Mari Winsor | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | April 28, 2020 | (aged 70)
Nationality | American |
Education | Michigan State University |
Occupation | Pilates instructor |
Years active | 1990-2016 |
Known for | Winsor Pilates founder |
Spouse | Elliot Nachbar |
Mari Winsor (March 11, 1950 – April 28, 2020) was an American fitness instructor known for her workout videos, books, and studios popularizing Pilates.
She first worked as a professional dancer, apprenticing at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City, and then worked as a dancer in music videos in the 1980s.[1] She received her Pilates instructor certification from Romana Kryzanowska and founded her own studio in 1990.[1] She credits Pilates with helping her recover from multiple injuries sustained in a 1994 motorcycle accident.[2]
Her self-branded version of Pilates, Winsor Pilates, is notable for its celebrity practitioners and ubiquitous late-night infomercials.[2][3] Winsor is the author of The Pilates Powerhouse (1999), The Pilates Workout Journal: An Exercise Diary and Conditioning Guide (2001), and The Pilates Pregnancy: Maintaining Strength, Flexibility and Your Figure (2009).
In April 2020, she died from ALS, which she had been diagnosed with in 2013.[4][5]