What is a Good Early Morning Pilates Exercise?
February 1, 2010 by dorisch
Filed under Pilates Fitness
Question: I’m 13 and I have to get up for school around 4:30 am. This year I wanted to make a habit that everyday I get up and do pilates. I’m not doing it to lose weight but more to just get exercise and wake-up. Is this a good thing? And what would be a good workout? I have a tape the workout is a little harder for the morning. Should I use a Pilates video and just push myself? Thanks in advance!!!
A Better Body with Winsor Pilates
August 4, 2009 by dorisch
Filed under Winsor Pilates
Let’s face it. Many of us could benefit from an increase in our activity on a daily basis. In fact, many of us are not satisfied with our particular fitness levels at this time and plan to implement some sort of exercise program to try to look and feel better. Even if you have let yourself get out of shape, don’t feel guilty; it’s never to late to put an exercise regimen in place. One good exercise program used by many people today is the Winsor Pilates Method.
Winsor Pilates practitioners maintain better body image and walk with better posture and new confidence than people who use no exercise program. The regular practitioners of Winsor Pilates reap the benefits of the exercise with moves that tone, sculpt and firm their muscles very quickly, leading to a nice Pilates body.
Mari Winsor first introduced a series of tapes outlining the Winsor Pilates Method. The first tape of the series introduced the seven basic Winsor Pilates moves, presented in a low-intensity, 24 minute version. The purpose of all the exercises is to sculpt and reshape your body into the lean, fit person you have always longed to be.
In the first tape, Mari Winsor explains how to do the basic seven Winsor Pilates moves herself with tips and 3-D illustrations. The seven basis moves in this video are the Pilates 100, the roll up, single leg circles, rolling like a ball, single leg stretches, double leg stretches, and spine stretch forwards. Each one of these exercises have their own specific techniques that should be taught by a qualified Winsor Pilates instructor.
The first move, the Winsor “Pilates 100″ is an exercise designed to increase circulation. In this exercise, the participant starts by breathing very slowly and then add the arms and legs gradually. This particular exercise is all about the breathing. As soon as you began to accomplish the Pilates 100 on a regular basis, you will began to look and feel great.
The next Winsor Pilates exercise, the Roll Up, is said to be the most challenging of all the seven basic Winsor Pilates exercises. The participant begins by lying on a flat position on his back and then he bends his entire body in half, over his toes. To say the least, this Pilates lengthens and strengthens the entire body.
The Single Leg Circle is performed just as it sounds, with the participant lying on his back with one leg in the air, with which he slowly makes circles. The Rolling Like a Ball technique in Windsor Pilates gives a gentle back massage while the participant is performing it.
The Single Leg Stretch is a Winsor Pilates movement that is considered a lot of fun because the participant feels like he is biking while upside down. This exercise is in contrast to the Double Leg Stretch Winsor Pilates move where the participant feels like a ballerina while flat on his back. The last Winsor Pilates move is the Spine Stretch Forward which is performed using a gentle stretch.
With these types of Winsor Pilates exercises available, the Pilates enthusiast is spoiled for good choices on how to get and stay fit. If you perform these seven basic Pilates exercises on a regular basis, you will look and feel better and better.
Understanding the Difference Between Pilates Fitness Exercise and Yoga
July 24, 2009 by dorisch
Filed under Pilates Fitness
The world is shifting its priorities and today, you won’t be able to enjoy a high calorie the same way your parents would have when they were of your age. It just goes to show how we value our health and the more we know, the less willing we are to take risks. Are you familiar why is pilates fitness exercise different from yoga? Hence, people strive to enjoy a healthy meal, in terms of tastes as well as for its nutritional value.
It should be of no surprise that almost every other celebrity in Hollywood either wants to practice yoga or Pilates. The advantages offered by these two unique exercises are such that only a few can match up to them and give the level of workout that can achieve individually. You can try to do regular exercises, but if you want results, you might want to give one of these two a try.
Now, it becomes important to differentiate between the two exercises. Their names might be lightly used and you would have come across both of them in a variety of shows on TV, in movies or even in your neighborhood. There is no shortage of people practicing one or both of these exercises and you should find someone relatively easily.
Yoga is more to do with spirituality. It aims to help people understand the concept of mind, body and soul. People who practice yoga are made to believe that with proper mind control, they can successfully treat their body and protect it from falling ill, while building muscle strength and improving their health all at the same time. It is very unique, and an exercise that has history dating back to thousands of years.
Pilates, on the other hand, is more to do with using your body in synchronization with your mind to perform exercises. It is built such that when you do your exercises physically, your mind is also aware of what is going on and contributes to the exercises. It is a modern approach and was developed in the 20th century by Joseph Pilates, a part Greek, part German individual who was assigned the task of developing an exercise regimen for WWII troops.
While it may seem like both the exercise programs are doing the same thing, the truth is that their approach is different. While yoga uses no extra apparatus other than a regular exercise mat, Pilates exercise has evolved to include some exercising equipment that offer resistant exercises and consequently make the workouts more physical.
Whatever may be your final goal; both of these techniques are proven to be extremely effective and are helpful in reducing your weight, toning your body and restoring your health. Under a qualified instructor, you should be able to attain a high degree of fitness and be able to cope with stress as well.
You shouldn’t really be worried too much about which technique you want to go ahead with and trying to be fit. If it is stress you want to deal with then go ahead with yoga; if it’s pure physical fitness exercise that you are after, then Pilates is the answer for you.
Why is Pilates Exercise a Great Fitness Activity?
July 1, 2009 by dorisch
Filed under Pilates Fitness
The wonderful thing about Pilates exercise is that it is a great fitness activity for people getting on in age. Pilates can be done at various levels and a qualified instructor can customize it accordingly for the individual.
After practising Pilates for more than six months, I realized that like many fitness acitivies, Pilates can be performed at a pace dictated by the strength and stamina of the individual. Unlike traditional weight training or body building, it is not goal driven. Pilates focuses on the wellness of the individual and in many cases, it helps to meet specific health goals for those who need help on posture, body alignment and rehabilitation. Ultimately, Pilates is all about achieving long term, tangible results.
Do you know that Pilates can also help with relief from stress and mental tension? It can also have a direct impact on maintaining strength and range of motion, both of which are especially important for the aged. Studies have shown that Pilates can also provide relief from back pain and other physical injuries which is why you can find Pilates practitioners in rehab centres.
Concentration is vital in Pilates. The key to effective Pilates is to make the connection between mind and body. One of the core principles of Pilates is to establish control of the body through discipline and focused thought. Controlled breathing plays a pivotal role in achieving results in Pilates. In Pilates,a form of breathing called Lateral Breathing is used. This is performed by inhaling deeply through one’s nose, and allowing the inhaled air to expand one’s ribcage. This form of breathing is also known as Thoracic Breathing.
It isn’t hard to convince Pilates enthusiasts that this is a highly effective fitness activity for maintaining health and vitality, regardless of any age or stage in life. One of the many reasons why I have chosen Pilates exercise as an ongoing activity is because it is great for me when I mature in years later in life. From my observation, aging individuals often lose control of their coordination and muscles, and this can lead to a sense of frustration and mental anguish for people who are used to their sense of independence. Pilates can provide people with the tools and techniques they need to age with dignity and a sense of well being. Having said that, Pilates may not be for everyone, but it could be ideal for you.
Pilates Fitness exercises to shape those booties and glutes!
March 18, 2009 by dorisch
Filed under Pilates Fitness
Many people have misconceptions of Pilates fitness workouts. I spoke to many friends and they responded in negativity and questions if Pilates really help to improve one’s fitness level.
Recently I read in an article that two women from Tampa almost died last month after getting illegal silicone injections to enhance the size and shape of their booties. Both became seriously ill after they were injected with Hydrogel into their buttocks. Hydrogel is a silicone substance and saline solution for cosmetic enhancements. The women, who received more than a dozen injections each, were hospitalized. One has kidney failure. And know what, the lady who injected the solution had carried out the procedure without any medical license!
So it seems to me that women will go great lengths to acquire her beauty goals and instead of choosing time tested methods, they opt for short cut and quick options that threaten their lives.
If you are serious about shaping your booties or buttocks, let me urge you to sign up for a Pilates fitness class with your nearest Pilates studio today. I’m a firm believer of ‘no pain, no gain’ and do you know that the best exercise for a great booty is Pilates? Pilates fitness is not only great for isolating your glutes but it helps to tone the overall body including those firm abs you have been neglecting for a long time. To acquire your shapy bootie goals, you may need to attend Pilates fitness classes three times a week.
If time does not allow any Pilates fitness classes, doing exercises such as squats, walking lunges and elevated and reversed lunges also will improve your posterior. Outdoor activies like hiking and walking at an incline are helpful too. It’s all about working on the right areas if you are after an attractive booties!
Otherwise, grab one of these Pilates videos and get your buttocks in shape from home!
is pilates for weight loss?
March 5, 2009 by dorisch
Filed under Pilates Fitness, Pilates Fitness Tips
The focus of Pilates is not about losing weight, and yet, like Yoga, losing weight happens to be one of the secondary benefits of the enhanced muscle tone it brings. As a matter of fact, the slow, deliberate burning of fat linked to Pilates fitness in reality goes on for hours subsequent to the exercises themselves.
Most professional trainers and fitness instructors agree that you should take private Pilates fitness classes to learn the proper techniques in order to receive the full benefit of Pilates. However, classes can be expensive and many people prefer to exercise in the comfort of their own home.
It is important to learn to breathe correctly for Pilates to maximize the benefit of the exercises. The type of breathing used in Pilates is called thoracic breathing, or “rib” breathing. Pilates for weight loss can be carried out via a Pilates video from home. Following a series of instructions and Pilates workouts can help you get the most benefit from your Pilates weight loss goals.
Although, many people don’t understand how a low intensity Pilates workout program can help with weight loss. What many people don’t realise is that if you are constantly moving and working your body, it doesn’t have to be with heavy machines to lose the weight. Doing both programs (the cardio section and the mat section) gives a good total body workout without wiping you out for the whole day.
The main focus of the Pilates workout is to engage what is known as the powerhouse (the stomach and other core muscles of the body) to gain strength and, in the process, shed extra pounds. A specific method of breathing is also employed during key moments of the movements.
exploring Winsor Pilates and Pilates videos
March 2, 2009 by dorisch
Filed under Pilates Fitness, Pilates Videos, Winsor Pilates
As soon as you switch on the TV, you see promises, promises and promises of building a better, thinner, richer and happier you. This is why the Winsor Pilates program is such a relief. With the use of terrific celebrity sponsors, you’ll find that this method of Pilates exercise is perfect for helping you get in shape and really enjoy it.
Mari Winsor, a dancer with years of experience, is the woman who introduced these exercises to the world, and as a certified Pilates instructor, she has dedicated herself to helping both men and women lose weight, get stronger and bring out the natural shape and appeal of their natural bodies. Though we are all familiar with Pilates fitness, Mari takes it to the next step and made it popular with her superstar clients.
There are different and exciting forms that the Winsor exercise form takes. You can log on to a website to learn what you need to know, or you can get book. Interactive Pilates videos give you a great way to see it in action, or you might want to visit a Winsor Pilates studio
The Winsor DVDs and Winsor Pilates videos were all produced by Mari herself, and today, they are are the only virtual 3D exercise program around that will be able to give you proper form and positioning. You can collect your choice of thirty different videos, and you can relax knowing that they are all designed to give you a more trim, more taut body. Tone your body and lose weight with these great Pilates fitness programs.
You’ll find that you can get Pilates videos on abdominal sculpting, upper body sculpting, thigh sculpting and weight loss, but don’t miss out on the Pilates exercises that are done on the mat and the Pilates training with equipment. These videos all come in practical packages of five, and they also come with a sculpting or magic circle.
Back in 1990, Mari Winsor opened up the first Winsor Pilates studio in Los Angeles, and it has been a long and bright road for her and her workout technique. At the studio, her students get the benefit of how to use their body’s core system. With a core workout, they are strengthening their abs and their back muscles. Not only are they going to get their bodies sculpted, but they’re going to get a fabulous looking midsection as well!
You’ll also find that when you want a sleek, smooth look that working on muscle toning on the legs and buttocks is important as well. When you have gone through the Winsor Pilates workout, you are going to get better posture, more energy and more enjoyment out of the work that you do.
Being trained in classical Pilates, who had been known to help with the rehabilitation of dancing professionals suffering from injuries and those who with health conditions, Mari continued to bring Pilates fitness to an innovative level to help the health aficionados .
With the Winsor Pliates fitness plan, you are very close to getting exactly what you need from your body. Move forward to healthier and happier you.
pilates fitness from home
February 25, 2009 by dorisch
Filed under Pilates Videos
Like to try out some pilates fitness at the comforts of your home? Pilates isn’t as hard as you think. All you need is a Pilates or exercise mat and you are all set to get started. Watch the below Pilates video and learn some stretches and easy Pilates fitness floor workouts.
Pilates fitness is for everyone including pregnant women
February 25, 2009 by dorisch
Filed under Pilates Fitness
Did you know Pilates fitness is also beneficial to improving your body’s flexibility?
Presently, mat Pilates, which does not make use of the reformer is becoming increasingly popular. Pilates fitness is designed to combine your breathing rhythm with your body movements. Certain Pilates fitness exercises combine exercises from ballet with yoga and sports therapy to flatten the abdomen and help you build a sleek, toned appearance. It teaches body awareness, good posture, and easy, graceful movement.
For any age, body type, or fitness level, Pilates fitness provides a safe and effective whole body workout. Whether you are a seasoned fitness enthusiast or a complete beginner in a structured workout program you can still do pilates. It is a very gentle form of exercise however it can be part of a rigorous workout regime also.
Both Pilates fitness and yoga workouts offer exceptional fitness benefits. You can expect a total change in your body from your Pilates workouts with classically trained and fully certified instructors. Posture will improve, stomach and buttocks will become more toned, and legs and arms will be leaner. What I truly love about Pilates fitness is that it is for the young, the old, the sedentary, the athletic, the strong, the weak, the flexible, and the inflexible; basically Pilates is for everyone.
It is for pregnant women, is great for rehabilitation from injury, and is often recommended by doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors. Are you wondering about doing Pilates and pregnancy? Pilates is an excellent form of exercise for a healthy pregnancy. I strongly advice all pregnant women from all walks of life to find a qualified Pilates instructor and begin taking classes six weeks after labor, the results are glorious. One question I get asked all the time by women who are pregnant is: Is Pilates fitness safe? And my response is: If you’re doing it correctly and there’s no medical reason then why not?
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.


