The Pilates Pregnancy: Maintaining Strength, Flexibility, and Your Figure

Rating:
Summary: Not the best pilates pregnancy book out there
Review: As a Pilates instructor, I do not think this is the best book for pregnancy. There is no discussion about what is safe in each trimester, and I do not think there are enough modifications of the exercises to accommodate pregnancy (in fact, the only modified exercise is the hundreds for third trimester). Essentially, she gives the exact same exercises for each trimester and gives no information on how to modify them for an expanding belly, for safety, etc. A much better book is the Pilates Workbook for Pregnancy by King. If you already know Pilates then you dont need Winsor's book (very basic exercises that you will already know), and if you are not familiar with Pilates you should find a more detailed, safety-oriented book for your pregnancy.

Rating:
Summary: Not realistic
Review: I am long-time Pilates practitioner and bought the book out of curiousity when I became pregnant to see if there were any different ways of doing the traditional exercises. Windsor keeps the method "traditional" to a fault. There are not enough modifications shown. Also, too many of the exercises are done lying on one's back. This is just not realistic after a certain point in pregnancy. I felt lightheaded and dizzy from lack of oxygen lying down! I would have liked to see more sidelying exercises, magic circle routines or standing exercises. The forward of the book if well written and there is no doubt that Pilates can relieve many of the discomforts associated with pregnancy. It really can keep you in shape and help you regain your body after a baby. However, this book is only suitable for an experienced practitioner who knows how to safely modify the exercises. I would never recommend it to a novice. Rather I would steer them in the direction of a good yoga for pregnancy book or video.

Rating:
Summary: Not realistic
Review: I am long-time Pilates practitioner and bought the book out of curiousity when I became pregnant to see if there were any different ways of doing the traditional exercises. Windsor keeps the method "traditional" to a fault. There are not enough modifications shown. Also, too many of the exercises are done lying on one's back. This is just not realistic after a certain point in pregnancy. I felt lightheaded and dizzy from lack of oxygen lying down! I would have liked to see more sidelying exercises, magic circle routines or standing exercises. The forward of the book if well written and there is no doubt that Pilates can relieve many of the discomforts associated with pregnancy. It really can keep you in shape and help you regain your body after a baby. However, this book is only suitable for an experienced practitioner who knows how to safely modify the exercises. I would never recommend it to a novice. Rather I would steer them in the direction of a good yoga for pregnancy book or video.

Rating:
Summary: I use this every day
Review: I really like this book. I had been doing Pilates matwork for about 18 months when I became pregnant. I didn't start using the book's routines until I was about 16 weeks pregnant, because before that time my regular Stott Intermediate Matwork video routine seemed fine. I really like the second trimester routine Mari has outlined -- although I don't do the entire routine because of time -- I skip some of the side-lying work and the rowing moves. I'm now 33 weeks pregnant and still doing the second trimester routine because it still feels good (although last week I dropped a couple of the moves that were beginning to get uncomfortable). I have no problems exercising while on my back -- and I have been told that as long as I don't feel dizzy or nauseated, that exercising on my back is fine. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to try Pilates during pregnancy, especially those women who already have at least a basic understanding of the moves.

Rating:
Summary: it's ok but not great
Review: this book is an ok book but it takes an hour or more to do all the excrecizes. also it is seperated in to each trimester that's a good feature. but in both the second and third trimester it still has you doing excrcizes while lieing on your back. no way through each of my pregnancys my doctor has said don't lay on your back after the 1st trimester. other than that the book is good it get's you in shape and it dose help alot postpartum

Rating:
Summary: Great resource for pregnant exercisers!
Review: This is a great book to help guide the pregnant exerciser in general, and especially if you are interested in pilates during pregnancy. It has three workout programs, one for each trimester. The book contains modifications for pregnant moms on the traditional movements, and even addresses the mom brand new to pilates. There are pictures and descriptions for each move, and also a brief explanation of the benefits. A bonus; the pictures for each exercise actually show a real pregnant woman, in different stages of pregnancy. This helps to show placement of the belly in relation to the rest of the body.
I would have liked for it to cover some reformer exercises, but it only covers matwork. In any case, it gives you good ideas for modifications that you could use with your machines too.
There is some repetition from her other book "The Pilates Powerhouse", but if you don't already have that book, no problem. Otherwise, there is enough new information to make this book work purchasing. Especially since it's the only book I've seen devoted to pilates for the pregnant woman.