The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates - Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Book Reviews

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The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates

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The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates
By Françoise Barbira Freedman, Bel Gibbs, Doriel Hall, Emily Kelly, Jonathan Monks, and Judy Smith
Lorenz Books: London (2005)
ISBN: 0-7548-1582-X

Reviewed by Simone Bonim - January 3, 2006

Both Yoga and Pilates, a fitness program developed by Joseph Hubertus Pilates, share many similarities. Both methods tone and strengthen the body, and both are performed through controlled and fluid movements. As such, the two methods compliment and support each other, creating a complete and total exercise program that will increase your flexibility, tone and strengthen the body, invigorate your body, calm your mind, and both methods are ideal for practice at home. In The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates, you will not only find an assortment of basic, and easy to do, Yoga and Pilates exercise for both adults and children, but you'll also find that this book is infused with outstanding photos of people actually doing the various poses and exercises. These illustrations show you how you should look while doing the various exercises, and they enhance the already clear and precise step-by-step instructions that walk you through each exercise.

Written by Françoise Barbira Freedman, Bel Gibbs, Doriel Hall, Emily Kelly, Jonathan Monks, and Judy Smith, this book is truly encyclopedic in scope. In addition to showing you how to do the various exercises and poses, this text also provides insights into the fundamental principles that underline the practice of Yoga and Pilates. Throughout the text you'll also find information about the history and philosophy of Yoga and Pilates, the benefits of both systems, and how you can combine Yoga and Pilates to create a personally tailored exercise regiment. Perhaps most important of all, throughout this book you'll find encouragement and tips that will help keep you motivated - and exercising!

The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates is divided into six main sections:

Iyengar Yoga
Pilates
Yoga-Pilates
Yoga for Pregnancy and After
Yoga for Children
Meditation

There are a vast variety of books on the market that claim to show you how to perform various yoga poses or how to do Pilates styled exercises. Most fall short in two areas - lack of concise directions and insufficient illustrations to allow someone working on their own to do the exercises correctly. One book that I have found that has neither of these flaws is The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates. This is by far, the best all around book that I've found and with more than 1,800 illustrations and sequential, easy to follow step-by-step instructions, you'll find that you'll be able to master these postures and exercises without any difficulty.

Without reserve, I have to say that The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates is the best all-round fitness book that I've found. The illustrations in this book are phenomenal and provide excellent guidance in how to perform the various movements. In addition, tips are offered on how to modify each exercise to meet your own needs, especially when you cannot do the exercise as shown due to previous injury or lack of flexibility. (You'll find that in a relatively short time, flexibility will no longer be an issue, as you will discover that these exercises will increase your flexibility at a prodigious rate. However, always be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.)

This book is also great because you'll find that these exercises do not require the purchase of expensive equipment or speciality items. All you basically need is a clear piece of floor and a small mat or rug, and you're good to go. Additional items that you may need include a chair, towels, a band or belt, and some pillows - all items that you should be able to find about your house. In addition, throughout this book, you'll find tips on how to design you own workout program for both general fitness and for meeting specific goals such as increasing cardiovascular health. The Practical Encyclopedia of Yoga & Pilates is five stars all the way!

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