Product Description

Pilates body conditioning is today's fitness buzzword, and following the storming success of Lynne Robinson and Gordon Thomson's original 'Body Control: The Pilates Way', a variety of books have appeared - none as authoritative, practical, safe and geared towards solving your body's problems as this. 'How will Pilates help me?' is its keynote, so after explaining the fundamental Eight Principles through accessible, balanced core programmes come 'Pilates prescriptions' for your specific needs. With the growing support of many GPs, osteopaths and chiropractors, not to mention stars from screen, stage and sport, when you exercise with Pilates Body Control, you're in excellent company. From back pains, posture problems to prevention of common sports injuries and training your children to use their bodies properly, this is the one-stop reference.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5111 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Everything about this tome by the leading Pilates authorities is official, marking it out as a serious, in-depth guide to the fitness system which creates lean bodies through building muscle, tone and flexibility.

Unlike many fitness books (including yoga), there is nothing superficial, glamorous or intimidating about the visuals. Photos (from various angles) are cleverly backed up with extra diagrams where needed, plus illustrations of the relevant muscles. Instructions are simple and surprisingly easy to follow.

At first glance this might seem more like a teacher's manual. After a detailed introduction, it is divided into beginners, intermediate, advanced and prescriptions. On closer examination, with the huge emphasis on explanations of how different muscles work, and the level of detail, it is a cross between a medical and fitness handbook. Indeed to many the health benefits of Pilates will be an additional, welcome, surprise.

In the end, however, it is an indispensable health guide, appealing both to hard-core Pilates fans as well as newcomers. The final section (Prescriptions) on work, play, health and even the performing arts, provides simple and invaluable advice, and even if you have never been to a Pilates class, you can benefit hugely. You are unlikely to ever sit or stand the same way again with this book in your home! --Lorna V.

About the Author
Leading Pilates specialist Lynne Robinson works with Gordon Thomson, one of Britain's pre-eminent Pilates teachers with over 3 decades' experience. Helge Fisher runs two Body Control studios in Brighton and Body Control Pilates Austria. Jacqueline Knox is their consultant physiotherapist, who incorporates Pilates into her treatment. The Body Control Pilates network of teachers offers training and accreditation. Besides two London studios it is introducing Pilates to David Lloyd Fitness Centres nationwide and establishing centres abroad.

Customer Reviews

Still The Best
How Pilates has changed! When I bought Lynne's first book 'Pilates Way' four years ago, it was the first book of its kind focused on Pilates. It was a fantastic intro and I moved on to the Manual when it came out. Now, I've delved into three or four other Pilates books but I have to say that the Manual remains head & shoulders above everything else in terms of clarity, range of exercises - and common sense! If you only buy one book on Pilates, this has to be it!

If you only want one book, Buy this one
This book is excellent. It is written superbly, and is very easy to read and understand. The colourful pictures are very helpful and really help you to see how you should be performing the exercises.The focus throughout the book is to keep your abs "zipped and hollowed" no matter what exercise you are performing or for what part of the body. This book offers a wide range of Pilates exercises for each part of the body.The book is divided up into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Programmes which are very well thought out and each offers a good all round Pilates class. There is also a section addressing which exercises you should concentrate on for individual and sports specific problems. Although this book does not cover every single Pilates exercise, it is by far one of the most comprehensive and useful books I have seen so far. If you want to get into Pilates the correct way and are looking for a quick and easy reference book, this one has got to be it.

Great book, all you need from beg-intermed -- but repeats other books
A lot of good has been said about this book by previous reviewers, so I'll only agree with those glowing remarks and add one warning to owners of other Body Control Pilates books -- this book just cuts and pastes entire paragraphs and pages of info from the first book "Body Control" and "The Pilates Prescription for Back Pain" (which is just another title for the "Body Control Back Book").

Basically, Body Control are putting out the same (really great!) book with only a few updates and changes here and there (newer studies on engaging the pelvic floor before scooping & hollowing has replaced the old navel-to-spine only advice, for instance) -- and a lot better photographs and graphics.

So, if you own several other Body Control books, like I do, and aren't interested in fancy photography, you'll be disappointed here. But if you are new to their range of books and this is to be your first or only one -- go for it, you cannot do better, this Method is fantastic.