The Pilates Method of Physical and Mental Conditioning Paperback – December 29, 2004

I've bought this book 4 times in the last 25 years! I studied at the original Pilates studio in Carnegie Hall years ago, when I went there for my opera singing lessons twice a week. This book makes the technique crystal clear. Not an easy thing to communicate through a book, as it is very subtle. But Pilates is the best system of exercise ever. If it's the real thing (classical Pilates they have to call it, since there are so many people who bastardized Pilates with their own take on it but missing entirely its subtle heart), it feels delicious to do, and your body responds very quickly to it, improving your posture, your emotional balance, and your sense of contentment. Excellent book.

Been looking for this book for awhile. One of the first Pilates book that is authentic.

A must have for the Pilates archive collector in your life -- and of course for your Pilates student/teacher. It's from this book that we get the often mis-attributed "6 Principles of Pilates" - Centering, Control, Coordination, Breath, Flow, Precision. Joe did not label these as his principles - but they are found in every exercise - these authors just labeled them as such. It's important to know that. I love having a copy of this for my studio library.

This book is an old print (before I was born actually) but it is exteremely easy to follow along with and contains all the information you need to understand the basics of Pilates.

Packaged securely and beautifully. Exceeded my expectations— Thank you!

This is a wonderful clear book on the mat exercises of the Pilates Method. I wish they'd reprint it as the book is getting harder to find! Still, for the classical exercises and a great workout... this is the book to own!

I'm using this as part of my physical therapy. Turns out my "core" is much weakened. Strengthening and conditioning my core is hard work, but this makes it understandable, if not fun.

This book is top notch. It explains Pilates in simple and viewable form and makes it possible for a novice to delve in to this wonderful form of strengthening right at the start. The pictures and descriptions are accurate and work well.