Winsor Pilates is one of the most recognizable names in contemporary Pilates. Developed by certified Pilates instructor Mari Winsor, Winsor Pilates is known for its weight loss, body sculpting, and abdominal workout videos.
Winsor Pilates Videos and DVDs
A regular on the infomercial circuit, Mari Winsor's upbeat style and value-added packages have inspired many of us to buy Pilates videos at one in the morning. Luckily, the Winsor Pilates videos are usually beautifully produced, and if you are looking for a "lets get moving, sculpt and lose weight" kind of approach, they deliver.
Spotlight on Weight Loss, Body Sculpting, and Abs
Among the many benefits of Pilates, weight loss and body toning are among the most popular. This is the arena in which Winsor Pilates has excelled at creating and promoting their video workouts. Though she is classically trained in Pilates, Mari Winsor pushes the Pilates envelope to ensure that the Winsor Pilates workouts focus on trimming and shaping the body. To that end, she developed a technique she calls "dynamic sequencing." The Winsor Pilates website says dynamic sequencing is a "combination of exercises done in a specific order and rhythm to produce maximum results."
Winsor Pilates has created more than 30 Pilates videos. Among them are Pilates mat work videos, Pilates workouts with equipment (such as the magic circle), and many targeted titles, such as "Weight Loss," "Ab Sculpting, "Upper Body Sculpting," and "Bun & Thigh Sculpting." Winsor Pilates videos are often promoted as DVD/equipment packages. Some of the packages offer as many as 5 DVDs and a Winsor Pilates sculpting circle (magic circle).
Read my review of Winsor Pilates Super Sculpting Package
Winsor Pilates is Not for Everyone
The benefits and applications of the Pilates method are extensive. If you are a beginner who is interested in careful Pilates technique, or if you are working with Pilates as a rehabilitative tool, Winsor Pilates may not be for you. These are Pilates inspired videos. They do offer some guidance as to alignment and exercise modifications. However, if you are looking for traditional Pilates mat work, or extra support, you might be better served getting your fundamentals through a class first.Who is Mari Winsor?
Mari Winsor is one of the "famous" contemporary Pilates teachers. She is well known from her Winsor Pilates infomercials, her extensive line of videos, her books, and also as one of the foremost Pilates trainers for Hollywood celebrities. Mari is among the many former professional dancers who went on to become Pilates teachers. A certified Pilates instructor, Mari studied with Romana Kryzanowska, one of the Pilates elders. Mari currently teaches in Los Angeles where she has two studios and, of course, produces numerous DVDs for Winsor Pilates.
Books by Mari Winsor
Mari Winsor is the co-author of three books:
The Pilates Powerhouse; The Pilates Pregnancy: Maintaining Strength, Flexibility and Your Figure; and The Pilates Workout Journal: An Exercise Diary and Conditioning Guide.
Compare prices for books by Mari Winsor:
I Chat with Mari Winsor
At the 2006 Yoga Journal conference, I had the opportunity to take a class and have a brief chat with Mari Winsor. I enjoyed the class. Mari was a fun, lighthearted instructor who made you work hard, but kept the atmosphere supportive, giving a lot of individual attention to the students. After class, I asked Mari if there was anything she would like to make sure I communicate to my readers about her work. What she said was to just have fun, and that one should feel energized from a workout. She said: “If after your classes you're just tired and want to lay down, do something else!”.
Read more about my class with Mari in my blog posting, Winsor Pilates at a Yoga Conference.
