Mari Winsor is a certified Pilates instructress. She is a former professional dancer who shifted to Pilates and one of the foremost trainers of the Pilates Hollywood celebrities. Winsor Pilates is one of the most branded names in contemporary Pilates. It is known for its sculpting, weight loss and abdominal work out videos. Her instructional videos are widely available now in the market, and don’t be surprised if you will be tempted to download Winsor Pilates program. The videos are oftentimes artistically and beautifully produced exuding that “let’s get moving, sculpt and lose weight” approach.

Among the major foci of Pilates are weight loss and body toning, an arena with which the Winsor Pilates has excelled in producing and promoting their video work outs. Originally trained in the classical Pilates, Mari Winsor did innovation with the Pilates exercise by focusing on trimming and body shaping. Through this she then develop her own technique called dynamic sequencing. If you are going to download Winsor Pilates facts, it defines dynamic sequencing as “a combination of exercises done in specific order and rhythm to produce specific result.” One thing to remember though about Winsor Pilates is that, this is not for everyone. The application of the Winsor Pilates method is quite extensive so if you are a beginner and you are working with the Pilates as a rehabilitative tool, this is not for you. Download Winsor Pilates and start enjoying the workouts and have some fun.

Based on the original teachings of Joseph Pilates, Mari Winsor has taken her spin on the historically successful Pilates a step further. Mari Winsor designed a twist she calls “dynamic sequencing”. Her teachings stress the belief that Pilates exercises performed in a specific sequence and at a specific pace lead to the best results.

Winsor Pilates is designed to help you to become more flexible, lengthen and strengthen your muscles and ultimately sculpt your body into the kind of masterpiece we all dream about! The catch is that Mari has packaged it all very neatly into a Pilates exercise program that works for everyone from the beginning exerciser to the experienced gym rat.

You’ve got to give it to Mari Winsor!After developing her brand of Pilates which is founded on the practice of dynamic sequencing, Mari Winsor Pilates went on to become a national brand.

There’s hardly a weekend these days that don’t include an infomercial featuring Daisy Fuentes and other “success stories” touting the results of Winsor Pilates. It’s hard not to get caught up in the hype of these well told success stories…but the point is…it’s not hype if you can back it up and it appears that Mari Winsor Pilates can back it up!

Mari Winsor Pilates DvDs

Winsor Pilates DVDs are truly some of the best on the market. The Winsor Pilates DVDs are very professional with stunning great color and easy to follow instructions. My very favorite part is that these vides are really like having your own personal Pilates instructor standing beside you leading you through each movement.

Mari Winsor Pilates reached for the summit when she developed what she calls “Virtual 3-D Training”. The entire purpose of this technology is to make sure that you “get it”… that you can totally visualize the precise positioning of Winsor Pilates.

When I first received my “Basics” video I was blown away by just how incredibly easy it was to follow along. I’ve used exercise videos for years to help me in my quest to be healthier, but I have to tell you, even though I have had several favorite videos over the years that I thought were incredibly effective, I have never seen another video that came anyway close to the “virtual 3-D training” that Winsor Pilates has developed. In a word…amazing!

I have been practicing Winsor Pilates for just a few weeks now and what I can already tell you is that I realized that I am standing taller… my posture seems so much straighter and stronger. I can definitely tell that my core muscles, the powerhouse, as Mari Winsor would say, are most definitely getting stronger. Hey, who doesn’t want to have a well defined abdomen, shapely hips, a tighter behind and a strong back!

I am slowly getting a touch more flexible, and I am most looking forward to seeing improvement in this area, since it has always been a struggle for me to find an exercise routine that really makes a difference in flexibility.

So what can I say…I am quite impressed with Mari Winsor Pilates. She has built a national brand and one that has a huge following… which now includes me!

Of course, at first when our instructor led us through The Hundred it was a joke! I was immediately convinced there was no way my arms would ever “pump” up and down 100 times while my lungs were breathing in and out at the correct moment in time. But that was then… and this is twelve months later… and I have learned so much about the Pilates basics and I have gotten so much better at the core Pilates exercises… that these days, I feel pretty good about myself!

Joseph H. Pilates served as a nurse during World War I and while working in England he developed a series of exercises to help bed-bound patients regain their strength. Joseph attached springs to the mattresses of bed-bound patients and designed exercises in which the patients would either push or pull against the springs to create resistance. While utilizing spring resistance, the patients were able to move in a controlled and safe fashion.

This allowed the muscles to work in such a manner that they were toned and lengthened at the same time. Even Joseph’s earliest method was based on the quality of the movement and not the quantity. In 1926, Joseph Pilates moved to New York City and introduced his method of conditioning to the United States. Dancers and athletes caught on immediately as they quickly developed an appreciation for the Pilates method.

When arriving here in the United States, Pilates used the Reformer for his clients. This piece of exercise equipment was designed like the hospital beds to which he attached springs in England. Complete with a sliding board and springs, Pilates could adjust the tension on the springs to create more or less tension based on the needs his exercise client.

A few decades later, Joseph decided to improve his method of Pilates. Previously a client had to utilize exercise equipment such as the Reformer to perform Pilates but with the development of a new exercise program, Joseph’s clients were able to perform the Pilates movements on mats without the use of any machines. This one change caused his following to increase even more.

Man, woman, boy, girl, in shape or out of shape… almost anyone can do Pilates. Many mothers-to-be even practice Pilates during pregnancy. Many report that the gentle movements of Pilates are easy on the body, especially joints during pregnancy.

One of the true current day pioneers of Pilates is Mari Winsor, the creator of Winsor Pilates. Mari Winsor created what she calls “dynamic sequencing”. Based on the original teachings of Joseph H. Pilates, Winsor’s theory is that exercises performed in a specific order and rhythm are more effective. Winsor Pilates has a strong and passionate following.

Pilates is a safe and purposeful exercise designed to improve your strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. Thank you Joseph H. Pilates… your vision has served us well. If you have never tried Pilates, perhaps with just a few minutes each week, you too might find a new exercise that will benefit you for years to come.

Mothers everywhere are always concerned about safety during pregnancy.

For those who either continue to exercise or who begin to exercise during pregnancy, safety is always of the utmost concern. It is important to always work with a Pilates instructor who has been trained specifically in prenatal exercises.

There is little research done specifically on the benefits of Pilates during pregnancy.

However, there is a significant amount of research done on the benefits of exercise in pregnancy in general to support its practice.

Pilates is a gentle form of exercise. It does not place undue stress on the joints.

Because it focuses on the “powerhouse’ or the core of the body, it works to improve balance, coordination and strength even during pregnancy. Pilates during pregnancy can be especially beneficial since it works to strengthen the abdominal core and spine which are the primary muscles supporting the expanding pregnancy belly.

The abdominal muscles work with the back muscles and the muscles of the pelvic floor to support the weight of the pregnancy and these same muscles are also the focus of Pilates…the “powerhouse”.

There are several good Pilates books and Pilates videos, specifically Pilates pregnancy videos, to guide you through the months of pregnancy.

Denise Austin is an expert in the field of health and exercise. She has several powerful exercise videos that are easy to follow and that are designed to provide you with easy exercises which target the core abdominal muscles.

My favorite Denise Austin book is Pilates for Every Body.

This book is designed to provide you with the guidance to strengthen, lengthen and tone your body through a complete body makeover. Denise is a wonderful teacher and I particularly love her very practical tips called “Denise-eology” that she shares throughout the book.

Another well respected teacher, Mari Winsor, is the author of The Pilates Pregnancy. Mari developed the Winsor Pilates method based on the fundamentals of Joseph H. Pilates. She is a sought after trainer for A-list celebrities.

It is important to listen to your body, especially during pregnancy. If certain movements are painful for you then work with your Pilates instructor to either modify those movements or eliminate them from your Pilates routine during pregnancy.

Is Pilates safe during pregnancy?

Yes, it is safe if you do your part to listen to your body and make adjustments as your pregnancy progresses.

So pick out some fabulous and comfy Pilates clothing, put on some soothing music, clear your mind and work with your beautiful body.

Enjoy your pregnancy! Here’s to a happy, healthy and safe pregnancy.

The basics of Pilates include exercises designed to help you improve balance, coordination, strength and flexibility. Mental concentration on the exercises and mental concentration on specific breathing sequences combine to create this beneficial exercise.

The secret to Pilates is in the “powerhouse”. In Pilates basics you quickly learn that the core of the body, the abdomen, is called the “powerhouse”. All movements are designed to work your body as an entire unit, a whole, in order to provide an exercise program that works the muscles through their full range of motion.

It is the muscles of the abdomen and the spine that are the focus of “powerhouse” in Pilates. The abdominal muscles are made up of the rectus abdominis, the transverse abdominis, and the internal and external obliques. Pilates basics focuses on creating strong abdominal and spinal muscles which work together to improve strength, coordination, flexibility and balance.

While Pilates is a kinder and gentler exercise, similar to yoga, it should not be mistaken for a “wimpy” exercise. Ask devotees of Winsor Pilates and they will be the first to tell you that Mari Winsor has created a Pilates exercise designed around “dynamic sequencing”. With “dynamic sequencing” Winsor Pilates aggressively works the core of to create a longer and leaner body.

Because Pilates is not a joint-jarring exercise, it can be practiced by people at varying fitness levels. But make no mistake, this is indeed a workout. However, this exercise workout will leave you feeling invigorated and strong. Pilates will leave you feeling taller, leaner, energized and confident. The breathing exercises that accompany all Pilates movements will help you to feel calmer and more centered.

Why not give it a try? Pilates basics is simply a group of exercises accompanied by specific breathing routines designed to help strengthen, tone and lengthen your muscles…especially those of the “powerhouse”. More energy, confidence, strength…yes, that makes Pilates basics sound like a plan for me!