The Anatomy of Pilates

Created by Joseph Pilates during the early 20th century, Pilates is used by millions today to improve their physical and mental well-being. Much of its appeal lies in its simple, low-impact approach, which is ideal for injury prevention, rehabilitation, and general physical health. Based on a series of precise movements and the employment of equipment such as rubber balls and exercise bands, Pilates emphasizes concentration, control, alignment, core stability, and proper breathing. The Anatomy of Pilates shows what actually happens to the body's muscles and joints during Pilates exercises. Each two-page spread features detailed anatomical illustrations of an exercise (with muscle actions highlighted in red), a detailed description of the exercise and its objectives, the particular breathing pattern to be used, a list of the specific muscles being worked, visualization techniques, complementary exercises, and more. The Anatomy of Pilates is an accessible, authoritative guide for current and prospective teachers of Pilates, practitioners at all skill levels, physical therapists, and other health professionals.