Subjects:  1. Back    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Diseases - Musculoskeletal    5. Exercise    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health/Fitness    8. Pilates method    9. Exercise & workout books   

Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. Golf    3. Golf - General    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Exercise & workout books    7. Sports & Recreation / Golf   

Editorial Review

There's a photo of Joseph Pilates on the back cover of this book. He looks like a strapping young James Dean, with rippled abdominal muscles and defined--but not creepily large--quads, pecs, and biceps. He could pass for 30, but he was almost 60 years old when the photo was taken. Read more

Reviews (21)

An excellent reference on Pilates exercises, but not a good buy for home exercisers

Good overview, but not ideal for building a home practice
This book provides a good overview of the Pilates method for those interested in learning about performing a wide range of Pilates movements using various types of Pilates equipment.However, because the average Pilates practitioner is unlikely to purchase most of the equipment featured, this book is less effective for those looking to build a home-based Pilates practice consisting mainly of matwork.The information provided is clear and datailed, and as always, the photographs of Joseph Pilates at various ages are inspiring.Still, most casual Pilates enthusiasts are likely to derive more practical information from a book such as Brooke Siler's The Pilates Body.

Covers all aspects of a pilates workout
I really like this book.I have several other books on pilates, and this one is my favorite.It covers matwork, reformer, barrels, wall, cadillac, chair, and circle work.Most other books only focus on one aspect, such as matwork.People have complained that this book talks too much about pilates equipment, but the truth is, pilates is based on using many types of equipment, and this book discusses exercises for each apparatus.Frankly, the book would be incomplete if it didn't discuss the equipment.This book contains excellent pictures and descriptions for each exercise, along with telling you which part of the body you are working and the benefits.If you want to have a full pilates experience (not just matwork), this book is the ticket! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    2. Exercise    3. Mind and body    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Physical fitness    6. Diet    7. Health    8. Fitness    9. Health & Fitness   

Reviews (2)

Buy It
Three levels of exercise are taught.The first level seemed a bit easy but it was a very good (and necessary) prep for second level.
Well organized, easy to use guide.
This book is a joy to use.Ms. Karter explains the concepts behind the workouts, then presents the exercises in a graded series of three levels.The pictures are clear and easy to follow.(There are a couple of places where the pictures are a little different than the written explanations; in that case I do what is shown in the pictures.)Each level has its own color code on the outer edge of the page, so you can open the book quickly to the appropriate level.
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Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Pilates method    6. Swiss exercise balls    7. Yoga    8. Exercise & workout books   

Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Consumer Health    3. Exercise    4. Hatha yoga    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Physical fitness    8. Pilates method    9. Health & Fitness / Exercise   

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Men's Health    6. Health & Fitness / Men's Health    7. STUDY NOTES - SparkCharts   

Reviews (4)

new age stuff
The only pointer I got from this book was that posture and breathing are very important in correcting back and neck problems.These facts reinforced facts already known.Better exercises can be found elsewhere.

The Pilates Prescription for Back Pain
This is a super book.It communicates well and is very effective.I have had chronic back, hip and feet pain for many years.This book is teaching me how to use my body correctly, which is something I don't think most people realize they don't know how to do - I sure didn't, even though I have been through yoga and dance training.The book is not glamorous and not for coffee table reading.It's more the book you can throw into your suitcase or backpack and take with.It's a book for USE and it WORKS.I feel physically better than in many years, my hips and back and feet are improving daily. This is more or less an operating manual for the body's structure.Thank you so much to the authors for making this information available in an easily assimilatable form. :-)

Basic Pilates
If you done pilates before, you know these exercies.Just a few warnings about back pain and positions. Good for beginers or people trying to get back into the goove of things. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Back Pain    2. Consumer Health    3. Exercise    4. Healing    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Pain Management    8. Physical Fitness    9. Yoga    10. Health & Fitness / Yoga   

Reviews (6)

do not flex the spine
Excellent book.......very detailed and easy to understand.I also find myself very concientious about keeping good posture whilst performing the exercises. "do not flex the spine" goes through my mind so many times during the course of the day, you would be surprised at how often we all do that, and I have learned from this book that, that is not a good thing.

sort of disappointed
UPon reading this book, I talked to my Dr. about the exercises 'not recommended'.ie: forward bends and movements similar to those.I have exercised all of my life and maintaining flexibility in my spine is very important.The Dr. said to continue those exercises.Why would one want to NOT keep the spine flexible?It is a good book tho, the exercises are easy to do and it is clearly written and the pictures are helpful.

packed with good info, exercise section poorly laid out
This is a very informative book, worth the read, but I gave it only 4 stars because of the exercise section.It has LOTS of excellent exercises, but for some reason, they would start an exercise explanation on the right page, then you have to turn the page to continue with it.You end up with the pointer pictures and the don't-do-this pictures of the previous exercise on the same two page spread as the explanatory photos of the next exercise, which is inconvenient and confusing.Would it have been SO hard to publish the book with a few more pages to enable each exercise to be on it's own two-page spread, without encroaching on thenext exercise?This is a great reference book, but they need to make the exercise section more 'user-friendly'. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Exercise therapy    4. Health & Fitness    5. Health/Fitness    6. Osteoporosis    7. Pilates method    8. Prevention    9. Rheumatology    10. Exercise & workout books    11. Popular medicine   

Reviews (1)

The Classic Pilates Book
This is the classic book on Pilates matwork and Pilates principles.The original, hard-backed edition has been long out-of-print and very expensive on the used book market, but well worth the money. How exciting to find it republished!
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Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Mind and body    6. Pilates method    7. Health & Fitness / Exercise   

Reviews (43)

An Informative and Clear View of the Pilates Method and Techniques - A Must Have for Home Practice

why didn't anyone tell me there was an up-dated version?
This book is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to learn more about Pilates.Highly recommended.Basically, generally the same exercises (some variations), but if you follow his instructions, you will feel the difference.One minor complaint - after doing many, many exhaustive searches in Amazon on the word 'Pilates' to find books on the subject, I only found out about the new revised up-dated version of this book AFTER I had bought and received in the mail a used beat-up library copy.At that point, I did a search on the author in order to find the book and do a review, only to discover in that search that there is a new up-dated version, that I could have gotten CHEAPER! While I am very satisfied with my old second-hand version with the ragged cover and worn pages, someday curiousity may get the best of me, and I'll order the new version, since it got such a great review.But you, review-reader, have been tipped off about the new version, so you can make that choice now.

Provides a unique perspective on the Pilates method
This book provides a unique perspective on the Pilates method in that it was written by an athlete and focuses on athletes in particular.It includes more detailed information on general fitness physiology than I have seen in any other Pilates book and makes this information accessible through easy-to-understand illustrations.There is a particular emphasis on posture and alignment issues with plenty of descriptive information about these concepts.I particularly liked the author's use of the "B-Line":instead of imagining pulling your navel to your spine, he encourages you to focus on a spot a few inches below your navel and to concentrate on flattening this entire lower ab area.
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Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Pilates method    6. Yoga   

Reviews (4)

A Really Neat Book!
I am so impressed with this book with its color photos, and the wonderful descriptions of the exercises.It includes adaptations of the exercises to the Magic Circle. The book has a 10 week workout schedule that allows you to progress through the exercises. It's definitely better than some videos I've purchased.

Pilates to Re-Shape Your Body
"In 10 sessions you will feel the difference, in 20 see the difference, and in 30 you'll have a whole new body." ~Joseph Pilates A fresh approach to introducing Pilates Exercises
There's a quote from Joseph Pilates where he claims that doing 30 Pilates sessions will change your entire body. Pilates instructor Alycea Ungaro takes up this "Pilates challenge" with 3 women. She breaks down the fundamental Pilates work into 3 different developmental programs: Upper Body, Lower Body, and Flexibility/Posture. Alyecia documents the beginning, progress, and final results of the three volunteers in these programs in this photo-intensive book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Physical fitness    6. Pilates method    7. Health & Fitness / Exercise   

Reviews (4)

Like Sushi
This book is is wonderfully presented with great informations, but a can leave you a bit hungry. It's a great bargin and a nice quick referance for teachers.I have found many points that have not been addressed in thicker and more expensive books.The exercises they have chosen to illustrate are well thought out because they offer idea's on how to modify similar exercises.A great workbook for current students and instructors.

there has to be a better pregnancy pilates workout
I have been doing Pilates matwork for three years.when I became pregnant, I still wanted to continue with the workout but knew I needed to make some modifications.I found that this book was not very informative or helpful.The exercises were limited and several of them were perfomed while you're on your back.There are better exercise books that also work your core.

Great for those new to or experienced with Pilates
I did pilates for 3 months before I became pregnant and for the first 3 months of my pregnancy, until it became clear that neither of my two teachers knew how to adapt the exercises for a pregnant woman. This book is excellent: well written, with many good photos accompanied by clear instruction. The exercises are modified for each of the 3 trimesters and for 3 levels of experience with Pilates, from beginner to experienced.There is a complete section on postnatal conditioning as well. There are sufficient exercises for a good program, neither too long nor too short. The exercises are designed with extensive consideration for avoiding long- and short-term pregnancy and postnatal damage. This book DOES lay flat and will be appreciated by those who don't always want to work out in front of a video or as a more complete adjunct to a video. I do not know, however, whether a beginner can learn Pilates only from a book, without the feedback from an instructor. Women should also not expect an aerobic workout from Pilates; instead, you will strengthen and condition your core more in the style of yoga, tai chi, or weight training. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. Exercise for pregnant women    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. General    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Pilates method    8. Postnatal care    9. Pregnancy & Childbirth    10. Prenatal care    11. Women's Health - General   

Reviews (5)

Highly recommended!
Let's face it. There's so many different approaches to getting in shape that it's easy to get frustrated with what route to take. One person suggests yoga, another says Pilates, another says something else. That's why this book is so great. It integrates several different styles, giving you the best aspects of yoga, Pilates and ballet. It just makes sense. If you're concerned with getting and staying in shape, I highly recommend buying this book!

Newly Flexible Runner
I come from a runner background and have been looking for a workout to improve my flexibility.I saw Hot Bod Fusion and bought it since it includes pretty much every discipline known for flexibility.What's great about this book is that each chapter only takes me about 10 minutes--cool.Exercises also include `tips' from the author that help keep me on track and focused. I've done the routine 8 times now.Do I feel more flexible?Yes, definitely-and my `core' is stronger to boot!

Quick and Effective!
I'm so happy I can do this workout in only 30 minutes and still hit all my problem areas.I really feel it in my abs the next day!And the ballet is definitely giving my rear a nice lift.I've been doing pilates for over 4 years and it's nice that this book includes advanced options and 2 chapters that use the pilates circle.It makes things challenging and interesting for me.I'm newer to yoga and ballet but finding these routines easy to follow because of all the pictures.Many of the exercises show modifications, as well, which has helped me ease into them.It really is the quickest and most effective workout I've tried! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding    2. Consumer Health    3. Exercise    4. General    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Healthy Living    8. Physical Fitness    9. Pilates method    10. Yoga   

Reviews (2)

An Informative and Clear View of the Pilates Method and Techniques - A Must Have for Home Practice

This book gets better and better!
Having read the first edition I was keen to see what the second edition had in store. I was not disappointed. Menezes is adept at finding new ways of improving his 'old' methods, even though those were a new way of thinking for the pilates industry. The Stamina Stretch I found incredible to understate the obvious! It improved my breathing capacityby 30% in just 2 minutes! His wording of the exercises has changed significantly to make them more effective. Now I understand why the emphasis he places on starting the breathe first gives more core control to stabilize you before the rest of the exercise.
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Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Healthy Living    6. Physical Fitness    7. Pilates method   

Reviews (3)

Pilates Body Conditioning
This is a good book for Pilates beginners who don't have enough time to go through the thoroughness and nitty gritty that other Pilates book (such as Body Control Pilates) offers, because the information are presented succinctly yet completely.The self-assessment portion helps figure out how to align your spine and posture, and the warm up exercises really serve to limber up your body in preparation for the workout.In fact, if performed accurately and correctly, the warm up exercises can constitute a workout in themselves.The book comes with full-color photographs.For each particular step, photos are shown.Arrows help the reader figure out which direction to move their limbs.Alternative exercises for those with injuries are also included.For those who wish to do Pilates in a Pilates gym/studio, a chapter is also devoted on a typical exercises that one can do using Pilates equipment.

Not the best book on Pilates
This is the only one book on Pilates wich has been translated in italian. There's a whole chapter dedicated to exercises with Pilates machinery, that is completely useless for who wants to train at home. The proposed routines apply Pilates priciples, but the exercises are different from the Pilates original ones. This is not necessarily a fault, but they often require the use of a pletora of small and big pillows and towels to place here and there that you may not always have at your disposal. The routines are not optimized for a half hour, early morning, at home workout, that many potential buyer of a Pilates book are seeking for. From this point of view Brooke Siler's book (which I'm following now) is far better.

Alan Herdman teaches Pilates, with Anna Selby
It is good to find a Pilates book coming straight from Alan Herdman who has taught so many of the well-known Pilates teachers. He and Anna Selby have put together a book with clear attractive photos to show all the exercises, good instructions and extra boxes of information. I liked the self-assessment section and was fascinated by the pictures of equipment in his studio. Now I've just got to practise. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Joseph Hubertus)    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Exercise    5. General    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health/Fitness    8. Physical fitness    9. Pilates method    10. Pilates, Joseph H    11. Reference    12. Health & Fitness / Exercise   

Reviews (7)

A must-read for serious Pilates students (and teachers)
This is the original Pilates (or Contrology) "manual".In succint (if not always fluid) text, Joseph Pilates outlines the intentions of the legendary exercise system he designed as well as how each exercise should be performed. Pilates=Delsarte+European Physical Culture circa 1890
Pilates work differs little from Delsarte theory and its decomposition exercises. The writings of Joseph Pilates is stunningly similar to the late 19th and early 20th century works of such physical culture luminaries as Bess Mensendieck, Alice Bloch, Genevieve Stebbins, Professor Attila (the trainer of Sandow and Klein) the coursework of Henry Titus, and many more examples could be found in works by Charles MacMahon, Bernarr MacFadden, Charles Atlas and Tilney. Not for the Beginner
This book is overpriced and of poor quality. The paper and printing are well below current standards even though it was published in 2000. I really wasted my money on this. I did find his ranting about society in general somewhat interesting. Seems people complained about the same things in 1934 that they do now: Society is in a mess and the media is mainly at fault for this. What is the cure for all these ills? The Pilates Method. Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. General    3. Philosophy    4. Psychology   

Subjects:  1. Health/Fitness    2. Exercise & workout books    3. Holistic medicine   

Editorial Review

Help your butt say "neener neener!" to Father Time. Join some of Hollywood's best bodies (Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny Glover) who've gone gaga over the Pilates method of body conditioning. (It's intriguingly referred to as "the method" for short). Celebrities, professional athletes, dancers, and models drop $50 or more for each private lesson on the Pilates equipment (which includes contraptions with potentially dangerous-looking straps and springs, with intimidating names like the Cadillac and the Reformer). If you'd rather not shell out cash like that to help your rear defy gravity--especially when at least three classes a week are recommended--take heart. Mari Winsor, one of L.A.'s most popular Pilates instructors, has brilliantly collected the essential exercises--none of which requires any equipment other than perhaps a carpeted floor--into a supremely inspiring, snappily written, simple-to-follow handbook, perhaps the perfect book for new moms, business travelers looking to stay fit while on the road, and the swimsuit-phobic alike.Read more

Reviews (39)

Wonderful Pilates Introduction
I like this book because Mari includes in the back of the book many exercises people can do BEFORE they begin the more intensive exercises.There are entire sections for people with "bad" necks, backs, and asthma in the back of the book-- these exercises are instrumental in preparing you to do the regular exercises.The book has a compassionate note in this respect, and it's helpful to know that Mari brought herself back from not being able to walk (because of an auto accident) using the Pilates in this book AND the beginning exercises in the back of the book. This may be why she is so good at getting people started in small steps. I've looked at other Pilates books, and they all seem to assume that everyone is ready to launch right into the Pilates routine. People who reviewed this book and thought that there were no beginning exercises must have missed the last thirty or so pages of this book (and the table of contents)! For people like me who always feel a bit rushed by the videos, this book works well because I can take my time and re-read the instructions to make sure I'm paying attention to all of the details of the movements.

Build your core!
This book is my favorite pilates book, hands down. It begins with a history of Pilates, then goes directly into "the hundred," the first workout. No special equipment is required and you don't have to be a Hollywood star to have good results. My sisters and I ALL use Mari's method and range from size 3 to 5 at over 5'4" each. Before, we ranged from 6 (soft) to 12.Keep in mind, this is a TONING workout. For aerobic activity, you'd want to do Mari's "Fat-Burning Workout," swim, dance, etc.

Get it...do it...
If you want to get in shape, if you want to feel strong, if you want to have an easy book to follow, get this one. It will make you strong, you don't need a gym, and you can do all the exercises in your living room. Get yourself a lot of self drive and motivation and go for it. You will, however, have to supplement this challenging workout with something aerobic. It will not take off all the inches all by itself. Remember that eating less, burning more is the secret to any weight loss program. This program will burn your calories but not enough to get you to look like Baywatch by June. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health/Fitness    4. Mind and body    5. Physical fitness    6. Stretching exercises   

Reviews (4)

Waste of my money...unhelpful book
This book is not great. There is a lot of useless fluff at the beginning of each chapter, when the author tells a long, very boring story (ie: an October day on a train) that is not conducive to building core strength.The pictures are in black & white, and there are not as many great exercises compared to other books. With this book, you'll probably spend all your time reading rather than doing exercises. This book is not direct or to the point, resulting in many pages that again, you'll have to read to find maybe one key point.

Good Stuff From Colleen
As a Pro Trainer, there are only 2 fitness pros whose books & DVDs I approve of for my wife to use at home.
Colleen is Amazing
I own all of Colleen's books and they just keep getting better and better. I ride horses and I was looking for a workout that would inprove my balance and help me to be more aware of what my body was doing. The best part of working out on a ball is that if you make a mistake the ball moves so you KNOW that you are doing something wrong! I recommend this book for eveyone! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Exercise    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Pilates method    8. Swiss exercise balls    9. Training    10. Exercise & workout books    11. Health & Fitness / Exercise   

Reviews (7)

Excellent guide for athletes
I was pleased to finally find this book a few years ago, as I was looking for a way to help with my fencing.As a book geared towards athletes, it assumes that you don't simply want to "look and feel fit", but build a real core that helps you become a stronger athlete, no matter what your sport.
Excellent Starter Book
This book is great for anyone who is interested in Pilates.If you do other sports, like biking, running or golf, it gives you appropriate excercises to compliment your activities.It provides outstanding descriptions and pictures of the exercises. A great read for fitness enthusiasts!
As a cyclist and runner, I never before thought that I could benefit from Pilates.This book definitely changed that, and I recommend it to both serious athletes and anyone looking to improve their endurance and well-being.The stretches are great, and the pictures are easy to follow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health/Fitness    4. Healthy Living    5. Physical fitness    6. Pilates method    7. Exercise & workout books    8. Health & Fitness / Exercise