Mari Winsor Slimming Pilates Kit

I think I''ve at some point owned virtually every form of home workout equipment, particularly if it''s been featured on an infomercial (my Tony Little Gazelle and Ab Lounge are collecting dust behind me even as I write this.) Here''s the ups and downs of the kit for me:

If you don''t like a lot of jumping around and lots of cardio work, but do like some variety to your routine these Pilates routines might be for you.

4 DVD''s of various routines targeting various body areas and a 30-day plan that suggests which routines to do each day (including "rest" days) give the variety, even if many of the actual exercises seem like just variations of the same ones using your equipment slightly differently.

Pilates being pilates, which focuses on stretching, balance, toning and slow muscle-controlled movements, most of the routines have you laying down doing slow resistance moves, often with your head up. If you have a bad back or crunches typically bother your back than these routines are probably not for you.

The exercises, for the most part, are doable by anyone but, are probably best for those that have taken at least an intro pilates and/or yoga class at the gym and has good flexibility. You''re particularly going to like them if you have used Mari Winsor Pilates DVD''s without the equipment before.

The routines always have one of the 0% fat demonstrators doing a modified version of them for beginners, there is a pamphlet and poster with instructions about doing some of the exercises correctly to get the most from them, and there''s a bonus feature on all of the DVD''s demonstrating ten of the most popular moves. Still, since pilates focuses so much on the importance of how you are doing the exercise to get the most benefit from them, being given a little more grounding in it on the DVD would be helpful. Some of the exercises are more advanced, and I occassionally wished for an instructor telling me if I was doing one correctly. On the other hand, for someone who knows pilates, this is a great affordable option for home workout.

TIP: Google "Mari Winsor Pilates" and watch one of the routines available on-line from one of her previous DVD''s. These are pretty much the same exercises as in this kit just now she''s incorporated the equipment. Try that routine, if you think you would do that one frequently than it''s likely you''ll do this one frequently. If not, it''s not for you.

The routines did give my muscles a work out.

I always judge home exercise equipment by whether it was easy enough for me to do, enjoyed it enough to want to do it again, and whether I felt I got a benefit from it. Yes, yes and my muscles ached the next day to prove it was working. It''s not one I want to use everyday despite the variety it offers, but I''d add it to a staple of other type of exercise.

The door hook can be an issue

The Cardio routine requires you to have a door that you can hook the gear into while watching the routine on the DVD. Good luck with that. There''s a whole door poster with exercises you can do with the door attachment, as well. It''s a little better. But, again, this seems best for folks that already are familiar with pilates moves and want to do them at home.

They could give a little more direction in the DVD on how to put together the equipment for each routine.

The equipment, which is decent quality, comes in multiple pieces that get you put together in a specific way for each routine. There''s a diagram in the back of the pamphlet to help. But, I always spent the first 10 minutes of each routine trying to put the piece together correctly, then much of the routine itself trying to figure out if I was using the equipment the same way they were. This gets easier as you do the routines more often.

Definitely for toning, balance and sculpting but slimming and weight loss?

The infomercial promises you can lose 10 inches in two weeks. The equipment and "resistance" is what is supposed to make this one a more "Slimming" version than other types of pilates. But, the reality is that promise is based just like most infomercials on combining exercise and a healthy diet. The kit includes a "7-day fast-start diet" (low calorie, low fat, low carbs) and a "healthy eating guide" which actually do include some useful info and recipes that even without the exercise will have you shedding the inches. Still, just like doing a bunch of sit ups can help you shrink inches down, these routines can help but not that much if you''re not also dieting.

BOTTOM LINE: The value of this equipment always comes down to "How often will I actually use it?" and "Will it actually help?". I think you''ll be most inclined to want to stick with this one and use this often if you already have experience with pilates and think it would be great to have a home version (this is a great value for that!), have used Mari Winsor pilates DVD''s before and liked them (same exercises and routines now incorporating "slimming" equipment and transition moves), or generally like low-impact, yoga/weight training routines. And, yes, just in the week I''ve used it I would say it works as well as more expensive gym classes at toning and tightening your muscles.

So my primary form of exercise is running but I was looking for something I could do indoors in cases of inclement weather. I''ve done some Pilates the very basic moves and I''ve tried a couple of different DVDs. This kit appealed to me because it seemed like a full package several DVDs when I needed instruction and a full workout and equipment for when I wanted to add just a few specific exercises while watching TV.

I''ve had the kit for almost a month now...and though I can''t comment on the rapid weight loss plan aspect of it (I am just working on toning and maintaining my weight) I can say that this kit did give me what I was looking for.

I must admit that I tried to use the equipment, "The Accelerator" before watching any of the DVDs and I was stumped. (Please note: The Safety/User Instructions SPECIFCALLY tell the user to watch the DVDs carefully for correct exercise usage. I must have been channeling my inner "man who won''t ask for directions".)

So when I finally started working out to the DVDs (I did the "SuperFast BODY BLAST" and the "Cardio Sculpt") I was quickly able to figure out how to use The Accelerator and quickly figured out that these exercises were TOUGH.

I am in pretty good shape but haven''t done much ab work for a while and I had to sit some of the exercises out. Long term I think they will be great but as a relative Pilates newbie they were too much for me.

I think I''ll use the equipment alone more than I will workout with the DVDs the booklet and chart of moves will be very helpful as I try to add some more stretching and toning moves to by routine. All in all I think this is a pretty complete workout kit and I am glad I chose it.

(Big Note: Because I have small children I would say to ALL parents who purchase this when you''re finished with the equipment put it out of reach. Though it didn''t happen in our house I can see that the elastic cord and weighted bar could result in some major injuries if kids pull the cord and release it hitting themselves or someone else.)

Last thing I would say is that the equipment does seem pretty well made and should last for quite a while. I will be interested to look at other reviews to see what people who try this as a full weight loss program say about it.

Buy Mari Winsor Slimming Pilates Kit Now

Easy to use and a pretty good workout.

I do a lot of cardio and I found these are a great addition to my workout routine. I was expecting the workouts to be really simple, but they can actually give you a real workout! I like these a lot!

The kit does have a lot of pieces so you''ll have to find a dedicated spot for them, or put them in a box to keep it all together. Some assembly required EVERY TIME you decide to do a different workout because each piece is for a different workout. It can be a little annoying.

Also this thing is black and red velvet and looks like it belongs under the bed. I''m just sayin''

Read Best Reviews of Mari Winsor Slimming Pilates Kit Here

I LOVED this product when it first arrived. It''s fun, the videos are great and not annoying, it felt like a great workout and I wasn''t getting bored.

Within 6 weeks of using it 2-3 times/week one of the ends of the pole snapped off where you screw it in for changing where the stretchy bands link up. I had it attached to the doorjamb as per one of the set-ups, and it just snapped and left me to fall back onto the floor. I''m glad it was a sitting position move, so I didn''t have far to go...

I didn''t bother to contact the manufacturer as I didn''t feel it was worth my time considering the purchase price. Even if they offered to pay shipping both ways and provide a new pole free of charge, I would not accept as I''m sure it would be the same type of construction and materials. I am leaning more toward calisthenics now, but if I do ever get to really missing this workout, I''ll maybe build m own pole with pipe from the hardware store which I know won''t just snap off on the ends with ~50lbs of resistance.

All that being said, it was great while it lasted and worth the money even if you only get to use it for a couple of months. Even with the main tool broken, I still have a couple of hand weights out of it and videos to watch that I can brainstorm ways to perform without the exact same tools.

Want Mari Winsor Slimming Pilates Kit Discount?

I am 22, have always been 10-15 pds overweight, and don''t like to exercise. My mother got this for me for Christmas and I am SHOCKED how much I LOVE it. The exercises are the PERFECT levelI am very inflexible and have weak muscles, but I am able to get through them without feeling really down on myself (like I do at Cardio Barre, etc.), but yet they are a great work out. I''ve always hated the back pain I felt doing crunches at the gym, and am always nervous if my "position" is correct in yoga classes etc. to make sure I''m doing the move right. This kit takes care of that by having the bar and elastic rope--using it is EASY, and it makes sure you''re holding your body in the right position! Each night on the weight loss plan only has you doing 20 min. a night, and the short time forces me to not be lazy because it''s only 20 minutes (still am breathing heavy by the end though!). Some intense fitness people may think this system isn''t enough for your total exercise, but I am a person who was doing nothing else, and it has made me stronger, thinner, and better at every other physical activity I do! 5 STARS, FABULOUS!!

Save 14% off