Pilates Expanded Matwork & Props Photo Encyclopedia Paperback – August 1, 2012

This is a full-on picture book that is a comprehensive set of exercises using various props. I've purchased a lot of Pilates books hoping to find something exactly like this one. I took Pilates mat and reformer classes for a year. I decided that the classes were an unnecessary expense and started doing them at home, but I needed a book that would help me to remember the poses and this one is perfect. Searching over. This book is just pictures, it is free of all that text talking about the history of pilates, how it affects your health, the mind-numbing amounts of meditation style get-in-touch with your spirit blabbing. I already know all of the breathing and posture techniques, I wanted a quick reference to remember the poses themselves. This book is exactly that. The name of the pose and just pictures of the start and end positions.

Fantastic! As an instructor I highly recommend these books. A great resource to spice up your exercises. Explanation is simple and straight forward. Ensure u understand the basic principles of Pilates and u can't go wrong. Just breathe easy.

I am a seasoned Pilates Matt Insrt. IMPORTANT: This book is truly a PHOTO ENCYC. If a person is a pilates beginner or not visually oriented & adept to PURELY VISUAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL, then, that person should purchase a book with words: cueing & instructions...I was very surprised that there are NO words for cueing in the ENTIRE book. The "classic" Pilates positions are labeled. Some of the variations & the some positions with the addition of props, require the reader to "imagine,"- or almost "invent" the sequencing that will create optimal movement benefit of the activity. There SHOULD BE "MOVEMENT-DIRECTIONAL-LINES" overlaid on some of the more "involved" activities. The -ONE(1) THING-this book does well, is give a QUICK VISUAL REFERENCE for an instructor to set up her/his class,-to keep the class interesting with an array of different & challenging activities.. it puts the ideas for a stimulating class right up-front & center for easy access when in a pinch for organizing good class ideas. I also do not believe this is a Pure PILATES inspired book..lots of the positions presented are truly EXERCISE activities--yes, good core activities, but not really PILATES- although the concept of the POWERHOUSE can be employed in these exercises making them more "pilates" based. IMPORTANT: This book is truly a PHOTO ENCYC. If a person is a pilates beginner or not visually oriented & adept to PURELY VISUAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL, then, that person should purchase a book with words: cueing & instructions..

great exercises, beautiful pictures, good range, you can see step by step, really a book full of pilates, I recommend.

This book left me very disappointed. This book has tons of pictures that for the most part give a decent idea of what each exercise is but there are no descriptions of any movement throughout the entire book. Each section illustrates the exercise movements, but the only writing is a small description of what that movement is called. I got this book as a beginner Pilates student with the intention of learning how to use different props to enhance my workout. Those who practice Pilates understand the importance of very detailed instructions so that each movement is performed properly, and without proper form and specific knowledge of how to execute each movement they will all be done in vain and only waste time.This book looks like it was printed out of someone's home office in that the pages are a low quality paper which makes the images harder to decipher the details. Yet another mark against it since all it has going for it is that it has an image for every movement. Fuzzy pictures printed on cheap paper with no description of how each exercise is actually to be executed.This book is WAY overpriced for the quality and content. I would not recommend it to anyone. It also makes me sad to see that there are other books put out by the same author that are even more expensive.Do yourself a favor and don't buy this book. There are SO many books out that that are FAR better than this one and they are less expensive too!

the pictures are nice and it is relatively concise. i liked it as a reference to use with your practice

If you're an experienced teacher, this book will add little to your practice that you don't already know. If you're inexperienced in pilates, this book will not have enough necessary information. Perhaps if you're new to teaching, this may give you ideas? Not for me.

Very good book, good pictures exelent quality and colors. But doesnt have breathing explain. its a huge number of diferents exercicis.

great book!

This book is just a series of pictures, so should only be utilised by experts in the pilates field as there are no instructions. I love it as an addition to my collection of books and some refreshing ideas to be incorporated into my classes. Mandy de Chassart (pilates instructor)