The Complete Book of Pilates for Men: The Lifetime Plan for Strength, Power & Peak Performance
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By: Daniel Lyon
Format: Paperback
From: Collins Living
Pub. Date: August 2005
From: Collins Living
Pub. Date: August 2005
Product Details:
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2005-09-27
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 352
Ean: 9780060820770
Isbn: 0060820772
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2005-09-27
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 352
Ean: 9780060820770
Isbn: 0060820772
ABOUT THE BOOK
EDITORIAL REVIEW
A comprehensive, take-anywhere exercise program designed to improve men's strength, flexibility, balance, and posture
Have years of office work wreaked havoc on your posture? Could your tennis or golf game use a boost? Do you appear or feel older than your age? Or do you carry yourself in a manner that expresses strength, power, and peak performance to everyone around you?
In recent years, Pilates has become a popular exercise program, especially among women. Many books on the subject show lithe female bodies stretched across their covers. Top Pilates instructor Daniel Lyon Jr. aims to break the preconception that Pilates only benefits and appeals to women. "This couldn't be further from the truth," he asserts. "Joseph Pilates was a cigar-smoking boxer, acrobat, and gymnast, and he developed his exercise program from that background for men first." Likewise, Lyon designed this book specifically with men in mind, as the number of male Pilates practitioners -- among them professional athletes, actors, businessmen, and other high-profile personalities -- has rocketed to about three million and continues to grow.
For athletes, working stiffs, and men recovering from injuries, Lyon offers the first comprehensive exercise program of its kind. He walks you through forty "traditional mat" exercises and more than sixty "reformer on the mat" exercises -- each one brilliantly illustrated -- in 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. Using the Pilates method of engaging the strongest parts of the body, or the "powerhouse" (Joseph Pilates's term for the abdominals, hips, lower back muscles, and buttocks), and integrating all other body parts from this core, Lyon's program targets trouble spots for men and helps them achieve strong, lean, masculine physiques.
The Complete Book of Pilates for Men will deliver quick and long-term results to any man who seeks optimal fitness and a competitive edge in all aspects of his life.
USER REVIEWS
"So worth the money. The cover and layout of the book are attractive, and the content does not disappoint. The language is clear and intensely helpful, and the sketches of the movements, which actually depict every essential step of each exercise, are some of the most useful I've encountered in books like this. The author really gives you everything you need to progress on your own, at your own pace, and finding new depths to each movement as you go. My body has never looked better. If your kinesthetic sense is such that you can learn well from a book, and you have an interest in Pilates, you should own this. "
~ Written on 2008-08-03
~ Written on 2008-08-03
"I've been practicing and teaching Pilates for years, and although I continue to be challenged by the original mat exercises, there are times that my students crave different exercises. I, too, have been increasingly curious about the Reformer on the Mat exercises, and though I've seen bits and pieces in other workouts, I haven't seen one that offers them in a cohesive system. This one does, showing not only the sequence the exercises should be performed in but also the different levels for each exercise (although most of them are quite challenging).
I do still have to shake my head and laugh at the need to market the system for men- anyone who has ever tried the Pilates pushups, Side Bends or Leg Pull Ups should already know that classical Pilates demands- and builds- upper body strength. However, in the text where Lyons notes that some of these exercises are exclusively for men- or individuals with significant upper body strength- I mostly agree. I happily cede the very tricky Headstand variations to male practitioners and instructors, although I will note that they are very similar to a number of movements from the Ashtanga Primary Series.
This is an excellent resource for male or female practitioners and instructors, and if it finally gets people to realize that Pilates is a real workout and not just a souped up abs and stretch routine, so much the better.
"
~ Written on 2008-04-13
I do still have to shake my head and laugh at the need to market the system for men- anyone who has ever tried the Pilates pushups, Side Bends or Leg Pull Ups should already know that classical Pilates demands- and builds- upper body strength. However, in the text where Lyons notes that some of these exercises are exclusively for men- or individuals with significant upper body strength- I mostly agree. I happily cede the very tricky Headstand variations to male practitioners and instructors, although I will note that they are very similar to a number of movements from the Ashtanga Primary Series.
This is an excellent resource for male or female practitioners and instructors, and if it finally gets people to realize that Pilates is a real workout and not just a souped up abs and stretch routine, so much the better.
"
~ Written on 2008-04-13
"This book is exactly what I needed. Exercises are well explained. No boring stuff around, goes straight to the point. I already feel better... "
~ Written on 2008-02-27
~ Written on 2008-02-27
"I am a great fan of no equipment/body weight exercises. It is amazing what level of fitness can be achieved by following the exercises as outlined in D. Lyon's book and i fully endorse the other positive reviews on this book. The book is very user friendly with precise descriptions of the exercises and specific recommendations for men with tight hamstrings, hips, etc. It's very easy to build up your program step by step over time and you will see results very quickly (at least I did in terms of core strength, slimmer waistline and more muscle tone).
I use this book along with David Swenson's great Practice manual on Ashtanga Yoga and between the exercises of these 2 books and occasional runs in the park I will stay busy for the rest of my life. The great thing is that I don't need to spend a dime on gym memberships, equipment, etc.
"
~ Written on 2008-01-23
I use this book along with David Swenson's great Practice manual on Ashtanga Yoga and between the exercises of these 2 books and occasional runs in the park I will stay busy for the rest of my life. The great thing is that I don't need to spend a dime on gym memberships, equipment, etc.
"
~ Written on 2008-01-23
"I continue to be incredibly surprised by the effect this workout has on me. I've always been physically active but constantly suffered from tightness along my lower back and legs, despite conventional stretching. After routinely performing the exercises in this book, I found myself feeling unusually well. My back quit feeling so sore and my calves, shin and hamstring stopped feeling as tight after my usual non-Pilate workouts.
Interestingly enough, my family loaned me several Pilate workout videos when they discovered my enthusiasm. I've tried a few of them but have not had as pleasant an experience. The videos aren't targeted for men, perhaps this lends a clue. I suspect, however, that the book just includes some great lower back and leg stretches that the videos do not. "
~ Written on 2007-11-28
Interestingly enough, my family loaned me several Pilate workout videos when they discovered my enthusiasm. I've tried a few of them but have not had as pleasant an experience. The videos aren't targeted for men, perhaps this lends a clue. I suspect, however, that the book just includes some great lower back and leg stretches that the videos do not. "
~ Written on 2007-11-28