The Complete Book of Pilates for Men: The Lifetime Plan for Strength, Power & Peak Performance | 
| Author: Daniel Lyon
Publisher: Collins Living
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $9.99
You Save: $9.96 (50%)
New (27) Used (21) from $7.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 10039
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 7.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 0060820772
Dewey Decimal Number: 613.71
EAN: 9780060820770
ASIN: 0060820772
Publication Date: October 1, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: GREAT Bargain Book Deal - like new, some may have small remainder mark - Ships out by NEXT Business Day - Over ONE MILLION Amazon orders filled - 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!
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Product Description
A comprehensive, take-anywhere exercise program designed to improve men's strength, flexibility, balance, and posture Have years of office work wreaked havoc on your posture? Could your tennis or golf game use a boost? Do you appear or feel older than your age? Or do you carry yourself in a manner that expresses strength, power, and peak performance to everyone around you? In recent years, Pilates has become a popular exercise program, especially among women. Many books on the subject show lithe female bodies stretched across their covers. Top Pilates instructor Daniel Lyon Jr. aims to break the preconception that Pilates only benefits and appeals to women. "This couldn't be further from the truth," he asserts. "Joseph Pilates was a cigar-smoking boxer, acrobat, and gymnast, and he developed his exercise program from that background for men first." Likewise, Lyon designed this book specifically with men in mind, as the number of male Pilates practitioners -- among them professional athletes, actors, businessmen, and other high-profile personalities -- has rocketed to about three million and continues to grow. For athletes, working stiffs, and men recovering from injuries, Lyon offers the first comprehensive exercise program of its kind. He walks you through forty "traditional mat" exercises and more than sixty "reformer on the mat" exercises -- each one brilliantly illustrated -- in an inspiring self-guided program that adapts to all experience levels and requires nothing more than floor space, an exercise mat, and the desire to look and feel your best. Using the Pilates method of engaging the strongest parts of the body, or the "powerhouse" (Joseph Pilates's term for the abdominals, hips, lower back muscles, and buttocks), and integrating all other body parts from this core, Lyon's program targets trouble spots for men and helps them achieve strong, lean, masculine physiques. The Complete Book of Pilates for Men will deliver quick and long-term results to any man who seeks optimal fitness and a competitive edge in all aspects of his life.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
Not just for men April 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been practicing and teaching Pilates for years, and although I continue to be challenged by the original mat exercises, there are times that my students crave different exercises. I, too, have been increasingly curious about the Reformer on the Mat exercises, and though I've seen bits and pieces in other workouts, I haven't seen one that offers them in a cohesive system. This one does, showing not only the sequence the exercises should be performed in but also the different levels for each exercise (although most of them are quite challenging).
I do still have to shake my head and laugh at the need to market the system for men- anyone who has ever tried the Pilates pushups, Side Bends or Leg Pull Ups should already know that classical Pilates demands- and builds- upper body strength. However, in the text where Lyons notes that some of these exercises are exclusively for men- or individuals with significant upper body strength- I mostly agree. I happily cede the very tricky Headstand variations to male practitioners and instructors, although I will note that they are very similar to a number of movements from the Ashtanga Primary Series.
This is an excellent resource for male or female practitioners and instructors, and if it finally gets people to realize that Pilates is a real workout and not just a souped up abs and stretch routine, so much the better.
Excellent! February 27, 2008
This book is exactly what I needed. Exercises are well explained. No boring stuff around, goes straight to the point. I already feel better...
Great workout for Body and Mind January 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a great fan of no equipment/body weight exercises. It is amazing what level of fitness can be achieved by following the exercises as outlined in D. Lyon's book and i fully endorse the other positive reviews on this book. The book is very user friendly with precise descriptions of the exercises and specific recommendations for men with tight hamstrings, hips, etc. It's very easy to build up your program step by step over time and you will see results very quickly (at least I did in terms of core strength, slimmer waistline and more muscle tone).
I use this book along with David Swenson's great Practice manual on Ashtanga Yoga and between the exercises of these 2 books and occasional runs in the park I will stay busy for the rest of my life. The great thing is that I don't need to spend a dime on gym memberships, equipment, etc.
Excellent overall workout November 28, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I continue to be incredibly surprised by the effect this workout has on me. I've always been physically active but constantly suffered from tightness along my lower back and legs, despite conventional stretching. After routinely performing the exercises in this book, I found myself feeling unusually well. My back quit feeling so sore and my calves, shin and hamstring stopped feeling as tight after my usual non-Pilate workouts.
Interestingly enough, my family loaned me several Pilate workout videos when they discovered my enthusiasm. I've tried a few of them but have not had as pleasant an experience. The videos aren't targeted for men, perhaps this lends a clue. I suspect, however, that the book just includes some great lower back and leg stretches that the videos do not.
The Single Best Book on the Market October 13, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I am a certified Pilates instructor and I consider this book to be THE authoratative text on Pilates mat work. It is not only an incredible resource for teachers seeking to "tighten up" their already advanced form, but also a fantastic, user-friendly entry point for a beginner looking to build a Pilates practice from the ground up. Exercise descriptions are both clear and concise, and the unique illustrations of the exercises "in motion" go far beyond run-of-the-mill photographs. Lyon's instruction on classical mat work is worth the price of admission alone, but his "Reformer on the mat" section puts this book over the top. "The Complete Book of Pilates for Men" is just that: complete. Man or woman. Beginner or advanced. When I was learning the nuts and bolts of Pilates, I wore out my copy of Lyon's book. It is truly exceptional, and anyone serious about Pilates needs to own it.
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