Luvmysissy....What do you think of the Winsor Pilates?

Not my favorite. I think she does things way too fast and even the models she is using are not exercising control (if you know what to look for). If you pick up the DVD I recommended and compare the two, you'll see a big difference. Mari is a fabulous instructor in person (I had the honor to take a class with her at a Pilates Conference in NYC) and she has a gold mine in her DVD collection, but they are not for someone inexperienced - regardless of the advertisements!!

Most of the videos jump right in and do the moves quickly. Speeding up the movements is only for those who are experienced and know that they have "control" over the movements.

In a nutshell - here is what makes pilates different:
1. All movements are done with a specific breath pattern. NEVER hold your breath - the breath needs to be integrated with the movement to work the muscles as effectively as possible. Don't worry if you are exhaling when being instructed to inhale, just keep the breaths long and smooth.
2. You are doing every exercise with the naval drawn inward and upward toward the spine, and the ribcage moving together and toward the spine as well. As soon as you don't think about this, you will be letting go. Watch your abdomen as you do the exercises. If you are "bulging" at the abs, you are not drawing inward.
3. All movements (regardless of what they are) are to be done with complete control of the body. Nothing (hips, shoulders, etc) should be wobbling, wiggling or moving to and fro.
4. All movements are precise and specific. There is no momentum taking you from one place to another. If you are using the legs, you are to reach all the way through the toes, yet sink the hip downward. If you are using the arms, reach all the way through the fingers, yet keep the shoulder blades moving down toward the hips with the shoulders relaxed.
5. You need to be completely focused on each movement. Every repetition should be PERFECT. When you lose control, stop doing the exercise. This means very few repetitions (of everything other than "the Hundreds").
6. Your neck will get stronger as you continue to curl upward. Not only is th head lifted for most exercises, but the shoulders should also be off the ground. Keep the chin tilted inward toward the throat and always keep your eyes on your abs or thigh area - never toward the ceiling.

Hope this helps everyone.....

I do full body workout with medium/heavy weights, combat and body pump...:cool:

What's Pole Dance??:confused: Hope it's not what I'm thinking it is...:eek: :D

Katiuscia & Maggie...:aimeeyork :aimeeyork

Thanks for the tips! What you're saying makes a lot of sense, and the instructor on the DVD does mention a lot of those things but goes so fast there's no time to think about everything at once, and by the time I think I have the move just right she's right on to the next one. I could definitely benefit from learning slower and getting the moves and technique down, then I could see this video being a lot of fun.

Yes, it's what you think it is, but in your living room instead of in front a bunch of slobbering men. ;) :D I've heard it's a pretty good workout, but I've never tried it.

I can even imagine hubby's face watching me working out in a pole in our living room... 1st he would be like this: :shocked7q ... and then: :dribble:

Katiuscia & Maggie... :sidesplt: :yelrotflm

We have a total gym that until yesterday has been collecting dust. My husband had to fly to New York Sunday and won't be home until late Friday night soooo I decided to try to loose a couple of pounds while he's gone. He's a big snacker and I always cave when he's around taunting me. Last year I lost about 7 inches from using my total gym. It makes you feel so much better to get your body moving. I figure if I start now maybe by summer I will get into a swim suit. We have a pool soooo everyone likes to come to our house. Bad Idea :(

For cardio I go for a very brisk walk... on the verge of jogging for 30 minutes... (I can't run or jog because I have scoliosis and it's very high impact). Then I come home and do pilates which I love. I use the ball, weights, and resistance bands with my pilates because just doing cardio isn't going to do much for toning.

Before I moved away from Oregon I used to go to the gym every single day... sometimes twice a day. But I really don't have time to do that anymore.

LMAO, that's SO true!!!

Pole dancing can be something dangerous... :eek: it unleashs hubby's inner beast...:D :D

These are awesome tips. Thanks for sharing!! I'd like to go to an in-person pilates class every once in a while. I'm sure it's a totally different experience.

Carmen Electras work out is SO much and you don't even have to have a pole to do it! I have the whole series and love all her videos, you will probably be laughing so hard the first time you are doing it you'll get a great abb workout too!

I used to be a dancer and we would train about 3 hours a day everyday, I only workout for 2 - 2 and half hours a day now, 6 days a week.
My normal routine is:

Morning:

Everyday, Go to the gym and take my 20 minute pilates class
Everyday, After my pilates class I go for a 5 mile run
On my circuit days (every other day, I take a class that does a combination of light cardio with weight lifting and band work)

Afternoons:
I take 3 pole dancing classes a week (on my circuit days) and 3 belly dancing classes a week (on my cardio days)they are so much fun and I have a blast doing them! If I can't get to the gym due to bad weather or time I have belly dancing and pole dancing videos that I do at home.

Evenings:
I have a 20 minute ab routine that involves different ab moves, some on a yoga ball, some flat, (I have a small gym set up in my house with my treadmill, yoga ball, eliptical, pull up bar, and stationary bike) I do every other day which does a total of 1,000 crunches and every other day I do 50 "man style" push ups.

Besides my workout routine, I also am a part time certified personal trainer (I also do legal filing at a law firm) and I train 4 people in my home throughout the week and aslo have personal workouts and diet programs I set up for some of my clients online. Jaden, Jewelina and I also go on two 30 minute walks a day...I consider those my "cool downs" LOL

I love working out, it gives you such a great feeling to be toned and in shape. I like the fact that I can wear a size 2 and I don't look like a bag of bones, I try to remind my female clients that being healthy and being "thin" is possible and by loosing weight the healthy one you'll be able to stay looking great and not have to starve yourself to do it!:thumbup:

Since I've been staying down with my grandmother I haven't been able to take my classes or use my home gym so I've just been running 5 miles in the mornings and 5 miles in the evenings. I used to run marathons so this is a good reason to get my but back in long term running shape!

I LOVE yoga and my lateral thigh trainer!!!