As my endurance horse training is about to start for the season, time will not permit me to be in the gym on a daily basis until the fall. I am wondering if Pilates would be something I could do at home and wondered if someone could recommend a good Pilates video that I could purchase. Thanks in advance.

KathyC

Hi Deb, I was hoping you'd respond!! No, I have never tried Pilates, but a lady I ride horses with says she has been doing it and loves it. I was in Blockbuster Video on the weekend and saw a few different ones but didn't know where to start. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks so much!

Thanks Deb. I knew I could count on you!! I checked out the Pilates for Dummies and will pick it up today at Walmart. I'm pretty sure the ones in Blockbuster were by Kathy Smith and I was checking out the Pilates for Lower Body one. I might get that one after I've become familiar with the exercises. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks again!

Got it!

HI all

I just joined this group and also just started using skinbio products. I have been doing Pilates for 6 years and I loved it so much that I went through a year long teacher training program and now teach Pilates parttime. I love Pilates - it has chanegd my body in many ways. One of the best video's on the market is by Mari Windsor. She has infomercials all over the place. There are some others and I will try to get names. I am not familiar with the videos of any mentioned ( Kathy Smith, etc) but I can say there is wide interpretation of the work of Joseph Pilates and not everyone teaches real pilates. Its become so trendy that everyone is getting on the Pilates wagon. I could go on for an hour about the differences... the important thing is to determine how the instructor learned Pilates. There are people certified a a weekend! Mine took a year. I would highly recommed to anyone that they try to find a mat class locally and I'd be happy to guide anyone to find one!!
Karen

Hi Deb

It sounds like you know quite a bit about Pilates. I was actually trained in what is called either Authentic Pilates ( which is a terrible name) or Classical Pilates. I was certified by Romana Kryzanowska who was taught by Joe ( Pilates) himself from the 1940's until he died. She's a living PIlates Master although ther are others. I haven't personally viewed Mari Winsor's tapes. Another Master TEacher I trained with has gone down to LA to work with her and her teachers so I know she teaches our classical method well> From what I've seen on the infomercials she adheres to Joe's work well although it rubs me the wrong way that she calls it her Pilates and her dynamic sequencing and its Joe's that he invented 50 years ago! I am going to research some good videos for this group. There is a good book called " The Pilates Body" by Brooke Siler of Re:AB in NY. I know its not the same as a tape to watch but its very good - maybe as an adjunct. I just advise anyone who will take a class to really look at what kind of training the teacher had!
nite for now

I love the winsor Pilates. I don't really know much about it except that its working. I really feel it helped lift my stomach (along with the copper peptides) and doesnt seem to interfere with my neck which was injured years ago

Deb,

Not everyone responds to Pilates but I think it has something to do with the instruction/instructor. I am glad to hear Brooke Siler is coming out with DVD's - her book is very good and we sell it at our studio here in Seattle. Pilates is tough to learn without benefit of an instructor with you. I did a Pilates video for a year before I started lessons and I knew nothing. I was a professional ballet dancer and understand the body well. It took several years to really integrat the concepts of Pilates, the use of "Powerhouse" into my body, to really understand it well. And Pilates still kinks my a... regularly. Butm it is not, I repeat, NOT, a weight burning exercise unless you are working at a VERY advanced level which most people will never do. You can sweat, but it is not aerobic and should be combined or support other activities. Joe Pilates designed it as an adjunct to other athletic activity which is why so many dancers and athletes do Pilates as part of their regular fitness regime. Oprha did a show this past week on weight loss and she does Pilates but stated you need to do cardio activity to lose weight. So don't let anyone teaching Pilates try to tell otherwise. That said, when I practice Pilates 4-5 times a week I feel better and stronger in every way. I also am less resistent to sickness. I guess I can't say enough!

Gyrotonics is very good too. I have done a bit of pilates, and prefer the more circular/spiral movements on gyrotonics as opposed to the more forward/backward movements (generally speaking) in pilates. However, that being said, I think both are great.

I have been doing Winsor Pilates for over 3 years now and it did help to build strong muscles. I have back problems and found ballet modified so that you can even lay down to do them: New York City Ballet. I am entertaining the thought of buying one of those ballet bars called the Fluidity Bar since ballet has really helped me.

I too have done Winsor Pilates for years & LUV it! The 20 minute routine targets the whole body starting with your core (stomach muscles) giving you long lean muscles & an overall toned body...

My fav is the leg routine... ...The acclerated workouts are a great challenge & easy to work up to. The results are REAL! I'm not as fond of some of the NEW routines that have you jumping around. Going up & down the stairs a zillion times a day is a GREAT workout for your butt & legs.

I'd rather get my cardio workouts from just working outside & around the house in a more natural way. For weight bearing exercise I also get my workout outdoors. Today I will help my husband split firewood...log splitter, of course... ...but, I am able to pick up big, heavy oak logs no problem. I attribute that to my "Pilates Workout".