Pilates by Rael Isacowitz Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Pilates
Book Review: A nice Pilates paperback
Summary: 4 Stars
I like this inexpensive paperback. There are plenty of exercises for the experienced & inexperienced. Lots of photos also. Where other books end at the mat, this book goes beyond that to other equipment. For those just starting out, it gets pretty challenging! If you are looking to improve muscle tone & flexibility, try it out. I recommend it.Book Review: AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR PILATES INSTRUCTORS
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a personal trainer and pilates instructor. I am currently getting my certification in apparatus and I came across this book. It is an absolute must for an instructor's library. It's organized beautiful, is comprehensive, with great imagery,cuing, and indepth essays that are easy to understand for the professional. By far, the best pilates book out there...and you can't beat the price for the wealth of knowledge.Book Review: Authoritative on the science, art, beauty, and experience of Pilates
Summary: 5 Stars
The author stuck with a simple template in writing his book that allowed him to convey his ideas clearly and gracefully. Each lesson in the book starts with an anatomical target under "Muscle Focus" and the "Objectives" of serving those muscles. The lessons end with "Imagery" that deals with the feeling and the mental execution of the desired motion.
The author refrained from venturing into areas outside his domain of specialized expertise such as nutrition or unrelated topics, which added to his credibility and emphasized the depth of indulging in the art of Pilates. The extensive number, simple content, and logical sequence of the photographs, which are properly labeled and placed in each lesson, all makes the book an easy read and useful tool for learning. Above all, the author himself demonstrates his role as a model for the reader.
The book has a brief history of Pilates, its benefits, and its principles. Those are grouped under ten principles that address awareness, balance, breathing, concentration, body centering, gaining control, efficiency of motion, flow of energy, precision, and harmony. The main emphasis of Pilates practice is described in terms of regional anatomy that is brought under the control of the mind such that it serves the purpose of skillful mobility.
The book falls into twelve chapters that deal with enhancing the mind and body, alignment and movement, and the different methods of accomplishing the objectives of motion control. The different methods entail: Mat work that falls into 70 pages, Universal Reformer that spans about 100 pages, Cadillac 40 pages, Wanda Chair 20 pages, Barrels 20 pages, Ped-a-Pul 7 pages, Arm Chair 7 pages, and Magic Circle 14 pages. The last chapter lumps all exercises in sample routines that facilitate quick referencing.
The major drawback of the book is the use of advanced tools in some lessons that might not be available to the majority of readers. Yet, the author has little to do with what others could afford and should not take the blame for such hurdle.
The priceless gain attained from reading this book is the development of conscious awareness of each part of the body and being able to survey what goes wrong on time to enhance performance. And, performance exactness is what the author is expert in teaching and in practicing.
Mohamed F. El-Hewie
Author of
Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training
Book Review: Covering 210 exercises
Summary: 5 Stars
Human Kinetics is the premier publisher for "user friendly" sports and fitness instruction manuals and guides. Rael Isacowitz is one of the leading pilates experts in the world and the owner/founder of Body Arts and Science International. In "Pilates: Your Complete Guide To Mat Work And Apparatus Exercises", Isacowtiz presents a methodical, organized, photo illustrated, in-depth instruction manual for perform pilates movements correcting and provides a unique set of challenging exercise sequences which allow the movements to flow and blend into one continuous motion. Along with straight mat work, Isacowitz introduces the aspiring pilates student into a range of pilates apparatus that include: Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Step and Ladder Barrels, Ped-a-Pul, Arm Chair, and Magic Circle. Covering 210 exercises, the positive results for the pilates student will include improved posture, enhanced muscle tone, increased core strength, and enduring flexibility. Rael Iscaowitz's "Pilates" is a strongly recommended exercise guide for personal and community library Health & Exercise training manual and reference collections.
Book Review: Excellent reference guide for Pilates professionals
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a valuable resource guide from which to teach Pilates. I've been certified for four years and am always looking for new ways to teach and challenge my clients and this book was great for that. I tend to get caught up in making things 'harder' by working the same muscles groups, but as Rael points out in his book, it's important to keep balance in the workout to stay true to the original Pilates method. It was good for me to be reminded of that. The price is a real steal; I've spent more on books that are not nearly as informative. I highly recommend it to all Pilates instructors.