Pilates for Beginners

by Kellina Stewart

Book Overview

An easy-to-follow, stand-up guide to 30 of the most popular Pilates exercises, each designed to streamline and tone your body. There is no need to use Pilates equipment, and the program is suitable... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Spiral-bound
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006039403X
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Avon A
• Length: 95 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

great book

my wife and I have enjoyed this book very much, and it has really helped my back. Mike Wallace.

Very good book

Before I start my review, let me tell you there is another book on the market that is identical to this, just a different cover, it is called Pilates at Home and sells for more. They are the exact same book, just with a different publisher and a different title, so beware. The beginning of the book starts of by providing an overview of what Pilates is, how it works, the basic principles behind the exercise program, and how to complete the exercises safely and effectively. The rest of the book is divided up into the Basic Program which is especially for beginners, the Main (beginner & intermediate) Program, and an Optional Program with more advanced moves with weights. Even though the book is labeled as a beginners guide, it does include intermediate exercises as well so this is something to keep in mind. The design of the book is very functional. The book can either be placed at eye level and stand up easel-style, or put beside your mat for quick reference. Then you simply flip to the beginning of the Pilates workout and follow the step-by-step explanations of each exercise along with the colorful photographs. Each page is a different exercise, which makes the workout easy to accomplish since you only have to flip the pages between exercises. The book contains guidelines that suggest when you should adjust your level of difficulty including descriptions of how to do so. Other useful information that the book provides includes general health advice, cautions against physical injuries, and modifications for each exercise so that they can be completed safely. All in all, Pilates for Beginners is a great book for those who have never before experienced Pilates and are purchasing the book as a self-teaching tool. It's a great alternative for those who cannot afford expensive private lessons with a Pilates instructor or group classes. Pilates can be a difficult program to learn on your own, but this book comes highly recommended as one of the best self-teaching Pilates guides on the market. The author of the book, Kellina Stewart, is a professional Pilates instructor who learned about the Pilates Method from Romana Kryzanowska who was trained directly from Joseph Pilates himself. Another great book to get for your Pilates Library would be The Complete Guide to Joseph H. Pilates' Techniques of Physical Conditioning: With Special Help for Back Pain and Sports Training by Allan Menezes, it is very indepth and leaves nothing out. Mr. Menezes, I found out has the dvds to go with the book. Every exercise that is in the book is on the dvds. There cheap, and if you need indepth instruction I would get these. You won't waste much money and get good instruction on every part of pilates. Hope this helped.

Perfect for beginners

The book "Pilates for Beginners" is just what it says. It is a great way to start, for someone who has never been exposed to this type of exercise. The book even gives you two ways to do the Pilates, one is the regular correct way, and the other is an abbreviated easy way. Perfect for beginners. It has pictures, easy description, everything.

Highly recommended!

Very well thought through. Easy to follow and understand.Clear instructions. Exercises flow one into another as you turn the pages, for a good pilates home session.

Exceptionally well done!

Although I have practiced yoga for many years, I am new to Pilates. I am not someone who likes to go to classes, but I can't afford private lessons, so I have been looking at a lot of books to see which would be best for self-teaching Pilates. This has been challenging, because Pilates stresses precision, which is a difficult feat to accomplish on one's own. This is a unique book, as it is spiral-bound and stands up easel-style so it's easy to use and refer to during practice. The photographs are large, in color, crisp, clear, and very well done. There are visualizations and tips with each exercise and techniques for flowing one exercise into the next. The Beginner's program (the book is not just for beginners, despite the title, but it is probably too introductory for the advanced student) has a fair amount of detail, yet not so much that it confuses the reader. It is informative without being overly didactic, and answers a number of "how to" questions that are not even addressed in other books. As I embark on my Pilates journey, THIS is the book I will be keeping by my side. Highly recommended!