Product Review: Winsor Pilates
The Winsor Pilates system is a technique that has been put together by Mari Winsor, a celebrity-acclaimed personal fitness trainer and instructor. Her set of DVDs and home videos have most publicly been advertised on television infomercials; I happened to come across Winsor Pilates through a former colleague. My friend swears by these DVDs, and encouraged me to try them for a change in my workout routine. Since I regularly run, lift weights, and hike, I thought I might benefit greatly from some strengthening and overall muscle conditioning exercises to break up my routine. This summer, I plan to work up a new set of exercise skills, so starting with Winsor Pilates seemed like a great opportunity.
The benefits of the Winsor Pilates series include the easy-to-learn video format, that of course can be paused or replayed as needed. I enjoyed using the Winsor Pilates website to use the ‘3D training’ module; here, you can learn more about each sequence, as well as how to do each move correctly, safely, and soundly. The addition of modified moves offers all levels, from beginner to advanced, to make the most of each workout; you can follow along with Mari, or her workout companions for variations and examples. Mari is a good teacher; she speaks clearly, demonstrates each move and technique, and has an overall positive and motivating attitude. She developed the training program from Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, so the exercise movements and routines are authentic and have been used by many users with positive results.
Since Winsor Pilates does not require any additional equipment or contraptions, it’s a great choice to simply throw into a gym bag while traveling or on business. It’s an easy workout to pick up, and it took me less than a week to learn all the moves and be comfortable with them. The fact that each segment is only 20 minutes long, gives the added benefit of being convenient, non-distracting, and sustainable. The difference between Winsor Pilates and just regular Pilates workouts, is that the Winsor Pilates program is more fast-paced, and reports a higher rate of fat burning. It also does not require any additional equipment, or added training. However, since it is only 20 minutes long, I found that it had to be performed with maximum movement and concentrated energy to bring significant results!
The workout itself is composed of a series of sequential movements heavily focused on breathing, core abdominal training, and maximizing your body’s length and agility. I was amazed how many of these muscle groups often go untouched, even with regular stretching from running and weight training. I personally felt and saw results just after two weeks of Winsor Pilates, and this was only after 3 sessions each week. Granted, I was also watching my diet and still running, but the outcome was definitely a positive one. The infomercial promises a difference after 10 sessions, and I do think this will be possible for most.
I noticed an increase in balance and breathing, as well as learning how to breathe correctly while doing the exercises. This is essential to Pilates in general, as it helps to maintain a workable balance and promote positive muscle tension followed by relaxation. I don’t think that Winsor Pilates can be imitated in any way with the use of machines, as Mari’s techniques use the body’s natural resistance and power to perform each movmenet. It is an excellent choice for a low-impact, high-power routine. I will conintue my Winsor Pilates session throughout the summer months, and look forward to incorporating it further into my routine this fall season!
