FitSugar

Move It at Home: Winsor Pilates 20 Minute Circle Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:00:00 PST

It is always fun to mix some accessories into a Pilates workout, and the magic circle is one of my favorite Pilates props. Mari Winsor (caution: The Winsor web site has automatic video/audio) has a 20 Minute Circle Workout DVD. This workout is short and to the point. Adding leg squeezes to ab work just seems to make the abs work more deeply. Plus it is nice to work lazy inner thighs! This DVD contains exercises that work all body parts, with an emphasis on the abs; it is Pilates after all.

In this DVD there are options for different levels of students. One of the three demonstrators does beginner versions of all the exercises. These variations would also work if you are dealing with a neck injury. One odd thing about the DVD is that the three demonstrators are all so well behaved, polished and choreographed there is an air of "finishing school" about the workout.

The DVD also includes a basic aerobic workout with Pilates lingo added into the mix. The aerobics or "Accelerated Fat Burning Workout" is fine, but I'll stick to Jamie King dance routines – thank you very much.

You can find the DVD on Amazon either used ($15) or new ($28). The DVD is available at the Winsor Pilates website but only in packages with other DVDs.

Move It at Home: Winsor Pilates Back Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PDT

I am going to say this on record - nothing beats going to an actual Pilates mat class. An hour long class works every bit of your body, while stretching and lengthening you as well. Plus, the instructor is right there providing feedback and giving corrections, as well as discussing the subtleties of the Pilates method.

Now if you can't make it to a class, there are DVDs, but good Pilates DVDs are hard to find. The Winsor Pilates DVDs are broken up into 20 minute targeted workouts, and The Back Workout is no exception. However, this DVD is different since it was created to alleviate back tightness and pain. Winsor even warns at the beginning of the workout that if you suffer from chronic back pain, you should consult with your physician first. This DVD is definitely meant to help folks with tight weak backs get stronger so they can take regular Pilates classes.

The series begins with stretches for hip and thigh muscles and a spine warm up. Classic Pilates exercises are taught in very modified variations that are perfect for beginners since they are accompanied by considerably more details than many of the workout videos by Winsor. However, if you are not dealing with a bad back, this is less of a workout and more like a warm up or cool down with gentle ab work. I feel following this DVD would be a great way to prepare for a long run, or help you chill out at the end of a long day. If you do have back problems this series could be very beneficial for you, but like Mari said, you should consult with your physician or physical therapist before trying the DVD.

The Back Workout DVD is included in the Best Value package (which also includes 8 DVDs, a sculpting circle, exercise planner and cookbook) on the Winsor Pilates website for $79.80. You can also find individual copies for as low as $7.50 on Amazon.

Move It At Home: Winsor Pilates Bun & Thigh Sculpting

FitSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:00:00 PDT

I am going to say this on record - nothing beats going to an actual Pilates mat class. An hour long class works every bit of your body, while stretching and lengthening you as well. Plus there is an instructor there providing feedback and giving corrections, as well as discussing the subtleties of the Pilates method.

Now if you can't make it to a class, there are DVDs, but good Pilates DVDs are hard to find. If you are a Pilates regular and are familiar with the side lying mat series, then Winsor Pilates Bun & Thigh Sculpting DVD will be a great lower body workout for you. It runs a little over 20 minutes and targets the glutes, hamstrings and inner thighs. All the classic moves, from a traditional style Pilates mat class, are included. However, there is not a lot of instruction, which is great if you have done Pilates before, but I wouldn't recommend this DVD to a complete novice. Also included are exercises that work the back of the legs while lying on the stomach, or in a prone position if you want to get more technical.

I enjoyed the quick pace of the videos and appreciated not being bogged down by instructional interruptions, but as an instructor I do wish there was a little more specificity in the instructions given.

The Bun & Thigh DVD is included in the Targeted Training package (which also includes 6 DVDs, a sculpting circle, exercise planner and cookbook) on the Winsor Pilates website for $59.80. You can also find individual copies from Amazon for around $13.

Move It at Home: Winsor Pilates Ab Sculpting

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:15:00 PDT

Sometimes getting to the gym or a Pilates class is just impossible! It is those times that make us all thankful for DVD players. It can be almost as difficult to find a good exercise DVD, as it is to get to the gym. Well I am here to tell you, and so are my abs, that the Winsor Pilates Ab Sculpting workout really packs a punch - in a good way.

The ab workout is about 20 minutes and includes all the classic Pilates abdominal exercises - like the 100s, single leg stretch and rolling like a ball. If you have never studied Pilates those names might be a little intriguing, and this DVD might not be the best place to learn the exercises so make sure to start with one of the beginner DVDs from Winsor included in the set with this one. You could also take a mat class or even better a Pilates private and the fundamentals of working your core and deep abs can be clarified for you. There are a few modifications offered in the DVD but not for every exercise.

On the other hand, if you have studied Pilates this is a great video leading you through the classic repertory without getting bogged down with too many of those fundamental details that can make exercising with a DVD frustrating. The pace is quick which is great, and this way you do quite a few different exercises in a short 20 minute workout. In fact one of my favorite elements of the routine is changing the tempo or pace of some of the exercises - starting with 10 slow repetitions followed by 10 or 20 quick reps. This would be a great routine to do 3 to 4 times a week.

The Ab Sculpting DVD is sold in a package with other Winsor Pilates DVDs. You can buy the package from Winsor Pilates directly for $59.80. The package includes 6 DVDs, and an exercise planner and a Sculpting Circle (similar to the Magic Circle).

Vanessa Williams Shares Her Favorite Workout

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:00:08 PDT

Vanessa Williams has got it goin' on: besides raising two children, the 47-year-old star is currently working on two projects - Ugly Betty and the Broadway show Sondheim and Sondheim, set to open in the Spring. Between all of this, she shares in the April issue of Prevention Magazine, she still manages to hop on the treadmill three times a week, lift weights, and throw in a crossword puzzle! Check out some of the interview highlights here:

Her cheat foods: "New York pizza. But what's really deadly is when I cook and bake: cakes, pies, lasagna, roast chicken, tacos . . . and my kids' requests: buttermilk waffles, blueberry pancakes, French toast."
Her number one diet tip: "Cutting down portions. If you're full, stop. Push the plate away - you don't have to finish it all."

To find out what Vanessa's favorite workouts are,

Her favorite workout: "I was doing Pilates before people even knew how to spell Pilates. I started with [Pilates guru] Mari Winsor after my first child, 22 years ago. She used to come backstage and do a mat floor workout with me when I was doing Kiss of the Spider Woman on Broadway. Core strength balances your entire body. It pulls your shoulders back, tucks in your pelvis, makes you walk straighter, and gives you great posture."
Her favorite outdoor workout: "I walk outside. It makes you feel alive. I live in a wooded, hilly area, so it's great to be able to go outside on a gorgeous day and see the neighborhood. Bring a couple of dogs with you and it turns into an adventure."
Her favorite way to work out with friends: "Salsa! I started in '97 as training for a movie I did called Dance with Me. I go out and salsa with friends, especially in the summertime. Now, that's incredible cardio! Not only are you dancing nonstop, but the music keeps you going - you could be dancing for hours and dripping with sweat and not even feel like you're winded or working."