Customer Reviews

The Complete Guide to Joseph H. Pilates' Techniques of Physical Conditioning

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a Pilates instructor I found this to be a very thorough and informative book. I have recommended this book to many of my clients for home study and to aid in their repatterning process. This is a book that has kept the original matwork as its backbone and enhanced it with current physiotherapy ideas and neutral body placement. I felt the first section of the book was clear, concise, and really guided the student through the journey of body awareness. The second section which covers the exercises themselves was uniquely thought out. The pictures are excellent and the cues and corrections are structured in such a way as to aid, rather than distract the learner. I have read many of the books currently on the market and I feel that this is one of the best for students of the Pilates method - from beginner to advanced.

I bought this book because I also have a rugby-related back injury (which is what brought Mr. Menezes to Pilates). As a complete novice to Pilates, I found the extensive descriptions and photographs very helpful. Pilates is a very complex and versatile set of exercises, combined in different ways for those recovering from injuries or in good health. Mr. Menezes first explains the philosophy behind Pilates (with illustrations) and then moves on to detail an enormous variety of mat excercises. He includes recommended work-outs, from basic to very advanced, along with an entire chapter on how to tailor work-outs to recover from specific injuries or weaknesses. All excercises can be done at home without equipment. Each description includes what to focus on and what to watch out for - this allows you to self-correct and maximize the benefit from each exercise. After just a few work-outs, I am already experiencing less pain and more mobility. I also feel much stronger. I am extremely excited about Pilates and look forward to using this book for years.

This is an excellent reference to the matwork exercises. Each exercise is explained in detail, with clear illustrations and breathing instructions. Also, Chapter 6 has great recommendations of exercises for specific problems, ie. back pain, weak knees etc. Keep in mind it is best to learn from a trainer, this book will not tell you if you are doing it wrong!!

I originally borrowed this book from the public library because I had heard so much about the Pilates method but did not want to pay the ridiculous studio fees to attend classes. The exercises are easy to do, effective and well described in this book. I renewed it so many times I decided to give in and buy my own copy.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to try Pilates at home. There are so many exercises described in detail that you will not get bored because you change your routine as you become more advanced.

My body is different after only 6 weeks and I know it will work for you too.

This book is one of the most comprehensive guides to learning and teaching Pilates. It is complete and thorough in providing a background of the Pilates method, emphasizes posture, and descriptively explains and demonstrates the beginner, intermediate, and advance techniques of various exercises. It is the total package and great tool for anyone using Pilates!

This is a wonderful reference for the pilates method. I am totally new to this form of exercise. I have researched many different sources of information and I have bought many different books.

This book is better than any of my other books because it is really based on the teachings of Joseph Pilates. The method and the teachings in this book are presented with great detail, totally taking in for account the posiable lack of knowledge the reader may have.

It was important for me to find a understandable source that was still teaching the true method that Joseph Pilates created.

Many other books I have purchased changed "The Method" so much that the book was actually teaching the authors take-off of the pilates method or something they chose to call pilates, that is nothing like the teachings of Joseph Pilates.

It was important to me to learn the true Pilates Method that was founded by Joseph Pilates. My goal is to learn this method safely and presicely on my own, in my own home.

This book is a must-have for those wanting the Best Resource for Joseph Pilates Method!!!!!

This is a very good book for Pilates Floor Work Exercises, it explains clearly the purpose of each exercise, how to do them correctly, and the key points that will help you to benefit the most from these exercises. It is an excellent book to keep at home to do your own work out. Follow this book correctly to do the exercises will keep you a healthier body.

New to Pilates I inspected several books before deciding this was the best and clearest explanation of Pilates. It not only explains the how, but the why with regard to the basic principles of the process. His modified update of historical Pilates based upon modern physical knowledge greatly improves the application of this art to a broader section of the fitness minded. Original Pilates was geared towards dancers, this expands it to general athletics and health improvement. As one who could never remember to stand up straight and suck in my otherwise non-existent gut despite hours in the gym and endless abdominal work I always appeared fat when I wasn't. After only a few sessions following the workouts in this book I am already managing to stand up and hold in my abdominals most of the day. His discovery/explanation of the "B line" below the navel is the best way I have found to improve my abdominals and posture. Pilates is difficult to learn, but this book makes it understandable for working out at home. It is very well organized especially the selections of exercises for different needs and conditions. Highly recommended. If only the videos were also sold in the United States.

I bought this book just before I signed up for a 9 week introductory course in Pilates that was being run at a local evening college.

Reading all the introductory chapters gave me a great insite into the methods and helped me with understanding better what the instructor was telling us during the first session about the method.

When I got home from the each of the sessions, I was able to read about each of the excercises we completed during the session and understand better what the instructor was teaching us and also to remind me how they were done when I was doing them at home.

A great book, very clear and easy to understand.

I have several books on pilates, and this book is the most complete. It covers anatomy, injuries, posture, and many other topics most pilates books don't even touch on. It speaks to the importance of establishing an exercise routine, and provides the user with warm-up and preparation exercises to get you ready for starting a pilates practice. (This book mostly covers mat pilates, I would have liked for it to include more about other pilates equipment.) Overall, this book is a great resource.