Pilates Fusion: Well-Being for Body, Mind, and Spirit

Pilates Fusion is a great introduction, as well as an excellent resource for the more experienced Pilates student. The fitness industry has spun the work of Joseph Pilates in many different directions, but this book has a true spirit of evolution. In chapter one, the author has clearly articulated the intent of Pilates Fusion, while explaining the origins and honoring the the foundational work of Joseph Pilates. I have found this book to be a constant inspiration as well as a practical guide. The Spirit~one with nature, Listen To Your Body and Benefits side bars are encouraging as well as clarifying. Even after a number of years, I refer to Pilates Fusion to develop and grow my own integration of Pilates into my fitness routine.

After taking pilates classes for more than two years, I have acquired several books and videos with the aim of supporting workouts at home. This is by far the best! Not only does it include many useful sequences for home workouts to fit needs and schedules (last section), but it provides a wonderful orientation to pilates and to all of its main exercises. For each exercise, the book includes: clear steps to follow, a diagram of a man or woman doing the exercise, benefits (in relation to particular body parts strengthened, general physical outcomes, and mental benefits), how to listen to your body while doing the exercize, and how to spiritually ground it. Shirley Archer does a wonderful job of integrating instruction for pilates as an exercise program with guidance for experiencing the range of its physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. The book is great for pilates beginners and devotees!

I bought a copy of Pilates Fusion, and really enjoy it. I especially like the "Spirit- one with nature" elements and the "Listen to your body" tips in the sidebars of each page. These extra bits of information enhance your awareness and understanding of the Pilates exercises to help make them more useful.

Speaking as a sixty-something beginning Pilates student, this book has been enormously helpful. Pilates exercises have made my back and upper body much stronger-I can now safely hoist a heavy suitcase into the overhead rack on a plane. Pilates Fusion is a great guide for home practice. I forget the exercises by the time I get home from a class-and often miss classes-so having an easy-to-follow guide is essential. The directions and illustrations are clear and concise and provide good cues for what to pay attention to. Reminders about the connections between mind and breath and body and "listening to your body" place the book beyond typical "how-to" guides, adding the mental to the physical and protecting against injury. I definitely recommend Pilates Fusion.

i am a certified Pilates instructor and i've been looking for a good book to recommend to my students. this book has it all! i am also very "spiritual" about my Pilates practice; and i wanted a book that would go into aspects that help get more focused inward. the drawings in this book are accurate and attractive. they are detailed just enough that you know what the body should look like while doing a move. plus the spiral binding makes it easy to lay down next to your mat. i recommend this book for beginners as well as more advanced Pilates practitioners.