Pilates: Get on the Ball--Discover Your Longest, Leanest Body with Pilates on the Ball

US Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness > Pilates

Once practiced mainly by dancers and celebrities, Pilates-a low-impact technique that engages the mind and body in strengthening muscles and improving flexibility and posture-has inspired a whole new generation of enthusiasts who have discovered its ability to create a slimmer, more toned physique. Now, in Pilates-Get on the Ball, leading Pilates practitioner Michael King adds an exciting new dimension by adapting key exercises for the exercise ball. Based on the concept that performing Pilates moves on the "wobbly" ball forces us to use our core muscles more intensely, King offers readers a range of exercises that make this rigorous method of body conditioning even more effective. The handy, portable format with each exercise photographed in two-color throughout provides the perfect guide for clarity and exact range of movement. Of course, it can also be modified to suit individual requirements, while several program options show how to combine exercises. Challenging enough to satisfy seasoned Pilates devotees and accessible enough to inspire the sedentary newcomer, Pilates-Get on the Ball fully explores the advantages of working on the ball and shows readers step-by-step how to build strong, dynamic bodies and refreshed minds.