15 Jul 2004 - Gina of California, USA writes:
The Winsor pilates movements come the closest to the original technique started by Pilates himself. All three videos make it easy to understand and safe. The exercises move slowly enough for beginners to adjust, but quickly enough for experienced folks to stay interested (and get a few extra in). They include both the modified and hardcore versions of each exercise, which is nice. I find the hour long video a little lagging after about 45 minutes, but I keep reminding myself that Pilates is GREAT when done right. Mari is a great rep for this magical exercise.
13 Jul 2004 - Jessica of California, USA writes:
I've been working out heavily for a year now, and at one point found myself bulking up due to my compulsive behavior. I convinced myself that if I wasn't DRIPPING sweat, screaming in pain and basically exhausting all my muscles, I wasn't REALLy getting a good workout. I prefer leaner muscles so I decided to add pilates into my routine. I do it every morning. The advanced tape which I have memorized over time. Yes, the videos are slow and Mari can be obnoxious but I know all the moves by heart now so I just play music or watch TV while doing them. I feel and see a difference. It's a much leaner look. i'm far more flexible than ever, and the leg exercises Rock! I feel then the most and have actually seen some of the leg exercises reccomened by other fitness pro's. With the advanced I find myself sweating ..so in addition to cardio, I think pilates is excellent for toning.
11 Jul 2004 - Kristin of Texas, USA writes:
I got the Winsor Pilates for Christmas. I haven't used it consistently, and it's now July! I recently did the dvd's, and I really felt a huge burn in my abs and hips. I like the slow pace, but some of the moves are hard if you are overweight and have a large chest. If you want to lose weight, don't rely on the pilates program alone. Incorporate some kind of cardio in your routine, do it 4-5 times a week, and eat sensibly. The meal plan that she includes is really awful and expensive. Who wants to eat oatmeal and cottage mixed together? Not me! A basic low fat high fiber diet at 1400-1500 calories should be sufficent, and not cost a bundle. All in all, I really do like the workout. It's good on my back, and I'm feeling stronger. It's a good stretching and toning workout, and it really helps with abs. I would recommend it for beginners, but I can see how some exersise fanatics probably wouldn't like it.
5 Jul 2004 - Amanda of North Carolina, USA writes:
I did this for about 2 months and about 2 times a day 6 days per week. No visible results. Period. Thanks for ripping me off, just like everyone else! I'm going to try it again, and do it, and I hope it will work this time.
16 Jun 2004 - Emily of Michigan, USA writes:
Well, I just started using Winsor Pilates this week, and only for about 4 days so far. I was very excited when after only doing the 20 minute video one time, I felt sore the next day. Reading some of these reviews was a little disheartening, I will admit, but I still think its worth sticking with it for a few more months despite the so called "horror stories." I really think many of these dissatisfied people are not positioning themselves correctly and I think Mari's slow talking is a breath of fresh air compared to the usual fake, perky, yelling of many other instructors. Good luck to all, and stick with it. You have absolutely nothing to lose, but the pounds!
12 Jun 2004 - Anne of Ontario, Canada writes:
I purchased Winsor Pilates about two weeks ago. I must agree with the comment made before about having someone heavier and with less flexibility demonstrate the moves. i'm finding it virtually impossible to do some of the exercising even though she provides alternative moves. actually I just finished doing the accelerated program a few minutes ago and my back is really hurting. Mari is great though. I think this product is for people who are already relatively healthy and flexible and not for big, huge tummy people like myself.
1 Jun 2004 - Kathy of California, USA writes:
I have been doing the Winsor Pilates 20 minute DVD for about two weeks now. Actually 12 days altogether because I have one day where I just rest. The positions and moves are fairly easy, but they kill the neck (especially for beginners). After a few days, it doesn't hurt anymore. The good news is my stomach has flattened a bit. That's the only visible result I can find at least. Other than that, everything on me is pretty much the same. I'm a lot more flexible, but I kind of expected quicker results. I don't have time for the advanced workout (I have school, work and a little sister I have to take care of). I think it best to do pilates and some form of cardio, because pilates don't make you lose weight. They just tone you.
20 May 2004 - Audra of South Dakota, USA writes:
Winsor Pilates is a great low impact workout. When I was just beginning it was very hard to complete some of the exercises as they required a lot of ab strength. But after I built my ab strength up a bit, I really enjoyed this program. If you have a lot of weight to lose you may need to combine this some low impact cardio to burn fat. I built great muscle tone and flexibility, but I didn't got rid of excess fat very quickly. Overall, I have enjoyed Winsor Pilates.
29 Apr 2004 - Jordan of Colorado, USA writes:
I'm 13 years old and I started Winsor Pilates about two months ago and I love it. I started feeling and seeing results within the first four days and lost about 30 pounds.
12 Mar 2004 - Sheena of New York, USA writes:
I have done many exercise videos and this is one of the best. Mari knows what she is doing. I usually get annoyed at the music or talk after having watched it so many times but not with this series. I love it!
3 Mar 2004 - Brit of Austrailian Capital Territory, Austrailia writes:
I purchased all of the winsor system a little while ago. It wasn't until after the birth of my daughter, however, that i tried them out. After a few weeks of doing the 20 min workout 3-4 times a day, I feel stronger, taller, more flexible and more toned. I would not be misleading in saying that my body looks better than ever. It would be impossible to tell, that I've had a baby at all. I can also say, that Winsor Pilates has also helped with my Anxiety Disorder. I feel more relaxed and energized. I feel motivated. It is important to realize, that pilates can take awhile to show significant improvements in muscle tone. Then again, it takes longer to lose the muscle tone which has been achieved by doing pilates. Each time you do the exercises, you become more aware of your body and learn something new. My partner has also been doing the program. After many years of basketball and weights, he suffers from stress fractures in his lower back and tendonitis in his knees. Thanks to pilates, he will play basketball again. We both highly reccommend the program. If you are going to do it, take it seriously and be patient.
2 Mar 2004 - Brenda of Mississippi, USA writes:
I am not having much luck with this product. I've no doubt it may work for some, but it is not for fat people. I wish for once they would put a really fat person on and show them doing the steps,i am very glad no one can see me trying! so good luck to all you [] people out there toning up.
19 Feb 2004 - Hana of New Jersey, USA writes:
Winsor Pilates is great! I love it. For those who say it's boring and didn't want to do it anymore, you didn't want to do it because you couldn't do the routines. If you stick with it, you will see great results and be very pround that you did do it. Try it and you will get strong lose weight inches and much more. You will have a sexy body. Yes, she does go slow, but that's ok IF you like the slow pace, if you don't then tae-bo is for you. Not saying I don't like tae-bo I do, but like I said if Pilates is not for you then something fast is for you. One more thing, Pilates does help you lose weight, if you stcik with it and stay in the frame of the body and tighten up your power house you will lose weight. The burning tells you it's working. As for the food, I don't eat like that so I wont be following it at all, just portion your meals and you will be ok. Trust me. I used to weigh 255 pound, yes I said 255 I lost the pounds in 5 months cause I kept to it, I did it everyday, even if I wasn't in the mood, I did it anyway, and it paid off big time! Now with Pilates I'm down to 175 and I love it! Try it I did, and I got strong and I lost weight! It's 2 thumbs up for me.
18 Feb 2004 - Taiisha of New York, USA writes:
I purchased the winsor pilates dvd set a couple of months ago I know people say it's boring, I like to lift weights and do high impact aerobics, but I have to say it is refreshing the way the excercises are presented it gives you time to really focus in on the movements and the breathing. If your breathing correctly and pushing your belly button into your spine through every excercise than you will totally see results. I also got the upper body workout, bun and thigh, and ab workout awesome! I have 4 kids and I have to say I will be pleased with my body this summer because of pilates.
18 Feb 2004 - Cheryl of New York, USA writes:
I purchased Mari's complete system 13 weeks ago and have been using it roughly 6 days a week. If you are fairly coordinated, you will only need to watch the instructional video once, even if it's your first time with Pilates as it was mine. I moved on to the 20 min. video. I found it a bit boring after a couple weeks, so I stared using a modified version of the "Winsor Dozen" and added the lower body work out. I was a bit worried to start the Advanced (thinking it would be too hard), but moved to it 3 weeks ago. It was not difficult. One or two moves perhaps, but I would just follow the modifier or skip that exercise all together. Keep the remote control handy...I fast foward when Mari is talking between exercises. It cuts the video from 50 mins to about 35. Let me leave with you with the following: 1.) I was in phyiscal therpay for lower back pain from an accident for four years. I am now out of therpay with no back issues due to the strength in my powerhouse. 2.) I do feel a little different, a bit "harder" in my abs and my thighs have definately gotten smaller (my husband told me so without me even asking!), but in no way do I have the results pictured on Mari's website. Don't expect a six pack or 20 inches lost in the first three months. Let's faced it people, it just doesn't happen unless you are a body builder!
9 Feb 2004 - Sheila of Texas, USA writes:
I had breast cancer surgery last summer and was having alot of trouble with the muscles and tendons in the arm on the side of the surgery. One of the surgical nurses suggested Winsor Pilates so I bought the set. It was not taxing (I had my doctor's approval)and it helped my arm tremendously. I can't say I look like a model but for an "at home therapy" this is great. I do the 20 minute initial workout 3x a week.
3 Feb 2004 - Veronica of Pennsylvania, USA writes:
I just started doing Winsor Pilates, about three days ago. And I love it! I never did calisthenics before. I really enjoy doing these exercises. I have all the tapes. I think some people who are having neck are back pains are not positioned correctly when performing some of the exercises. I have not had any pain. You can really feel the exercises during and after. Some people might find the exercises boring, because some exercises are slow in movement. But, the reason why the slow movement in some exercises is to isolate that muscle. Isolating a muscle makes the muscle work harder and you can really feel it! I would defiantly suggest Winsor Pilates to anyone who wants to try something different in their workout program or someone just starting out. If you are just starting out, they have someone who is doing a modified exercise. It's great! Give it a try!
26 Jan 2004 - Jill of Missouri, USA writes:
I was a dancer for 17 years, competing both regionally & nationally. I stopped dancing about 6 years ago. When I saw the infomercial for this product, I wanted to give it a try to see if I could get my body back to the flexibility & shape that I had as a dancer. Well, I had mixed results. I love the exercises, found them fairly easy, & surprised myself w/ the flexibility that I still had. I alternated for 5 days between the 20 minute workout & the advanced. I had noticed some neck & back pain but didn't think much of it. The first day that I took a break though, it really hit me. It took almost a month of not using the workouts for the neck & back pain to go away. I've never had neck & back problems before so this was quite a shock. The worst was when I would look down... I could feel the pain all the way down my spine to my lower back. I've heard all the horror stories about people who've messed up their backs & suffer from back pain for the rest of their life, so I'm nervous about using the workouts again. I made a conscious effort when doing the workout to keep the small of my back on the floor, so I don't think that was the problem. And now after reading about other dancers with the same painful experiences, it makes me wonder. I would have expected maybe a day or two of stiffness, but not almost a whole month! I would be really careful with these workouts if you have any neck or back problems.
20 Jan 2004 - Nancy of California, USA writes:
I have had Winsor Pilates for awhile now. It's sitting on my bookshelf. I had been doing it with little results. The routine becomes extremely boring quickly and Mari is such a boring instructer. It becomes so tedious that just the twenty minutes feels like an hour! I now just do my own exercises so i can watch tv which solves my problem of being bored and i can change up the routine however i like.
20 Jan 2004 - Jenny of Michigan, USA writes:
hi i was using winsor pilates for a while and i found the moves to be rather boring and dull.. I think the only things that work are the accelerate video because its a fast exercise. and i highly reccomend u order the ab video. After one work out i felt the results! its amazing! i been going to 24 hours for a long time and always working on those ab machines...altough those machine works because i can feel the pain but the pain goes away in less than a minute. but the winsor pilates ab video u can feel it workin the next day! although i got too lazy to do winsor i still do it when i need a good tone in my abs. Its works! u should try it!
