Customer Reviews

The Pilates Way to Birth

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I appreciate how Carolyne not only included explanations of the anatomy and physiology aspect of pregnancy, but what women can experience pyschologically during pregnancy. Clear pictures of exercises and break down of recommended exercises for each trimester. Exercises include being on the mat, gym ball,reformer, cadillac or using a theraband.

I have just finished reading this amazing book. I bought it thinking it was all about Pilates exercises and was taken aback by the information on natural birth and the choices we have in order to achieve this goal. This has totally changed my mind about a medicated birth. I am an avid exerciser and so far have thought I was in the best shape to give birth but now realize what I should be doing to help facilitate the birthing process. Why don't I already know all this? Where has all this information been hiding? Why hasn't my doctor told me about the alternatives? This is NOT just an exercise book. If you're pregnant, you need to read this!! This book is filled with tons of full-color photos. It is very easy to follow & I like that the author adds in snippets of stories here & there. This book is definitely worth it.

As a pilates instructor, this was a nice book to have for exercises that are safe during pregnancy, while i didn't learn anything new, it was a helpful book.

This is not just an exercise textbook but an invitation, in a very hopeful, encouraging tone, to motherhood. As a student of pharmaceutical sciences, I had lots of opportunities to be exposed to stories surrounding "life" in a variety of contexts and underlying any of those stories there was, in essence, an "axiom" that life is anyway wonderful. Sadly, though, this "axiom" tends to be just so readily forgotten or neglected while living a dry, excessively achievements-oriented life. While reading this book, I myself was made to realize how far away I have always been from a "normal" pleasure or happiness as a living creature. And the magic of this book was that it urged me to believe that I must make a significant change to the way I live. I started reading this book as a preparation for attending the author's Pre/Post-natal Pilates certification training, and I certainly did not expect that this book would take me so far beyond the mere knowledge of anatomy, childbirth, and Pilates. I am flying to the US from Tokyo tomorrow to attend the training and very much looking forward to participating in the course facilitated by this great author and mentor.

Carolyne has written a very through, clear and easy to follow book for the expectant mother. As a personal trainer and mother of three (now grown), I greatly appreciate the information and pictoral representations of movements and exercises. I have purchased several copies of this book to share with my pre and post natal clients. I have used the exercises for all types of clients pregnant and not. This is a wonderful piece of work. Thank you Carolyne.

I absolutely love the exercises in this book. I am fairly new to Pilates, but I understand the basics. My pregnancy is extremely high-risk because my first child was born at 25.5 weeks. With this pregnancy, I was 23 weeks along before I asked my doctor if it was okay for me to exercise. She said that had I been doing it all along, I'd be fine, but given my situation, I needed to only stick with stretches and walking, etc. I was highly disappointed, but then decided to go along with the exercies in this book anyway. As long as you can get past having to read the instructions and do the exercises yourself (trying to maintain the good Pilates posture at the same time--which isn't pointed out in the book), you'll love this book. The exercises are very low-impact and I feel great when I'm done.

I also have the Pregnancy Workout DVD by Karen Staben (spelling?), and hers is much more intense. If I want more intensity with this book, I can just do more reps. I highly recommend it.

Carolyne Anthony is a Pilates master teacher and inspiring writer. As a Pilates teacher I have benefited immensely from her wisdom, humor and hands on approach to exercise before and after pregnancy.
Carolyne walks the walk and talks the talk: she guided hundreds of women through pregnancy, delivery and helped them find back to their bodies after birth.
I have never met a Pilates teacher who is also a doula; who presents all over the world at conferences, trains teachers who are doctors, physical therapists, body-workers and exercise specialists.
The pictures in the book are beautiful, clear and easy to follow; modifications required during different stages of pregnancy give excellent explanations for safe exercising.
The birth stories are a gentle reminder that this is not just an exercise book but a guide to giving life. Congratulations Carolyne!

Nicola Conraths-Lange author of "Survival Skills for Pilates Teachers" and "Pilates Space"

I must start by saying that I have two daughters. I was positive in my mind that having two would be enough, until I read Carolyne's book. This book offers so much more then just instructional guidelines. Her words on the experience alone of being pregnant and caring for your body and baby, helped me realize how truly wonderful a pregnancy can be. The photos throughout the book are very clear and easy to follow. I would highly recommend this book to not only women who are studying pilates but to any woman who is considering having a child.

The Pilates Way to Birth is a win win for Pilates Instructors as well as a wonderful book for the pregnancy fitness and post-natal population. It has clear pictures and informative descriptions of exercises that can be used as a guide for the expecting or post-natal mom. I highly recomend this book to instructors or individuals looking to improve thier overall activity during this special time. For instructors: look to The Center for Women's Fitness for more information on certification and workshops that take the book to the next level. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have