Customer Reviews

The Pilates Pregnancy: Maintaining Strength, Flexibility, And Your Figure

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

 

 

As a Pilates instructor, I do not think this is the best book for pregnancy. There is no discussion about what is safe in each trimester, and I do not think there are enough modifications of the exercises to accommodate pregnancy (in fact, the only modified exercise is the hundreds for third trimester). Essentially, she gives the exact same exercises for each trimester and gives no information on how to modify them for an expanding belly, for safety, etc. A much better book is the Pilates Workbook for Pregnancy by King. If you already know Pilates then you dont need Winsor's book (very basic exercises that you will already know), and if you are not familiar with Pilates you should find a more detailed, safety-oriented book for your pregnancy.

This is a great book to help guide the pregnant exerciser in general, and especially if you are interested in pilates during pregnancy. It has three workout programs, one for each trimester. The book contains modifications for pregnant moms on the traditional movements, and even addresses the mom brand new to pilates. There are pictures and descriptions for each move, and also a brief explanation of the benefits. A bonus; the pictures for each exercise actually show a real pregnant woman, in different stages of pregnancy. This helps to show placement of the belly in relation to the rest of the body.
I would have liked for it to cover some reformer exercises, but it only covers matwork. In any case, it gives you good ideas for modifications that you could use with your machines too.
There is some repetition from her other book "The Pilates Powerhouse", but if you don't already have that book, no problem. Otherwise, there is enough new information to make this book work purchasing. Especially since it's the only book I've seen devoted to pilates for the pregnant woman.

I am long-time Pilates practitioner and bought the book out of curiousity when I became pregnant to see if there were any different ways of doing the traditional exercises. Windsor keeps the method "traditional" to a fault. There are not enough modifications shown. Also, too many of the exercises are done lying on one's back. This is just not realistic after a certain point in pregnancy. I felt lightheaded and dizzy from lack of oxygen lying down! I would have liked to see more sidelying exercises, magic circle routines or standing exercises. The forward of the book if well written and there is no doubt that Pilates can relieve many of the discomforts associated with pregnancy. It really can keep you in shape and help you regain your body after a baby. However, this book is only suitable for an experienced practitioner who knows how to safely modify the exercises. I would never recommend it to a novice. Rather I would steer them in the direction of a good yoga for pregnancy book or video.

I really like this book. I had been doing Pilates matwork for about 18 months when I became pregnant. I didn't start using the book's routines until I was about 16 weeks pregnant, because before that time my regular Stott Intermediate Matwork video routine seemed fine. I really like the second trimester routine Mari has outlined -- although I don't do the entire routine because of time -- I skip some of the side-lying work and the rowing moves. I'm now 33 weeks pregnant and still doing the second trimester routine because it still feels good (although last week I dropped a couple of the moves that were beginning to get uncomfortable). I have no problems exercising while on my back -- and I have been told that as long as I don't feel dizzy or nauseated, that exercising on my back is fine. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to try Pilates during pregnancy, especially those women who already have at least a basic understanding of the moves.

this book is an ok book but it takes an hour or more to do all the excrecizes. also it is seperated in to each trimester that's a good feature. but in both the second and third trimester it still has you doing excrcizes while lieing on your back. no way through each of my pregnancys my doctor has said don't lay on your back after the 1st trimester. other than that the book is good it get's you in shape and it dose help alot postpartum

Okay, here is what I think that you should know. This program works. I have had four children within the last 6 1/2 years. For three of the pregnancies, I did this workout and lost all of my pregnancy weight. In fact, with my last two pregnancies I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight within a few days to two weeks. During my second pregnancy, for multiple reasons that aren't relevant to this review, I did not do this Pilates workout. The result? After I gave birth I was fifty pounds heavier than I was before and I still have not lost that weight gain.

I cannot comment on how traditional this Pilates workout is or whether or not "purists" will like it. What I do know is that it works. My weight stayed under control with those three pregnancies and my body was SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE. There were times when I would be aching, aching, aching. I would then do the workout and feel so much better - night and day difference. Don't worry if you have never done Pilates before, I hadn't either. The author recommends that if you have never done Pilates before, start with the second trimester workout, even if you are in your first trimester. I did that with my three pregnancies and it worked great.

My only complaint about the book is that it can be hard to figure out the written directions. At least it was for me, a person who learns by seeing and doing. I was determined to understand the exercises, though, and with my husband's help I was able to do it. I am still giving this book five stars, however, because the workout is just that good.

I really enjoyed the foreword of this book; great information I didn't know. I've done the 2nd trimester exercises and got a good workout. I wish this were available on DVD, as turning the pages while doing a workout isn't so convenient.

I just bought this book a couple of weeks ago and have really been enjoying it. I feel like my posture is great after a single workout and feel very strong in my core. I always look forward to my Pilates workout.
I felt it was a little repetitive in the intro. and the beginning chapters, when the principles of Pilates, etc. are explained, but they do get their points across effectively.
I also felt they do a disservice to pregnant women by insinuating that Pilates is the only good or effective help for preventing low back pain. (p. 11) For example, they write, 'what chiropractor will work on a pregnant woman?' Any chiropractor I know has had a lot of training to work on pregnant women and their newborns later on. There are also other helpful resources a pregnant woman has, such as massage therapy. I realize they are trying to promote Pilates primarily, as that's what the book is teaching, yet I think it'd be great if they would have been more open to giving a little more info. on things that would work well hand-in-hand with the Pilates exercises.