Your Ultimate Pilates Body Challenge

This is an excellent book for anyone who practices Pilates and wants a deeper understanding of the purpose and principles of Pilates. Brooke really focuses on technique and incorporating Pilates-conscious moves into your workouts and daily tasks as well as into your Pilates practice. The illustrations throughout the book provide excellent instructions for getting the Pilates moves down just right.

Though many new exercisers probably don't know it, Pilates has a long history and a specific purpose, ideas that often get lost in the avalanche of Pilates workouts we see today. Brooke Siler takes us back to the basics in her latest book, giving readers insight into what Pilates is really all about. In this book, Brooke doesn't just cover Pilates exercises--she also teaches you how to incorporate Pilates principles into the rest of your life. You'll learn techniques to maximize your cardio workouts, increase the effectiveness of your home workouts, perfect your Pilates practice, engage your body in the most effective way to make daily tasks easier and use Pilates principles to become stronger in your favorite sports. The principles she explains include stability/mobility, resistance/opposition, leverage, articulation and balance, some of which would be hard to grasp if not for her fabulous visuals (what she calls Metaforms). These illustrations, peppered throughout the book, allow you to see how different exercises are supposed to feel (for example, in a Double Leg Kick, you should feel as though the feet and hands are connected by a spring and the accompanying picture shows this). She also focuses on breathing, posture and, of course, your powerhouse (or your 'core')...the most important part of your body for providing strength and stability in Pilates and every other activity you engage in. This is an excellent book and a resource you'll use again and again.