Customer Reviews

Pilates

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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If you practice Pilates your instructor can only guide you so much. To get the most out of your practice, you need to understand for yourself what the objectives of each exercise are, what form specifics to focus on, what visualization to use to achieve that perfect rep. "Pilates" by Rael Isacowitz will give you those tools.

Now, not only can you listen to your instructor, you can listen to that little voice in your own head to help you get the most from your efforts. Rael's Imagery cues for each exercise have been perfected over his many years of practice and teaching, and are incredibly helpful, whether you are a Pilates student or a teacher. Students who practice in a Pilates studio spend a lot of time on the apparatus and I love that equipment work is included in this book, unlike so many books which focus solely on the mat work. The number and variety of exercises in this book will ensure your workouts are never the same (just one of the things I love about Pilates!) and they are well organized, making it easy for you to design your own (or your client's) workout. Sample fundamental, intermediate, and advanced mat and apparatus workouts are given in the back of the book.

Whether a student or a teacher, you will find yourself referring again and again, to this wonderful resource.

The author stuck with a simple template in writing his book that allowed him to convey his ideas clearly and gracefully. Each lesson in the book starts with an anatomical target under "Muscle Focus" and the "Objectives" of serving those muscles. The lessons end with "Imagery" that deals with the feeling and the mental execution of the desired motion.

The author refrained from venturing into areas outside his domain of specialized expertise such as nutrition or unrelated topics, which added to his credibility and emphasized the depth of indulging in the art of Pilates. The extensive number, simple content, and logical sequence of the photographs, which are properly labeled and placed in each lesson, all makes the book an easy read and useful tool for learning. Above all, the author himself demonstrates his role as a model for the reader.

The book has a brief history of Pilates, its benefits, and its principles. Those are grouped under ten principles that address awareness, balance, breathing, concentration, body centering, gaining control, efficiency of motion, flow of energy, precision, and harmony. The main emphasis of Pilates practice is described in terms of regional anatomy that is brought under the control of the mind such that it serves the purpose of skillful mobility.

The book falls into twelve chapters that deal with enhancing the mind and body, alignment and movement, and the different methods of accomplishing the objectives of motion control. The different methods entail: Mat work that falls into 70 pages, Universal Reformer that spans about 100 pages, Cadillac 40 pages, Wanda Chair 20 pages, Barrels 20 pages, Ped-a-Pul 7 pages, Arm Chair 7 pages, and Magic Circle 14 pages. The last chapter lumps all exercises in sample routines that facilitate quick referencing.

The major drawback of the book is the use of advanced tools in some lessons that might not be available to the majority of readers. Yet, the author has little to do with what others could afford and should not take the blame for such hurdle.

The priceless gain attained from reading this book is the development of conscious awareness of each part of the body and being able to survey what goes wrong on time to enhance performance. And, performance exactness is what the author is expert in teaching and in practicing.

Mohamed F. El-Hewie
Author of
Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training

I was certified through body arts and science and after paying over $3000 for my education I could not fork over the extra dough for the workbooks that were an additional $250. I laugh now cause this book IS the workbooks, muscle focus and orgins and all for $20! This is a fantastic book for the newly certified insturctor looking for a study guide or even the more experienced one that looks at another instructor from time to time and says "what was the breathing on that again." Stay sharp to keep the practice respected and our students healthy and strong.

Pilates by Rael Isacowitz is the best written Pilates Reference I have ever read. I have been practicing for about 12 years and teaching for 4 years. This is a must have book for teaching and the only book you will need, if you are just beginning your practice. He is concise with his material and I like his descriptions and cues for imagery. I am looking forward to his next book. You will not be disappointed.

Human Kinetics is the premier publisher for "user friendly" sports and fitness instruction manuals and guides. Rael Isacowitz is one of the leading pilates experts in the world and the owner/founder of Body Arts and Science International. In "Pilates: Your Complete Guide To Mat Work And Apparatus Exercises", Isacowtiz presents a methodical, organized, photo illustrated, in-depth instruction manual for perform pilates movements correcting and provides a unique set of challenging exercise sequences which allow the movements to flow and blend into one continuous motion. Along with straight mat work, Isacowitz introduces the aspiring pilates student into a range of pilates apparatus that include: Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Step and Ladder Barrels, Ped-a-Pul, Arm Chair, and Magic Circle. Covering 210 exercises, the positive results for the pilates student will include improved posture, enhanced muscle tone, increased core strength, and enduring flexibility. Rael Iscaowitz's "Pilates" is a strongly recommended exercise guide for personal and community library Health & Exercise training manual and reference collections.

I very nearly bought this book for its cover, which is beautiful in its simplicity. But instead, I read the reviews, all the reviews. THEN I bought the book. And, when it arrived, I discovered that I had bought one of the most thorough books ever written, about any exercise, ever. I'm going to try to avoid talking about what other reviewers have already written.

First, this book is thorough. Very thorough. There are generally two types of exercise books: those that provide lots of pretty (or, manly) pictures but little explanation and those the provide endless explanation but few illustrations. This book, like those by Sue Luby (no, we don't know why Amazon doesn't carry her yoga and fitness books; they're excellent) falls neatly into the center: just enough photographs and just enough discussion. Even more critical is that, unlike almost every Pilates book I've seen, the author provides photos from various levels, including those from above, to show, for example, how far apart your feet should be in various positions and explains what and where you should direct your concentration.

The book is divided into twelve chapters. The first three, which are ABOUT Pilates (Enhancing the Mind and Body; Alignment, Posture, and Movement; and Powerful Pilates Practices) are not only informative but also deeply inspirational. If you don't feel like hitting the empty spot on the floor (assuming you have one; we're certainly running low on emptiness) and opening up every joint and muscle in your body, send the book back because you won't be happy with the rest. Chapters 4 through 11 detail exercises on various bit of equipment. Chapters 4 and 5 cover mat (chapter 4) and Reformer (chapter 5) routines. The next six chapters cover other pieces of equipment, ranging from the most expensive (chapter 6: Cadillac) through the Wunda Chair (chapter 7), Barrels (chapter 8), Ped-a-Pul (chapter 9), Arm Chair (chapter 10), and the magic circle (chapter 11). This division by equipment is quite useful. If you don't happen to have the Cadillac (or the several thousand dollars it's takes to buy one), just skip that chapter. I have found, however, that many exercises usually performed on more elaborate equipment can be modified using simpler equipment. For example, I am daily impressed with the extraordinary range of exercises you can do using a simple resistance ball.

Finally, Chapter 12, provides an excellent set of "Sample Exercise Routines" for mat, reformer, and cadillac, further organized by time and skill level. In this chapter, the photographs from various angles are used to greatest effect.

In sum, I think this is a perfect Pilates book. And I say this as a long-time addict of Moira Stott's various books and videos. I think just about everyone can get something out of it. It's certainly worth giving it a try.

This book gives a great overview of all the aspects of pilates. There are sections for mat excercise, reformer, cadilac and others. We found this book very useful to review some of the excercises and the proper way of doing them.

I think it is much more helpful to hire a trainer initially, at least to cover the basics and then use this book as a guide. I think it would be difficult to just pick up the book and try to learn, even though it is written very well and easy to understand.

I would recommend this book for somebody who has at least some background and even better who owns a reformer, since many of the excercises use the reformer.

Another useful piece of information... some of the personal pilates instructers were trained using this author's method, so the book very closely follows their instruction.

I am a personal trainer and pilates instructor. I am currently getting my certification in apparatus and I came across this book. It is an absolute must for an instructor's library. It's organized beautiful, is comprehensive, with great imagery,cuing, and indepth essays that are easy to understand for the professional. By far, the best pilates book out there...and you can't beat the price for the wealth of knowledge.

Only book I've seen on the market that has NUMEROUS types of equipment. Also provides a 'template' for setting up your own workouts so that you can use mat or equipment or both and still work all body parts.

As a Pilates instructor and passionate practitioner I have bought most every book and dvd available to help me

deepen my understanding of this complex method. This book Pilates, by Rael Isacowitz is the best yet.

The generosity of his information, experience and wisdom, along with excellent descriptions of the exercises

and easy to follow instructions make this book valuable for Pilates enthusiasts of any level. It is well set out,

with clear precise photos showing the movements as they should be performed, but rarely are. I love this book.