Customer Reviews

Emily Kelly's Commonsense Pilates

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This is the first book I have bought on the Pilates method - and it was a good choice. Emily Kelly covers both pilates techniques as well as practical advice on how to make pilates part of your life - and your exercise schedule. The phtographs and instructions are very clear and the feature I like best is the diagram of the muscle groups being worked with each exercise. Emily then puts everything together by giving her readers two sample programmes to work through - a long session and a short one. There are also exercises one can do at the office and as a warm up for aerobic forms of exercise. I thoroughly reccomend this book as one which delivers what ir promsises... a common sense approach to exercise and healthy living.... Emily, when is your second book coming out??

I've started doing Pilates a couple of weeks ago, after purchasing this book in its Spanish edition. I think the author has done a fantastic job here - she gives clear instructions and different positions for each level, she gives you everything you need for building your own customised workout and helps you integrate Pilates in your lifestyle plan combining it with other forms of excercising - everything in a commonsense way!

I found this book at the library and have been most pleased! Emily presents a gentle approach to Pilates. Her directions are safe for beginners and those with a weak back. You can start where you are, at your own personal beginning, and progress to more challenging positions when you're ready!

I especially like that she shows 2 or 3 positions for each exercise on the same page, starting with the most basic modified position first. For example, in "The Hundred", the 1st picture/description shows the model with her head and feet on the mat. The 2nd picture/description shows her head still on the mat, but her knees up in the air. The 3rd picture shows her head and knees up. I LOVE that the progressions are all shown on the same page vs. having to flip ahead to a new chapter when you're ready to progress!

I also like that each exercise page has a sidebar on the right side showing the Purpose. For example, in the Hundred, the purpose is "to strengthen core muscles, co-ordinate breathing patterns and build endurance." There is also a small diagram of the human body, highlighting the Muscles Targeted. For example, the Hundred targets the "transverse abdominals, rectus abdominis, & stabilizing mid-back muscles".

The only suggestion for improvement I have is making the print size a wee bit bigger, but I can live with it. :-)

Another book I really like is "Pilates Practice Companion" by Alycea Ungaro.