Pilates Gym: The Balanced Workout

In line with the latest trend for fusion fitness (combining fitness systems), the premise of Pilates Gym is using Pilates techniques to maximise the effectiveness of gym and home workouts. Having turned Pilates into a household name, leading authority Lynne Robinson, together with personal trainer, martial arts coach and Pilates teacher Gerry Convy have put together a no-nonsense, thorough manual.

Instructions are straightforward and concise. Photographs include cut-out figures which stand out on the page, making it easy for the reader to study the positions, plus there are comparative visuals illustrating good technique and bad technique.

With any exercise, according to the authors, "the way you do it" is crucial. Rare is the fitness book which provides detailed explanations of muscles and mobility, marking this out as a guide for serious fitness rather than a faddish fat-loss idea.

The core of the book is the Six Golden Rules, covering preparation, focus, alignment, breathing, core stability and balance, each with detailed explanations and exercises. These are then adapted to working out in the gym (including cardiovascular work and machines), and the home, with suggested workout plans for both. Guaranteed to appeal to gym aficionados who will benefit from the precision of Pilates, teachers of any fitness system--and it might even tempt Pilates purists into the gym. --Lorna V.