Pilates

Published 05-20-2002

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.