Pilates

Description

A comprehensive guide to Pilates for all experience levels. The most acclaimed, comprehensive guide for Pilates is back with all-new photos and more variations, modifications, and progressions than ever before. In Pilates, Third Edition, world-renowned Pilates expert Rael Isacowitz draws on over four decades of experience to offer you a path to total health and well-being through the Pilates method. Whether you are a beginner, a teacher using Pilates in a therapeutic setting, or a veteran instructor working with athletes, this resource will help you tap into the potential of the mind–body connection to gain the elusive edge in training. Pilates starts with the foundation for all the exercises by presenting an in-depth treatment of mat work, including photos, imagery, and detailed instruction on breathing to help you perform the movements correctly. After the mat work, Pilates goes on to apply the same depth of instruction and photos to the full range of Pilates apparatus: Reformer Cadillac Wunda chair Ladder barrel, also known as the high barrel Step barrel, also known as the spine corrector Ped-a-pul Arm chair (F2 chair) Magic circle There are more than 200 exercises , categorized by body region. The exercises include difficulty ratings, recommended resistance ranges, and explanations of not only how to perform the movements but also how practitioners will benefit from them. New variations, modifications, and progressions for many of those exercises offer additional options for tailoring the exercises based on ability, skill, or preference. The book includes a purposeful grouping of exercises into programs that work all regions of the body and progress from the fundamental level through the intermediate and advanced levels to challenge you at all stages of Pilates practice. Pilates is a holistic approach to well-being that offers a bridge between mind and body, between everyday life and optimal performance, and between rehabilitation and healthy movement. When used to its full potential, it can enhance every aspect of life. So whether you are young or old, are able-bodied or live with restricted mobility, Pilates can improve your balance, concentration, coordination, posture, muscle tone, core strength, flexibility, and overall well-being. Review: Excellent book, informative and beautifully presented - I’ve been doing reformer and mat Pilates to help with my flexibility and mobility. I’ve recently bought a reformer machine and wanted something to help me understand Pilates better and offer understanding of movement and exercises I could do at home on my own. I’ve just received the book and only skimmed through at this point, but it is beautifully presented in a very accessible style.. it gives overview and it’s clear the author knows his craft. Each page has black and white, clear demonstration photos and names and breakdown of exercise or movement and for each part of the discipline whether mat, reformer or other area of Pilates, there’s a summary section which explains whether it relates to fundamental, intermediate or advanced and what I found especially helpful were the on the side summary notes giving the muscle focus and objectives which helped reader to understand the goal they were aiming for. There are many books (especially recipe books) where I’ve been disappointed by the photography and presentation but this is a first where I’ve been this impressed with the level of knowledge and detail so generously shared. It also doesn’t require cover to cover understanding. The reader can access what they’re looking for or need and work with that initially! It is already helping me to understand some of what my Pilates instructor has been teaching me. Well done and thank you to Rael Isacowitz. Review: Only useful if you have access to the equipment reformer and cadillac, chair etc - Covers some of everything for the teacher or enthusiast. The matwork section is only the classical exercises so not suitable for anyone with medical back issues like bulging discs and arthritis but excellent level of detail for teaching and advanced practitioner. Book is about 360 pages so worth noting theory of practice = 46 pages of excellent information. Mat work = 73 pages / reformer = 100 pages / cadillac = 40 pages / chair = 17 pages / barrels = 19 pages / circle = 11 pages. So if you don't work with equipment you won't get much out of this book but if teacher training its a good investment.