Search - Mari Winsor: Pilates on DVD

Excellent Beginner Pilates DVD

A. Mathur | CA | 03/22/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I own a lot of workout DVD's but there are very few that I actually use on a daily basis. Mari's new workout DVD has lots of instruction on how to perfom each move for optimum benifits. She even has a modified version of each one! The express workout has fewer repetitions of each move, but still provides a good workout. The plus with this one is that it is only 25 minutes and is easy to fit in on busy mornings. The full workout is more thorough. I had purchased a pilates DVD before, but this one is by far easier to follow. Plus, there is no equipment required other than a mat. The only downside, if there is one, is that sometimes there is a little too much time spent explaining each move before beginning it. Overall, I would definately recommend it."

Good instruction, but I prefer some of her older videos more

Colleen M. Schneider | San Lorenzo, CA USA | 07/18/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am not a daily pilates practioner, but I have over the years incorporated pilates into my workouts for several reasons-foremost, is that the moves create a long, lean group of muscles and there is nothing that I have found that has created such a strong core and flat tummy. I find Mari's instruction thorough and she includes a modifier for those just starting out. For those that are already familiar with Pilates, you may not like that she speaks more of the moves, and actually slows them down to show you how you are engaging the muscles (even when you are just holding your leg off the floor). This can make the moves not seem to flow-for a beginner, the pace would be fine. As for the moves themselves they are classic pilates, the 100, the saw, the mermaid, the side kick series, the teaser, etc. One caution-I find that you really do need to modify at the beginning until you have your core strength up. Also, you may be more limber in the afternoon/evening for moves such as the jack knife. I have found that I am not limber enough first thing in the morning to do this where I feel I am loose enough, where in the afternoon it is not a problem. Listen to your body and modify when necessary to get the full benefits.

The longer, classic mat program is approximately 55 minutes. A good well paced and well instructed program with all of your Pilates favorites to help you to build that core.

The Express program is approximately 25 minutes and has many of the same exercises but with fewer repetitions and fewer exercises. I find this kind of program nice when I am pressed for time or when I want to do a mixed workout-I sometimes will do a short pilates along with a short kickboxing workout to mix things up.

One thing you can depend on from the Winsor series of dvds is good cuing, excellent instructions and practioners with good form and graceful moves. This would be a good beginning dvd (again, start with the modifications until you build your core up.)

You will be amazed that in several weeks you will notice your stomach becoming more toned and firm, and that, my friends is a good thing :)!

"

Good Core Strengthener

Andrea Lee Carter | Chico, CA USA | 04/04/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I like the pace of this video, just fast enough to keep you moving, but still enough time to get into correct position. I also like that there is one person in the video demonstrating modified versions of the exercises for those of us who are just starting Pilates. Some of the exercises I can do the more advanced versions, but some of them I cannot, and the modified versions are helpful for me. The mat version of the video is just short of an hour long, but I find that I'm so focused on the exercises that it goes by quickly. I always feel like I've had a good workout by the time I'm done. However, there is also a 20 minute session included on the video for those who need a shorter session. I highly recommend this video if you are new to Pilates."

Do the work, gain the benefit

Hope M | Tillamook, OR | 10/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you consistently use this program, you will be very happy with the results. I was a runner for years, a distance runner at that, and I never saw results like I do with this. I've also had an improvement in some back issues (the reason I quit running 10 years ago), to the point that I can now run again without pain.

If you do the work, this is one exercise program that has worked very well for me."