Although Joseph Pilates pioneered the Pilates practice, Mari Winsor brought Pilates practice to the home. Traditional Pilates exercises are performed on a reformer, a moving platform that has bands for added resistance. Mari Winsor, a California-based Pilates instructor, launched her DVD/VCR home exercise program in 2003, which required little equipment beyond a mat and possibly a resistance band. Since that time, more than 50 million Winsor Pilates videos have sold across the world, according to Winsor's website.
About Mari Winsor
Mari Winsor has operated a Pilates studio in Los Angeles, California, since 1990. She has trained with students of Joseph Pilates and took this knowledge to create the Winsor Pilates program, which uses what Winsor calls "dynamic sequencing." This sequencing is used to maximize your workout and toning results. Since her first television infomercial selling her Pilates method, Winsor has released 30 videos. Her celebrity clients include Drew Barrymore, Jewel, Melanie Griffith, Meg Ryan and Sharon Stone. Winsor also is a contributor to several magazines, including "Shape" and has co-authored three books, including "The Pilates Workout Journal: An Exercise Diary and Conditioning Guide."
Dynamic Sequencing
Winsor's dynamic sequencing series features several Pilates moves grouped based on the muscles each exercise works. One is the side kick series. Moves in this sequence include leg circles, leg beats and bicycles, in which you kick the leg forward for two repetitions and then backward. Stretches in the Winsor Pilates system include the spine stretch and jackknife. Winsor has routines available for both short or long sessions -- some videos are as short as 10 or 20 minutes while others are one hour.
Expert Insight
Winsor Pilates focuses not only on exercises that benefit the body but also those that make a mind-body connection. Winsor advises that practitioners perform slow, controlled movements. When asked how to get the most out of her workout, Winsor advises participants to "concentrate." In the November/December 2008 issue of "Pilates Style" magazine, Winsor said, "It's hard to be mindful about form, balance and engaging the correct muscles if you're working too quickly."
Benefits
The slow, stretching motions of Winsor Pilates offer muscle-building benefits. Pilates exercises especially focus on the core muscles, including the back, oblique and front abdominal muscles. Winsor Pilates workouts also exercise and tone the buttocks through leg kicks and lifts. Some Winsor Pilates DVDs also incorporate cardiovascular exercises, which can help you burn fat.
References
- "Pilates Style" magazine; Home Workout; Heidi Dvorak; Nov./Dec. 2008
- Winsor Pilates: About Mari Winsor
- Body News: Winsor Pilates
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