( 20 reviews )
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Posted: Jul 9 2009
This guide book is very complete with pictures, visualizations, and thorough directions on how to do the exercises. I especially appreciated the way she marked beginner, intermediate and advanced exercises. She also provided some modified exercises for beginners. However, after using it for four years or so I realized that it is really a stepping stone as Brooke Siler suggests, and should be used as an introduction before attending a Pilates class. I am not near to the fitness levels of Brooke or her models (maybe they're dancers). Without the help of a trainer some exercises are just difficult to execute correctly. So years later I am finally beginning to understand the Pilates philosophy, right as I was ready to move back to weight lifting. Not complete without a live guide or DVD.
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Posted: Jun 15 2009
I love how the author doesn't push you and say "It's your fault that you're fat. Get to work and push yourself as much as you can!" Which is the tone of most fitness books I've read. No, this is the most sound fitness/Pilates book I've read, out of over a dozen. She tells you that you don't have to make your muscles ache the next day for Pilates to work. Only a few reps are needed. And she's right. I saw more changes and far less pain and sweat with Pilates than with years of aerobics and weight-training. I can say that for myself, personally, I am a woman who tends towards obesity and I put on muscle at lightning-speed. After years of weight-training, I was bulkier and in a bigger size than ever. I gave up the pounding aerobics and bulking weight work. I took up Pilates. Finally, I am getting leaner by the day. There are seven basic exercises to learn. Depending upon your size, strength and flexibility, it may take you a day or a month to master these. And as she says, not every exercise is right for every body type. Thank you! Finally a fitness instructor willing to admit that. After you master the beginner's seven, you move on to the more advanced version of them. Then you begin adding on as much as you can, exercise by exercise, over the course of time. I'd say I do about 3/4 of the work. They're still challenging, but as it's all non-impact, it is painless. She recommends to do Pilates about 4 times a week, going through as much of the series as you can. Personally, I do it daily, because I am trying to lose a lot more weight and get really strong. The side kick series, for example, is fantastic for slimming the legs. For a guy who wants legs like Arnold, yes, lunges and squats with heavy weights are fine. For us girls who want lean, trim legs/hips/butt, we need FLOORWORK. I noticed a change in my hips/butt/thighs in about a week. Firmer and thinner. Within a month, I was down two inches on my hips. In ten years of weight-training and aerobics 3-5 times a week, I couldn't accomplish that. She also includes the upper body series of Pilates exercises, which are done with 1-3 lb. weights. For those of used to heavy weights, you're thinking "Yeah, right. How is this going to work?" But it does. Again, not bulking you up. It tones and leans you, though. For everyone, it vastly increases core strength and overall flexibility. It makes your posture better. It can make back/knee/hamstring problems better, maybe even disappear. You're firmer and look leaner. You carry yourself differently. Her instruction is masterful, IMHO. I've never thought "What is she talking about?" I find it very easy to read and comprehend. I've never injured myself doing Pilates (can't say that for weight-training, where it seemed I was always achy and/or nursing knee/shoulder/hip pain). Hope this review helps!
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Posted: Jun 11 2009
The best thing about this book is the pictures. As a visual learner, I appreciate the different photos and renderings that show how to best work the pose. For each move, there are a few real photos, which help to show the correct physical position your body will be in. There are also illustrations that help to give other visual cues (as in, a weight dropping on your stomach for "pulling your navel to your spine", or a mermaid tail to show the idea of kicking your legs together.)
