Leg Kick

Double Leg Kicks

Neck Pull

Scissors

Bicycle

Shoulder Bridge

Spine Twist

Jackknife

High Bridge (back bend)

Side Kick Series: Kicks Forward and Back

Kicks to the Ceiling

Heel Beats

Teasers Advanced

Hip Circles

Swimming

Leg Pull-down

Leg Pull-up

Kneeling Sidekicks

Sidebends

Twist I

Twist II

Boomerang

Seal

Crab

Rocking

Control Balance
Pilates Push-up

Standing Stretches

As you can see, she fits many moves into this short workout. It's different than any other I have because of the pace and all that I accomplish. Plus I get the loveliness of Hilary's demeanor and beautiful setting.

I haven't done Zen Stretch in ages. I traded it long ago, but remember it as being a workout I could do parts of and enjoyed watching more than attempting. In her Pilates dvds, she is the only one on the set. In Zen Stretch, there is another woman who does the moves along with Hilary. The moves are so advanced and quick that it's fun just to see what they can do. And it's short -- just 15 minutes long. It's not a stretch video at all -- more of a combination of Pilates strength, flexibility and modern dance. I can see why it didn't make it to dvd. Probably most people couldn't do it. But it was fun to see how much Hilary could do, how much Pilates could enable your body to do if you really made it a priority in your life.

Here's an interview that Hilary did with the Video Fitness website a few years ago. VF Interview If I ever find anything new about Hilary Burnett, I'll let you know.