Thin-but-fit supermodels like Amber Valletta and Shalom Harlow and actresses like Ally McBeal's Courtney Thorne-Smith and Liv Tyler swear by Pilates workouts to keep their figures toned and flexible. The Pilates Body is the latest in a string of books dedicated to this fitness program, which is now soaring in popularity nearly 100 years after it was first developed by Joseph Pilates in Germany in the early 1900s. While today's Pilates studios take advantage of patented and intimidating-looking equipment that costs thousands of dollars (and therefore charge accordingly for private sessions), each exercise in The Pilates Body can be performed with just an exercise mat. While all parts of the body are used in the exercises, the focus is on the abdominals, or "powerhouse," which support the back; this makes Pilates an ideal exercise for those with back problems--or those hoping to prevent them.

Author Brooke Siler, who trained with Romana Kryzanowska, the oldest living protégé of Joseph Pilates, organizes her book impeccably. After discussing proper alignment and ways to modify the exercises for those with neck, knee, or lower back pain, she jumps right into the 60-plus exercises, which are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. What differentiates Siler's book from the other Pilates titles is that she includes a disclaimer about the models: "The models in this book have been training in the Pilates method for years. Although their bodies may seem to represent an unrealistic ideal for many, they have worked hard to achieve their fitness goals. I hope in earnest that they do not intimidate but inspire." Also, each exercise is given a two-page spread of its own, and is accompanied by clear photographs and helpful graphics. For example, for the "inner-thigh lifts," there's an illustration suggesting that you imagine a stack of books on the lifting leg to help you increase resistance. Each exercise also includes what Siler calls "The Inside Scoop," or tips she's learned from training hundreds of clients. These include the main goal of the exercise; simple modifications for beginners; important keys to remember while doing the move; and no-nos to prevent injury. While it's important to concentrate and get the technique of each exercise down, Siler's book is perfect for anyone looking for a simple exercise program that promises results, requires a minimum of time, and can be done at home or while traveling. --Erica Jorgensen

In this remarkable new program, Pilates instructor Brooke Siler once again revolutionizes the world of Pilates, reinventing how and where Pilates is performed, to take your fitness to a whole new level. Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, Your Ultimate Pilates Body Challenge takes a fresh approach to Pilates, challenging readers to rethink the way they move and to incorporate Pilates-conscious movements into every aspect of life:

At the Gym: Siler takes you through a fun, rapid-fire circuit of machines that gets and keeps you in your cardio target zone. For the first time ever, you will learn how to use powerful Pilates techniques to maximize your workouts on standard gym equipment (StairMaster, treadmill, stationary bike, etc.).

At Home: Siler steps up the at-home basics by applying Pilates’ principles to work with weights, bands, and non-accoutrement-based exercises.

On the Mat: As so many readers and clients have requested, Siler has created four brand-new mat routines specifically to target abs, lower body, posture, and flexibility, and designed to take experienced practitioners and beginners alike to new levels of body-sculpted accomplishment.

Sports: Siler offers insight into secrets of the world’s best athletes, explaining how to move with Pilates form in individual and team sports. With core strength created in Pilates you can hit better golf shots, ski with less fatigue than ever before, and bring more power to your tennis game.

Everyday Life: Using her trademark “Invisible Workout,” Siler shows you how incorporating Pilates-based awareness and movements into everyday activities—such as restocking the pantry, working at the computer, climbing stairs, or picking up the baby—can tone and strengthen your body.

You will be amazed at how much better you feel when your carriage, breathing, posture, and movements are done Pilates-style. This dynamic book shows how Pilates can actually be the basis for total-body transformation—by simply challenging you to get the absolute most out of everything you already do.

The Anatomy of Pilates is the best book out there for the serious pilates practitioner, and believe me I have read them all. Its copius detail is comprehensive and well organized. It covers the anatomy and biomechanics behind pilates, which are essential to proper isolation and coordination of muscles and movements. Explanations bridge the language of medical professionals, trainers, and clients so that you can talk easily about the same issues to anyone you meet. The 16 Fundamentals are the basis for every other pilates exercize there is; if you can master and understand these you can do anything, and teach anything. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Welcome to the PowerHouse Institute Reformer Manual for fitness professionals. Joseph Pilates states in his book, Your Health, written in 1920 "that this exercise will be what people want and need in the new millennium." Sure enough, the new millennium has arrived and Pilates is the newest fitness craze. Fitness professionals now find themselves challenged with learning these new techniques to meet the demands of their clients.
This manual was created to illustrate basic and intermediate reformer exercises in a fitness format for use in a group exercise class. Each exercise is broken down into categories from benefits to set up and movement. Safety prerequisites and cues are also included to enhance teacher skills. It is recommended that this manual is used in combination with formal Pilates training by the PowerHouse Institutes.

The most authoritative, step-by-step guide to Pilates available on the market.

Popular for decades with dancers, athletes, and celebrities, the Pilates Method is the perfect equipment-free workout for a stronger, leaner, fitter body. With great emphasis on precision and awareness, not only is Pilates great for the body, but for the mind as well. Using step-by-step mat-work exercises and a wide range of programs, from beginner to advanced, Pilate's Mind and Body is the only practical guide that shows you all of the proper steps to follow and how to avoid common mistakes in your conditioning.

Pilates is the fastest-growing trend in fitness today, with millions enjoying its muscle strengthening and body toning benefits. In this follow-up to her New York Times bestseller The Pilates Body, Brooke Siler provides a safe, effective, and personalized Pilates course for home or travel that allows readers to progress at their own pace, with a master teacher leading the way.

This unique, interactive kit contains:

• Two 70-minute-plus audio CDs containing eight complete classes
• 70 full-color instructional cards with photographs of each pose and breathing and techniques tips
• A 64-page workbook with a 20-page journal and a record-keeping section to track progress.

Brook Siler was hailed by Vogue as on of America's most sought after Pilates trainers. Author of the New York Times bestseller The Pilates Body, she is owner of the acclaimed re:AB® studio in New York City, where her clients have included Madonna, Liv Tyler, Amber Valletta, and many others. She studies under the tutelage of Romana Kryzanowska, Joseph Pilates' protege for more than 30 years, and now sits on the board of the Pilates Guild®.

A comprehensive, take-anywhere exercise program designed to improve men's strength, flexibility, balance, and posture Have years of office work wreaked havoc on your posture? Could your tennis or golf game use a boost? Do you appear or feel older than your age? Or do you carry yourself in a manner that expresses strength, power, and peak performance to everyone around you?

In recent years, Pilates has become a popular exercise program, especially among women. Many books on the subject show lithe female bodies stretched across their covers. Top Pilates instructor Daniel Lyon Jr. aims to break the preconception that Pilates only benefits and appeals to women. "This couldn't be further from the truth," he asserts. "Joseph Pilates was a cigar-smoking boxer, acrobat, and gymnast, and he developed his exercise program from that background for men first." Likewise, Lyon designed this book specifically with men in mind, as the number of male Pilates practitioners -- among them professional athletes, actors, businessmen, and other high-profile personalities -- has rocketed to about three million and continues to grow.

For athletes, working stiffs, and men recovering from injuries, Lyon offers the first comprehensive exercise program of its kind. He walks you through forty "traditional mat" exercises and more than sixty "reformer on the mat" exercises -- each one brilliantly illustrated -- in an inspiring self-guided program that adapts to all experience levels and requires nothing more than floor space, an exercise mat, and the desire to look and feel your best. Using the Pilates method of engaging the strongest parts of the body, or the "powerhouse" (Joseph Pilates's term for the abdominals, hips, lower back muscles, and buttocks), and integrating all other body parts from this core, Lyon's program targets trouble spots for men and helps them achieve strong, lean, masculine physiques.

The Complete Book of Pilates for Men will deliver quick and long-term results to any man who seeks optimal fitness and a competitive edge in all aspects of his life.

First, I must say that this is a beautiful book. Each exercise is described in text and with a sequence of pictures. Exquisite care was taken to layout these photographs in a practical and eye-pleasing fashion. The small drawings of muscles are quite instructive -- in the style of _Anatomy of Movement_. Generous margins are available for notes and comments.

Coleen is clearly an expert in her field. She first describes the fundamental principles of Pilates, laying a foundation for transferring those principles to the Exercise Ball. The exercises are described in detail with pointers on how to perform them safely and effectively.
My only complaints about the book are small. The book lacks an index. Given the meticulous editing/layout of the rest of the book, I fondly hope this gets addressed in a future revision. Also, the book doesn't mention the well-respected Exercise Ball body of work that Paul Chek has created. Whether or not the author endorses that work, it deserves at least a mention in the "Resources" section of the book.
In any case, I think this is a landmark book -- and well-needed. Exercise balls are being massively marketed right now; there is a crucial need for instruction on how to use these devices safely and effectively. Providing these students with a well-grounded introduction to Pilates makes it all the better.

I've looked at many excercise books and I have found that the Pilates Back Book really stands out. What I like about it is that there are color pictures for every excercise, illustrating them step by step. Furthermore, the pictures aren't interrupted by writing, except for verbal descriptions of the exercise and how many times each one should be done. All of the writing about the benefits of pilates for your back and the Pilates method is in the beginning of the book. I don't do pilates consistently enough to notice changes in posture and other long-term benefits, but rather as a quick fix when my back hurts. I found that doing the exercises in the book helps my back when it is sore or tired.

Because there are so many exercises, you can pick which ones you can do if you have a health restriction like arthritis. There are plently of exercises for both beginners and people who are quite limber. I also recommend checking out pilates exercises on DVD/VHS, because sometimes it's easier to get the motivation to do exercises if you are watching someone else do them along with you.

One minus about the book is that it doesn't lay flat when it's opened, so it's hard to have it open and read while doing exercises at the same time.

Pilates is one of the fastest growing exercise trends. Now Ellie Herman, a renowned Pilates instructor and author, shows how to make Pilates more interesting and enjoyable. In this book, she introduces the reader to popular workout accessories that expand and amplify Pilates matwork exercises. This book details each prop's unique characteristics and explains how it can enhance Pilates in its own way: the magic circles tone arms, the small ball held between the legs shapes thighs, the foam roller stretches the chest and shoulders, and the large exercise ball builds core stability. The author guides the reader step by step through photo sequences of specially designed exercises as well as variations on traditional Pilates movements. Each series takes full advantage of the different props' abilities to produce results in less time and with less strain. A bonus chapter describes the author's Pilates Springboard, an inexpensive and space-saving variation of the classic Pilates Cadillac. This make-it-yourself piece of equipment provides the same full-body workout as large studio equipment but at a fraction of the cost.

Are you searching for the perfect fitness exercise system? This book is just what you have been looking for.

Working with classic Pilates, the exercise system pioneered by Joseph Pilates in the early years of the last century, Stefanie Powers has developed the perfect well-being and fitness solution for all those who want to get fit and stay that way. Her gentle program combines traditional Pilates with innovative movement patterns to work the body as a whole, giving you leaner, stronger and more efficient muscles. Powers Pilates addresses the whole body, using the smaller muscle groups often neglected in other exercise programs. As we connect mind, body and breath we become more centered and balanced. This process uplifts our spirits, creating true personal health.

• Learn classic Pilates, step-by-step, from inspirational expert celebrity Stefanie Powers.
• Stay young in body and mind with this enjoyable fitness system.
• Become fit and stay healthy with Stefanie Powers' personal Pilates program.
• Use it or lose it! Improve your athletic training regimen by adding Pilates. Live to the max in your later years.
• Incorporate Pilates into your post-injury exercises.
• Improve your overall strength and well-being with this highly respected fitness regimen, which is easy to learn and fit into your everyday life.

I am a pilates instructor and The Pilates Deck by Shirley Archer is one of the best resources I have found. The deck is perfect for beginners because it very clearly shows the basic body positioning for all exercises. I love that the Deck also includes a series of stretching postures and that it includes more advanced versions of the basic exercises so that the reader may progress. The explanations are succinct and the illustrations easy to emulate on the mat. I have wholeheartedly recommended The Pilates Deck to my students and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in pilates.

p.s. It's also small and light; easy to carry along in a gym bag!

Provides exercises perfectly designed to exercise the pelvic floor and stregthen the muscles supporting the spine, preparing the pregnant woman for the baby's birth...also highly suitable for use in months after giving birth

There's a photo of Joseph Pilates on the back cover of this book. He looks like a strapping young James Dean, with rippled abdominal muscles and defined--but not creepily large--quads, pecs, and biceps. He could pass for 30, but he was almost 60 years old when the photo was taken.

Pilates (Pi-LAH-teez) started an exercise program called Contrology, a low-impact series of hundreds of exercises designed to maximize abdominal strength while toning and increasing flexibility in the rest of the body. Once used primarily by professional ballet companies, the Pilates Method is now taught in major cities in 17 countries and is considered to be the world's fastest growing exercise program. Enthusiasts swear that for little effort--you're not very likely to break a sweat during class--the muscle-toning benefits are outstanding. The Pilates Method is especially useful for many people for relieving chronic back and joint pain. Some famous heavenly bodies rely on the Method, including newly buff Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna, Julia Roberts, Jessica Lange, and Sharon Stone. Dancers Martha Graham and George Balanchine were also devotees.

The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning was cowritten by Romana Kryzanowska, the last living disciple of Joseph Pilates. With more than 300 step-by-step photos of 70 exercises, it's a solid and safe introduction to the core exercises of the program. Most can be performed on an exercise mat, but some require special Pilates equipment, such as resistance springs, which can be ordered from the resources in the back of the book. If you'd rather not make the financial investment in the equipment, you'll still very much appreciate the dozens of pointers on posture, technique, and breathwork for use during classes. --Erica Jorgensen

I bought this book expecting it to be like most self help books, worthless. I was wrong! This book did an excellent job of explaining the workouts. I liked that she gave hints to make certain excerizes easier on beginers. I was also suprised to see results so fast! I got the book to help me tone my abs and after a week I could see my tummy coming in and feel myself standing up straight as my posture also improved! I am going on 3 weeks of doing the 10 min abs work out that is at the end of chapter 6 and it is doing wonders! I love pilates and I love this book! I recommend it to anyone who wants to look good, but not bulky like all the muscle-heads at the gym!