Product Description

Product Description:
Pilates is enjoying a surge in popularity as more people discover the way it improves strength, muscle tone, flexibility, and stamina; relieves joint and back pain; and reduces stress. The method, created by Joseph Pilates, is based on strengthening core muscles while increasing the flexibility of the supporting muscle groups. This book details Pilates' original floor program, with newly revised descriptions and step-by-step photos of the exercises. This new edition contains information on daily living patterns that can disrupt the body's biomechanics; back-strengthening routines for sports like golf, tennis, and racquetball; exercises for computer users - upper back, neck, and shoulder routines; more advanced versions of the original exercises; and the stamina stretch, to increase breathing capacity and support abdominals before each exercise. In addition, the book offers an introduction to the history and philosophy of the Pilates system, information specifically for athletes, a chapter addressing pain relief, and helpful illustrations and worksheets.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #706703 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From the Author
This book is a big leap from the first edition. The first book was great as it was used as an instructors manual in both the USA and the UK before pilates found its current popularity. There were many new things to the Pilates industry mentioned for the first time, such as 4 breathing rules, formulas for posture, etc.
This edition has even more! There is the new Stamina Stretch - how to improve your lung capacity (a gauge of your fitness level) by 20% in just 3 minutes; The Aussie Pilates Core on how to REALLY alleviate back strain during everyday movement; How to feel your abs connecting BEFORE you even start the movement therefore making the abs work harder during the movement! And much more. This book is more specific that the last and we have 13 new DVDs to go with it. I hope you enjoy its contents. Please add your own comment to the list.

From the Inside Flap
"This book offers a thourough, in-depth guide to the Pilates exercises" Pilatesinsight.com

"This is a very comprehensive book. It covers around 200 Pilates exercises. The introductory chapters are inspiring especially for anyone who experiences pain. Allan Menezes, the author, experienced a great deal of pain himself and seems to truly understand how to help people work with and thorugh their pain... The introductory helps with an understanding of the method behind the movements and the conclusion chapters actually offer some information that is a must..." Pilates Fitness Journal.

From the Back Cover
Comprehensive and easy to follow, this original Pilates bestseller produces real results. It includes three levels of workouts and six routines that provide something for every person who wants the strength, flexibility, fitness and pain relief that have made pilates workouts so popular.
Pilates exercises offer a complete fitness system.

Special features of this book:
A thorough introduction to the history and pholosophy of Pilates' techniques;
detailed descriptions of 115 pilates exercises in basic, intermediate and advanced routines;
176 step-by-step photographs illustrating the exercises;
a special chapter on pain relief for back, knee, hips, shoulders, ankles and feet;
a special section for athletes, with strength-building and flexibility exercises.
This new edition includes special sections on
1 The Stamina Stretch
2 The B-Line Core
3 How to change the way you walk to prevent back pain
4 Back strengthening routines for sports like golf, tennis and racquetball
5 upper body exercises for computer users.

Use this book as your personal training manual as you explore your fitness potential to the fullest