Alycea Ungaro has once again set a new standard for accessible yet authentic Pilates instruction for the home exerciser. As in her last release, The Pilates Promise, she uses smaller workouts to help introduce Pilates to the new (or time-crunched) exerciser). Here, however, she extends the at-a-glance guides into what she calls a "gatefold"two consecutive pages that open out into a four page spread with the workout. While I had no complaints about the guides she used in her previous books, this is much easier to see and use.
The workouts themselves have a slightly different twist from her previous works: definitely in the Classical Pilates tradition, but with some preparatory additions (though I can be as much of a purist snob as anyone else, I think I've even heard of Romana doing this). However, while the sequencing is traditional, it is definitely slanted toward the beginner or low intermediate exercisermany movements, such as the Teaser, are modified down, but few are modified up.
From the more advanced exerciser's point of view, Ungaro compensates for that somewhat by including some very rarely seen exercises, either from the Mat, Standing or Reformer-on-Mat sequences. The majority of those show up in the weights series (e.g., the Lunges) or the "functional fitness" workout, (e.g., the Splits). At the very least, they're a great way to incorporate variety into your Pilates routine.
While Ungaro previously used a Magic Circle in her other books and even an optional Pilates bar, here the only pieces of equipment required are a well-cushioned mat and hand weights; in other words, even more accessible for the average home exerciser.
The workouts themselves are: Day by Day, which is a modified version of the classical syllabus most Pilates practioners are familiar with (the Hundred through the Stomach Series, plus some other classics, although, again, movements like the Hundred and the Roll Up are modified); From the Top Down, which uses handweights and has a more immediate upper body emphasis, but also works the lower body if done properly; From the Bottom Up, which includes much of the well-known Side Kicks series as well as the modified Teaser and a few weightless upperbody movements); and Up, Up and Away, the functional fitness workout which includes a differently modified Hundred, some Rowing exercises, some spinal twists, some modified Reformer movements and the rarely seen Footwork and Splits series).
Because I have been doing Pilates for years, I would probably turn to the last workout the most because of the different movements. However, Ungaro also provides sample schedules for people who would like to incorporate all of the workouts into their weeks, with different time constraintsanother very useful guide.
As for the DVD, each workout takes the promised fifteen minutes, although experienced practitioners could probably perform them more quickly. Ungaro has a pleasant onscreen delivery in voice overpatient, warm, but to the chase. I think many people who want to get started with Pilates and need an AV guide would find her suitable.
This a great addition to the library of beginning and intermediate Pilates home-practitioners, but advanced students may want to look at Ungaro's older books.
I have been a big fan of Alycea Ungaro, for years I have purchased her books and the Classical Pilates DVD's that she collaborates on. This book/DVD combo is great. Thank you for finally giving us a book that can really open out and show everything step by step.
This is interactive Pilates, between the book and the DVD it is near impossible to not know your exact form and the page references are nice. Even though I have practiced Pilates for years I still found myself pausing and checking the book to make sure I knew what I was suppose to be doing. (Especially with the arm series which had many new exercises for me.)
The first workout is really a Pilates prep or reset. Where you get back to the basics and even into pre-basics.
The second workout is more about upper body w/ light weights.
The third workout focuses on the leg series and lower body.
The forth workout is more of a full body workout that is more intense than the first workout.
Since these are all 15 minute workouts, its easy to fit them into your day. I have been doing 15 mins in the morning after my cardio with a PM session to get the full 30 mins into my daily work week. Then on Saturdays I'll do 30-60 mins depending on how much time I have.
I liked this Book/DVD combo so much I have come back to purchase a copy for my mother.
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Everything about this book is great. For a start, the presentation is really good from the smooth cover to the well-designed page layouts and clear photographs demonstrating the exercises. The pages that 'fold out' to show each of the four workouts are also very helpful. Perhaps most importantly, the exercises are all explained in detail and each stage is described in a simple yet effective way. Overall, it just feels like a lot of effort went into every aspect of the book to make it user friendly.
The DVD is the perfect complement to the book. I didn't realise that you could move from one exercise to another so quickly and without the DVD I would have been going at a much slower speed. I was also amazed by the variety of exercises crammed into each of the 4 workouts! The time goes by really quickly because you are never just standing about waiting for the next exercise to start, you are always either doing an exercise or transitioning into the next. I really have to praise the author, Alycea Ungaro, for the wonderful way that she voices over the DVD. Her instructions are simple and her tone of voice is very pleasant and calm. She makes the whole thing a real pleasure to do and makes me feel very motivated.
As a complete Pilates beginnner, I found the workouts quite tough. I was able to follow the moves most of the time, but sometimes I couldn't do all the repetitions or get myself into exactly the right position. But nevermind, this will obviously come with practice! By the end of each of the 15 mins I often have sweat breaking out on my forehead and my muscles feel like they have had a good workout. I like the way you can do just one 15 minute section or combine them. I like to do the 'Day by Day' section followed by one of the other 3 sections (I alternate them each time) for a good 30 minute routine.
Overall, I highly recommend this product. It has a very slick and professional feel and is very efficient in terms of fitting a lot of exercise into a short period of time.
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I have done a lot of different styles of workouts, but not Pilates. Recently my doctor recommended I get some Pilates training and workouts, so this book does a great job of going into the details, so the CD workouts can be followed with correct posture and breathing. The 15 min workouts can be linked together to make a longer session, or taken on one at a time. Great explanations and photos to get you going.
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I dont write many reviews, but have been wanting to get the word out on this deceptively modest "little book". I'm a middle aged man, and I was looking for an excercise program that would help me reclaim my computer desk body. I was also looking for a program that would help me for the remainder of my life. After much research, I settled on Pilates. I learned that Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and others would send their dancers to Joseph Pilates for training and/or rehabilitation after an injury. With clients like that, I cant logically think of a better health and physical maintenance method. Since a dancer's body is their artistic medium, dance has some of the greatest athletes. We just don't hear of their accomplishments in the win/lose paradigm of today's sports obsessed culture and media. They are appreciated, but only by a smaller audience.
My next step was to find a resource that would keep me on track, while helping me gain an understanding of the Pilates method.
Ms. Ungaro provides that, and more in this easy to use, clearly illustrated book and DVD. With regular use, I've seen great results and feel much better.
It wasn't easy to start rebuilding a body that had been neglected for so long. My body wasn't strong enough to perform the excercises correctly. With patience, and without force, I slowly began to gain greater control over my body's movements and my breathing, 15 minutes each day. Thanks to Ms. Ungaro's no nonsense program, I was able to work up to doing the excercises correctly. Holding the "Pilates stance" is not easy, but once I was able to do so, and sync my breathing, the power of Ms. Ungaro's book was revealed to me. It was then that my real Pilates work began. I was humbled since it requires great strength, concentration, and commitment. In today's gym culture, the focus is on the outside. "Wow, they've got some guns" is a phrase we in the culture when referring to people who are working ther arms, shoulders and pecs with weights. Not that there is anyting wrong with that, but the Pilates practitioner has their guns on the inside, not the outside. They do not stand out as a person who is in "great shape" by stereotypical tape measure standards. Since the practice focuses on the inside out, and weights are rarely, if ever used, it can appear to be a method best suited for the weak, uncommitted type who can't handle a workout that lacks chutzpah. This couldn't be further from the truth.
My workout efforts were noticed over a year later when I was heading into work one day, I dropped my glasses just as I was getting on an elevator. I had an open coffee in my hand and without thinking much about it, I quickly leaned over, balancing on one leg, and scooped up my glasses up from the lobby floor in one smooth motion. I didnt spill a drop of my precious morning coffee. Another office worker making his way onto the elevator saw me make the move, and he could not refrain from complimenting me on my agility. I didnt know the person, so I will confess that it was a little awkward to receive such a sincere and unexpected compliment. What has become a natural movement for me was a graceful, physical feat in the eyes of a younger, heavier set man.
If you want to change your body, and possibly your life,get this book and stick with it.
Naturally, before starting any excercise program, Ms. Ungaro recommends checking with your doctor.
Good ideas and checklist for personal hygiene issues, great for special needs students aged 9 21 yrs, cartons are age appropriate.
