Pilates For Dummies

A user-friendly guide that teaches you the origins and philosophy of the Pilates method and helps you set realistic fitness goals and custom tailor a program Once the secret fitness weapon of professional dancers, athletes, and movie stars, Pilates is sweeping the country and becoming more popular than ever. If half of what its many fans claim is true, then it’s easy to see why. Combining elements of yoga, dance, gymnastics, and boxing, along with many original movements, Pilates exercises build muscle tone, improve flexibility and balance, lengthen the spine, increase body awareness, and repair past injuries. Most people who’ve done it, even for a short time, say they feel stronger and more energized, centered, and physically confident than ever before. They also like having the flat tummies, tight buns, and long lean thighs of a dancer. Pilates For Dummies is your gentle introduction to the Pilates method without the high cost of private instruction. Packed with easy-to-follow exercises an plenty of photos, it helps you develop your own Pilates fitness program to do at home or in the gym and how to use eight basic Pilates principles to get the most out of your mat-based routines. With this practical guide by your side, you can: Look and feel better than ever Get stronger, more flexible, in control, and less prone to injury Target and tone problem areas Tone and strengthen your abs, buns, thighs, and arms Repair chronic stress and sports injuries Whether you’re just starting out with Pilates or know a few exercises and want to learn more, the book covers: Basic, intermediate, and advanced mat exercises How to use Pilates exercise equipment and accessories How to target specific areas of your body including the stomach, back, thighs, and chest Pilates for the pregnant and recently pregnant body How Pilates can help heal injuries and reform your posture The fun of combining Pilates with other forms of exercise, including yoga, swimming, aerobics, and more Additionally, you’ll learn simple ways to incorporate Pilates into your everyday life, changes you can expect to see from practicing Pilates, and questions to ask if you decide to join a Pilates studio or hire a Pilates instructor. Get your copy of Pilates For Dummies to start designing a Pilates fitness program just for you.

Provides an introduction to pilates, describing its six basic principles and presenting exercise sequences with different levels of difficulty.

A renowned instructor and author guides the reader step-by-step through photo sequences of specially designed exercises as well as variations on traditional Pilates movements.

Celebrity trainer and Pilates guru Brooke Siler teams up with the editors of Women's Health to offer a comprehensive, authoritative manual on this proven fitness philosophy. Trained by Joseph Pilates' protégé, Romana Kryzanowska, Brooke is an unparalleled expert and one of the most sought after teachers for her signature body re-shaping techniques. Combining the best of flexibility and strength training, Pilates is the path to the lean fit body every woman craves—and The Women’s Health Big Book of Pilates guides readers in every step (and leg lift … ) of the way. Using the body as the ultimate fitness vehicle, Pilates transforms bodies in record time. From moves targeting trouble zones to cardio circuits that blast fat all over, this go-to manual covers everything including: Tricks to incorporate Pilates at work, in travel, and daily routine What props best boost your workout and what to skip Pilates principles to help combat lower back pain, stress, low energy, and more! From basic mat moves to the right foods that fuel a lean, toned figure, The Women's Health Big Book of Pilates is the go-to guide for beginners and experts alike.

The Pilates® method may be today's hottest exercise, but it has been endorsed by physicians for almost a century. Originally developed by Joseph H. Pilates to help strengthen and condition muscles, Pilates is the ultimate mind-body exercise for anyone who wants to tone, streamline, and realign their body without the bulked-up results of more conventional workout methods. Now, in The Pilates® Body, author Brooke Siler--one of the most sought-after personal trainers in the country and owner of New York's top studio for Pilates training, re:AB--provides a complete, easy-to follow program of Pilates exercises that can be done anywhere, anytime, and without machines. With step-by-step instructions, Siler guides the reader through the complete circuit of mat exercises, each of which is clearly illustrated by photographs, line drawings, and unique visualization exercises. With Pilates you will not only streamline your figure--you will dramatically improve your posture, flexibility, and balance, and enhance your physical and emotional well-being. The Pilates Body shows you how.

If you want to shape up or lose weight, get on the ball! It’s inexpensive. It’s something you can do at home. It’s effective! However, unless you have a personal trainer, using the exercise ball correctly to get maximum results can be tricky. That’s where Exercise Balls For Dummies comes in. You’ll discover how to turn an ordinary workout into a super workout that builds strength, increases flexibility, and sculpts a great-looking body. The book includes: Step-by-step details on using exercise balls in your regular workout program Tips on selecting and maintaining equipment Illustrated exercises covering a complete muscle workout: shoulders and upper back; biceps, triceps, and forearms; chest abdominals and lower back; legs and hips: flexibility in general Specific applications for Pilates, weight training, stretching, and aerobic exercise Mat workout routines Admitted couch potatoes can start at the beginning; fitness fanatics can jump right in and integrate the exercise ball into their routines. Exercise Balls For Dummies was written by LaReine Chabut, a fitness model, actress, and writer who owns a women’s workout spa and stars in workout videos. Of course, she makes it look easy!

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 for all levels of fitness. Stand Pilates for Beginners at eye level or beside your exercise mat Turn to the beginning of the workout and follow the colorful step-by-step photographs and clearly captioned text Flip the page to begin the next exercise in the program Adjust the level of difficulty by following the guidelines provided Includes practical health advice, cautions, and suggestions for modifying the exercises to ensure complete safety