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.

A comprehensive, take-anywhere exercise program designed to improve men's strength, flexibility, balance, and postureHave years of office work wreaked havoc on your posture? Could your tennis or golf game use a boost? Do you appear or feel older than your age? Or do you carry yourself in a manner that expresses strength, power, and peak performance to everyone around you?In recent years, Pilates has become a popular exercise program, especially among women. Many books on the subject show lithe female bodies stretched across their covers. Top Pilates instructor Daniel Lyon Jr. aims to break the preconception that Pilates only benefits and appeals to women. "This couldn't be further from the truth," he asserts. "Joseph Pilates was a cigar-smoking boxer, acrobat, and gymnast, and he developed his exercise program from that background for men first." Likewise, Lyon designed this book specifically with men in mind, as the number of male Pilates practitioners -- among them professional athletes, actors, businessmen, and other high-profile personalities -- has rocketed to about three million and continues to grow.For athletes, working stiffs, and men recovering from injuries, Lyon offers the first comprehensive exercise program of its kind. He walks you through forty "traditional mat" exercises and more than sixty "reformer on the mat" exercises -- each one brilliantly illustrated -- in an inspiring self-guided program that adapts to all experience levels and requires nothing more than floor space, an exercise mat, and the desire to look and feel your best. Using the Pilates method of engaging the strongest parts of the body, or the "powerhouse" (Joseph Pilates's term for the abdominals, hips, lower back muscles, and buttocks), and integrating all other body parts from this core, Lyon's program targets trouble spots for men and helps them achieve strong, lean, masculine physiques.The Complete Book of Pilates for Men will deliver quick and long-term results to any man who seeks optimal fitness and a competitive edge in all aspects of his life.

BalleCore is unique in that it combines three tried-and-true disciplines into one optimal workout. Pilates strengthens and stretches the major muscles, activates your core (the band of muscles below your chest), and energizes your body. Hatha yoga helps quiet the mind through breath, fortifies the nervous system, builds stamina, and produces mental equilibrium. Ballet increases blood flow, develops poise, promotes good posture, and improves balance.Fitness dynamo and faculty member of the Boston Ballet for the past seven years, Molly Weeks is the woman behind BalleCore. She has chosen an array of effective exercises from each of these three disciplines to create a fulfilling workout that can easily be done in your own home and in under an hour. The results?• Reduce backaches and stress• Develop stature, support the spine, and feel steady on your feet• Sculpt your arms, legs, hips, and core–and look trimmer than ever• Loosen those tight spots in the shoulders, neck, and joints• Gain an incredible sense of ease throughout your body• Experience inner calm, self-confidence, and renewed optimismWith step-by-step instructions and profusely illustrated with helpful photographs, The BalleCore Workout® is the ultimate path to good health, longevity, and mind/body wellness. Remember: 50 minutes a day can change your life!

Because of its emphasis on focused breathing, gentle stretching, and precise technique, Pilates is an ideal exercise program for expectant mothers. By following the clear explanations and photo sequences in this special lay-flat binding of Pilates Workbook for Pregnancy, readers will train and strengthen the body’s core muscles — without risking harm to mother or unborn child. Strengthening these muscle groups helps ease labor and aids in swift recovery after pregnancy. Pilates Workbook for Pregnancy uses original Pilates matwork techniques to create a program designed specifically for pregnant women. Appropriate for future mothers at all levels of proficiency, the book offers three versions of each Pilates movement: easy, for those with little exercise experience prior to pregnancy; moderate, for those who are fairly active; and challenging, for those who already practice Pilates.

A full color exercise workbook that uses Pilates exercises to prepare the body for successful natural birthing. This book is written by a Pilates Master teacher and certified doula and offers information on the exercises that are both safe and beneficial for birth preparation. Included are sections on the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy as well as tips on breathing and relaxation as tools for labor and delivery. Carolyne Anthony has inspired many instructors around the world with her vision of educating women about the benefits of birthing naturally. She has done this through the medium she understands the best- exercise. Her experience as a Pilates instructor and professional dancer coupled with her training as a birth doula have made this a must read book for both pilates teachers and pregnant women.

Target and tone your post-pregnancy trouble zones. Every new mother struggles to lose those extra pounds, regain her energy, and cope with the stresses of motherhood. Karrie Adamany, a mother and Pilates instructor, explains how Pilates is uniquely able to address the problem areas for women after they give birth, with its attention to strengthening and toning "the core"-the abdominal muscles, lower back, and buttocks-while also relieving tension and balancing mood. With a straightforward and friendly voice of experience, Adamany guides new moms through four fitness stages after pregnancy with unique workouts that help restore the body after giving birth; melt away excess weight; tone and strengthen ab, butt, and thigh muscles; renew strength and energy; and relieve common aches and pains. She even shows women how to take their training off the mat by providing Pilates-inspired tips for carrying a baby, breast-feeding positions, and improving posture while working or doing housework. The Post-Pregnancy Pilates Book can help any mom get her body into even better shape than it was before pregnancy.

Exercise is critical to a healthy pregnancy and delivery—but it can be hard to find an exercise regime that it tailored to your changing body and safe for you and baby. Pilates for Pregnancy will keep you fit, toned, and flexible and improve posture and joint strength—which is incredibly important as your baby grows. Offering exercises based on every stage of pregnancy, this special regimen will train and strengthen your muscles, helping to avoid the aches, pains, and complications that typically come with pregnancy and childbirth. Based on the latest medical guidelines, you can be assured that this is the safest, most effective, and most enjoyable exercise method for attaining a healthy and happy pregnancy.

The Women's Health Big Book of Pilates: The Essential Guide to Complete Mind/Body Fitness...

Though she yearns for her pre-pregnancy figure, a new mother has little time to devote to exercise; attending to the needs of a newborn is a full-time job. A revolutionary postnatal fitness program, Pee Wee Pilates gives new mothers what no other fitness program or book has to date: a quick and proven method they can do at home to whip their postpartum body gently back into shape and enrich their babies at the same time. Pilates targets the areas most affected by pregnancy (abdomen, hips, lower back, and buttocks), so new moms will get results fast without having to leave homes or carve out huge chunks of time. Simultaneously, because the baby is incorporated into the Pilates movements, women get to enjoy a loving and fun interaction with their babies. Unlike other mother/baby fitness programs, however, baby is far more than just a prop; the exercises in Pee Wee Pilates are designed specifically to help foster a little one's development and attachment to mother. Developed by one of New York City's leading Pilates teachers, Pee Wee Pilates promises to be the hot new "baby and me" exercise program for new mothers everywhere.