Pilates Practice Companion

Book excerpt: Pilates has become a worldwide phenomenon with over 12 million people practicing, and the numbers continue to grow. Pilates exercises build muscle tone, improve flexibility and balance, lengthen the spine, increase body awareness, and repair past injuries, helping people to feel stronger and more energized, centered and physically confident. Pilates Practice Companion is the one-stop guide for Pilates novices as well as those hoping to consolidate what they already know. The book is accessible and user-friendly, with a warm, reassuring tone. With beautiful specially commissioned step-by-step photography and clear instructions on each exercise, as well as key features, such as annotated photographs of common faults and a list of the physical and mental benefits of each exercise, the book demonstrates how to practice Pilates without costly classes and equipment. The exercises are separated into chapters - beginner, intermediate, and advanced-allowing readers to focus on the exercises that are relevant to them and to progress at their own pace. At the end of each of these chapters, there are specially devised programs of Pilates exercises of 20-, 40- and 60-minutes each, letting readers pick and choose depending on the time available. This book offers a more holistic approach to Pilates than other Pilates books. A chapter on The Benefits of Pilates gives a fascinating overview of the ways that Pilates can maintain or restore the health of the body. With the help of specially commissioned anatomical drawings, it explains how Pilates exercises work on and benefit everything from posture, flexibility and strength, to energy levels and integrating body and mind. The final chapter, Pilates Every Day, offers advice on how to use Pilates in all aspects of life-at work, for winding down, and for rehabilitation, for example. It also includes advice on healthy eating, helping readers to make better food choices to feel more energized and balanced. Pilates Practice Companion is an accessible, authoritative and inspiring resource to guide people of all abilities in their practice of Pilates.