What is Winsor Pilates®?

Winsor Pilates® is a form of Pilates developed by Mari Winsor and marketed by the Guthy-Renker Corporation. It builds on the techniques taught in Pilates with the intent of strengthening the core of the body while also sculpting and toning. Advertisements for Winsor Pilates® often tout its weight burning abilities; people have varying degrees of success when it comes to weight loss with Winsor Pilates®. For many people, the advantage of Winsor Pilates® is that the exercises can be done at home with the assistance of instructional videos, making it convenient for people with busy schedules.

Pilates was developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, a German man who realized that strengthening the core of the body could lead to more general health benefits. Pilates himself used an assortment of resistance machines for his workouts, and he worked with people on an individual basis. Originally, the exercises were developed for rehabilitation, and they were adopted later in the 20th century as an exercise technique. Certified Pilates instructors can be found all over the world offering an assortment of Pilates classes and one-on-one consultation. Some of these classes concentrate on floorwork, eschewing Pilates machines altogether.

In Winsor Pilates®, people are expected to do floor work but they also work with a “Sculpting Circle,” a Pilates tool which is designed to provide more resistance for the workout. Mari Winsor also developed a technique called Dynamic Sequencing. This technique works specific muscle groups in a particular order which is designed to maximize the effects of the workout. Winsor claims that after several weeks of Winsor Pilates® workouts, people will see a noticeable difference.

While Winsor Pilates® can certainly be beneficial for core strength and muscle toning, it is not an ideal form of exercise. Each workout lasts around 20 minutes, and the workouts do not usually reach the aerobic stage, meaning that the heart rate isn't elevated. Ideally, exercisers should combine a Winsor Pilates® program with cycling, running, or other aerobic exercise to get fit. People who want to use Winsor Pilates® as a fat burning tool should also be aware that Mari Winsor has a separate diet plan which she recommends, and that her celebrity clients use a wide range of exercise programs to achieve the desired results.

Instructional videos and gear for Winsor Pilates® can be purchased from the company's website or through Guthy-Renker Corp. Prices for a set of starter videos vary; if you want to hunt for a bargain, you can check thrift and resale stores for used copies.