Does Pilates Fitness Workout Help Me Get Rid Of Cellulite?

February 10, 2010 by dorisch  
Filed under Pilates Fitness, Pilates Fitness Tips

There was a question that came to my attention when I was doing my usual research online for my Winsor Pilates Fitness Blog. The question was: I have some cellulite on my legs, and I started doing this things called Pilates. Are they efficient against cellulite?

Well, the answer is a resounding YES. Contrary to what some think, Pilates is not an easy form of exercise and it’s not meant for women only. One needs to to gain awareness of muscles and motor patterns of muscle movements that you may have never been aware of before. It takes practice and dedication to develop these skills. The more experience you gain with Pilates the more you will feel the most basic and essential level exercises. Pilates begins with some basic principles and builds from there into essential, intermediate, and advanced level exercises.

In the usual Pilates fitness workout, you should be guided by a Pilates instructor on how to engage the proper muscles. Due to the fact that Pilates can be a complicated form of exercise it is recommended to complete 10-20 private sessions before attempting to do the Pilates workout on your own. Here are some workout patterns:

  • Warm Up to get connected with your core muscles with some deep breaths engaging the Transverse with each exhale and trying to hold it on with the inhale. Then with your breath move the pelvis from neutral to imprint focusing on staying engaged in the core.
    Also draw awareness to your shoulder girdle by shrugging the shoulders up with the inhale and down into a stabile position with the exhale.
  • AB PREP 8 reps knees bent, arms at side, inhale to prepare then flex the spine into the ab prep position, inhale to hold and exhale to lower down. Repeat ab prep 8 times.
  • EXTENSION 5 reps lie prone, legs together, belly pulled up toward the spine, arms bent up with palms overlapping under the forehead, keep forehead on the hands and inhale to prepare, exhale to extend, lifting up slightly. Hover just above the surface with upper traps relaxed, inhale to hold, exhale to return.
  • HUNDREDS 10 sets of 10 lie supine with legs in a table top position, arms at side. Inhale to prepare, exhale to flex spine. Pumping the arms, inhale for 5 counts, exhale for 5 counts, repeat 10 times. Stay in the flexed position with the back imprinted.
  • SPINE TWIST 5 reps to each side seated with legs straight out and together. If you cannot sit upright with straight legs sit on a block to take the tension out of the hamstrings. Arms out to the side, inhale to prepare, exhale to twist, inhale to rotate. Repeat to the other side.
  • SHOULDER BRIDGE 10 reps each leg lie supine, knees bent, your feet lined up with sit bones and arms by the sides. Inhale to prepare, exhale to lift the hips up, inhale to lift one leg straight up, exhale to lower that leg down to the height of the bent leg, then lift it right back up. Do 10 reps each leg.
  • SIDE LYING LEG LIFT 10 reps each side lie on side, legs stacked on each other. Inhale to prepare, exhale to lift the legs together, inhale to lower. Keep legs together and straight. Repeat on other side 10 reps
  • SHELL STRETCH roll to a prone position and push back to sit back on heels with arms stretched out over head. This is similar to fetal position. If shoulders are tight you can keep your arms down at your sides.

This is just a simple Pilates fitness workout that can be done everyday. This workout is a balance of flexion, extension, rotation, hip extension, and side flexion. You can certainly add additional exercises to this Pilates workout to make it more challenging, but this is a good starting point. This workout can be done anywhere and can be really helpful if done in the middle of your work day to stretch muscles that routinely tighten up while seated at your desk.

Winsor Pilates 20 Minute Circle Workout and Accelerated Fat Burning DVD

February 7, 2010 by dorisch  
Filed under Pilates Videos, Winsor Pilates

Working out has never been that easy with today’s technology. You have absolutely no excuse when it’s so easy to put on a Pilates Video or DVD and get a good workout! Since it’s only February, it’s better to start working those weight loss goals and not wait till the next half of the year. And if you are looking around for a Winsor Pilates DVD, read the reviews of this Winsor Pilates 20 Minute Circle Workout and Accelerated Fat Burning DVD below:

  • 20 Minute Circle Workout
  • Accelerated Fat Burning
  • Sculpting Circle Advanced
  • Fat Burning Cookbook and Exercise Planner

Product Description
Winsor Pilates 20 Minute Circle Workout and Accelerated Fat Burning… More >>

“The accelerated fat burning work out is amazing. I’ve lost 30 lbs in 3 months with this being my sole source of exercise. I do it 6 days a week and love the results it gives my body.”

“I love the 20 minute workout. The exercises are easy to do, the 20 minutes flies by and I feel great when I done. I just started working out again, after having my son. When I did this before I got pregnant I saw results in just 10 days!”

Winsor Pilates Basic Step by Step

January 31, 2010 by dorisch  
Filed under Pilates Videos

Shop for your Pilates Video here.

The Elegant Art of Winsor Pilates

January 31, 2010 by dorisch  
Filed under Pilates Videos, Winsor Pilates

Mari Winsor: Pilates video features a 55-minute comprehensive mat workout as well as a 25-minute “express” program, experienced fitness instructor Mari Winsor encourages a sense of well being in addition to a tough, muscle toning Pilates workout.

THE ELEGANT ART OF PILATES
Lengthen and tone from head to toe with two dynamic Pilates mat workouts. Mari Winsor brings her unique and elegant style to these sessions to help you achieve that lean, sculpted Pilates body. Winsor s detailed instructions make these programs easy to follow nomatter your skill level. Modified positioning is included throughout for beginners. … More >>

Product Description
DVD INCLUDES
25 minute express workout
55 minute in-depth classic mat workout

Working Out With a Winsor Pilates Video

Working out in the gym can be a big drag.  Sometimes, one will experience a lot of body pains after all those strenuous exercises. Is there no other way to achieve a shapely body less all the stress?  Fortunately, there is an enjoyable yet very effective workout to achieve body toning and firmness.  We owe it all to Winsor Pilates, which has revolutionized the way keeping fit, and healthy used to be.

When weight training used to be like the only fitness program, most people would flock to the gym.  A significant change can happen though as the body becomes slimmer and more desirable.  After sometime however, that the visit to the gym is stopped, the body just seems to bloat back to thickness like it has rebelled against the punishment of weight training.  Thankfully, there is another option.

Winsor Pilates as many of us know was coined by Mari Winsor who used to be a former professional dancer. The program took Beverly Hills by storm when the focus was geared towards a more sculpted and well toned body, celebrated by many known celebs joining in the foe. It is dynamic and is suited for all levels, whether you are new to Pilates or been working out all your life. The range of Winsor Pilates products remain popular with those who are serious about working out and aiming for a more attractive body.

Not everyone can find a Winsor Pilates class or studio in their neighbourhood so the most practical approach is to get hold of a Winsor Pilates Video. Even if it’s not part of a Winsor program, a Pilates DVD is useful if you are ready to strengthen your core muscles and improving your flexibility. Beginners may want to grab a beginner’s video as there are some basics that one will need to get familiarized with before getting into a Pilates workout. If following a Pilates video is not possible, go online to check out the nearest Pilates studio near your workplace or home.

Workout with a Pilates Video or DVD from Home

July 8, 2009 by dorisch  
Filed under Pilates Videos

There are many ways to learn Pilates and if you can’t afford the time and money, one of the most effective ways is to buy a Pilates video. Personally, I have been watching some Pilates videos and they have acted as a refresher for me. Sometimes, I can easily forget those Pilates flow and moves after the class but watching a Pilates video can help to refresh my mind and help me remember what I learned and did. If you aren’t sure what’s the right video to get, watching a trailer will be a good start and YouTube.com is a good place to scout for good references too.

Many of these Pilates Dvds are affordable and can be ordered online. Once you have decided that this method is working for you, do invest in a good Pilates mat. Get one that is not too thin so that it can provide good support for your spine and back when you lie down. After all, the mat will last you for a long time. Eventually, you may want to get a Pilates fit ball. If you are small in stature, a 55cm ball is good and 65cm will be ideal for those who are taller and bigger build. These are just a few cheap and useful Pilates equipment you can buy to get started with Pilates from home.

Do you know you can also learn Pilates online via online streaming technology. The advantage of such a membership is that you don’t need to buy all the Pilates DVDs but instead, you can choose any sort of Pilates exercise in a given time, as long as your membership is still valid. With just $9.95 per month, you can learn Pilates anytime, anywhere, and you can choose from a host of different workouts from the library.

I am a strong believer of working out with a Pilates instructor if you have no basics in Pilates. The Pilates instructor will be able to show you the right way to breathe during the workout and explain a few basic lingo commonly used in Pilates. These ‘lingo’ will help you to engage the right muscles and make your Pilates exercise a more effective one. If you can, do a few private sessions to understand these simple steps before going on your own with your Pilates video. You can work towards a better body before the year end. Get started now.

is winsor pilates for me?

February 20, 2009 by dorisch  
Filed under Pilates Fitness, Winsor Pilates

All of us want the best results from our investment. This principle applies even to health and fitness. So when I signed up for a Pilates fitness class early this year, I was set to get the most our of the Pilates workout.

Well, honestly, I didn’t sign up for my Pilates fitness classes due to weight loss reasons. All I knew was, I needed to improve my breathing patterns (being a sufferer of sinusitis) and I wanted to build and strengthen my back and core muscles

If you are new to Pilates, it is advisable to either purchase a Winsor Pilates or any Pilates fitness DVD/video or sign up for a Pilates fitness class. Though you can buy a book and learn some Pilates workouts, you may not know if you are doing the Pilates workouts correctly.

There are basically two types of Pilates workouts available – the Pilates Mat and the Pilates Reformer. While Pilates Mat refers to exercises and Pilates movements on a floor mat, the Pilates Reformer facilitates the toning and Pilates workouts using a series of exercises on the reformer bench.

Winsor Pilates can be learned via numerous DVDs  and from what I understand, the results from the workouts have been effective. Some have mistakenly think that Winsor Pilates is only for celebrities or for the glam and famous but this is not true at all.

Basically, Winsor Pilates can be practiced by anyone of any body shapes or fitness goals, unless you are very ill or expecting a child. The correct Pilates Fitness movements do not put strain or stress on the joints . Though the series of movements are slow, they help to focus on core muscles and strengthen the small muscle groups too.

Winsor Pilates became very popular among the weight watchers and those who are seeking healthier ways to lose weight. If you are planning to take up Pilates for weight loss reasons, be mindful that a healthy diet is necessary to help with achieving your fitness goals too.