I cracked open the Mari Winsor Pilates

Avatar for megs55
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
I cracked open the Mari Winsor Pilates
4
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 4:55pm

tapes I bought off E-BAY several months ago! I'm embarrassed to say that today is the first day I even

Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 5:35pm
*Hanging my head in shame here* I have them too and I did try them once. I felt like such a fool that I put them away and never tried them again. Maybe I need to because the walking is not happening or doing anything even when I do it. Keep trying and let me know how it goes.

Deb

Debbie

Avatar for cl_grace_50
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Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 7:57pm

I have the Mari Winsor DVD set. I am not thrilled with it since I have done classical Pilates with a certified instructor. I started with the advanced since I was familiar with Pilates already. I would be very careful doing Winsor Pilates with back trouble. Don't do anything that hurts or bothers you.


The breathing...You breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. You can even make noise on the exhalation. Your ribs move open when you inhale, your navel goes to your spine on the exhale. Keep tall with shoulders down and chest lifted when practicing the breathing. Mari goes quickly, tries to give "an aerobic workout", it is her form of pilates. The moves should go with your breaths. Most Pilates moves are slower. The general rule is that you exhale everytime you "come together" as in a roll up. Inhales are used in the lengthening moves. It is important to get the breathing right to perform the exercises properly. Other important things are "keep your navel to your spine", engage your pelvic floor, and keep a neutral spine.


The roll ups (sit up thingies) and rolling like a ball (rolling thingie) use your core muscles...ab and back muscles. When you roll, it is important to look at your navel while you are doing it. It takes practice to get them and you will build up to do them. Although the one looks like a situp, you are really using your muscles differently. Your glutes and legs are tightened as well as the navel to the spine, exhaling at the right time and engaging your pelvic floor. (Bring your pelvic bones together...you will also feel like you are doing a Keigel.) I still struggle with the teaser, but somedays I can get them and don't embarrass myself in front of the class.


Always think of lengthening your body so you don't arch your back when doing back extension exercises. Think of the crown of your head stretching to the opposite wall...think long and lean when inhaling. That should

cl-grace_50 

fitness4health@yahoo.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 06-08-2004 - 12:03am

When I was CL of the Pilates Board I used to regularly post warnings about Winsor Pilates. She markets her product extremely well, so it is probably the best known "method" of Pilates out there for the general public. but it also has the most reported injuries. Mari is a well respected teacher and was originally trained in Authentic Pilates (TM) (Classical Pilates is another name for Authentic Pilates (TM), but she made changes that I don't particularly care for (such as with the breathing technique), and her videos are not explained well enough for novices. Following are two of the more comprehensive posts I did a number of times and which the board still uses:


1) Here's an important post from way back when:


WINSOR PILATES CAUTION (by another board member)


While Mari Winsor is a well respected Pilates instructor, and many people are very happy with her videos, there are some things novices should be aware of before they begin the tapes to prevent injuries and to get maximum benefits from their efforts. Please read the following from another board member that was posted originally back on Board 14, I believe. It may answer some questions for what to be on the lookout for when you begin to prevent any injuries:


"I am new to Pilates, and I have learned a lot from this board. I started learning Pilates a month ago by following the Winsor Pilates system. I do her 20-minute tape on odd weekdays, and her 60-minute tape on even weekdays, just as Winsor recommended. Shortly afterwards, I injured my neck, upper back, and lower back from following her system. Later, I found out on another website that quite a few people also got injured (especially the lowerback) from following her system.

After my injury, I purchased the "classical pilates mat workout" video and the book by Alycea Ungaro, and I finally figured out why I got injured. According to the "classical" tape, we are supposed to master the basic level COMPLETELY before moving on to the intermediate, and master the intermediate completely before going on to the advanced, and we should build our routines gradually. However, the winsor 60-minutes workout has many advanced movements, and they could really give the beginners lowerback injuries, even if you follow their modified version of these advanced movements (which was what I did). Beginners should never practice these advanced movements until they completely master the intermediate level.

The Winsor system is relatively expensive ($40 for two 25-minute and one 60-minute VHS tapes). So, they need to promise quick results. That is probably why she recommends doing the 20-minute routine and 60-minute routine on alternative days. But this is dangerous for beginners. There is really nothing wrong with the tapes themselves, and Winsor is quite good for leading the exercises (I enjoy using her 20-minute tape, and I believe I will enjoy her 60-minute tape later on). But I do think she should warn people not to practice the 60-minute tape during the beginning stage.

One other drawback about the Winsor tape is that she never mentions Pilates Stance, which is extremely important for protecting the lower back. I learned it from Alycea Ungaro's book, and my lower back is feeling much better now by paying attention to it. Hope this info is useful to people who are beginning winsor pilates."

I think the above advice is very good. I'd like to add that Mari doesn't teach Pilates breathing in her videos. She teaches to breathe in and out through the nose, while Joseph Pilates created the Method breathing in as you prepare for the move and exhaling as you execute. This is information you should be aware of, and then you can decide for yourself which way you choose to practice Pilates. Good luck to everyone!


2) PILATES STANCE DEFINITION (not covered in Winsor videos, but very important)


The Pilates Stance is the rotation or wrapping of the legs together from the hips to the heels, resulting in a tripod (or a slight "V") of the feet. What really defines it is the work of the powerhouse which triggers the action of the glutes and legs. As stated in "Pilates Body in Motion" by Alycea Ungaro, "It is critical to remember the phrase 'work from the knee up, not the knee down' when establishing this position. The muscular action occurs in the core of the body and not in the periphery. Pilates stance performed while lying down is no different. The feet and lower legs MAINTAIN A LONG, LOOSE, RELAXED POSITION, while the buttocks and inner thighs are activated."
You can see why this is a major oversight in not teaching such an important detail and integral part of the Pilates Method in a Pilates video.


       ~~Rhonda~~


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Avatar for cl_grace_50
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 06-08-2004 - 1:20pm

Thanks Rhonda...I knew I could count on you to post an indepth explanation on how Pilates should be done. You are so right that most people want to advance too quickly. The breathing is so important and I will always remember that phrase you wrote...work from the knee up and not from knee down. The Pilates stance is so important I didn't use the phrase in my post because I don't remember Mari ever using it. I used her video twice and have since put it away. I am so glad I got instruction from a real Pilates instructor.


I am still waiting for my 4 DVD gift pack...can't wait to get it.


Grace

cl-grace_50

cl-grace_50 

fitness4health@yahoo.com