The Little Pilates Book

Pilates is not new--ballet dancers have been using it since the 1920s--but this discipline has won many more recent adherents as exercisers discover its numerous benefits, especially its ability to increase abdominal strength. The handy Little Pilates Book presents the philosophy, advantages, and history of Pilates; a "Pilatespeak" glossary that decodes the terminology you'll hear in a Pilates class; and 15 exercises. Each exercise has clear, step-by-step instructions, including tips and modifications, and illustrations of each position of each move. Be sure to study the eight "Guiding Principles" so you perform the exercises correctly. Erika Dillman (not a Pilates instructor, but an exerciser and writer who discovered Pilates and loves it) answers many basic questions, like what to wear, what kind of mat to use, and how many minutes to spend on each exercise.

Dillman wisely recommends using her book as an adjunct to a Pilates class or private lessons, not as a complete course in itself. You need an instructor to teach you proper form and give you feedback as you practice the exercises. Then, when you know what you're doing, this book can remind you about which exercises to practice and how to do them. The book's small size (less than six inches square) makes it a useful traveling companion for vacations and business trips. --Joan Price