Testimonials and Comments....
Vicky, London
Dear Marjolen,
I just wanted to tell you how glad I am that I found you while watching QVC UK. I am a singer/songwriter who has had back problems all my life & could never understand why. I also have a large bust & thought this may be the cause of my back problems, i.e that my bust was too heavy.
Over the years I did do aerobics, classes & workouts but nothing was ever really good enough to really get me into the kind of shape I wanted to be in to feel really good about myself (even though I have always been very curvy) & it most certainly never even helped to touch the pain in my back! As I was getting into my twenties, I vowed to try to find a solution & went to the doctor asking for help. I even contemplated having a breast reduction, as I was in so much pain! But the doctors assured me this was not necessary in the end. They would refer me to the chiropractor or to an Osteopath (which would provide much relief for a few hours at least!). But I was still in agony every day. Eventually the Osteopath recommended that I strengthen my core, I was told "Strengthen your stomach muscles & your back will get better", So I asked what kind of exercises I could do & they said swimming, cycling & Pilates.
I had vaguely heard of Pilates & used to like doing Yoga as well as aerobic exercises, so I decided to find out more about Pilates. Fast forward to a few years later, when I had started watching QVC & I saw you with the Pilates Aero Machine. It looked so great but would have been a big investment for me when I first saw it & I wasn't even sure whether it would fit into my living room! So I had to wait a few times while I contemplated getting it (doing more research into it along the way, it sold out about four times before I was finally able to buy it!), but I'm soooo glad that I finally did!! I have had my machine for about 18 months now & really love it! At first I did it & was surprised by how hard it was (just goes to show that I was really unfit & I didn't get to do the workouts as often as I wanted so I never really saw the benefits as much then, so stopped for a bit). Then I started to put on even more weight & realised that I really needed to do something about it.
Last year I was made redundant in the credit crunch & became really depressed for a while. Then one day, I decided to get onto my machine as something to do. I started rebounding & loved it immediately again! I wondered why I had stopped! So, it became a bit of an obsession for me & really started to help to lift my mood as well! Brilliant! I was feeling great again, more like my old self, lighter, more toned & I was starting to lose weight as well, which had seemed so hard before for a long time! Best of all, my back was finally starting to slowly be less painful & my stomach was getting a workout! I think I have finally found the exercise regime that will keep me fit for the rest of my life & help with my back problem, which has plagued me for so long!! I have a long way to go but I have decided that I won't stop using my Pilates machine again for anyone or anything! I'm finally starting to sleep a bit better too! It's amazing! I absolutely love it!
You are so right with everything that you have ever said about Pilates changing a person's life & I really want to say a very big thank you to you for bringing this machine to the mainstream public as it can be very expensive to go to a Pilates studio etc. Thank you soooo much!
Stay blessed & in good health.
Thanks again,
Vicky, London
Joyce Piper
Dear Marjolen
I am new to the Uk (almost 3 years), and by chance one day I discovered QVC and you happened to be on screen. I was glued to the program
and wowwed by you and your machines. I eventually purchased a machine soon after and have loved it however as it was an earlier model there
were some features that were a little restrictive.
I indulged myself last Sunday and purchased the TSV of the brand new pilates machine, the one with the wider board and foot stand with the upright posts. I am thrilled to say that I absolutely love it, it addresses everything that I could have asked for and although it has only been unpacked for a day I spent ages on it and can't wait to see the results. Apart from the improvement in body strength, flexibility and coordination, it does wonderful things for my mind, and puts me in such a positive mind set, I feel I can achieve anything when I am consistent with my exercise routine. I've exercised all my life, everything from running to competitive body building. Now I am almost 51 years of age, my drives and goals have changed, and I regard keeping fit and healthy as the best insurance policy I can give myself for a healthy long life.
I watch all your shows and have picked up tips and hints along the way.
Thanks Marjolen.
Jami
"First of all let me start by saying pilates has been life changing for me. I have lost 110 pounds with the efforts of myself of course pilates and weight watchers."
Julie
"Pilates saved my life. There are very few days when I do not work out on my pilates for at least an hour and I look forward to it everyday. I went from a size 20 to a size 4. And my quality of life is vastly different. I LOVE PILATES!!!!!!!!!"
Gayle
"I am becoming an avid pilates rebounder. I rebound approximately 40 mins a day/ 6 days a week… I absolutely love it. I am 35 yrs old, 5’5” approx 120lbs."
Linda
"First, I want to thank you for your Pilates Performer Basic and Intermediate workout tapes. I have been doing them every day for almost a month and 12 days ago, I quit smoking! Whenever I feel like I'm going to give in, I get on my Pilates!"
Noreen
"I love my reformer and am especially loving the effects and benefits of the rebounder."
Jenni Barnett
"... although I have no control over my osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and acute chrondomalacia patella your pilates machine and other products in your range protects me and is my secret weapon. I know for a fact that without your pilates program I would have NO independence, NO mobility, NO career, NO quality of life and No prospect of a healthy existence. I know that sceptics out there might disbelieve that one so inflicted can use such a machine but to those of us who are similarly inflicted it might just open up their world to be in less pain and have more quality of life.In my opinion there is no gym, hydrotherapy pool, personal trainer, exercise product or chemical or vitamin tablet available that could provide me with this type of rehabilitation program and if there was they would not be available in my home at my convenience on a long term basis and at this cost."
Mrs. Smith, Leeds
"Some years ago I slipped a disc in my back and have suffered chronic back pain ever since, resulting in immobility and weight gain. I had other problems which entailed several bouts of abdominal surgery. I bought the Pilates machine feeling very sceptical. How wrong I was!!! Now I get out of bed pain free and get straight on with housework. I use my Pilates machine every day and 6 months on am still seeing improvements. I used to take pain killers all the time, now I don't take any!! It is no exaggeration to say that this machine has helped to give me back my life, I am now pain free and much happier for it, thank you so much!"
Mrs. Buckland, Devon
"I am 37 years of age and have had Eythromelalgia for about 3-4 years now. These last few years have been a nightmare, it would get so bad that my feet would burn all day and night. Then about 5 months ago, I bought a piece of exercise equipment called a Pilates Performer. The first thing I noticed, after about 2 months of 1 hour a day usage, was that my ankles were less swollen. Then after month 3, the attacks stopped altogether. I am absolutely elated that I am managing to keep the Eythro at bay as I really thought that I would suffer for the rest of my days."
Mrs. Bishop, Middlesex
"Pilates has been the one form of exercise I have been able to keep to - and more importantly enjoy! I began about 12 months ago and kept it up solidly for 7 months, before I was forced to stop through injury, but having got back on the machine when able I found it unbelievable to experience the feeling of change within the week. I'd hate to live without my performer now."
Joyce, East Grinstead
"The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning is the hottest thing in fitness today."
USA Today
"Say adios to aerobics. No pain, no gain? No way. Think Pilates, a mind-body exercise regime that has Hollywood's rich and famous flexing their muscles."