Best Pilates Books & Videos/DVD's

topic posted Sat, August 27, 2005 - 12:38 PM by  Princess Judy
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What do you find the best books and videos/DVD's about pilates (or pilates and a combination of something else like bellydance or yoga, I've noticed people mentioning the Suhaila video)? In addition to classes, or as a tool to learn pilates at home...

I have three books on pilates and a dvd that came with one of the books.
I don't attend classes, because I already take bellydance and yoga classes and have to make choices... And pilates doesn't have my main focus, bellydance has. I've learned pilates through books, and video taping and observing myself, and think that works well enough for me. I'd like to share the books I've been using, and am curious what other people have been working with.

- Pilates Body in Motion, Alycea Ungaro.
This is the book I use the most, very good descriptions, many clear, big photos in color, it teaches you the whole mat series with a preparation, a beginner, intermediate and advanced program. It also has two additional programs: The Wall Series plus working with the magic circle.
I find this book excellent.

- The Pilates Body, Brooke Siler
Another great book. The book has small black and white pictures, which I find a pity. They are clear enough, but I like the above book better. It also has illustrations in it, to show you how you can visualize things. It has elaborate descriptions from a bit different viewpoint then Ungaro's, and therefore I think that this book is a wonderful addition to Ungaro's book.
It also teaches you the complete mat series (seperate beginner/intermediate/advanced programs), plus there's a program for your arms (training with weights) and an additional section with very advanced extra moves.

Both Alycea Ungaro and Brooke Siler are very renown trainers and studied directly under Romana Kryzanowska, one of Joseph Pilates' direct successors.

-Ground Control Pilates, Debbie Jenner, with DVD
I think this book perhaps only comes in Dutch. Jenner is American though, so I'm not quite sure, but she's based here in The Netherlands. I just bought this book in a bookstore before I received the other two through the internet (which to a bit), to get started already. I've seen the dvd once, but didn't really like it. Not that it isn't a useful one, but I don't like practicing with dvd's, since it's never in MY tempo, but the dvd surely shows you how certain moves are done in real time.
Also, the book doesn't teach you a certain program, there are different programs to choose from, with focus on specific areas of the body, for example: thighs and glutes, or back, or stomach. I don't think this is a really great book, I like the full mat program the other two books offer, because it is very complete. But this book has some very good pictures and descriptions in it, so although I hardly use it, I do see it as an addition to the above two. It has some excercises in it, which can't be found in the other two books, and which I found helpful. This is a book I refer to if I need just one or two excercises for specific reasons.

Overall, I think it's better to study more than one book on the subject to get a broader view of pilates.

posted by:
Princess Judy
Netherlands
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  • Re: Best Pilates Books & Videos/DVD's

    Sun, December 18, 2005 - 9:04 PM
    Another great resource is "The Pilates Body Kit" by Brooke Siler. This is especially good for people who already have her book and are already familar with Pilates.

    The kit is a box set that includes 2 audio cd's where Brooke cues pilates matwork routines at fundamental, beginner and intermediate levels; a deck of cards that illustrate the exercises and give tips; and a journal/tip booklet. I also have Siler's book "The Pilates Body", but I find the CD/card deck an tool when practicing than a book. (The book does have more detail on the exercises). I use to take Pilates from a teacher who was accredited by the same instructor Brooke studied with, so I might have a bias since her technique is what I am use to.

    I like the Suhaila fusion dvd, but I am not sure how much actual Pilates is involved. The Pilates seems rather minimal, but it is a fusion workout and I think it is still worthwhile. I have Suhaila's Fusion 4-dvd box set and love it as a whole--the Pilates is my least favorite of the four.
  • Re: Best Pilates Books & Videos/DVD's

    Tue, April 25, 2006 - 10:56 PM
    "Classical Pilates" dvd series. It's the absolute best! Google "Classical Pilates" and it will be the first to pop up. Two gentlemen and a woman. (Sorry I can never remember their names.) Highly, HIGHLY recommend them!
    • Re: Best Pilates Books & Videos/DVD's

      Tue, May 30, 2006 - 6:25 PM
      I think Aubre is referring to "Classical Pilates Technique", I have "The Complete Mat Workout Series". The instructors on the dvd I have are Bob Liekens, Alycea Ungaro and Peter Fiasca (but they might be different in other dvds in the series?).

      There are many reviews of this DVD on Amazon. Some love it and find it to be true Pilates and some find it too fast. It is a good dvd, but kind of fast for a beginner. (It is faster paced than most of the Pilates teachers I have taken classes with). I think it is best for someone who has already learned the basics of Pilates and has good technique.

      The website listed on the dvd is www.classicalpilates.net
      • Re: Best Pilates Books & Videos/DVD's

        Sun, July 15, 2007 - 2:46 AM
        I have bought this dvd and indeed, it's GREAT.
        I wouldn't practice with it, because as I said earlier, dvd's are never in MY tempo and I find it distracting to 'watch and do' at the same time.
        However, the dvd shows the whole mat series in real time and is, as the title says, complete.
        It was great to see how strong and LEAN those people are, I actually didn't expect you could become thát lean with pilates.
        It's very inspiring to see how it's done by people who really know there stuff...!
        Also, the realtime thing is good, you just can't get that from a book.
        I read in one of my books that advanced Pilates practisioners could do the excercises very quickly (when I got advanced in my daily workouts, I became a lot quicker as well so I knew this had to be true and figured Pilates isn't really a slow thing), however to séé it done by true professionals is a whole different thing.
        I noticed that there were readers on Amazon.com who were surprised by the pace, somehow thinking that pilates is done very slowly like some types of yoga. Some things you just can't get out of a book.
        Maybe I'm going to get me some real life classes after the summer...
        • Re: Best Pilates Books & Videos/DVD's

          Sun, July 15, 2007 - 10:35 AM
          Nothing is better than an private session or class with a knowledgable teacher. Go for it!!!

          The Classical series is fantastic for the reasons brought up earlier. For me, I appreciate seeing where something is going. How an exercise progresses. This allows me to understand the emphasis more and the process I'll be experiencing with it. And to see a full workout (mat, reformer, cadillac, etc) by these wonderful practioners is inspiring! And talk about form!!

          For beginners I really like Ana Carbin's basic dvd's. They are well paced with clear instruction. I got her mat workout for my mom to practise with and she really enjoys it.

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