Product Description

This Millenium Edition includes the only two published works of Joseph Pilates. Newly copyrighted, edited and revised, this book makes available in one volume all of his early Twentieth Century philosophies, principles, and theories about health and fitness, as well as the exercises, poses, and instructions fundamental to his exciting fitness program. He bases his work on the concept of a balanced Body and Mind and on the approach espoused by the early Greeks.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13418 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 158 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781928564003
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From the Back Cover
This Millenium Edition includes the only two published works of Joseph Pilates. Newly copyrighted, edited and revised, this book makes available in one volume all of his early Twentieth Century philosophies, principles, and theories about health and fitness, as well as the exercises, poses, and instructions fundamental to his exciting fitness program. He bases his work on the concept of a balanced Body and Mind and on the approach espoused by the early Greeks.

Joseph Pilates has been nothing short of revolutionary in his impact on the world of fitness and exercise. You will learn in this book his observations and conclusions about people's approach to physical fitness. He describes the results of decades of scientific study, experimentation and research into the variety of troubles and ills that upset the balance of body and mind. You will also learn every single one of his original 34 mat exercises taught to his own students.

Living testimony to the validity of his own teachings, Joseph Pilates shares in these writings his fundamental tenets of posture, body mechanics, correct breathing, spinal flexibility, physical education, and his law of natural exercises. It is a fascinating look into Pilates' original thinking and represents the foundation of an entire discipline embraced by fitness enthusiasts, health educators, and exercise trainers around the world.

About the Author

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
INTRODUCTION to the MILLENNIUM EDITION

by Judd Robbins and Lin Van-Heuit Robbins Certified Trainers in The Matwork Developed by Joseph and Clara Pilates

This new printing of Joseph Pilates' original 1934 and 1945 works retains the original photographs and step-by-step poses and accompanying instructions. While some of the latest research in the fitness world might suggest caution when performing some of these poses and exercises, the overall program of exercises developed at the turn of the 20th Century remains astoundingly effective and beneficial for fitness enthusiasts in the 21st Century.

As with all exercise programs, you should consult your doctor before commencing to follow any or all of the exercises and poses presented in this book. The overall impact of Joseph Pilates' exercises can be extraordinarily beneficial to anyone suffering from a variety of physical weaknesses. However, the exercises are most effective when presented to beginners by a trainer who has studied the matwork instructions as well as the fundamental physiological and biomechanical aspects of the body so analytically coordinated into the exercises by Joseph Pilates.

Joseph Pilates preached the benefits of a perfect balance of body and mind. He coupled his own gymnastics and martial arts background with a keen analytical approach to body mechanics, posture, and correct breathing. When we began to experience his recommendations for exercises, postural modifications, and breathing mechanisms, we truly began to feel like converts. Both of us are certified by the PhysicalMind Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the matwork originally developed by Joseph and Clara Pilates. We've read and use the principles offered in many fitness books, from yoga to stretching to strength training. Joseph Pilates created a truly effective combination of strengthening and stretching that can work well for virtually every body. With the right instruction and guidance, some or all of Pilates' recommendations can demonstrably improve anybody's health and fitness levels.

Customer Reviews

Great Basic Reader
This book is a great introduction for beginners and will teach pilates veterans a thing or two. It focuses on the body, mind and personal aspects of finding the perfect pilates workout and understanding how each element of the prgram works. This book is alone enough to teach you about pilates and assist you with your home or gym pilates routine. Pilates is not easy - it takes focus and discipline but the mental spiritual and physical results beat any other exercise program out there. This book will help you help yourself.

Pleased to see the real Pilates
This book is helpful for one reason - it's the real Pilates and you actually get to see his photo. So many people jumped on his bandwagon, rennovated his moves, and polished the picture, that it was nice to see what the man was actually talking about. Instead of one book, you get two short books. The first is Pilates' Return to Life Through Contrology (published in 1945; 95 pages) where he describes 34 exercises with 4 photos each (old B&W) and complete step by step written instructions. This is the part of the book that I used to compare with the modern day Pilates video I purchased. Only some of his exercises were included in the video as I suspected, and it was nice to see them all which is the reason I bought the book. I still use the video because I got used to the routine, but I plan :) to start incorporating his other exercises. The second short book (60 pages) is "Your Health" and describes his philosophy of health mixed in with a few real old photos of exercises. I did not get as much out of this part (published in the 1934 mindset), except for the fact that breathing means keeping the belly in instead of out like a balloon (yoga style). After all, if you don't work the muscles around the abdomen to "go in," they "go out," and that's the real gist. Thank you Pilates for teaching us about working the "core," because I can really feel the difference. The killer is that Pilates is easier than crunches, and it's the ONLY thing that really works the abs and makes them feel flat.

Always go to the source
I am new to Pilates, but have an extensive background in yoga and other fitness endeavors. I thought it was well worth the purchase price of this book to read Joseph Pilates' own words on his exercise system.

It provided great insight, that is timely even today, more than fifty years later. Some of the material (especially in the second part of the book), is very dated, and modern science can refute some of his claims (i.e. the straight spine), but overall the book shows that Pilates was, as he himself suggested, "fifty years ahead of his time".

It is well worth seeing what the original system was envisioned to be by the creator, and then choosing an instructor who teaches from this foundation.