Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Book!
Review: This book is an excellent source for Pilates newcomers. I started Pilates at our local Family Y in September. I was only able to attend class once a week but thoroughly enjoyed it and wanted to continue learning at home so I bought this book as a supplement. It is awesome! It is easy to follow, has great pictures, and is straight forward. Our Family Y has a very good instructor but she is new at Pilates so this book has also taught me better positioning, technique, etc. You won't be disappointed in your purchase!
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Summary: The Prize of All Pilates Books
Review: I have found in my work as a physical therapist and fitness trainer that people need to supplement Pilates with strength training for other muscle groups besides the core/abdominal/trunk/back muscles (not to mention aerobic work at least a few times a week) for the best results, but nevertheless, Pilates is emerging as a favorite, especially among women, because you don't need a gym to do it. This book has surged to the front in Pilates books, deservedly so. Author Brooke Siler is the high-powered New York City disciple of Pilates, an equipment-free exericise program focusing mainly on strengthening the core muscles of the body in a precise way. She has created a fun, challenging, and versatile workout routine that doesn't need any equipment but a quiet room. The opening material engages you, psyches you up to go through the exercises. The illustrations, which combining photos, artwork, and imaginative use of font, clearly explain the nuances of almost one hundred different Pilates exercises. Even men, who might miss having something heavy to lift or throw or compete at, can get an intense workout from this book, and women will swear by this book as being all they need to learn Pilates.
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Summary: One of the Most Popular Books about Pilates
Review: From: Pilates Fitness Journal Review September 2003. www.pilatesfitnessjournal.com. This is one of the most popular books about Pilates and once you open it you will know why. The book covers extensive information and wonderful tips on the techniques behind the Pilates method. The Pilates method this book represents is the classical method, closely following the original work of Joseph Pilates. Romana Kryanowska, Joseph Pilates' protégé, trained Brooke Siler. Siler passes her knowledge on to you in her book that includes:
· Philosophies Behind the Pilates Methods of Body Conditioning
· The Matwork Principles
· Key Elements to Mastering Mat
· Frequently Asked Questions The exercises include illustrations and descriptions of
· Beginner
· Intermediate
· Advanced
· Advanced Extras
· Standing Arm Series with hand weights A unique and easy to follow technique is the use of different people for the different levels of exercise. So, as you flip through the book, you automatically know what level the exercise is by who is in the picture. The Exercise portion of the book starts with a modified beginner routine. Then it illustrates the full routine in thumbnail images so the reader gets a full sense of what the routine will be like. The rest of the book follows the original order of Joseph Pilates' work very closely. There are only a couple of exercise added and a couple removed. The best part of the book is the descriptions. The descriptions included a step by step guide, imaginative drawings to help with imagination, and great tips and cues to follow.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best
Review: This is one of the best Pilates books I've come across. It is easy to follow, easy to understand, and very thorough. Anyone who wants to start doing Pilates should read this book so that you can learn what the moves are about rather than just go through the motions.
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Summary: This is a complete reference for the mat
Review: This book was one of my textbooks for my training as a Pilates instructor. It is as complete a text as I have found for the traditional mat repertoire. It is well organized, and the exercises are graded according to difficulty. There are pretty good instructions for queuing. I can recommend this book to almost all levels of student other than people who are really deconditioned and would not be able to do a Pilates routine safely. For those students, I would recommend a book of pre-Pilates exercises like "Body Control: Using Techniques Developed by Joseph H. Pilates" by Lynne Robinson. The style of Pilates is NY. All exercises when supine are demonstrated with an imprinted spine. Within the Pilates world, there is debate about whether it is really necessary to do all supine work when the legs are in the air with an imprinted spine like Joe did. There have been some electro-myographic studies done which indicate that you take the proper coordination of the multifidous, psoas, and transversus abdominus out of the equation with an imprinted spine. It may be better in some exercises to get strong enough to do them safely with a neutral spine. This is a nit for instructors to pick, so don't let it get in the way of getting fit with Pilates.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent reference
Review: I have gone back to Brooke Siler's book time and again to refresh my memory regarding the basics of the Pilates mat program. Her explanations are clear, her models great and her "inside scoop" (exercise-specific hints) particularly helpful. I don't know that I could have gone it alone with only the book to guide me, but as an aid to homework from my (terrific) instructor, it's been wonderful. I have 2 quibbles with the product - there is no index to the exercises; if I have a question about a specific exercise it takes too much flipping through the book to find it. Also, the format prevents the book from lying flat for easy reference. If it had been issued in reinforced spiral bound it would have been much easier to use for ready reference. As it is the binding is going to split; I have copied many of the pages and put them into a looseleaf binder; it's more useful that way
Rating:
Summary: User Friendly, Comprehensive, Caring & Clear
Review: Brooke Siler has produced a well written, warm, friendly introduction to the world of Pilates mat exercises. I have taken classes in Pilates and explored a couple of other books, and I am convinced that Siler's is easily in the top five, and a worthy addition to any Pilates reference library. Some have complained that the directions and illustrations for the exercises are not as complete as they could be, but I say that this misses the overall style and teaching technique that she uses. The introductory section is lengthy and comprehensive, including directions for the proper technique and posture for all the Pilates moves, which is essential to doing the exercises effectively and safely. It also emphasizes Pilates' overall philosophy of doing the moves utilizing the whole bodily structure rather than isolating certain muscles for the exercises. There are also visualizations for each exercise and in certain instances where necessary (such as the "leg kick" series) she includes directions applicable to the entire series. Brooke Siler is dedicated to empowering the student as much as possible to be in charge of his/her own fitness and health, and that is the focus of the entire book, which is conceived and written with the sure hand of an experienced instructor. She includes interesting photos of Pilates himself (there is one in which, at age 82, he looks more fit than many men decades younger). Comprehensive illustrations for the exercises, friendly, thorough text with an inspiring, can-do attitude make this one of the finest additions to the Pilates information available today, and a book to be bought and used with confidence by beginner and experienced student alike.
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Summary: If you're prepared, this book's a winner!
Review: I bought this book several years ago, based on the rave reviews it earned on www.Amazon.com, and on my need for exercises to stabilize my bad back/trick hip. I found it difficult to follow, and nearly tossed out to the Goodwill, UNTIL...I bought some video instruction: Ana Caban's Pilates Intermediate Mat Workout, under the Gaiam label. Suddenly all was clear!
I've come to really appreciate Brooke Siler's book for the wonderful, complete reference that it is, presenting Pilates exercises in a form that stays close to what Joseph Pilates himself had in mind.
Pilates exercises are challenging, no doubt about it. But if I practice them regularly, my back and hip are pain-free and stable. And when my dance teacher notices how gracefully and efficiently I'm moving with regular Pilates practice, I'm happy and proud as well!
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Summary: jolaire
Review: This book is excellent because it goes over exactly what Pilates is, shows step by step photographs of each move. For beginners, intermediate, and advanced workouts.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful resource
Review: I bought this book on a whim because Pilates looked kind of interesting, but in fact I'm so glad that I did. Siler presents each exercise very clearly with detailed instructions, "no-no's", modifications, clear pictures, and a designation of "beginner", "intermediate", or "advanced" letting you choose which ones you're ready to tackle. Siler also uses imagery to help you picture the correct form in your mind; there's a clear correlation between this and one of Joseph Pilates philosophies, something that she discusses in some detail for a book that mainly details the exercises. This is something that I especially appreciated. I do not regret making this purchase.
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