The Complete Book of Pilates for Men by Daniel Lyon Jr.

[TomFurman]

I am hot and cold on Pilates. I respect Joseph Pilates an innovator and a trainer of athletes. Dancers getting into Pilates kind of feminized it and men tend to avoid anything it might offer. Pilates books are the same way, girl stuff and leotards.
Daniel Lyon Jr. offers and alternative. He is a former Jits guy and former powerlifter. Like many, he was pretty bruised and beaten by these hobbies and the mileage showed. He tried Pilates and it basically cured anything that was ailing him. No magic, just understand structure, movement, etc. etc. Daniel like many of us cut to the essential by locating Joseph Pilates oldest living student. The text that follows is a result of that study and application.

The book used detailed drawing vs photographs and this is a huge advancement in visual communication. It includes the matwork, then the adaptation of the Reformer work to the mat. This is where the old master showed the young lifter and jits player that less is more and if you understand the concept the need for complex tools is minimized.

The weak point is more time should have been spent on program design. There are training courses, but you have to refer back to the list again and again. The strength is the variety of movements. These include standing motions and MENS ONLY moves, not taught to women by Pilates. The Swakate Series is one of those. Even neck bridging, Joe Pilates style is taught since he trained boxers. Many of the movements will familiar to those who indulge in modern training that includes mobility, and bodyweight training programs. Joe Pilates proceeded all of the current guys by decades. You can see where their material is synthesized from.

I think this is an excellent book for your library. The program in whole or the individual exercises are VERY well thought out. I hope they do a series of DVD's. Finally the book recommends staying athletic and doing all sports and using Pilates to maintain balance. This is a breath of fresh air since may practitioners tell you this is the only workout you will need.
A+ in my book. --Tom Furman

[dalexan242]

This is probably a dumb question, but for those of us ignant of Pilates, could someone tell me what the fundamental differences are between Pilates and Yoga (YRG-style)? I used to think it was that Pilates required the pulley machines, but apparently that isn't really the case. Not looking for an essay, just the quick-and-dirty oversimplified difference(s).

[TomFurman]

Yoga is transitions between positions. Pilates is like focused calisthenics tward body integrity. I think YRG is layed out in terms of program design very well. Pilates for Men is detailed about the Joe Pilates system for men including things like one legged squats, pushup variations, low back and ab work, and neck work.

[mrzero]

Of the pile of pilates books I looked over when trying to find techniques to rehab my back this was the one that made things clearest, though like TomI wish more time had been put into program design.

[GoDogGo!]

Thanks, this does fill in a bit of the confusion I've always had about Pilates; namely, how I'd always read that he created it to help put back together soldiers hurt in WWI, yet now it's a "woman thing."

I may put this in the mix once the Yoga Doc isn't kicking my ass quite so badly.

GDG!

[Grandpa's Spells]

How does this hold up? This came up in a bunch of training logs here from 2008-2009 but seems to have disappeared since, unless I'm missing it.

[Fat Cat]

It's a good book. I have used the beginner and intermediate programs. Like all mat exercises, it's boring.

[SubClaw]

It's a good book. I have used the beginner and intermediate programs. Like all mat exercises, it's boring.

Are you really sure about that?

[Fat Cat]

I'm willing to reconsider.