Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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65 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the complete Pilates mat method, 28 Dec 2005
Having reached the final exercise in the beginners level, which has taken me six months, I thought now would be a good time to write a review of this excellent book. If you're like me and want an exercise programme you can do in your own time and space; that fits into your daily routine without the need to travel to a gym or loads of equipment to set up then Pilates is the answer. If you also share my suspicion of claims of a new body from a couple of ten minute sessions per week for a month or two it follows you will be seeking a no-nonsense, honest and clearly laid out method - Miranda Bass's book in my opinion is precisely that.
The introductory pages give you strong impression of the reverence Miranda feels for Joseph Pilates legacy and the responsibility in teaching others, whether it be direct coaching or via a book. There is an equally strong impression that you're receiving information from someone who genuinely wishes you success but wants to emphasis that like all health and exercise regimes, there is no quick fix. To quote from 'about the author' pages, "many therapies advocate a 'letting go' of oneself in order to find freedom. I believe that freedom, especially to move, comes only through discipline and effort". This, I feel, is the key and this is just what I was looking for in a programme to follow and I have to say that my life has changed dramatically in the six months since I started.
After the introductory chapters, you are given practical advice about clothes to wear, buying a mat, using mirrors, health considerations before starting etc. and then onto becoming aware of your posture, bodyshape, and a thorough explanation of the importance of you lower abdominals, back, alignment and breathing before starting the exercises proper.
These are colour keyed into beginners, intermediate and advanced. A very clever touch is the fact that some of the beginners exercises are 'easier' variations of the same in the intermediate and advanced levels that frankly would be dangerous for an unfit person to carry out. This means of course that when you reach these exercises you're already proficient in the basic moves and breathing and just have to concentrate on a change of arm or leg position for example. At each step of the way you always have clear instructions and pictures - some of which are sequenced - and invaluable 'check points' to emphasise the particular areas of importance in each exercise and how your body will try and cheat when faced with challenge and effort!
As I'm exercising alone, I've supplemented this book with one of Lynne Robinsons' DVDs (Body Control 9) so I can check the speed at which Pilates exercises in general are carried out - and I was very pleased to find I'm doing everything spot on! All credit to Miranda Bass's prose style.
In conclusion, of all the Pilates books on the market I doubt you can find better than this; the title is accurate - The Complete Classic Pilates Method; allied to no-smoking, a healthy diet, and little or no booze, your body deserves this book!
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39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
pilates pure and simple, 31 Jan 2004
Of all the pilates books I have read this has to be the most exciting and challenging one.
Classic pilates are rediscovered and different levels are
clearly pictured and explained. In addition to the exercises
that are demonstrated in most books Miranda Bass goes one stage further and adds in more challenging exercises at the end.
Idealy the reader of this book will be someone who has practised pilates before. However, the superb photos that demonstrate the power of pilates can be inspiration to all.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book has it all - I love it!, 11 Jun 2005
This book has everything. It has an introduction to all the basic moves, with pictures and how to perform them, and what you need to think about to do them correctly. There are exercies for the hole body with step-by-step descriptions and pictures. The book has 3 dificulty levels on most of the exercises, from the basic movement to the advanced, for which you can use when you get stronger and more used to the movements.
The only con is that some of the descriptions are so long, that you might want someone to read them to you when you do the exercise... But you might want someone to do and watch the exercises with you anyway, so you know that you are doing them right... :O)
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