A basic-level guide to Pilates yoga is designed for practitioners at any fitness level and requires only a mat, chair, and towel or blanket, and guides readers through a series of linked moves that promote strength, toning, flexibility, balance, posture, and overall well-being. Reprint. 50,000 first printing.

Pilates benefits every body--including yours! Pilates is exercise for your mind, body, and spirit, but what if your body won't cooperate? How can you take advantage of all Pilates has to offer--strengthening your core, enhancing your flexibility, and even improving your posture--if you think you're too old or too big or too physically unable to perform the Hundred, the Shoulder Bridge, or the Double-Leg Stretch? No matter what your age, size, or physical ability is, you can do every exercise in Pilates for Everyone. Each Pilates exercise shows the typical movements for gaining the physical and mental benefits from that exercise. Then each exercise offers at least three variations performed by people just like you to help you find the right modification that fits who you are. This way, no matter which version you perform, you're going to reach similar goals. Pilates for Everyone includes these features: -50 step-by-step exercises for specific body areas -Step-by-step modifications for every exercise -10 routines that combine exercises from the book for maximum benefits -Expert advice from Micki Havard on how to get the most out of your practice

Pilates Illustrated is your guide to lengthening and strengthening muscles while improving posture, flexibility, and balance. Renowned instructor Portia Page shows you how to perform the essential movements, exercises, and mat work routines. You’ll also learn to incorporate equipment, such as a stability ball, stretch band, and Pilates ring, to isolate muscles for targeted results. Pilates Illustrated’s straightforward, highly visual approach and 13 predefined routines (including those for perfecting posture, low back care, morning energy, evening relaxation, and total-body strength) offer the quickest, and most effective way to experience the physical and mental benefits of Pilates. Throughout you’ll also find execution cues, modifications, and variations allowing you to immediately perform each exercise regardless of experience or skill level. With detailed instructions and hundreds of full-color photos, Pilates Illustrated will accompany you step by step on the path to improved health, strength, flexibility, energy, and relaxation. This is the exercise guide that you will turn to time and time again.

This book teaches the basics of the Pilates method of fitness, a whole body workout that strengthens the abs and back and straightens the posture. Practiced worldwide by dance companies, physical therapists, and health clubs, the method is especially good for pregnant women, for people who have special fitness needs because of chronic back pain, joint stress, or obesity, and for anyone wishing to prevent osteoporosis.

Presents illustrated, step-by-step instructions--over five hundred color photos--for pilates exercises designed to strengthen and tone muscles, improve flexibility, reduce stress, and provide other benefits, and points out common mistakes.

All you need is a mat to reap the benefits of pilates. There's no excuse not to begin your at-home pilates practice! The book takes readers through the complete sequence of Pilates Mat exercises with photos and step-by-step instructions. Formal Pilates classes are enormously beneficial; however, they are also very expensive. Using The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Pilates on the Mat, readers can practice Pilates Mat exercises on their own--without all the expensive and intimidating equipment found in the studio or gym. Pilates is a fitness phenomenon that's been around for nearly 100 years. Through a series of strength and stretching exercises, it builds core body strength, improves posture, relieves pain, alleviates symptoms of serious chronic diseases, and has a positive impact on all of the vital systems--all while building a connection between the body and the mind. Along the way, fitness expert Karon Karter gives readers: • A Pilates primer: how and why the method works on every body, inside and out. • Basics for better breathing and posture. • Safe instruction for flexing toward your healthiest self. • Expert advice on Pilates Mat exercises and using simple equipment, such as the Magic Circle. • Poses and postures to increase range of motion, bone density, respiration, circulation, and muscle control. • Exercises for toning muscles and melting fat, making the body look lean, healthy, and younger.

Gain the competitive edge with the innovative training methods in Pilates and Conditioning for Athletes. This science-based, multidimensional approach to athletic conditioning helps you build a strong and flexible foundation by infusing Pilates into training, resulting in complete training programs that tap into the seven pillars of training needed for success: Agility Flexibility Mobility Power Speed Stability Strength Begin with proven assessment protocols that have helped elite and professional athletes reach the pinnacle of their careers and remain there. Evaluate your movement patterns, range of motion, strength base, flexibility, and core strength to determine your baseline and guide your selection of exercises and sequences to turn weaknesses into strengths. Then follow detailed instructions for 124 Pilates mat and traditional conditioning exercises to strengthen your core, improve your posture, increase flexibility, and correct muscle imbalances. You will learn the following: Breathing exercises to increase lung capacity and reduce stress Stretching routines to open your hips, hamstrings, and back Joint articulation to improve range of motion and balance Resistance training for strength and power Medicine ball training for working in diagonal and transverse planes A dynamic warm-up series to begin each training session You can take the confusion out of your training plan by adding one or more of the 19 foundational, intermediate, and sport-specific workouts to help you achieve your performance goals. Successful athletes never leave their training to chance: Every workout is planned, every exercise is done for a specific reason, and each movement and program builds upon the previous one. Whether you are a weekend warrior, a college or professional athlete, or a 70-year-old triathlete, Pilates and Conditioning for Athletes will help you incorporate Pilates training to become a stronger, faster, healthier, and better-equipped athlete. Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes both the book and exam.

Comprehensive and easy-to-follow, this original Pilates best-seller produces real results. It includes three levels of workouts and six routines that provide something for every person who wants the strength, flexibility, fitness and pain relief that have made Pilates workouts so popular. Pilates exercises offer a complete fitness system. They combine key elements of yoga and bodywork with original techniques that strengthen the "core" muscles of the torso while increasing flexibility throughout the body. Rather than building bulk, the techniques create sculpted muscles, reduce stress and increase energy. Special Features of this Book * A thorough introduction to the history and philosophy of Pilates' techniques * Detailed descriptions of 115 Pilates exercises in basic, intermediate and advanced routines * 176 step-by-step photographs illustrating the exercises * A special chapter on pain relief for back, knees, hips, shoulders, ankles and feet * A special section for athletes, with strength-building and flexibility exercises This New Edition Includes Special Sections on * The Stamina Stretch-to increase breathing capacity and support core abdominal muscles * The B-Line Core-to give support for routines, a trimmer waist and relief from back pain * How to change the way you walk to prevent back pain and tension headaches * Back-strengthening routines for rotational sports like golf, tennis and racquetball * Upper-body exercises for computer users Most Pilates books don't address the different needs of beginners, advanced practitioners and athletes-but this book is different. Written by a former top college athlete, it can be used by both beginners and instructors to complement sports-training programs. The exercises are also perfect for people who simply want to get in shape. Use this book as your personal training manual as you explore your fitness potential to the fullest!