The Pilates Edge (Avery Health Guides) (Paperback)

by Daniel Loigerot (Author), Karrie Adamany (Author) "It may seem obvious that any kind of fitness routine would be beneficial for enhancing performance in sports..." (more)
Key Phrases: Arm Weights, Advanced Challenge, Side Kick (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Adamany and Loigerot have found a niche in the crowded Pilates book market by offering a volume specifically designed to address the needs of different types of athletes, such as cyclists, golfers, runners, skiers, swimmers and tennis players. The authors, co-founders of the Pilates Edge Studio in New York City, provide detailed sequences of exercises intended to help each kind of sports enthusiast stay fit and recover from injuries. The book begins by laying out some Pilates basics, then breaks into separate sections for the specific sports. Each section includes a variety of movements for both beginners and advanced practitioners, along with detailed photos. In addition to the actual exercises, Adamany and Loigerot explain some anatomy and go over which athletic movements (e.g., a forehand stroke in tennis; a golf swing) use which muscles. Though the sections are not uniformly comprehensive, Adamany and Loigerot make a convincing argument for Pilates' effectiveness as a life-long workout regimen.
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Product Description
Pilates is a unique conditioning method-originally developed by Joseph Pilates for boxers, gymnasts, and dancers-based on the philosophy of a unified body, mind, and spirit. The Pilates Edge uniquely applies the Pilates Method to sports training, revealing how the basic principles of Pilates relate to athletic achievement as well as everyday health and fitness. With more than 200 photographs, the book includes a basic mat routine with as well as specific workouts for golf, running, racket sports, swimming, cycling, and skiing, giving special attention to the muscle groups and common injuries associated with each sport. Pilates can improve the physical and mental well-being for athletes at any level, enhancing performance and confidence, improving control, increasing range of motion in the limbs, and preventing injuries-giving them The Pilates Edge.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Avery Trade (February 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583331840
• ISBN-13: 978-1583331842
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #209,565 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for athletes, August 16, 2006

By	cowboy00242 "weekend warrior" (Richmond, VA United States) - See all my reviews

I was pleased to finally find this book a few years ago, as I was looking for a way to help with my fencing. As a book geared towards athletes, it assumes that you don't simply want to "look and feel fit", but build a real core that helps you become a stronger athlete, no matter what your sport.

I appreciated that the illustrations of the exercises (which are very well done) featured both authors, drving home the idea that Pilates is a fitness regimen for BOTH men and women who want to be stronger. Too many times books about exercise systems focus on one gender, which can turn people off... I often felt that Pilates suffered from being marketed too strongly towards women when it is a very universal exercise system.

I also very much liked that the core exercises (there are many) were ones that did not require any extra equipment, relying on your own body weight and range of motion to accomplish the movement. The sample exercise programs at the rear of the book emphasize this. Other sections of the book that include weights, bars, etc. are considered as supplemental to the core system and can be added as needed. Personally, this helped me to stay with the exercises, because I didn't need to have anything with me to do them.

An excellent book. I highly recommend it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Photos make it easy to follow, March 15, 2004

By	Karen B Balcom "karenbalcom" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews

A lot of exercise books are difficult to use for an actual workout. This book solves that problem with detailed descriptions for each move and later a purely visual guide that shows thumbnails of each pose. I'm not an "athelete", but I like to workout and wanted to start pilates to help with those aches and pains I get from the gym. This book is going to make it easy to get a pilates workout in a few times a week.

This book is incredibly well written, clear and concise. It gives great tips for those who do engage in the major sports featured (tennis, golf, skiing, running, etc.). Highly recommended!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Starter Book, May 7, 2004

By	A. Fairchild (O'Fallon, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is great for anyone who is interested in Pilates. If you do other sports, like biking, running or golf, it gives you appropriate excercises to compliment your activities. It provides outstanding descriptions and pictures of the exercises.
Highly recommend this book...even if you just want a Pilates book with pictures.....