Best Pilates Book on the Market

When Pilates became the craze a few years ago, I immediately elected to apportion it a critical segment of my allotted exercise time. Using Amazon.com as an information springboard, I chanced upon Jennifer Kries and her set of Method sessions on VHS and DVD, purchased "The Method Precision Toning" and have been strengthening my abdominal powerhouse ever since. "Precision Toning" moves fast for a duration of what seems like an hour, despite the 20 minutes cited on the jacket. As any Pilates advocate knows, each position follows a rigorous sequence where doing the exercise correctly matters much more than doing it with infinite repetition. Ms. Kries' instructions, although impeccable, however can become a little overwhelming on both an envisioned and executional level, especially when attempting to pull the navel to the floor, raise the shoulders so they crest off the floor, squeeze the inner thighs, relax the shoulders, breath properly and then actually facilitate the physical movement of each position.

The perfect solution to understanding and performing each exercise to the best of your ability comes in the form of Ms. Kries' 280+ page paperback book, "Pilates Method Plus: the Unique Combination of Yoga, Dance, and Pilates," complete with enough photos, illustrations, step-by-step instruction, motivational quotations and helpful imaginative `insight' sidebars to provide just the right mind-body connection to ensure positional perfection.

As stated in the title of the book, the Method, however, is not just about Pilates. Ms, Kries, as a trained ballet dancer, knows the importance of stamina, endurance and determination to achieve that ultimate purely athletic moment in space. As a seeker of that unique mind and body integration where the mind and body become one, Ms Kries extols the value of detachment, anatomical awareness and balance taught by the discipline of yoga. Her comments with regard to the various types of yogic breathing allow this ancient art to aid you into moving into territories of your body that you have never before explored. `Pilates Method Plus' provides the insight necessary to utilize a triangle of activity that will enhance your range of motion while developing strength/injury protection that will allow a free flow of energy to flood into your everyday life.

The book follows a simple format. The first four chapters are dedicated to explaining the interface between the three disciplines, the nine essentials elements needed to attain heightened physical and emotional power (complete with instructions and exercises to help understand each of them) and a series of all important pre-exercises that will provide a base for the more complicated series that follow.

The bulk of the book---Chapter 5--- contains the actual exercises which Kries divides into three progressive stand-alone routines, lasting from 30 to 45 minutes each. With the help of a full-page chart where each position is labeled either 1, 2 or 3 Kries stresses that eventually the entire sequence of positions will be performed once all the exercises have been mastered. Two pages which include step-by-step analysis and photographs of Ms Kries in time-sequenced action are dedicated to each position. Take my word for it, this extensive explanation utilized as an adjunct with one of Ms Kries many exercise DVDs will provide more than adequate fodder to integrate brain with muscles to achieve exercise nirvana.

The book's last chapter--- what Kries' calls `"On the Fly" Sports Specifics and Time-savers' presents a platform for individual sports cross-training in the areas of golf, tennis, skiing, skating, cycling, running, walking, basketball, swimming, and climbing. Each contains a full listing of those exercises necessary to help prevent injury while broadening range of motion with added strength, energy and confidence. Compare this comprehensive list of activities with those found in Brooke Siler's `Ultimate Pilates Body Challenge'---there is no comparison; Siler's book covers only a bare minimum. To finish up, two `on the fly' workouts provide a Beginners or Intermediate and Advanced routine sequence for those who are short on time.

Bottom line: This is my favorite exercise how-to book. Kries' exuberant personality and love of what she does prevails throughout the text and are epitomized in the bright smile she wears in all her photos. While I don't recommend using the book as a stand alone unless you have been trained in Pilates or in any of the other disciplines beforehand, I do recommend it as an accessory to any Pilates-based DVD, Method or otherwise. Brava Ms, Kries on a well-spent $17.95 permanent addition to my exercise library.

Diana F. Von Behren
"reneofc"

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The Definitive Pilates Guide by America's Pilates Expert

"The Method relies on your brain as much as your body; it is a thoughtful and introspective approach to working out." ~Jennifer Kries

After discovering Jennifer Kries' workouts you might want to delve into her new book focusing on fitness for the goddess that you are. Not only will you finally meet Jennifer Kries through reading about her fascinating life, you start to gain a deeper understanding of the Pilates principles. Jennifer also explores the world of Eastern yoga and dance techniques.

What is especially exciting about "Pilates Plus Method" is the abundance of inspirational quotes. There are William James quotes you will want to remember and post in your workout room. These are quotes worth collecting, although Jennifer's writing style is the highlight of her book. She is precise and disciplined, all while showing care and giving you the support and encouragement you need during each exercise. I am truly impressed with her writing! Up until now she has been a mysterious goddess to me and to read about her life has made me realize what an amazing instructor she truly is.

This book is very useful while working out. You might want a more detailed explanation for "Single-Bent-Leg Teaser" and you can quickly look up any of the poses/exercises in the index. Of course, Jennifer is featured throughout the book and her well-toned beautiful body is a true inspiration to me. I see her picture and have to get to my workout, pronto. You will find pictures of all the exercises and enjoy detailed instructions. The "Insight" sections lead you deeper into an understanding of the pose/exercise and I enjoyed reading about the inspiration for the "seal" exercise.

Jennifer is excited about her fitness discoveries and Pilates truly is an exciting workout because you start to see results in record time. She also explains the basics of dance and includes the most healing yoga poses. There are pictures with the names of muscles clearly marked. This is extremely helpful when using the videos so you can focus your efforts on specific muscle groups. Through reading this book, you will in fact be gaining an understanding of how exercise heals your entire body.

Her book is divided into 7 main areas:

The Birth of Jennifer Kries' Method Workout
The Magic Triangle: Pilates, Yoga, and Dance
The Nine Essential Elements
Dipping Your Food in the Pool: Pre-exercises
The Method Workout
"On The Fly": Sports Specifics and Time-Savers - lists of specific exercises to improve sports performance. (Skiing, Skating, Cycling, Running, Walking, etc.)
Taking It With You: The Method For Life.

If you are looking for great results you simply must try three workouts: Jennifer Kries' Pilates Method - Perfect Mix, Precision Pilates and 3 Dimensional Toning. One of the main benefits of these Pilates-based workouts is that you suddenly have improved posture, you walk differently, you feel sexier and basically you watch your body take on a new shape. No matter where you are today, you can improve your body with Jennifer Kries' insight and instruction.

If you are interested in a personal consultation, you send a completed form on page 271 to Jennifer. In a few months, I might send in a form myself! In order to fill out this form you might want to start keeping track of all your exercise habits.

Jennifer Kries is a native New Yorker, dancer, Master Instructor, orator and choreographer. She also studied with three of Joseph Pilates original disciples, Eve Gentry, Romana Kryzanowska, and Ron Fletcher. She is the artistic director and founder of Contemporary Dance Theatre New York and the Founder of the Balanced Body Center at New York's World Gym.

Jennifer Kries has a talent for creating challenging and interesting workouts and her personality makes her book so enjoyable to read. This book is quite essential when writing about any Pilates subject and I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who writes about fitness.

I see this book as a compliment to all of Jennifer Kries' workout DVDs/Videos. However, for teachers and anyone who wants to develop a customized routine, I can't think of a more definitive Pilates guide. If you are new to Pilates, this book is essential reading.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

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Very comprehensive workout

...I devoured this book as soon as it arrived. I have been practicing yoga and Pilates regularly for a little over a year, and I've been "dipping my toe in the pool" trying to get into dance. With my knowledge of some of the Pilates basics and using some of the NYC Ballet Workout, as well as some classic yoga moves, I tried to come up with the best way to synthesize the three into one routine. In many cases, I felt like I came up short. This book does a very nice job combining the three, although the emphasis is cearly on Pilates.

Before introducing her full 68 move routine, Kries describes how she was introduced first to dance, then to Pilates and finally to yoga. In a nutshell, she has been dancing since she was 9, using Pilates since she was 13 and practicing yoga since she was recovering from an injury in her late teens. Dance provides the body with slenderness and agility as well as an outlet for artistic expression, Pilates with strength and yoga with flexibility, both for the body and the mind.

She next discusses the 9 essential elements that are essential in her workout, as well as exercises to help strengthen those elements. Emphasis in this chapter is on the breathing techniques needed for yoga and Pilates. She also has a chapter of pre-exercises for all three disciplines to help prepare for the complete workout. The first, the pre-rollup, is also used as a diagnostic to determine whether you should begin at level 1, 2 or 3.

And now the workout. Of the 68 exercises presented, a little more than half are level 1. Of the remaining, about 25 are level 2 and 8 are level 3. In other words, even an absolute beginner should be able to perform the bulk of the workout. The workout starts with yoga breathing, then moves onto a dance inspired warmup. Next, and for the majority of the workout, are the classic Pilates exercises, all in (as far as I can tell) the classic Pilates sequence. She begins with the Hundred and moves through non-stop until Criss-Cross. At this point, Kries alternates between yoga and Pilates. After the completion of the abdominal series, leg series teaser series and three variations on the Sun Salutation, she begins the Plie series (this series is very similar to her 3-D Toning tape). Next is the Pilates Standing Sculpting Series. Weights are optional, but the suggested range is 3 to 5 pounds. These exercises do work the entire upper body, but a lot of stress is put on the shoulders. Therefore, I don't recommend going beyond 5 pounds for this series. Finally, she begins the relaxation series, consisting of alternate nostril breathing, meditation and the corpse pose.

The last two sections of the book have routines designed to improve the performance in eight popular sports as well as two abbreviated versions of the workout, one for Beginners and one for Intermediate/Advanced.

Throughout her book, Kries intersperses inspirational quotes (the bulk seem to be from William James). Clearly, a lot to think about when you're exercising, but they definitely put you in the right mind-set. Every exercise includes photographs as well as (for almost all of the exercises) an "InSight" to help you refine your technique and a listing of the muscles used in the exercise.

I really enjoy this workout and this is a keeper in my weekly (or more) rotation. However, a couple of comments:

-I would have preferred more yoga. In her Precision Pilates video, she uses a number of yoga poses in her lowerbody workout that could have been effectively incorporated here (Chair, Lunge variations, etc.). Also, I feel that she didn't draw out the need to breathe differently for the yoga and Pilates movements.

-I would have preferred more dance. There are not too many repetitions of each of the moves in the Plie series. Minor complaint- this is a book, and one could easily add on another set if desired.

+/-Jennifer can be very profound, and judging from other comments about her, this can be very off-putting. However, I really enjoy her comments and insights.

+/-She states that this routine can take 30 to 45 minutes, and after performing this workout three times, it's taking me an hour and a half. That's down from two hours, so there is some improvement. Admittedly, much of that is me stopping to look at the sequence as well as referring to each individual exercise to look at the number of reps required. I read once in Brooke Siler's book (which I really only skimmed) that some advanced students can perform the entire Pilates mat sequence in as little as 15 minutes. Clearly then, this workout can be done in 30 to 45 minutes, but that in and of itself should be considered a goal.

+Many people have questioned the benefits of Pilates for the legs and arms. I am here to tell you they exist. After each workout, my legs have been noticeably sorer, but not painfully so. Also, after using 5 pound weights for most of the Standing Series (but I had to use 3 for the last two), my upper body is definitely feeling it the next day.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who already practices Pilates and who is also interested in yoga or dance. The yoga and dance sections should be accessible to the beginner, but the Pilates sections may be challenging to the absolute beginners. I plan on doing this workout 3 times a week, supplemented by some other strength training. After one week, I already feel the difference in my legs, arms and core.

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