The Complete Book of Pilates for Men
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Consumer Rating: 
By: Daniel Lyon
Format: Paperback
From: ReganBooks,U.S.
Pub. Date: January 2006
From: ReganBooks,U.S.
Pub. Date: January 2006
Product Details:
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2006-02-20
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 352
Ean: 9780060820770
Isbn: 0060820772
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2006-02-20
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 352
Ean: 9780060820770
Isbn: 0060820772
ABOUT THE BOOK
EDITORIAL REVIEW
Lyon's book is designed specifically with men in mind, at a time when the number of male Pilates practitioners has rocketed to about three million and will likely continue to grow at an exponential rate. "The Complete Book of Pilates for Men" offers an inspiring self-guided program that adapts to all experience levels and requires nothing more than floor space, an exercise mat, and the desire to look and feel your best. Lyon walks you through forty "traditional mat" and sixty-plus "reformer on the mat" exercises, each one brilliantly illustrated and accompanied by inspiring, easy-to-follow instructions. While the Pilates philosophy applies to both men and women, Lyon has tailored his program to target trouble spots for men and help them achieve a strong, lean, masculine aesthetic. Men tend to have more body strength, but less integrated strength or flexibility than women; they tend to be tighter in the shoulders, back, legs, and throughout the hips.Following the six principles of Pilates - control, center, concentration, precision, flow, and breath - Lyon offers a straightforward, time-efficient program that has proven to make men fitter, healthier, sexier, and altogether more confident. "The Complete Book of Pilates for Men" will appeal to any man who believes in self-empowerment and seeks a competitive edge in all aspects of his life.
USER REVIEWS
"When it comes to "self study" guides for pilates, yoga, etc. it seems to me you've got to find the book or DVD that works best for you.
With yoga my favorite guide of all time is Richard Hittleman's 28 DAY YOGA EXERCISE. The simple, figure-against-black photographs and straight-forward descriptions are exactly what I needed to learn (decades ago now--my mother gave me my first copy!). For busy folks Hittleman provides easy-to-follow routines.
Having bought several pilates books and a DVD, none of which did it for me, I had stopped looking for a pilates book. Then I chanced to see PILATES FOR MEN. 10 minutes later I bought it.
Like Hittleman's approach it's the accessibility and ease-of-use that does it for me. The pencil drawings are excellent, with the required movements easy to see. The text is straight-forward. And the exercises are presented in the order you might use them in. This is just what I needed given the way I process "kinesthetic instructions on the page" and a fairly busy life.
The trick is to get a copy of this book in your hands and get a sense of how you might use it learning pilates or brushing up and how it might serve you in developing a plan to squeeze into your life.
Personally, I'd say this is a classic. But who knows and only time will tell.
Dr. Kirtland C Peterson "
~ Written on 2007-09-21
With yoga my favorite guide of all time is Richard Hittleman's 28 DAY YOGA EXERCISE. The simple, figure-against-black photographs and straight-forward descriptions are exactly what I needed to learn (decades ago now--my mother gave me my first copy!). For busy folks Hittleman provides easy-to-follow routines.
Having bought several pilates books and a DVD, none of which did it for me, I had stopped looking for a pilates book. Then I chanced to see PILATES FOR MEN. 10 minutes later I bought it.
Like Hittleman's approach it's the accessibility and ease-of-use that does it for me. The pencil drawings are excellent, with the required movements easy to see. The text is straight-forward. And the exercises are presented in the order you might use them in. This is just what I needed given the way I process "kinesthetic instructions on the page" and a fairly busy life.
The trick is to get a copy of this book in your hands and get a sense of how you might use it learning pilates or brushing up and how it might serve you in developing a plan to squeeze into your life.
Personally, I'd say this is a classic. But who knows and only time will tell.
Dr. Kirtland C Peterson "
~ Written on 2007-09-21
"This is a well written and extremely well-illustrated manual for the beginner and intermediate Pilates aficionado. It would be great if it were spiral bound, but that is a minor qualm. Lyon does warn people with various back, knee and hip problems about certain exercises and very sensibly states that if an exercise causes pain to stop immediately, but if you are a true beginner please use this to accompany your work in a class. Personal instruction will help you get the breathing technique correct and ensure that you do not overdo it. After that, this book will be a great reference and source of encouragement. "
~ Written on 2007-04-05
~ Written on 2007-04-05
"Daniel Lyons' book is clearly written and includes all Pilates mat work from beginner to advanced. As such, if you are interested in doing Pilates at home (no equipment needed), then this book is all you need!
Lyons explains that Jospeh Pilates was a boxer, and that his early clients were boxers and wrestlers. Pilates was created for men, but through the fact that dancers have found it to be so good has become a women-dominated exercise system.
The boxer/wrestler connection is actually easy to see with excercises including wrestlers neck bridges, push ups, etc.
This book is also beautifully illustrated with line drawings of the author performing each movement. Clear, detailed and succint.
If you want to strengthen your core and change your entire body in a few weeks, get this book!"
~ Written on 2007-01-24
Lyons explains that Jospeh Pilates was a boxer, and that his early clients were boxers and wrestlers. Pilates was created for men, but through the fact that dancers have found it to be so good has become a women-dominated exercise system.
The boxer/wrestler connection is actually easy to see with excercises including wrestlers neck bridges, push ups, etc.
This book is also beautifully illustrated with line drawings of the author performing each movement. Clear, detailed and succint.
If you want to strengthen your core and change your entire body in a few weeks, get this book!"
~ Written on 2007-01-24
"This book is packed with every conceivable excercise imaginable, and would be excellent for the young sports minded individual. It is really a fitness manual!
For someone of mature years, looking to nurse a toublesome back condition, it is far from perfect. Some of the exercises I rate as pretty dangerous to anyone with disc related problems, and while the book makes constant reference to avoiding any exercises which cause pain, it seems to lack any gentle introduction for such conditions.
On page 327 it finally deals with injured and weak joints, giving broad advise on the range of exercises which should be avoided.
I regret buying this book, and should have chosen the Lynne Robinson Manual which has a far more sympathetic approach"
~ Written on 2007-01-20
For someone of mature years, looking to nurse a toublesome back condition, it is far from perfect. Some of the exercises I rate as pretty dangerous to anyone with disc related problems, and while the book makes constant reference to avoiding any exercises which cause pain, it seems to lack any gentle introduction for such conditions.
On page 327 it finally deals with injured and weak joints, giving broad advise on the range of exercises which should be avoided.
I regret buying this book, and should have chosen the Lynne Robinson Manual which has a far more sympathetic approach"
~ Written on 2007-01-20
"There are some books which just stand out from the crowd and this is one of them.
If you are tired of spending money on gym memberships and fitness equipment you never use then this is the book for you.
Like anything, getting into a routine is the most difficult part, but once you do, you will feel different within a week to two weeks and look different within a month. Routines are well structured and very well illustrated with sketch type drawings which I feel are far more clear than the usual photographs. Every aspect of practice is covered with advice/sections on how to work around injuries, to being a bit overweight, to just being plain stiff :)
If you have problems with some of beginers exercises please don't be put off, as the author says "do what you can" you don't have to do every single move in each section. I had trouble with some of the moves (stiff back) but did what I could and once I had gained a bit more flexibility went back to them. Just take it easy to start with and you will be surprised how quickly you loosen up.
Well worth five stars.
"
~ Written on 2007-01-06
If you are tired of spending money on gym memberships and fitness equipment you never use then this is the book for you.
Like anything, getting into a routine is the most difficult part, but once you do, you will feel different within a week to two weeks and look different within a month. Routines are well structured and very well illustrated with sketch type drawings which I feel are far more clear than the usual photographs. Every aspect of practice is covered with advice/sections on how to work around injuries, to being a bit overweight, to just being plain stiff :)
If you have problems with some of beginers exercises please don't be put off, as the author says "do what you can" you don't have to do every single move in each section. I had trouble with some of the moves (stiff back) but did what I could and once I had gained a bit more flexibility went back to them. Just take it easy to start with and you will be surprised how quickly you loosen up.
Well worth five stars.
"
~ Written on 2007-01-06