Mari Winsor is a Southern-California based fitness instructor, dancer, and author who has been one of the major forces behind the growing popularity of Pilates as a workout method. Winsor opened her first Pilates studio in 1990, and shortly afterward went to study with Pilates teacher Romana Kryzanowska, who herself learned the method directly from its inventor, Joseph Pilates. Winsor’s 2003 informercial about her own method of Pilates workout caused a jump in the popularity of Pilates, as does her list of Hollywood celebrity clientele, including Drew Barrymore, Minnie Driver, and Meg Ryan. Winsor has produced over 30 workout DVDs that have sold over 50 million copies, contributes fitness articles to many popular women’s health and style magazines, and has co-authored several books on Pilates.
Mari Winsor’s method of Pilates instruction involves what she calls “dynamic sequencing,” an arrangement of Pilates exercises in an easy-to-follow cycle intended to produce maximum strength and flexibility gains with a low-intensity workout. The exercises Winsor teachers target the muscle groups known in Pilates as the “powerhouse”: the large muscle groups of the abdominals, back, and buttocks. Winsor Pilates routines do not use any equipment more complicated than a mat, so her instructional videos can easily be followed at home without a significant equipment investment.
For beginners, the Mari Winsor: Pilates program demonstrates proper form for each exercise and provides a good workout series, including modifications for those unable to perform the advanced version of a movement. However, once you’ve learned the basic moves, the amount of explanation included in this DVD may seem to eat into your workout time too much, so you should move on to a more advanced program to get the most out of your workout time. If you want to stick with Winsor as an instructor, her Accelerated Body Sculpting provides a faster-paced workout, but without any of the principles of the exercises explained. If you want both a good pace and some discussion of the exercise principles in a single program, consider one of the top three Pilates DVDs recommended by Think Pilates.
One of the major criticisms made by personal trainers and other fitness experts about Winsor Pilates relates to the claims that Winsor Pilates will help users to loose weight. Pilates exercises alone are primarily strength training and flexibility training exercises, rather than aerobic exercise, which is an important part of an effective weight loss exercise program. If you are interested in using Pilates to achieve weight loss, make sure your overall exercise routine includes daily aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or anything that gets your heart rate up. Some Pilates videos incorporate dance movement or other high-intensity aerobic exercise with Pilates matwork for users interested in weight loss.
Another thing to keep in mind before beginning a Winsor Pilates program is that, depending on your current fitness level and experience, you may find Pilates exercises too challenging to perform without assistance. In this case, you should consider taking a few instructor-lead Pilates classes before moving on to solo work with DVDs. A certified Pilates instructor can help you work on your exercise form and make sure you don’t injure yourself during your workouts, and for many the added motivation of an in-person instructor or the other members of a workout class can be a great way to stick to a new fitness routine.
Before starting any new work out program, talk to your doctor to make sure the exercise you’re considering is safe for you and will help you achieve your specific fitness goals. Though Pilates exercises may be used safely by some pregnant women during some stages of pregnancy, check with your doctor if you’re pregnant and interested in starting a Winsor Pilates routine or any exercise program. Those who are substantially overweight should follow the same advice.