Rating: 
Summary: Great approach, can't put it down!
Review: After many years of working out in traditional styles. It is refreshing to see an approach that not only tells us how to workout more efficiently, but why these exercises will do more than just build a lean muscular body. Starting with core conditioning, (physical as well as mental) the body has less barriers and much less chance for injury and illness. My mind is free, I am more aware of everything around me and I laugh along with Ilg as my ego moves aside and lets me get on with business.
Thanks Coach!
Brian Smallwood
Former Pro Mountain bike racer.
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Summary: He who seeks not the hard way seeks not the true way. Dogen.
Review: An outstanding contribution...Beyond the fitness format Ilg provides a resonant articulation of the connection between the bodily and the spiritual. Moreover, he avoids the temptation of presenting a "short-cut" approach to fitness, rather exhibiting both the need and the benefit of challenge. Additionally, the fact that Ilg has fully recovered from severe spinal and pelvic injury consummate his integrity. I cannot say enough positive things about Ilg, Total Body Transformation, or Wholistic Fitness altogether...P.s. - This review maybe a redundancy as I was uncertain if I transmitted it successfully the first time...
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Summary: Inspirational and Life Changing!!
Review: I love this book beyond words!
It has changed my life in so many ways.
Not just in the physical sense (although I am in the best shape I have EVER been in and have lost 20 pounds and wear a size 2 now), but also in the sense of giving me back parts of my life that I had lost! I had forgotten how to breath and just enjoy life! I had become so full of stress and anxiety and his form of yoga (as well as meditation and workouts) have brought me back to my easy going self again!
This book has opened up my mind, heart, and spirit!
Steve Ilg is a truly gifted and Blessed man and I can't thank him enough for coming out with a book like this that is so life changing in all the right ways!
I hope everyone gets the chance to read this beautifully written book, because you will walk away with a new and improved self!
God Bless to All!
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Summary: LIFE CHANGING BOOK
Review: I PICKED UP THIS BOOK BECAUSE I WANTED TO INCORPORATE YOGA INTO MY STRENGTH TRAINING ROUTINE. HAVING BEEN LIFTING PRETTY INTENSIVELY FOR A GOOD 10 YEARS, I BECAME STIFF AND MY FLEXIBILITY WASN'T GOOD. I FIGURED YOGA WOULD COMBAT THAT AND GIVE ME THAT SLEEK LOOK TO MY PHYSIQUE, RATHER THAN THE SQUATTY COMPACT LOOK GAINED FROM WEIGHT TRAINING W/O PROPER STRETCHING. NOW A GOOD 2 MONTHS INTO THE TRAINNG PROGRAM OUTLINED IN TBT I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER W/ THE RESULTS. I HAVE HAD GAINS IN STRENGTH AS WELL AS A MORE APPEALING OVERALL APPEARANCE LIKE NO OTHER TRAINING REGIME I USED IN THE PAST (10 YEARS WORTH!). I NOW WOULD CHOOSE A YOGA SESSION OVER STRENGTH TRAINING ANYDAY, WHICH IS AMAZING CONSIDERING HOW MUCH I WAS ADDICTED TO THROWING AROUND THE IRON (WHICH HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO IT FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE). I'D BE MISERABLE IF I DIDN'T GET TO LIFT WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO, BUT NOW I HAVE A NEW LOVE: YOGA. IT IS SO MUCH MORE CHALLENGING, AND BALANCING (PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY)THAN LIFTING. ANYWAY, ALL THAT IS FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT ON THEIR OWN WF JOURNEY. THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED BY STEVE ILG IS GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU AND IF YOU CAN LEARN TO STAND UP AND FACE IT, ULTIMATELY YOU WILL NOT ONLY BE IN FABULOUS SHAPE, YOU'LL BE A BETTER PERSON. IT'S ALL IN THE PAGES, TOO MUCH I CAN GO ON AND ON. BOTTOM LINE IT HAS OPENED MY EYES TO A WORLD OF PRACTICES THAT I HAVE BEEN NAIVE TO AND MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN WASTING MY TIME FOR 10 YEARS. THIS IS IT, GET IT AND START LIVING YOUR LIFE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
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Summary: ilg's no goof
Review: I've updated my review to respond to another reviewer. This reviewer accused Ilg of being a "goof looking to make a buck," claims that his cross-training advice isn't anything new, and tells everyone to get a book on Yoga, a book on strength training, do some cardio, and then design their own program.
Well, designing a cross-training program and then testing and refining it for 20 years as a personal coach for endurance athletes might be a snap for the earlier reviewer to do, but for the rest of us it ain't so easy.
I first became aware of Ilg in the late 80s, when a good friend picked up "The Outdoor Athlete," Ilg's first book. I then started noticing Ilg's name popping up all over, including the cover of Outside Magazine in the early 90's.
What Ilg has invented isn't the idea of cross-training, it's a framework for how to cross-train all year long so you don't injure yourself. If this program has carried rock climbers and mountain bikers to the top of their respective sports, what's it gonna do for me when I go on my next backpacking trip with my friends? Or my next x-c ski outing? Or my next century ride? I'm not a great athlete by any stretch, but I like feeling capable of turning in a decent performance in these outdoor sports.
Perhaps "eat with chopsticks" and "media fasts" are nothing new in themselves. What is novel is asking the question: what is the relationship between workouts (yoga, cardio, strength) and the work that we all (hopefully) do trying to live a good life?
"always the more beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question" -- ee cummings
In short, there's a lot of insight here that you can't get from building your own approach.
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Summary: A comprehensive summation
Review: Ilg's newest book is the fullest expression in print of his Wholistic Fitness teachings. Those familiar with his work may find this book a bit redundant but it's still worth the $$.
His editors have done a great job in tightening up his prose without losing his flavor. While it would be easy for a cynic to dismiss his philosophy as a watery distillation of various wisdom traditions combined with Western physical cultivation, a la muscle beach, this would be unfair to the genuine enthusiasm he brings to his work. Steve Ilg is the living embodiment of William Blakes aphorism, "Exhuberance is Beauty".
If you have struggled with making fitness an integral part of your life or would like to use fitness as a transformative tool then this is your book. The step by step yoga instruction, unique strength training routines and periodization of the programs will deliver any fitness aspirant to a place they never imagined... solidly on "the Path", walking "the Way".
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Summary: Street/trail/gym/yogi credibility and guaranteed results
Review: Mr. Ilg will get you in shape physically and mentally, guaranteed.
I approached his book from a reformed weightlifter/runner to now a yogi/runner's perspective.
First the yoga information:
Many modern and not-so modern yogis claim that yoga is all anyone needs as far as exercise, but I completely disagree. Despite their attention to bandhas, tai chi like connecting movements, and yoga breathing, I don't think yoga alone is a cardiovascular workout. Moreover, I don't feel that the combination of low plank, high plank, crow, and handstands is enough to develop upper body strength. If you look at most yogis (no offense, please) such as Steve Ross (Inhale on Oxygen 6 a.m. weekdays), Bikram Choudury, and others, they don't look very strong. The best in this area to me has been Baron Baptiste (he of the ubiquitous bandana) and his attention to "functional strength."
Fortunately, Mr. Ilg politely calls the yogi community out on this subject and carefully illustrates the need to "strength train" in addition to yoga.
His High Performance Yoga (trademarked I believe) still uses these poses, but as a complement to the work in the gym. Also, his yoga routine is functional not fancy, incorporating all the sun salutations and warrior poses, as well spinal twists, backbends, forward bends, and inversions. Maybe most importantly he introduced me to a pose not found in many yoga books and not on Yoga Journal's website pose section: the yoga squat (this should be called the Ilg squat). It's a fantastic pose.
As for Mr. Ilg's strength training advice: solid and proven. He limits between set rest to 30 seconds and does power movements such as squats, stiff-legged deadlifts, benches, military presses, etc. No high rep,"shaping movements" fluff here.
His cardio advice is also great. No "just gardening is cardio" or park your car in a farther spot blather, but rather a discussion on the necessity of hard training such as bicycling, running, and more.
Mr. Ilg gets very, very, very deep into the meditation and spiritual "stuff." He loses me here, but that is my weakness. Hopefully, you will be able to embrace this important area.
Another area Mr. Ilg recommends that I could not survive: media fasting. I'm sorry, but I have to read the Journal/Times daily or I feel lost. If you can do this, your journey will be more advanced than mine. He doesn't say you have to do it daily, of course.
Nutritionally, I can't personally see eliminating meat & dairy without some heavy protein supplementation. If I'm training two-three hours daily (Mr. Ilg's recommendation), I don't see how a diet high in fiber and natural foods other than meat and dairy can provide enough protein. He may be right; it's just not for me.
Please, if you are considering getting "fit" realize that cardio, strength training, or yoga alone will NOT be enough individually. You have to combine all three (throw in meditation if you can and of course nutrition). Based on those proven facts, please welcome Coach Ilg into your life. You will save a lot of money purchasing this one book, instead of several for strength training, cardio, and the often incomplete yoga books. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks for reading.
P.S. Attentive readers may note that I previously reviewed this tome. I used some unfortunate and inappropriate words at the time. I apologize to Mr. Ilg and the Amazon community for that. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.
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Summary: Fitness wisdom for everyone
Review: Overall, this book is very good. In Total Body Transformation, Steve Ilg describes his fitness philosophy and presents a training plan for transforming one's mind, body and spirit. That plan is clearly presented with all components (nutrition, yoga, strength training and meditation) explained in detail. Ilg's writing is clear in TBT and his field notes describing his fitness experiences (especially his comeback from severe back injury) and the experiences of his students are, in my opinion, highly motivating. Further, the photography is excellent throughout. Not only are the text and photographs of high quality, but the quantity of information is also great, making this book a killer value.Despite this, I was disappointed that so much material in TBT also appears in Ilg's previous book, The Winter Athlete. However, in TBT Ilg goes into great detail in explaining the poses that he uses in his style of yoga (TBT is an excellent companion for Ilg's High Performance yoga video). For me, this alone makes the book indispensable. Finally, perhaps one should review fitness books and the training plans contained within them separately. In this case, both are very good. From personal experience, the training plan presented in TBT will make your mind and spirit, as well as your body, hard. Be prepared to move outside of your comfort zone and learn about yourself. Highly recommended. Namaste!
Rating:
Summary: Nobility and Love
Review: Steve Ilg is as noble as they come and his work is a work of love. I have read many other books in the fitness category and none compare to the path of Wholistic Fitness. And it is so much more than just fitness. If you want a program that teaches you about yourself and expands your perceived boundaries about what is possible as a human being, TBT is the place to be. If you want to reach all the podiums of life, look no further.
Namaste, WT
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Summary: A trainers trainer
Review: The depth of knowledge, the desire to enhance the human comdition and the sincerity Coach Steve ilg displays for helping all people re-discover their true nature and unlimited potential, is what moves me most about Total Body Transformation. As a personal trainer and yoga instructor myself, it was important for me to integrate TBT's teachings into my personal life-style and training before choosing to pass them along to my clients. Transforming! The awareness and balance of my personal temple (body/mind) has grown so much more strong and supple that
my tapas (buring desire) to share & assist others has taken on new meaning. Fellow Fitness Trainers and Yogins, give your soul a gift of inspiration and incorporate the beauty and strength of TBT into your vocation. You and your students lives will be forever changed. To my Brother and Sister on the Noble Path of Health and Fitness, use TBT for what i think and feel it is intended; to transform y(our) awareness and bring balance into y(our) daily lives through Breath, Posture and Love. i bow to the teachings and the grace of Coach ilg's, Total Body Transformation. Dharma Blessings.
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