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Editorial Review:
Everything about this tome by the leading Pilates authorities is official, marking it out as a serious, in-depth guide to the fitness system which creates lean bodies through building muscle, tone and flexibility.
Unlike many fitness books (including yoga), there is nothing superficial, glamorous or intimidating about the visuals. Photos (from various angles) are cleverly backed up with extra diagrams where needed, plus illustrations of the relevant muscles. Instructions are simple and surprisingly easy to follow.
At first glance this might seem more like a teacher's manual. After a detailed introduction, it is divided into beginners, intermediate, advanced and prescriptions. On closer examination, with the huge emphasis on explanations of how different muscles work, and the level of detail, it is a cross between a medical and fitness handbook. Indeed to many the health benefits of Pilates will be an additional, welcome, surprise.
In the end, however, it is an indispensable health guide, appealing both to hard-core Pilates fans as well as newcomers. The final section (Prescriptions) on work, play, health and even the performing arts, provides simple and invaluable advice, and even if you have never been to a Pilates class, you can benefit hugely. You are unlikely to ever sit or stand the same way again with this book in your home! --Lorna V.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Good book, but to get the most out of it, get trained first I bought this book after doing 1-to-1 classes for over 3 months with a very good and inspiring instructor in the Body Control Method. I have benefited considerably especially with regard to general quotidian painlessness, greater flexibility and a fully mobile neck, which has all but eliminated headaches for me. The book now serves as a good aide-memoire for specific exercises, as I am wont to forgetting the names and remembering only the exercises, which makes it difficult for me to write my exercise... more info
Great book, all you need from beg-intermed -- but repeats other books A lot of good has been said about this book by previous reviewers, so I'll only agree with those glowing remarks and add one warning to owners of other Body Control Pilates books -- this book just cuts and pastes entire paragraphs and pages of info from the first book "Body Control" and "The Pilates Prescription for Back Pain" (which is just another title for the "Body Control Back Book"). Basically, Body Control are putting out the same (really great!) book with only a few updates and changes here and... more info
sorry ,not a good book for a beginner I was really disapointed when i reviewed this book. First of all the photos are not clear, even though they are in full colour.Secondly, for a beginner to Pilates, the book seemed to be designed for "older" people who will be challenged by any kind of movement. A basic exercise "the hundred" appears in the advanced section. that to me is a way to warm up for the mat exercises and should not be in the advanced section. on the whole the routine was not very challenging and sequential to follow. I was waiting... more info
Still The Best How Pilates has changed! When I bought Lynne's first book 'Pilates Way' four years ago, it was the first book of its kind focused on Pilates. It was a fantastic intro and I moved on to the Manual when it came out. Now, I've delved into three or four other Pilates books but I have to say that the Manual remains head & shoulders above everything else in terms of clarity, range of exercises - and common sense! If you only buy one book on Pilates, this has to be it!
