Pilates : The Way Forward Book

Once purely the domain of the rich and famous who could afford to fork out a fortune for lessons, Pilates has lately become one of the most popular forms of exercise, made accessible to Ordinary Joes by tutors like Lynne Robinson through books and videos. This excellent book makes the extremely effective, tried-and-tested Pilates techniques all the more accessible--and indeed, attractive--to anyone who simply loathes the idea of sweating and pumping the body into oblivion in order to attain a modicum of physical fitness. The introduction takes us back to basics, describing in simple terms how to wipe out all those bad habits that put stress and strain on the joints and muscles during exercise and explaining how the natural balance of the body can be restored by concentrating the natural girdle of strength by working the Transversus Abdominus--the deepest lying of the abdominal--to encourage improved strength, posture and stamina. Every exercise in the book is carefully described and includes all- important measures for avoiding strain. Coupled with clear, easy-to- follow photographs of every technique (which teach basic, intermediate and advanced levels of exercise) Pilates: The Way Forward provides even the novice with a sound understanding of how each technique should be performed for maximum effect, with workouts for either daily or weekly use. Deceptively simple, the combination of breathing and careful movement is an ideal form of exercise, suitable for everyone from the seriously clapped-out to the disturbingly taut, which guarantees fast results that improve the overall tone and shape of the body, lead to a newfound physical fitness, and it has the added benefit of promoting healthy relaxation in tired, stressed bodies. -- Susan HarrisonRead More