Customer Reviews

Pilates For Dummies

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this book expecting it to be like most self help books, worthless. I was wrong! This book did an excellent job of explaining the workouts. I liked that she gave hints to make certain excerizes easier on beginers. I was also suprised to see results so fast! I got the book to help me tone my abs and after a week I could see my tummy coming in and feel myself standing up straight as my posture also improved! I am going on 3 weeks of doing the 10 min abs work out that is at the end of chapter 6 and it is doing wonders! I love pilates and I love this book! I recommend it to anyone who wants to look good, but not bulky like all the muscle-heads at the gym!

Excellent book - clear directions and wonderful photos that show each exercise step by step. This is the Pilates book you've been waiting for!

This book was one of my mom's rejects for the reason that she couldn't make head nor tail of the instructions. I like it quite a bit, but I have a background in modern dance and was already familiar with isolating different muscle groups. I think if you don't have a good sense of your body already, this book might be too confusing to start with.

So far there's a lot of good material for me to work with, although much of the book is dedicated to repetitive touting of the benefits of pilates (yes, we already know it tones) as well as super-advanced exercises using complicated equipment, which aren't really "for dummies." Still, the workouts are fun, challenging, and feel good on my body. I would recommend glancing at the instructions before buying and seeing if they make sense to you. If they do, you'll probably like this book -- otherwise, maybe try a video or simpler book.

I have been working out on a reformer for a month, and absolutely love the pilates workout. I was looking to get matwork materials to take on vacation, and am very happy with this book--it seems to provide a sound basis for the matwork. I also highly recommend Pilates for Dummies on video.

I borrowed a copy of the book from my local library and liked it so much I bought it for myself and for my daughter-in-law.
I attended a Pilates class and told my instructor that I had the book - she remarked that it is one of the best and recommended it to the whole class here at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The book gives excellent explanations. While the class gave me a sense of how a flowing routine will work, I can do it at home with the aid of the book.

I recommend it highly. Thanks, A Pilates Dummy Fan

This book is great for everyone from beginners and those experienced in Pilates. Ellie describes each exercise extremely well and gives great tips so you can get the most out of your work out (and so you won't hurt yourself). Her step by step pictures are not found in any other book. She also gives great tips on using other pieces of equipment like the ball and roller. A must have for anyone interested in Pilates!

I started using this book 2 years ago to learn the basics of Pilates. I have tried other Pilates books/DVDs since, but I keep going back to this book. The first part of the book explains what Pilates is, such as controlling movement, maintaining stability, and why breathing at particular times in the exercises is important, and it gives examples of these that are easy to understand. Then it goes into what the words neutral spine, abdominal scoop, pilates first position, etc., actually mean, and how to do them.

The mat exercises contain 4 levels: Pre-Pilates, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Not knowing anything about Pilates when I started, I began with the Pre-Pilates workout. Because there are multiple steps to most exercises, it did take some time to remember when to breathe, when to roll up or down, but once I got that down, it made the subsequent levels of exercises easier to learn. Also, a few of the exercises were impossible for me because I didn't have the strength to do them, but I just did what I could, for example the hip-up, I would lie on the mat with my feet in the air and worked those abdominal muscles although my feet were going nowhere, and within 2 weeks I was doing all 9 hip-ups. You just have to do a little more each time. The beginning mat series contains some exercises from Pre-Pilates and it's not very long, so it wasn't too difficult to learn.

The intermediate mat series is where I really felt I was getting a workout, and I still use this one, although I have added some to it since. It really felt as if I was getting an intense abdominal workout and after adding the variations for the side kicks, my legs definitely got stronger. The advanced series I have done a few times, but it is rather long, about an hour compared with 20 minutes of the intermediate, and I have trouble finding time for it.

The next section deals with Pilates accessories such as foam roller, magic circle, and big ball, and give some exercises to do using those. Overview of Pilates equipment just tells what some of the things are you might find in a Pilates studio and shows pictures of people using them, but gives no exercises.

Overall this is a great book that I would recommend to anybody interested in learning Pilates. Thanks to the wonderfully detailed instructions, I believe I am getting a safe, effective Pilates workout.

This book is very well written and easy to follow. My back pain is gone and I am feeling stronger after 3 weeks of doing these exercises. The models are hot!

If you are at all interested in Pilates, you need this book! Its easy to understand and you'll finally know what someone is talking about when they say Pilates - in fact you'll know more! I can already relax my shoulders.

This is probably the best guide you can buy for Pilates. It is easy to understand and does not try to mystify or complicate the subject. It has good pictures and descriptions of exercises, most of which are good, but more than a few I think are really a strain on the back. I am not really enthusiastic about Pilates. I think basic callestenic exercises are just as effective if done mindfully and correctly. Nevertheless, if you are convinced that Pilates is magic and you want to purchase a guide this would be your best bet.