Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36282 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-07
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Synopsis
Lynne Robinson and Body Control Pilates have brought Joseph Pilates' original teachings to a vast international readership, creating exercise programmes that are famed for their clarity, effectiveness and safety. Building on the bestselling success of The Official Body Control Pilates Manual, The Complete Classic Pilates Method heralds Body Control's breakdown of the full matwork programme. Originally devised for dancers and athletes, this dynamic course brings physically-demanding exercises within everyone's grasp, breaking them down into three clear levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Complete with watchpoints and warnings for each level, preparation exercises ensure that you are ready to tackle the full action. Culminating in fluent workouts that demand only a minimum of 10 minutes four times a week, this is the clearest and most meticulously graded Pilates manual available.

Customer Reviews

Exercises are mostly quite hard
I found this book to be full of exercises but not many for the beginner or injured. I also don't like the way this book, and other pilates books, don't address the fact the multifidus often isn't co-contracting with the core after and during back injuries so performing the exercises without addressing this can make you hurt worse. If possible I would say have some basic one to one sessions with an instructor before using a product like this one. The exercises look easy but they're not and it's very easy to do them wrong if you exercise alone.

As good as they say (with a few caveats for the beginner)
I won't repeat all the glowing things that previous reviewers have said about this book, only to say I agree, I agree, I agree... but...

I think someone should speak to the few bits of the book -- just the first 8 pages -- that might turn off the unwary person who is not already a devotee of Joseph Pilates.

First, there are two tendencies with almost all forms of Pilates-based exercises that turns off many average people coming to it from, for lack of a better word, a physiotherapy imperative: (a) most of the instructors seem to be former dancers or gymansts, who only know about normal human body problems (i.e., overweight, lack of muscle tone, poor diet, etc.) second hand, and (b) there is this guru-devotion to Pilates himself that can make some people a bit uncomfortable. This book has both in the opening pages.

That said, the book is solid on information and clear in it's presentation of the actual, historical Pilates Method.

Not for the beginner, though. As the author says, "This book is suitable for people who are virtually pain free and over twelve years old up to any age. I hope the instructions will also be useful to teachers of the method."

the complete Pilates mat method
Having reached the final exercise in the beginners level, which has taken me six months, I thought now would be a good time to write a review of this excellent book. If you're like me and want an exercise programme you can do in your own time and space; that fits into your daily routine without the need to travel to a gym or loads of equipment to set up then Pilates is the answer. If you also share my suspicion of claims of a new body from a couple of ten minute sessions per week for a month or two it follows you will be seeking a no-nonsense, honest and clearly laid out method - Miranda Bass's book in my opinion is precisely that.
The introductory pages give you strong impression of the reverence Miranda feels for Joseph Pilates legacy and the responsibility in teaching others, whether it be direct coaching or via a book. There is an equally strong impression that you're receiving information from someone who genuinely wishes you success but wants to emphasis that like all health and exercise regimes, there is no quick fix. To quote from 'about the author' pages, "many therapies advocate a 'letting go' of oneself in order to find freedom. I believe that freedom, especially to move, comes only through discipline and effort". This, I feel, is the key and this is just what I was looking for in a programme to follow and I have to say that my life has changed dramatically in the six months since I started.
After the introductory chapters, you are given practical advice about clothes to wear, buying a mat, using mirrors, health considerations before starting etc. and then onto becoming aware of your posture, bodyshape, and a thorough explanation of the importance of you lower abdominals, back, alignment and breathing before starting the exercises proper.
These are colour keyed into beginners, intermediate and advanced. A very clever touch is the fact that some of the beginners exercises are 'easier' variations of the same in the intermediate and advanced levels that frankly would be dangerous for an unfit person to carry out. This means of course that when you reach these exercises you're already proficient in the basic moves and breathing and just have to concentrate on a change of arm or leg position for example. At each step of the way you always have clear instructions and pictures - some of which are sequenced - and invaluable 'check points' to emphasise the particular areas of importance in each exercise and how your body will try and cheat when faced with challenge and effort!
As I'm exercising alone, I've supplemented this book with one of Lynne Robinsons' DVDs (Body Control 9) so I can check the speed at which Pilates exercises in general are carried out - and I was very pleased to find I'm doing everything spot on! All credit to Miranda Bass's prose style.
In conclusion, of all the Pilates books on the market I doubt you can find better than this; the title is accurate - The Complete Classic Pilates Method; allied to no-smoking, a healthy diet, and little or no booze, your body deserves this book!