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Winsor Pilates is an excellent introduction to pilates for beginners, yet challenging enough to make advanced practitioners sweat.

Body Sculpting Basics gives an overview of the basic pilates moves, with easy-to-follow instructions and overhead camera angles for a 3-D view. There's nothing more frustrating than watching a video and trying to emulate moves you can't quite grasp because of the way it was shot.

Mari's teaching style is friendly and encouraging, and her cues are clear and well-timed. Best of all, most of her videos are around 20 minutes, so you can get a good workout even if you're short on time.

Bun & Thigh Sculpting and Upper Body Sculpting are targeted workouts that deliver visible results, fast. Advanced Body Slimming is a high-energy program that's guaranteed to make you sweat in 20 minutes. And for a more intense workout, Accelerated Body Sculpting is 50 minutes of toning and sculpting from head to toe.

How well does Winsor Pilates work? Well, after years of doing step aerobics, walking, and lifting weights, I still had no ab strength or definition. After just four weeks of doing Winsor Pilates, I looked in the mirror one morning and gasped. For a minute I thought I must still be dreaming, because there in the reflection were ab muscles! From that moment on I was sold.

When you're ready to move on to something more challenging, I recommend Mari's Sculpting Circle series. The introductory video, 20 Minute Pilates Circle, comes with a free sculpting circle. The added resistance strengthens and tones arms and legs without the bulk that free weights can create.

Once you've mastered the first video, try the Sculpting Circle Workouts for Beginners, and Advanced. The Beginners program is 20 minutes, and Advanced is around 40. Even Mari's fellow instructors tremble with the Advanced teaser moves.

One of the things I like most about pilates is that you can get a good workout without a lot of space. All you need is a mat, and you're ready to move.

If you want a great all-over workout that's fun to do and has lots of variety, give Winsor Pilates a try. I give it five stars.

Learn more about this author, Sophie London.
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