==Lots of Strengths==, 17 Sep 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.


Excellent!!!, 24 Aug 2008
This book really is as good as they say. The illustrations are superb and make it a worthwhile read just to appreciate the anatomy of the human body, but more importantly of course to understand what happens to which muscles during strength training.

The little sections explaining common injuries and how to avoid them are also a great benefit.

Highly recommended.

A great reference, 04 Aug 2008
Strength Training Anatomy is set out in a style that is very easy to read, each chapter detailing a new body part and within it a detailed list of some of the more popular exercises and how to perform them. By saying popular, I really mean the more traditional exercises using fixed resistance machines, dumbells and barbells. My POV is that it is very much old school - you can tell that by the illustrations of the guy in the 80's striped bodybuilding pants. If you are looking for educational material on functional strength and core strength which is very much in vogue and correctly so, then this book is not perhaps what you are looking for. Instead I would highly recommend this book as a text book and point of reference for all practitioners that prescribe exercise routines and those that are learnig about the anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems. Other interested exercise enthusiasts will get a great foundation knowledge on the traditional exercises to learn.

Fantastic!, 07 Jul 2008
I've had this for over a year, I bought it after reading reviews on Amazon. I continue refer to this book time after time! My mate spent so much time looking at my copy that he had to get his own copy in the end! Not really sure how they could improve on this book...maybe add some nutritional info, but that's not really what this book is about. Whether building muscle, toning, or just keeping fit, this book covers the muscle biology of all the muscle groups in fantastic detail. You wont look at the human body in the same way again! Buy it, you wont regret it!

Excellant Illustrations!, 19 Jun 2008
I personally used most of the exercises to great affect. The illustrations really assist to get the exercises to pinpoint precision. It also assists in avoiding injury with the highlighted warnings. I was not after a huge book, its portable enough to fit in any sports bag to have a browse before starting a workout. The instructions are very easy to follow, a great read for all seeking to improve their workout regime.

==Lots of Strengths==, 17 Sep 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.


Excellent!!!, 24 Aug 2008
This book really is as good as they say. The illustrations are superb and make it a worthwhile read just to appreciate the anatomy of the human body, but more importantly of course to understand what happens to which muscles during strength training.

The little sections explaining common injuries and how to avoid them are also a great benefit.

Highly recommended.

A great reference, 04 Aug 2008
Strength Training Anatomy is set out in a style that is very easy to read, each chapter detailing a new body part and within it a detailed list of some of the more popular exercises and how to perform them. By saying popular, I really mean the more traditional exercises using fixed resistance machines, dumbells and barbells. My POV is that it is very much old school - you can tell that by the illustrations of the guy in the 80's striped bodybuilding pants. If you are looking for educational material on functional strength and core strength which is very much in vogue and correctly so, then this book is not perhaps what you are looking for. Instead I would highly recommend this book as a text book and point of reference for all practitioners that prescribe exercise routines and those that are learnig about the anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems. Other interested exercise enthusiasts will get a great foundation knowledge on the traditional exercises to learn.

Fantastic!, 07 Jul 2008
I've had this for over a year, I bought it after reading reviews on Amazon. I continue refer to this book time after time! My mate spent so much time looking at my copy that he had to get his own copy in the end! Not really sure how they could improve on this book...maybe add some nutritional info, but that's not really what this book is about. Whether building muscle, toning, or just keeping fit, this book covers the muscle biology of all the muscle groups in fantastic detail. You wont look at the human body in the same way again! Buy it, you wont regret it!

Excellant Illustrations!, 19 Jun 2008
I personally used most of the exercises to great affect. The illustrations really assist to get the exercises to pinpoint precision. It also assists in avoiding injury with the highlighted warnings. I was not after a huge book, its portable enough to fit in any sports bag to have a browse before starting a workout. The instructions are very easy to follow, a great read for all seeking to improve their workout regime.

Essential for Training!, 09 Jul 2008
A "must-have" reference book on nutrition for all athletes,body-builders,fitness buffs,runners,cyclists....anyone who trains.
Well laid out,simple to understand,and allows you to pick-up important little nuggets of information and adapt them into your training regime.
Will be well-thumbed in ANY gym by trainers and athletes looking for that LEGAL extra edge.

As important as your training plan, 16 Mar 2008
Anita Bean is to training and nutrition as Jamie Oliver is to cooking. Easy to understand and the methodology can be easily applied. However well you train, you won't achieve the optimum performance unless you have taken the right food and drink before and after a session, and taken it at the time that it will have the best effect on your body. Anita Bean not only provides that advice, but also covers weight gain and loss, young athletes, women, and 'veggies'. If you're half serious about your sport and fitness, you need this book. Whilst all the reviewers so far have given this book 5 stars, the best endorsement for me was when I recently attended an outpatients department and the young clinician who saw me reading the book said; "that's great, I read it at Uni".

Its a good book, 04 Jun 2007
I have been training for about 4 months now, and last ,month I bought a book from Amazon called Muscle Mechanics which was great.
But there was a piece of the jigsaw missing - nutrition.
I ordered this book based on reviews etc. And I am extremely happy to say it is all I will ever need. I know little about nitriotion, but this book has given me a much better understanding. I have already made adjustments to my diet and based on the advice in the book will start taking additional supplements. If your Vegan, young, old - this book is for you.

An actual COMPLETE GUIDE! Fascinating Reading, 15 Dec 2004
Admittedly I have only had the initial flick through and a read of the parts I found most interesting at first but I will read through the entire book when I get it back from my fitness enthuisiast work colleague who has borrowed it and is finding it as fascinating as I did. He does cite it as more of an academic book than a leisurely read but is still enjoying it anyway.
I bought this with a hope of finding out more about how the body works during excercise and the part that food plays in that function and it hasnt disappointed me. Ive learnt exactly what I wanted to and more. Theres parts for working out your daily calorie intake and all those sorts of things.
This isnt a basic 'basic' book but I wouldnt say you need a science degree to understand it at all - I think it does all the explaining it needs to. Depending on your reading style and intake, and given the content you may want to read this a couple of times. I found I picked up the parts that interested me most first time round but to get a complete clear understanding of some parts that I might need another read through - but thats just me - we're all different hey!
Overall very good if your a fitness enthusiast and want to get into it further and have an actual understanding of how we work when excercising and the role food plays in it.

Essential Reading, 19 Oct 2004
This is one of those few perspective-changing books that you come across. I have been interested in weight-training, cardio activities and sports nutrition for a number of years, in the hope that I will improve my fitness levels and get leaner/more muscular. Up until reading this book I depended solely on magazines such as Muscle and Fitness for information and guidelines, but finding progress to be quite slow. This book changed everything. From the outset it is easily accessible but very informative, providing effective and revealing advice. As a result I am eating more healthily and effectively as regards to my training needs, and have found my progress to have quickened considerably. Extremely useful is the section on how much of carbs, protein and fat you need to eat for different goals (weight gain, fat loss, or sports-specific needs). It is ESSENTIAL reading to anyone who cares about their health, but especially for those who take their training and/or body composition seriously. Trust me, you'll be glad you bought this book!

==Lots of Strengths==, 17 Sep 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.


Excellent!!!, 24 Aug 2008
This book really is as good as they say. The illustrations are superb and make it a worthwhile read just to appreciate the anatomy of the human body, but more importantly of course to understand what happens to which muscles during strength training.

The little sections explaining common injuries and how to avoid them are also a great benefit.

Highly recommended.

A great reference, 04 Aug 2008
Strength Training Anatomy is set out in a style that is very easy to read, each chapter detailing a new body part and within it a detailed list of some of the more popular exercises and how to perform them. By saying popular, I really mean the more traditional exercises using fixed resistance machines, dumbells and barbells. My POV is that it is very much old school - you can tell that by the illustrations of the guy in the 80's striped bodybuilding pants. If you are looking for educational material on functional strength and core strength which is very much in vogue and correctly so, then this book is not perhaps what you are looking for. Instead I would highly recommend this book as a text book and point of reference for all practitioners that prescribe exercise routines and those that are learnig about the anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems. Other interested exercise enthusiasts will get a great foundation knowledge on the traditional exercises to learn.

Fantastic!, 07 Jul 2008
I've had this for over a year, I bought it after reading reviews on Amazon. I continue refer to this book time after time! My mate spent so much time looking at my copy that he had to get his own copy in the end! Not really sure how they could improve on this book...maybe add some nutritional info, but that's not really what this book is about. Whether building muscle, toning, or just keeping fit, this book covers the muscle biology of all the muscle groups in fantastic detail. You wont look at the human body in the same way again! Buy it, you wont regret it!

Excellant Illustrations!, 19 Jun 2008
I personally used most of the exercises to great affect. The illustrations really assist to get the exercises to pinpoint precision. It also assists in avoiding injury with the highlighted warnings. I was not after a huge book, its portable enough to fit in any sports bag to have a browse before starting a workout. The instructions are very easy to follow, a great read for all seeking to improve their workout regime.

Essential for Training!, 09 Jul 2008
A "must-have" reference book on nutrition for all athletes,body-builders,fitness buffs,runners,cyclists....anyone who trains.
Well laid out,simple to understand,and allows you to pick-up important little nuggets of information and adapt them into your training regime.
Will be well-thumbed in ANY gym by trainers and athletes looking for that LEGAL extra edge.

As important as your training plan, 16 Mar 2008
Anita Bean is to training and nutrition as Jamie Oliver is to cooking. Easy to understand and the methodology can be easily applied. However well you train, you won't achieve the optimum performance unless you have taken the right food and drink before and after a session, and taken it at the time that it will have the best effect on your body. Anita Bean not only provides that advice, but also covers weight gain and loss, young athletes, women, and 'veggies'. If you're half serious about your sport and fitness, you need this book. Whilst all the reviewers so far have given this book 5 stars, the best endorsement for me was when I recently attended an outpatients department and the young clinician who saw me reading the book said; "that's great, I read it at Uni".

Its a good book, 04 Jun 2007
I have been training for about 4 months now, and last ,month I bought a book from Amazon called Muscle Mechanics which was great.
But there was a piece of the jigsaw missing - nutrition.
I ordered this book based on reviews etc. And I am extremely happy to say it is all I will ever need. I know little about nitriotion, but this book has given me a much better understanding. I have already made adjustments to my diet and based on the advice in the book will start taking additional supplements. If your Vegan, young, old - this book is for you.

An actual COMPLETE GUIDE! Fascinating Reading, 15 Dec 2004
Admittedly I have only had the initial flick through and a read of the parts I found most interesting at first but I will read through the entire book when I get it back from my fitness enthuisiast work colleague who has borrowed it and is finding it as fascinating as I did. He does cite it as more of an academic book than a leisurely read but is still enjoying it anyway.
I bought this with a hope of finding out more about how the body works during excercise and the part that food plays in that function and it hasnt disappointed me. Ive learnt exactly what I wanted to and more. Theres parts for working out your daily calorie intake and all those sorts of things.
This isnt a basic 'basic' book but I wouldnt say you need a science degree to understand it at all - I think it does all the explaining it needs to. Depending on your reading style and intake, and given the content you may want to read this a couple of times. I found I picked up the parts that interested me most first time round but to get a complete clear understanding of some parts that I might need another read through - but thats just me - we're all different hey!
Overall very good if your a fitness enthusiast and want to get into it further and have an actual understanding of how we work when excercising and the role food plays in it.

Essential Reading, 19 Oct 2004
This is one of those few perspective-changing books that you come across. I have been interested in weight-training, cardio activities and sports nutrition for a number of years, in the hope that I will improve my fitness levels and get leaner/more muscular. Up until reading this book I depended solely on magazines such as Muscle and Fitness for information and guidelines, but finding progress to be quite slow. This book changed everything. From the outset it is easily accessible but very informative, providing effective and revealing advice. As a result I am eating more healthily and effectively as regards to my training needs, and have found my progress to have quickened considerably. Extremely useful is the section on how much of carbs, protein and fat you need to eat for different goals (weight gain, fat loss, or sports-specific needs). It is ESSENTIAL reading to anyone who cares about their health, but especially for those who take their training and/or body composition seriously. Trust me, you'll be glad you bought this book!

See "Inside" Your Yoga Poses, 26 Sep 2008
Yoga Anatomy is a book that gives the reader a look inside the human body as it is put in various yoga positions.

Chapter 1 covers the dynamics of breathing and actually covers some breathing physiology as well. Chapter 2 talks about the spine and gives some pretty detailed spinal information. Chapter 3 is short and covers the asanas.

The rest of the book, Chapters 4 through 9, make up the "meat" of the book and contains most of the anatomy information most readers probably bought the book for- what muscles are used in what poses. The way the book gives you the information is quite handy- it has a section on standing poses, sitting poses, kneeling poses, on-your-stomach poses, on-your-back poses, and arm supported poses. Sooo, all you have to do is pick a position/pose, and there you'll find pictures of what muscles are involved (and let me say, they show you some great angles of the poses to make sure the reader can see ALL the muscles that are involved). In addition to learing what muscles are involved, the book also tells you what joint actions are involved, as well as what body parts are working AND which ones are lengthening- neat!

A great reference book, its simply perfect for the yoga enthusiast that has become acquainted over time with muscles they never knew they had- but will now after reading this book! Also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if plantar fasciitis pain keeps you from doing your yoga.

Great resource, 06 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book for those studying yoga. It has plenty of detail which would come in handy during study.If you need help on joint movements and muscles being used during postures the this is the book you need to buy- very clear, interesting and brilliantly illustrated.

Good reference for students and teachers, 20 Apr 2008
This new book is one of very few available on the specific subject of yoga and anatomy.

The nice thing about this book is its accessibility - it has pictures of a range of poses in the style shown on the book cover, illustrating the muscular-skeletal system in the asana and highlighting the muscles being utilised (some postures shown from several angles). In some illustrations, the internal organs are also shown.

This helps you to relate anatomical and physiological knowledge to the actual asanas of yoga. The book also includes notes on breathing and the action of the joints in each posture.

Not as in-depth as the Coulter book, but at a good 400 pages shorter, that is to be expected. What this book offers instead is a more visual, illustrated approach and a great reference tool for serious students and teachers.

Everything about this tome by the leading Pilates authorities is official, marking it out as a serious, in-depth guide to the fitness system which creates lean bodies through building muscle, tone and flexibility.

Unlike many fitness books (including yoga), there is nothing superficial, glamorous or intimidating about the visuals. Photos (from various angles) are cleverly backed up with extra diagrams where needed, plus illustrations of the relevant muscles. Instructions are simple and surprisingly easy to follow.

At first glance this might seem more like a teacher's manual. After a detailed introduction, it is divided into beginners, intermediate, advanced and prescriptions. On closer examination, with the huge emphasis on explanations of how different muscles work, and the level of detail, it is a cross between a medical and fitness handbook. Indeed to many the health benefits of Pilates will be an additional, welcome, surprise.

In the end, however, it is an indispensable health guide, appealing both to hard-core Pilates fans as well as newcomers. The final section (Prescriptions) on work, play, health and even the performing arts, provides simple and invaluable advice, and even if you have never been to a Pilates class, you can benefit hugely. You are unlikely to ever sit or stand the same way again with this book in your home! --Lorna V.

==Lots of Strengths==, 17 Sep 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.


Excellent!!!, 24 Aug 2008
This book really is as good as they say. The illustrations are superb and make it a worthwhile read just to appreciate the anatomy of the human body, but more importantly of course to understand what happens to which muscles during strength training.

The little sections explaining common injuries and how to avoid them are also a great benefit.

Highly recommended.

A great reference, 04 Aug 2008
Strength Training Anatomy is set out in a style that is very easy to read, each chapter detailing a new body part and within it a detailed list of some of the more popular exercises and how to perform them. By saying popular, I really mean the more traditional exercises using fixed resistance machines, dumbells and barbells. My POV is that it is very much old school - you can tell that by the illustrations of the guy in the 80's striped bodybuilding pants. If you are looking for educational material on functional strength and core strength which is very much in vogue and correctly so, then this book is not perhaps what you are looking for. Instead I would highly recommend this book as a text book and point of reference for all practitioners that prescribe exercise routines and those that are learnig about the anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems. Other interested exercise enthusiasts will get a great foundation knowledge on the traditional exercises to learn.

Fantastic!, 07 Jul 2008
I've had this for over a year, I bought it after reading reviews on Amazon. I continue refer to this book time after time! My mate spent so much time looking at my copy that he had to get his own copy in the end! Not really sure how they could improve on this book...maybe add some nutritional info, but that's not really what this book is about. Whether building muscle, toning, or just keeping fit, this book covers the muscle biology of all the muscle groups in fantastic detail. You wont look at the human body in the same way again! Buy it, you wont regret it!

Excellant Illustrations!, 19 Jun 2008
I personally used most of the exercises to great affect. The illustrations really assist to get the exercises to pinpoint precision. It also assists in avoiding injury with the highlighted warnings. I was not after a huge book, its portable enough to fit in any sports bag to have a browse before starting a workout. The instructions are very easy to follow, a great read for all seeking to improve their workout regime.

Essential for Training!, 09 Jul 2008
A "must-have" reference book on nutrition for all athletes,body-builders,fitness buffs,runners,cyclists....anyone who trains.
Well laid out,simple to understand,and allows you to pick-up important little nuggets of information and adapt them into your training regime.
Will be well-thumbed in ANY gym by trainers and athletes looking for that LEGAL extra edge.

As important as your training plan, 16 Mar 2008
Anita Bean is to training and nutrition as Jamie Oliver is to cooking. Easy to understand and the methodology can be easily applied. However well you train, you won't achieve the optimum performance unless you have taken the right food and drink before and after a session, and taken it at the time that it will have the best effect on your body. Anita Bean not only provides that advice, but also covers weight gain and loss, young athletes, women, and 'veggies'. If you're half serious about your sport and fitness, you need this book. Whilst all the reviewers so far have given this book 5 stars, the best endorsement for me was when I recently attended an outpatients department and the young clinician who saw me reading the book said; "that's great, I read it at Uni".

Its a good book, 04 Jun 2007
I have been training for about 4 months now, and last ,month I bought a book from Amazon called Muscle Mechanics which was great.
But there was a piece of the jigsaw missing - nutrition.
I ordered this book based on reviews etc. And I am extremely happy to say it is all I will ever need. I know little about nitriotion, but this book has given me a much better understanding. I have already made adjustments to my diet and based on the advice in the book will start taking additional supplements. If your Vegan, young, old - this book is for you.

An actual COMPLETE GUIDE! Fascinating Reading, 15 Dec 2004
Admittedly I have only had the initial flick through and a read of the parts I found most interesting at first but I will read through the entire book when I get it back from my fitness enthuisiast work colleague who has borrowed it and is finding it as fascinating as I did. He does cite it as more of an academic book than a leisurely read but is still enjoying it anyway.
I bought this with a hope of finding out more about how the body works during excercise and the part that food plays in that function and it hasnt disappointed me. Ive learnt exactly what I wanted to and more. Theres parts for working out your daily calorie intake and all those sorts of things.
This isnt a basic 'basic' book but I wouldnt say you need a science degree to understand it at all - I think it does all the explaining it needs to. Depending on your reading style and intake, and given the content you may want to read this a couple of times. I found I picked up the parts that interested me most first time round but to get a complete clear understanding of some parts that I might need another read through - but thats just me - we're all different hey!
Overall very good if your a fitness enthusiast and want to get into it further and have an actual understanding of how we work when excercising and the role food plays in it.

Essential Reading, 19 Oct 2004
This is one of those few perspective-changing books that you come across. I have been interested in weight-training, cardio activities and sports nutrition for a number of years, in the hope that I will improve my fitness levels and get leaner/more muscular. Up until reading this book I depended solely on magazines such as Muscle and Fitness for information and guidelines, but finding progress to be quite slow. This book changed everything. From the outset it is easily accessible but very informative, providing effective and revealing advice. As a result I am eating more healthily and effectively as regards to my training needs, and have found my progress to have quickened considerably. Extremely useful is the section on how much of carbs, protein and fat you need to eat for different goals (weight gain, fat loss, or sports-specific needs). It is ESSENTIAL reading to anyone who cares about their health, but especially for those who take their training and/or body composition seriously. Trust me, you'll be glad you bought this book!

See "Inside" Your Yoga Poses, 26 Sep 2008
Yoga Anatomy is a book that gives the reader a look inside the human body as it is put in various yoga positions.

Chapter 1 covers the dynamics of breathing and actually covers some breathing physiology as well. Chapter 2 talks about the spine and gives some pretty detailed spinal information. Chapter 3 is short and covers the asanas.

The rest of the book, Chapters 4 through 9, make up the "meat" of the book and contains most of the anatomy information most readers probably bought the book for- what muscles are used in what poses. The way the book gives you the information is quite handy- it has a section on standing poses, sitting poses, kneeling poses, on-your-stomach poses, on-your-back poses, and arm supported poses. Sooo, all you have to do is pick a position/pose, and there you'll find pictures of what muscles are involved (and let me say, they show you some great angles of the poses to make sure the reader can see ALL the muscles that are involved). In addition to learing what muscles are involved, the book also tells you what joint actions are involved, as well as what body parts are working AND which ones are lengthening- neat!

A great reference book, its simply perfect for the yoga enthusiast that has become acquainted over time with muscles they never knew they had- but will now after reading this book! Also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if plantar fasciitis pain keeps you from doing your yoga.

Great resource, 06 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book for those studying yoga. It has plenty of detail which would come in handy during study.If you need help on joint movements and muscles being used during postures the this is the book you need to buy- very clear, interesting and brilliantly illustrated.

Good reference for students and teachers, 20 Apr 2008
This new book is one of very few available on the specific subject of yoga and anatomy.

The nice thing about this book is its accessibility - it has pictures of a range of poses in the style shown on the book cover, illustrating the muscular-skeletal system in the asana and highlighting the muscles being utilised (some postures shown from several angles). In some illustrations, the internal organs are also shown.

This helps you to relate anatomical and physiological knowledge to the actual asanas of yoga. The book also includes notes on breathing and the action of the joints in each posture.

Not as in-depth as the Coulter book, but at a good 400 pages shorter, that is to be expected. What this book offers instead is a more visual, illustrated approach and a great reference tool for serious students and teachers.

Good book, but to get the most out of it, get trained first, 12 Sep 2008
I bought this book after doing 1-to-1 classes for over 3 months with a very good and inspiring instructor in the Body Control Method. I have benefited considerably especially with regard to general quotidian painlessness, greater flexibility and a fully mobile neck, which has all but eliminated headaches for me.

The book now serves as a good aide-memoire for specific exercises, as I am wont to forgetting the names and remembering only the exercises, which makes it difficult for me to write my exercise diary. More importantly, the book is very helpful in building a work-out plan for the 4 weekdays when I do not have my 1-to-1 lesson.

Using the book is easier with an understanding of the concepts and many of the starting movements. If you are beginner, I would not recommend you use the book as a short-cut. It is less a text book, more a reference book. And for that role, it gets 5 stars from me.

Great book, all you need from beg-intermed -- but repeats other books, 20 Jul 2006
A lot of good has been said about this book by previous reviewers, so I'll only agree with those glowing remarks and add one warning to owners of other Body Control Pilates books -- this book just cuts and pastes entire paragraphs and pages of info from the first book "Body Control" and "The Pilates Prescription for Back Pain" (which is just another title for the "Body Control Back Book").

Basically, Body Control are putting out the same (really great!) book with only a few updates and changes here and there (newer studies on engaging the pelvic floor before scooping & hollowing has replaced the old navel-to-spine only advice, for instance) -- and a lot better photographs and graphics.

So, if you own several other Body Control books, like I do, and aren't interested in fancy photography, you'll be disappointed here. But if you are new to their range of books and this is to be your first or only one -- go for it, you cannot do better, this Method is fantastic.

sorry ,not a good book for a beginner, 06 Oct 2003
I was really disapointed when i reviewed this book. First of all the photos are not clear, even though they are in full colour.Secondly, for a beginner to Pilates, the book seemed to be designed for "older" people who will be challenged by any kind of movement. A basic exercise "the hundred" appears in the advanced section. that to me is a way to warm up for the mat exercises and should not be in the advanced section. on the whole the routine was not very challenging and sequential to follow. I was waiting to find the "meat" in the book and could not find it. I was very disappointed and a much better book which I use is Ungaro's Pilates Body in Motion.That is the book to get i you are new to Pilates and want to be challenged as well NOT this book.

Still The Best, 27 Jan 2002
How Pilates has changed! When I bought Lynne's first book 'Pilates Way' four years ago, it was the first book of its kind focused on Pilates. It was a fantastic intro and I moved on to the Manual when it came out. Now, I've delved into three or four other Pilates books but I have to say that the Manual remains head & shoulders above everything else in terms of clarity, range of exercises - and common sense! If you only buy one book on Pilates, this has to be it!

If you only want one book, Buy this one, 16 Jun 2001
This book is excellent. It is written superbly, and is very easy to read and understand. The colourful pictures are very helpful and really help you to see how you should be performing the exercises.The focus throughout the book is to keep your abs "zipped and hollowed" no matter what exercise you are performing or for what part of the body. This book offers a wide range of Pilates exercises for each part of the body.The book is divided up into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Programmes which are very well thought out and each offers a good all round Pilates class. There is also a section addressing which exercises you should concentrate on for individual and sports specific problems. Although this book does not cover every single Pilates exercise, it is by far one of the most comprehensive and useful books I have seen so far. If you want to get into Pilates the correct way and are looking for a quick and easy reference book, this one has got to be it.

==Lots of Strengths==, 17 Sep 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.


Excellent!!!, 24 Aug 2008
This book really is as good as they say. The illustrations are superb and make it a worthwhile read just to appreciate the anatomy of the human body, but more importantly of course to understand what happens to which muscles during strength training.

The little sections explaining common injuries and how to avoid them are also a great benefit.

Highly recommended.

A great reference, 04 Aug 2008
Strength Training Anatomy is set out in a style that is very easy to read, each chapter detailing a new body part and within it a detailed list of some of the more popular exercises and how to perform them. By saying popular, I really mean the more traditional exercises using fixed resistance machines, dumbells and barbells. My POV is that it is very much old school - you can tell that by the illustrations of the guy in the 80's striped bodybuilding pants. If you are looking for educational material on functional strength and core strength which is very much in vogue and correctly so, then this book is not perhaps what you are looking for. Instead I would highly recommend this book as a text book and point of reference for all practitioners that prescribe exercise routines and those that are learnig about the anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems. Other interested exercise enthusiasts will get a great foundation knowledge on the traditional exercises to learn.

Fantastic!, 07 Jul 2008
I've had this for over a year, I bought it after reading reviews on Amazon. I continue refer to this book time after time! My mate spent so much time looking at my copy that he had to get his own copy in the end! Not really sure how they could improve on this book...maybe add some nutritional info, but that's not really what this book is about. Whether building muscle, toning, or just keeping fit, this book covers the muscle biology of all the muscle groups in fantastic detail. You wont look at the human body in the same way again! Buy it, you wont regret it!

Excellant Illustrations!, 19 Jun 2008
I personally used most of the exercises to great affect. The illustrations really assist to get the exercises to pinpoint precision. It also assists in avoiding injury with the highlighted warnings. I was not after a huge book, its portable enough to fit in any sports bag to have a browse before starting a workout. The instructions are very easy to follow, a great read for all seeking to improve their workout regime.

Essential for Training!, 09 Jul 2008
A "must-have" reference book on nutrition for all athletes,body-builders,fitness buffs,runners,cyclists....anyone who trains.
Well laid out,simple to understand,and allows you to pick-up important little nuggets of information and adapt them into your training regime.
Will be well-thumbed in ANY gym by trainers and athletes looking for that LEGAL extra edge.

As important as your training plan, 16 Mar 2008
Anita Bean is to training and nutrition as Jamie Oliver is to cooking. Easy to understand and the methodology can be easily applied. However well you train, you won't achieve the optimum performance unless you have taken the right food and drink before and after a session, and taken it at the time that it will have the best effect on your body. Anita Bean not only provides that advice, but also covers weight gain and loss, young athletes, women, and 'veggies'. If you're half serious about your sport and fitness, you need this book. Whilst all the reviewers so far have given this book 5 stars, the best endorsement for me was when I recently attended an outpatients department and the young clinician who saw me reading the book said; "that's great, I read it at Uni".

Its a good book, 04 Jun 2007
I have been training for about 4 months now, and last ,month I bought a book from Amazon called Muscle Mechanics which was great.
But there was a piece of the jigsaw missing - nutrition.
I ordered this book based on reviews etc. And I am extremely happy to say it is all I will ever need. I know little about nitriotion, but this book has given me a much better understanding. I have already made adjustments to my diet and based on the advice in the book will start taking additional supplements. If your Vegan, young, old - this book is for you.

An actual COMPLETE GUIDE! Fascinating Reading, 15 Dec 2004
Admittedly I have only had the initial flick through and a read of the parts I found most interesting at first but I will read through the entire book when I get it back from my fitness enthuisiast work colleague who has borrowed it and is finding it as fascinating as I did. He does cite it as more of an academic book than a leisurely read but is still enjoying it anyway.
I bought this with a hope of finding out more about how the body works during excercise and the part that food plays in that function and it hasnt disappointed me. Ive learnt exactly what I wanted to and more. Theres parts for working out your daily calorie intake and all those sorts of things.
This isnt a basic 'basic' book but I wouldnt say you need a science degree to understand it at all - I think it does all the explaining it needs to. Depending on your reading style and intake, and given the content you may want to read this a couple of times. I found I picked up the parts that interested me most first time round but to get a complete clear understanding of some parts that I might need another read through - but thats just me - we're all different hey!
Overall very good if your a fitness enthusiast and want to get into it further and have an actual understanding of how we work when excercising and the role food plays in it.

Essential Reading, 19 Oct 2004
This is one of those few perspective-changing books that you come across. I have been interested in weight-training, cardio activities and sports nutrition for a number of years, in the hope that I will improve my fitness levels and get leaner/more muscular. Up until reading this book I depended solely on magazines such as Muscle and Fitness for information and guidelines, but finding progress to be quite slow. This book changed everything. From the outset it is easily accessible but very informative, providing effective and revealing advice. As a result I am eating more healthily and effectively as regards to my training needs, and have found my progress to have quickened considerably. Extremely useful is the section on how much of carbs, protein and fat you need to eat for different goals (weight gain, fat loss, or sports-specific needs). It is ESSENTIAL reading to anyone who cares about their health, but especially for those who take their training and/or body composition seriously. Trust me, you'll be glad you bought this book!

See "Inside" Your Yoga Poses, 26 Sep 2008
Yoga Anatomy is a book that gives the reader a look inside the human body as it is put in various yoga positions.

Chapter 1 covers the dynamics of breathing and actually covers some breathing physiology as well. Chapter 2 talks about the spine and gives some pretty detailed spinal information. Chapter 3 is short and covers the asanas.

The rest of the book, Chapters 4 through 9, make up the "meat" of the book and contains most of the anatomy information most readers probably bought the book for- what muscles are used in what poses. The way the book gives you the information is quite handy- it has a section on standing poses, sitting poses, kneeling poses, on-your-stomach poses, on-your-back poses, and arm supported poses. Sooo, all you have to do is pick a position/pose, and there you'll find pictures of what muscles are involved (and let me say, they show you some great angles of the poses to make sure the reader can see ALL the muscles that are involved). In addition to learing what muscles are involved, the book also tells you what joint actions are involved, as well as what body parts are working AND which ones are lengthening- neat!

A great reference book, its simply perfect for the yoga enthusiast that has become acquainted over time with muscles they never knew they had- but will now after reading this book! Also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if plantar fasciitis pain keeps you from doing your yoga.

Great resource, 06 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book for those studying yoga. It has plenty of detail which would come in handy during study.If you need help on joint movements and muscles being used during postures the this is the book you need to buy- very clear, interesting and brilliantly illustrated.

Good reference for students and teachers, 20 Apr 2008
This new book is one of very few available on the specific subject of yoga and anatomy.

The nice thing about this book is its accessibility - it has pictures of a range of poses in the style shown on the book cover, illustrating the muscular-skeletal system in the asana and highlighting the muscles being utilised (some postures shown from several angles). In some illustrations, the internal organs are also shown.

This helps you to relate anatomical and physiological knowledge to the actual asanas of yoga. The book also includes notes on breathing and the action of the joints in each posture.

Not as in-depth as the Coulter book, but at a good 400 pages shorter, that is to be expected. What this book offers instead is a more visual, illustrated approach and a great reference tool for serious students and teachers.

Good book, but to get the most out of it, get trained first, 12 Sep 2008
I bought this book after doing 1-to-1 classes for over 3 months with a very good and inspiring instructor in the Body Control Method. I have benefited considerably especially with regard to general quotidian painlessness, greater flexibility and a fully mobile neck, which has all but eliminated headaches for me.

The book now serves as a good aide-memoire for specific exercises, as I am wont to forgetting the names and remembering only the exercises, which makes it difficult for me to write my exercise diary. More importantly, the book is very helpful in building a work-out plan for the 4 weekdays when I do not have my 1-to-1 lesson.

Using the book is easier with an understanding of the concepts and many of the starting movements. If you are beginner, I would not recommend you use the book as a short-cut. It is less a text book, more a reference book. And for that role, it gets 5 stars from me.

Great book, all you need from beg-intermed -- but repeats other books, 20 Jul 2006
A lot of good has been said about this book by previous reviewers, so I'll only agree with those glowing remarks and add one warning to owners of other Body Control Pilates books -- this book just cuts and pastes entire paragraphs and pages of info from the first book "Body Control" and "The Pilates Prescription for Back Pain" (which is just another title for the "Body Control Back Book").

Basically, Body Control are putting out the same (really great!) book with only a few updates and changes here and there (newer studies on engaging the pelvic floor before scooping & hollowing has replaced the old navel-to-spine only advice, for instance) -- and a lot better photographs and graphics.

So, if you own several other Body Control books, like I do, and aren't interested in fancy photography, you'll be disappointed here. But if you are new to their range of books and this is to be your first or only one -- go for it, you cannot do better, this Method is fantastic.

sorry ,not a good book for a beginner, 06 Oct 2003
I was really disapointed when i reviewed this book. First of all the photos are not clear, even though they are in full colour.Secondly, for a beginner to Pilates, the book seemed to be designed for "older" people who will be challenged by any kind of movement. A basic exercise "the hundred" appears in the advanced section. that to me is a way to warm up for the mat exercises and should not be in the advanced section. on the whole the routine was not very challenging and sequential to follow. I was waiting to find the "meat" in the book and could not find it. I was very disappointed and a much better book which I use is Ungaro's Pilates Body in Motion.That is the book to get i you are new to Pilates and want to be challenged as well NOT this book.

Still The Best, 27 Jan 2002
How Pilates has changed! When I bought Lynne's first book 'Pilates Way' four years ago, it was the first book of its kind focused on Pilates. It was a fantastic intro and I moved on to the Manual when it came out. Now, I've delved into three or four other Pilates books but I have to say that the Manual remains head & shoulders above everything else in terms of clarity, range of exercises - and common sense! If you only buy one book on Pilates, this has to be it!

If you only want one book, Buy this one, 16 Jun 2001
This book is excellent. It is written superbly, and is very easy to read and understand. The colourful pictures are very helpful and really help you to see how you should be performing the exercises.The focus throughout the book is to keep your abs "zipped and hollowed" no matter what exercise you are performing or for what part of the body. This book offers a wide range of Pilates exercises for each part of the body.The book is divided up into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Programmes which are very well thought out and each offers a good all round Pilates class. There is also a section addressing which exercises you should concentrate on for individual and sports specific problems. Although this book does not cover every single Pilates exercise, it is by far one of the most comprehensive and useful books I have seen so far. If you want to get into Pilates the correct way and are looking for a quick and easy reference book, this one has got to be it.

How not to write a textbook, 17 Jul 2006
There's so much wrong with this book I don't know where to begin. Its tone is patronising, it contains factual errors, opinion is paraded as fact and descriptions of massage techniques are thin and inadequate.

I've just finished my ITEC holistic massage, reflexology and aromatherapy exams. It's frustrating, but you will need these LT books to pass the exams. ITEC like to put obsure bits of Louise Tucker misinformation into theory exams.

Get it as cheap as possible because you won't learn much from from it and you won't to use it once your qualified.

By the way, I don't belive that the rave reviews of this book are real. They can't be. They cannot POSSIBLY be talking about the same book!

More poor information from a poor "professional" body, 07 Feb 2006
The fact that this book is required reading for any course shows just how endemic poor standards of teaching are in this country. Any teacher using this text as their reference and not refusing to pass it on to students should be ashamed of themselves. If you are thinking of joining a massage course and this is the main source of information then PLEASE find yourself another college with some dignity.

Quite poor for most purposes, 01 Sep 2005
This is the coursebook for the ITEC holistic massage course. It is written by people who run ITEC so you need it. But it isn't all that good.

I definately would NOT recommend it to anyone not doing that course. It spends far too much time talking about physiology and anatomy that you don't really need to know in order to do a massage. You would be spending your money on about 10 pages worth on info. Other books either go into more detail on swedish massage or cover other forms.

Even for the course taker it's pretty empty of specific info on how to actually do a massage. Also the physiology and anatomy are a bit low level and not consistent. You will find a description of a muscle on a chart yet it doesn't appear on the picture! How hard would have that been to get right? If you are doing that course then you are going to buy this anyway because it teaches you the terms that will be used in the exam, even if they are not correct!

conflicting information, 26 Nov 2002
I have purchased this book and the anatomy & physiology by the same author as they are the study books for the ITEC course this year. You definatley need both books as not all of the information on the muscles is in both, they do seem to conflict slightly yet written by the same author.
I do feel concerned that this is the recommended book of study and this author also sits on the ITEC board. As a registered nurse I am glad that I have my medical text books to cross reference with as I think you would struggle if you did not use a validated medical text book.
A good started book, but you would need to spend more money buying a more indepth book, so you could save the money that this has cost.

Comprehensive easy to follow text book for massage students, 04 Jan 2002
As a College Principal it has been very difficult to find a book that was pitched correctly for my ITEC students. This book contains all the relevant course material for serious students without burying it too much in unecessarily complicated pseudo-medical terms. Excellent section on the Muscular system which is challenging for most students especially origin,insertion and action. I would urge Lecturers as well as students to buy this book, but not those who simply want a touchy-feely guide to better relationships!

==Lots of Strengths==, 17 Sep 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.


Excellent!!!, 24 Aug 2008
This book really is as good as they say. The illustrations are superb and make it a worthwhile read just to appreciate the anatomy of the human body, but more importantly of course to understand what happens to which muscles during strength training.

The little sections explaining common injuries and how to avoid them are also a great benefit.

Highly recommended.

A great reference, 04 Aug 2008
Strength Training Anatomy is set out in a style that is very easy to read, each chapter detailing a new body part and within it a detailed list of some of the more popular exercises and how to perform them. By saying popular, I really mean the more traditional exercises using fixed resistance machines, dumbells and barbells. My POV is that it is very much old school - you can tell that by the illustrations of the guy in the 80's striped bodybuilding pants. If you are looking for educational material on functional strength and core strength which is very much in vogue and correctly so, then this book is not perhaps what you are looking for. Instead I would highly recommend this book as a text book and point of reference for all practitioners that prescribe exercise routines and those that are learnig about the anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems. Other interested exercise enthusiasts will get a great foundation knowledge on the traditional exercises to learn.

Fantastic!, 07 Jul 2008
I've had this for over a year, I bought it after reading reviews on Amazon. I continue refer to this book time after time! My mate spent so much time looking at my copy that he had to get his own copy in the end! Not really sure how they could improve on this book...maybe add some nutritional info, but that's not really what this book is about. Whether building muscle, toning, or just keeping fit, this book covers the muscle biology of all the muscle groups in fantastic detail. You wont look at the human body in the same way again! Buy it, you wont regret it!

Excellant Illustrations!, 19 Jun 2008
I personally used most of the exercises to great affect. The illustrations really assist to get the exercises to pinpoint precision. It also assists in avoiding injury with the highlighted warnings. I was not after a huge book, its portable enough to fit in any sports bag to have a browse before starting a workout. The instructions are very easy to follow, a great read for all seeking to improve their workout regime.

Essential for Training!, 09 Jul 2008
A "must-have" reference book on nutrition for all athletes,body-builders,fitness buffs,runners,cyclists....anyone who trains.
Well laid out,simple to understand,and allows you to pick-up important little nuggets of information and adapt them into your training regime.
Will be well-thumbed in ANY gym by trainers and athletes looking for that LEGAL extra edge.

As important as your training plan, 16 Mar 2008
Anita Bean is to training and nutrition as Jamie Oliver is to cooking. Easy to understand and the methodology can be easily applied. However well you train, you won't achieve the optimum performance unless you have taken the right food and drink before and after a session, and taken it at the time that it will have the best effect on your body. Anita Bean not only provides that advice, but also covers weight gain and loss, young athletes, women, and 'veggies'. If you're half serious about your sport and fitness, you need this book. Whilst all the reviewers so far have given this book 5 stars, the best endorsement for me was when I recently attended an outpatients department and the young clinician who saw me reading the book said; "that's great, I read it at Uni".

Its a good book, 04 Jun 2007
I have been training for about 4 months now, and last ,month I bought a book from Amazon called Muscle Mechanics which was great.
But there was a piece of the jigsaw missing - nutrition.
I ordered this book based on reviews etc. And I am extremely happy to say it is all I will ever need. I know little about nitriotion, but this book has given me a much better understanding. I have already made adjustments to my diet and based on the advice in the book will start taking additional supplements. If your Vegan, young, old - this book is for you.

An actual COMPLETE GUIDE! Fascinating Reading, 15 Dec 2004
Admittedly I have only had the initial flick through and a read of the parts I found most interesting at first but I will read through the entire book when I get it back from my fitness enthuisiast work colleague who has borrowed it and is finding it as fascinating as I did. He does cite it as more of an academic book than a leisurely read but is still enjoying it anyway.
I bought this with a hope of finding out more about how the body works during excercise and the part that food plays in that function and it hasnt disappointed me. Ive learnt exactly what I wanted to and more. Theres parts for working out your daily calorie intake and all those sorts of things.
This isnt a basic 'basic' book but I wouldnt say you need a science degree to understand it at all - I think it does all the explaining it needs to. Depending on your reading style and intake, and given the content you may want to read this a couple of times. I found I picked up the parts that interested me most first time round but to get a complete clear understanding of some parts that I might need another read through - but thats just me - we're all different hey!
Overall very good if your a fitness enthusiast and want to get into it further and have an actual understanding of how we work when excercising and the role food plays in it.

Essential Reading, 19 Oct 2004
This is one of those few perspective-changing books that you come across. I have been interested in weight-training, cardio activities and sports nutrition for a number of years, in the hope that I will improve my fitness levels and get leaner/more muscular. Up until reading this book I depended solely on magazines such as Muscle and Fitness for information and guidelines, but finding progress to be quite slow. This book changed everything. From the outset it is easily accessible but very informative, providing effective and revealing advice. As a result I am eating more healthily and effectively as regards to my training needs, and have found my progress to have quickened considerably. Extremely useful is the section on how much of carbs, protein and fat you need to eat for different goals (weight gain, fat loss, or sports-specific needs). It is ESSENTIAL reading to anyone who cares about their health, but especially for those who take their training and/or body composition seriously. Trust me, you'll be glad you bought this book!

See "Inside" Your Yoga Poses, 26 Sep 2008
Yoga Anatomy is a book that gives the reader a look inside the human body as it is put in various yoga positions.

Chapter 1 covers the dynamics of breathing and actually covers some breathing physiology as well. Chapter 2 talks about the spine and gives some pretty detailed spinal information. Chapter 3 is short and covers the asanas.

The rest of the book, Chapters 4 through 9, make up the "meat" of the book and contains most of the anatomy information most readers probably bought the book for- what muscles are used in what poses. The way the book gives you the information is quite handy- it has a section on standing poses, sitting poses, kneeling poses, on-your-stomach poses, on-your-back poses, and arm supported poses. Sooo, all you have to do is pick a position/pose, and there you'll find pictures of what muscles are involved (and let me say, they show you some great angles of the poses to make sure the reader can see ALL the muscles that are involved). In addition to learing what muscles are involved, the book also tells you what joint actions are involved, as well as what body parts are working AND which ones are lengthening- neat!

A great reference book, its simply perfect for the yoga enthusiast that has become acquainted over time with muscles they never knew they had- but will now after reading this book! Also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if plantar fasciitis pain keeps you from doing your yoga.

Great resource, 06 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book for those studying yoga. It has plenty of detail which would come in handy during study.If you need help on joint movements and muscles being used during postures the this is the book you need to buy- very clear, interesting and brilliantly illustrated.

Good reference for students and teachers, 20 Apr 2008
This new book is one of very few available on the specific subject of yoga and anatomy.

The nice thing about this book is its accessibility - it has pictures of a range of poses in the style shown on the book cover, illustrating the muscular-skeletal system in the asana and highlighting the muscles being utilised (some postures shown from several angles). In some illustrations, the internal organs are also shown.

This helps you to relate anatomical and physiological knowledge to the actual asanas of yoga. The book also includes notes on breathing and the action of the joints in each posture.

Not as in-depth as the Coulter book, but at a good 400 pages shorter, that is to be expected. What this book offers instead is a more visual, illustrated approach and a great reference tool for serious students and teachers.

Good book, but to get the most out of it, get trained first, 12 Sep 2008
I bought this book after doing 1-to-1 classes for over 3 months with a very good and inspiring instructor in the Body Control Method. I have benefited considerably especially with regard to general quotidian painlessness, greater flexibility and a fully mobile neck, which has all but eliminated headaches for me.

The book now serves as a good aide-memoire for specific exercises, as I am wont to forgetting the names and remembering only the exercises, which makes it difficult for me to write my exercise diary. More importantly, the book is very helpful in building a work-out plan for the 4 weekdays when I do not have my 1-to-1 lesson.

Using the book is easier with an understanding of the concepts and many of the starting movements. If you are beginner, I would not recommend you use the book as a short-cut. It is less a text book, more a reference book. And for that role, it gets 5 stars from me.

Great book, all you need from beg-intermed -- but repeats other books, 20 Jul 2006
A lot of good has been said about this book by previous reviewers, so I'll only agree with those glowing remarks and add one warning to owners of other Body Control Pilates books -- this book just cuts and pastes entire paragraphs and pages of info from the first book "Body Control" and "The Pilates Prescription for Back Pain" (which is just another title for the "Body Control Back Book").

Basically, Body Control are putting out the same (really great!) book with only a few updates and changes here and there (newer studies on engaging the pelvic floor before scooping & hollowing has replaced the old navel-to-spine only advice, for instance) -- and a lot better photographs and graphics.

So, if you own several other Body Control books, like I do, and aren't interested in fancy photography, you'll be disappointed here. But if you are new to their range of books and this is to be your first or only one -- go for it, you cannot do better, this Method is fantastic.

sorry ,not a good book for a beginner, 06 Oct 2003
I was really disapointed when i reviewed this book. First of all the photos are not clear, even though they are in full colour.Secondly, for a beginner to Pilates, the book seemed to be designed for "older" people who will be challenged by any kind of movement. A basic exercise "the hundred" appears in the advanced section. that to me is a way to warm up for the mat exercises and should not be in the advanced section. on the whole the routine was not very challenging and sequential to follow. I was waiting to find the "meat" in the book and could not find it. I was very disappointed and a much better book which I use is Ungaro's Pilates Body in Motion.That is the book to get i you are new to Pilates and want to be challenged as well NOT this book.

Still The Best, 27 Jan 2002
How Pilates has changed! When I bought Lynne's first book 'Pilates Way' four years ago, it was the first book of its kind focused on Pilates. It was a fantastic intro and I moved on to the Manual when it came out. Now, I've delved into three or four other Pilates books but I have to say that the Manual remains head & shoulders above everything else in terms of clarity, range of exercises - and common sense! If you only buy one book on Pilates, this has to be it!

If you only want one book, Buy this one, 16 Jun 2001
This book is excellent. It is written superbly, and is very easy to read and understand. The colourful pictures are very helpful and really help you to see how you should be performing the exercises.The focus throughout the book is to keep your abs "zipped and hollowed" no matter what exercise you are performing or for what part of the body. This book offers a wide range of Pilates exercises for each part of the body.The book is divided up into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Programmes which are very well thought out and each offers a good all round Pilates class. There is also a section addressing which exercises you should concentrate on for individual and sports specific problems. Although this book does not cover every single Pilates exercise, it is by far one of the most comprehensive and useful books I have seen so far. If you want to get into Pilates the correct way and are looking for a quick and easy reference book, this one has got to be it.

How not to write a textbook, 17 Jul 2006
There's so much wrong with this book I don't know where to begin. Its tone is patronising, it contains factual errors, opinion is paraded as fact and descriptions of massage techniques are thin and inadequate.

I've just finished my ITEC holistic massage, reflexology and aromatherapy exams. It's frustrating, but you will need these LT books to pass the exams. ITEC like to put obsure bits of Louise Tucker misinformation into theory exams.

Get it as cheap as possible because you won't learn much from from it and you won't to use it once your qualified.

By the way, I don't belive that the rave reviews of this book are real. They can't be. They cannot POSSIBLY be talking about the same book!

More poor information from a poor "professional" body, 07 Feb 2006
The fact that this book is required reading for any course shows just how endemic poor standards of teaching are in this country. Any teacher using this text as their reference and not refusing to pass it on to students should be ashamed of themselves. If you are thinking of joining a massage course and this is the main source of information then PLEASE find yourself another college with some dignity.

Quite poor for most purposes, 01 Sep 2005
This is the coursebook for the ITEC holistic massage course. It is written by people who run ITEC so you need it. But it isn't all that good.

I definately would NOT recommend it to anyone not doing that course. It spends far too much time talking about physiology and anatomy that you don't really need to know in order to do a massage. You would be spending your money on about 10 pages worth on info. Other books either go into more detail on swedish massage or cover other forms.

Even for the course taker it's pretty empty of specific info on how to actually do a massage. Also the physiology and anatomy are a bit low level and not consistent. You will find a description of a muscle on a chart yet it doesn't appear on the picture! How hard would have that been to get right? If you are doing that course then you are going to buy this anyway because it teaches you the terms that will be used in the exam, even if they are not correct!

conflicting information, 26 Nov 2002
I have purchased this book and the anatomy & physiology by the same author as they are the study books for the ITEC course this year. You definatley need both books as not all of the information on the muscles is in both, they do seem to conflict slightly yet written by the same author.
I do feel concerned that this is the recommended book of study and this author also sits on the ITEC board. As a registered nurse I am glad that I have my medical text books to cross reference with as I think you would struggle if you did not use a validated medical text book.
A good started book, but you would need to spend more money buying a more indepth book, so you could save the money that this has cost.

Comprehensive easy to follow text book for massage students, 04 Jan 2002
As a College Principal it has been very difficult to find a book that was pitched correctly for my ITEC students. This book contains all the relevant course material for serious students without burying it too much in unecessarily complicated pseudo-medical terms. Excellent section on the Muscular system which is challenging for most students especially origin,insertion and action. I would urge Lecturers as well as students to buy this book, but not those who simply want a touchy-feely guide to better relationships!

Made me breath a sigh of relief. Fantastic book!!, 01 Sep 2008
I've been running for a couple of months now and even tho I was told that running was a case of...well, just running, I always felt a bit out of my depth. Being a very competitive person I thought the best thing was to run till I thought I would die, then try and run harder the next day. In the end, total burnout for me.
As running is a such a natural thing, I didn't think there would be any books on how to do it, but I was amazed at how many there were. Out of all the ones I could have picked, this was by far the best choice. I started reading it and realised that I didn't have to feel bad if I couldn't run a 5 minute mile, and the relief was immense.
This book told me all the basics, clothing, shoes (which I already knew about) and it took me right back to the beginning with an easy to follow programme which even a complete beginner could do. It gave great advice about everything I needed to know without pics of stick thin runners on every page, (guaranteed to make you feel inadequate). Great stories from 'real people' who even started running into there 50's, totally inspirational.
The 60 minute 'run/walk' plan is fantastic, and after my burn out and feeling thorougly awful about my prior poor performance, I was able to run better, stronger and for longer than ever before, the runners rush hit me hard and it was great.
It has progress charts for you to fill in which are great for you to see how your doing and tips and articles which make you want to get your runners on!
A fantastic book, worth every penny.

Buy this! You won't regret it!, 12 Aug 2008
I've been trying to motivate myself to get out and jog in order to get healthier and fitter but haven't been able to. I received this book yesterday and hadn't even got through the first chapter before I was out jogging! It's so user friendly and is really aimed at those - like me - who have very little, or no running experience or those who have had a long break.

The book includes tables/graphs to fill out in order to track your weight loss progress alongside a fill-in plan which allows you to track your progress in terms of sticking to the running schedule and the distance you are running. It really is motivational and fun - I definitely recommend it.

I love this book!, 05 Jun 2008
I bought this on recommendation and have been 100% happy with it - it's full of incredibly useful information both for runners just starting out and for those who've been running for longer - my husband even likes to read bits and he's a hardcore 42 minute 10K runner of a few years now! For me, I am looking to lose weight and get fit and even I can manage to do the programme - it's so easy and I'm actually at the point where I look forward to going out. Really can't praise it enough!

Training made fun, 15 May 2008
If your considering taking up running or returning after a long lay off this is a bright, fun and funky guide with loads of practical tips. The training routine eases you in and over the weeks builds your fitness up to running a half or full marathon. Its also full of inspiring real life stories to motivate you, a really good introduction.

If I can, anyone can!, 16 Apr 2008
This is a truly fantastic book. I have been overweight and unfit since childhood and the thought of exercise didn't appeal. However, my sister is getting married later this year and I've got to wear a frock. Having stumbled on this book just after Christmas, I thought I would give running a go. It is truly inspirational, easy to follow and written in a way that makes me smile and think yeah - I can do it! The fist session I struggled to jogg for 60 seconds, but I kept with it. I completed the 10 weeks and have lost over a stone in weight, I feel so much healthier and fitter. I completed my first 5K 'run' last night and managed to jog all the way in a time of 33 minutes and 37 seconds. I would never have thought I would enjoy running, but I love it! I'm already on the 10K plan and have entered The Great Women's 10K in the middle of June. Go on - If I can, anyone can!

==Lots of Strengths==, 17 Sep 2008
With over 450,000 copies sold, this book is arguably the best book of its kind. What's it useful for? Mainly to help the reader (from the weekend athlete to the athletic trainer to the professional bodybuilder) figure out what exercises work what muscles.

It's neatly divided up into sections (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.), so all you really have to do is flip to one of these sections and it will have detailed pictures of various exercises and exactly which muscles are involved.

A great reference to keep have around, I give it five stars easy. Readers who lift weights regularly might also be interested Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff to avoid shoulder problems a lot of lifters eventually get.


Excellent!!!, 24 Aug 2008
This book really is as good as they say. The illustrations are superb and make it a worthwhile read just to appreciate the anatomy of the human body, but more importantly of course to understand what happens to which muscles during strength training.

The little sections explaining common injuries and how to avoid them are also a great benefit.

Highly recommended.

A great reference, 04 Aug 2008
Strength Training Anatomy is set out in a style that is very easy to read, each chapter detailing a new body part and within it a detailed list of some of the more popular exercises and how to perform them. By saying popular, I really mean the more traditional exercises using fixed resistance machines, dumbells and barbells. My POV is that it is very much old school - you can tell that by the illustrations of the guy in the 80's striped bodybuilding pants. If you are looking for educational material on functional strength and core strength which is very much in vogue and correctly so, then this book is not perhaps what you are looking for. Instead I would highly recommend this book as a text book and point of reference for all practitioners that prescribe exercise routines and those that are learnig about the anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems. Other interested exercise enthusiasts will get a great foundation knowledge on the traditional exercises to learn.

Fantastic!, 07 Jul 2008
I've had this for over a year, I bought it after reading reviews on Amazon. I continue refer to this book time after time! My mate spent so much time looking at my copy that he had to get his own copy in the end! Not really sure how they could improve on this book...maybe add some nutritional info, but that's not really what this book is about. Whether building muscle, toning, or just keeping fit, this book covers the muscle biology of all the muscle groups in fantastic detail. You wont look at the human body in the same way again! Buy it, you wont regret it!

Excellant Illustrations!, 19 Jun 2008
I personally used most of the exercises to great affect. The illustrations really assist to get the exercises to pinpoint precision. It also assists in avoiding injury with the highlighted warnings. I was not after a huge book, its portable enough to fit in any sports bag to have a browse before starting a workout. The instructions are very easy to follow, a great read for all seeking to improve their workout regime.

Essential for Training!, 09 Jul 2008
A "must-have" reference book on nutrition for all athletes,body-builders,fitness buffs,runners,cyclists....anyone who trains.
Well laid out,simple to understand,and allows you to pick-up important little nuggets of information and adapt them into your training regime.
Will be well-thumbed in ANY gym by trainers and athletes looking for that LEGAL extra edge.

As important as your training plan, 16 Mar 2008
Anita Bean is to training and nutrition as Jamie Oliver is to cooking. Easy to understand and the methodology can be easily applied. However well you train, you won't achieve the optimum performance unless you have taken the right food and drink before and after a session, and taken it at the time that it will have the best effect on your body. Anita Bean not only provides that advice, but also covers weight gain and loss, young athletes, women, and 'veggies'. If you're half serious about your sport and fitness, you need this book. Whilst all the reviewers so far have given this book 5 stars, the best endorsement for me was when I recently attended an outpatients department and the young clinician who saw me reading the book said; "that's great, I read it at Uni".

Its a good book, 04 Jun 2007
I have been training for about 4 months now, and last ,month I bought a book from Amazon called Muscle Mechanics which was great.
But there was a piece of the jigsaw missing - nutrition.
I ordered this book based on reviews etc. And I am extremely happy to say it is all I will ever need. I know little about nitriotion, but this book has given me a much better understanding. I have already made adjustments to my diet and based on the advice in the book will start taking additional supplements. If your Vegan, young, old - this book is for you.

An actual COMPLETE GUIDE! Fascinating Reading, 15 Dec 2004
Admittedly I have only had the initial flick through and a read of the parts I found most interesting at first but I will read through the entire book when I get it back from my fitness enthuisiast work colleague who has borrowed it and is finding it as fascinating as I did. He does cite it as more of an academic book than a leisurely read but is still enjoying it anyway.
I bought this with a hope of finding out more about how the body works during excercise and the part that food plays in that function and it hasnt disappointed me. Ive learnt exactly what I wanted to and more. Theres parts for working out your daily calorie intake and all those sorts of things.
This isnt a basic 'basic' book but I wouldnt say you need a science degree to understand it at all - I think it does all the explaining it needs to. Depending on your reading style and intake, and given the content you may want to read this a couple of times. I found I picked up the parts that interested me most first time round but to get a complete clear understanding of some parts that I might need another read through - but thats just me - we're all different hey!
Overall very good if your a fitness enthusiast and want to get into it further and have an actual understanding of how we work when excercising and the role food plays in it.

Essential Reading, 19 Oct 2004
This is one of those few perspective-changing books that you come across. I have been interested in weight-training, cardio activities and sports nutrition for a number of years, in the hope that I will improve my fitness levels and get leaner/more muscular. Up until reading this book I depended solely on magazines such as Muscle and Fitness for information and guidelines, but finding progress to be quite slow. This book changed everything. From the outset it is easily accessible but very informative, providing effective and revealing advice. As a result I am eating more healthily and effectively as regards to my training needs, and have found my progress to have quickened considerably. Extremely useful is the section on how much of carbs, protein and fat you need to eat for different goals (weight gain, fat loss, or sports-specific needs). It is ESSENTIAL reading to anyone who cares about their health, but especially for those who take their training and/or body composition seriously. Trust me, you'll be glad you bought this book!

See "Inside" Your Yoga Poses, 26 Sep 2008
Yoga Anatomy is a book that gives the reader a look inside the human body as it is put in various yoga positions.

Chapter 1 covers the dynamics of breathing and actually covers some breathing physiology as well. Chapter 2 talks about the spine and gives some pretty detailed spinal information. Chapter 3 is short and covers the asanas.

The rest of the book, Chapters 4 through 9, make up the "meat" of the book and contains most of the anatomy information most readers probably bought the book for- what muscles are used in what poses. The way the book gives you the information is quite handy- it has a section on standing poses, sitting poses, kneeling poses, on-your-stomach poses, on-your-back poses, and arm supported poses. Sooo, all you have to do is pick a position/pose, and there you'll find pictures of what muscles are involved (and let me say, they show you some great angles of the poses to make sure the reader can see ALL the muscles that are involved). In addition to learing what muscles are involved, the book also tells you what joint actions are involved, as well as what body parts are working AND which ones are lengthening- neat!

A great reference book, its simply perfect for the yoga enthusiast that has become acquainted over time with muscles they never knew they had- but will now after reading this book! Also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if plantar fasciitis pain keeps you from doing your yoga.

Great resource, 06 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book for those studying yoga. It has plenty of detail which would come in handy during study.If you need help on joint movements and muscles being used during postures the this is the book you need to buy- very clear, interesting and brilliantly illustrated.

Good reference for students and teachers, 20 Apr 2008
This new book is one of very few available on the specific subject of yoga and anatomy.

The nice thing about this book is its accessibility - it has pictures of a range of poses in the style shown on the book cover, illustrating the muscular-skeletal system in the asana and highlighting the muscles being utilised (some postures shown from several angles). In some illustrations, the internal organs are also shown.

This helps you to relate anatomical and physiological knowledge to the actual asanas of yoga. The book also includes notes on breathing and the action of the joints in each posture.

Not as in-depth as the Coulter book, but at a good 400 pages shorter, that is to be expected. What this book offers instead is a more visual, illustrated approach and a great reference tool for serious students and teachers.

Good book, but to get the most out of it, get trained first, 12 Sep 2008
I bought this book after doing 1-to-1 classes for over 3 months with a very good and inspiring instructor in the Body Control Method. I have benefited considerably especially with regard to general quotidian painlessness, greater flexibility and a fully mobile neck, which has all but eliminated headaches for me.

The book now serves as a good aide-memoire for specific exercises, as I am wont to forgetting the names and remembering only the exercises, which makes it difficult for me to write my exercise diary. More importantly, the book is very helpful in building a work-out plan for the 4 weekdays when I do not have my 1-to-1 lesson.

Using the book is easier with an understanding of the concepts and many of the starting movements. If you are beginner, I would not recommend you use the book as a short-cut. It is less a text book, more a reference book. And for that role, it gets 5 stars from me.

Great book, all you need from beg-intermed -- but repeats other books, 20 Jul 2006
A lot of good has been said about this book by previous reviewers, so I'll only agree with those glowing remarks and add one warning to owners of other Body Control Pilates books -- this book just cuts and pastes entire paragraphs and pages of info from the first book "Body Control" and "The Pilates Prescription for Back Pain" (which is just another title for the "Body Control Back Book").

Basically, Body Control are putting out the same (really great!) book with only a few updates and changes here and there (newer studies on engaging the pelvic floor before scooping & hollowing has replaced the old navel-to-spine only advice, for instance) -- and a lot better photographs and graphics.

So, if you own several other Body Control books, like I do, and aren't interested in fancy photography, you'll be disappointed here. But if you are new to their range of books and this is to be your first or only one -- go for it, you cannot do better, this Method is fantastic.

sorry ,not a good book for a beginner, 06 Oct 2003
I was really disapointed when i reviewed this book. First of all the photos are not clear, even though they are in full colour.Secondly, for a beginner to Pilates, the book seemed to be designed for "older" people who will be challenged by any kind of movement. A basic exercise "the hundred" appears in the advanced section. that to me is a way to warm up for the mat exercises and should not be in the advanced section. on the whole the routine was not very challenging and sequential to follow. I was waiting to find the "meat" in the book and could not find it. I was very disappointed and a much better book which I use is Ungaro's Pilates Body in Motion.That is the book to get i you are new to Pilates and want to be challenged as well NOT this book.

Still The Best, 27 Jan 2002
How Pilates has changed! When I bought Lynne's first book 'Pilates Way' four years ago, it was the first book of its kind focused on Pilates. It was a fantastic intro and I moved on to the Manual when it came out. Now, I've delved into three or four other Pilates books but I have to say that the Manual remains head & shoulders above everything else in terms of clarity, range of exercises - and common sense! If you only buy one book on Pilates, this has to be it!

If you only want one book, Buy this one, 16 Jun 2001
This book is excellent. It is written superbly, and is very easy to read and understand. The colourful pictures are very helpful and really help you to see how you should be performing the exercises.The focus throughout the book is to keep your abs "zipped and hollowed" no matter what exercise you are performing or for what part of the body. This book offers a wide range of Pilates exercises for each part of the body.The book is divided up into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Programmes which are very well thought out and each offers a good all round Pilates class. There is also a section addressing which exercises you should concentrate on for individual and sports specific problems. Although this book does not cover every single Pilates exercise, it is by far one of the most comprehensive and useful books I have seen so far. If you want to get into Pilates the correct way and are looking for a quick and easy reference book, this one has got to be it.

How not to write a textbook, 17 Jul 2006
There's so much wrong with this book I don't know where to begin. Its tone is patronising, it contains factual errors, opinion is paraded as fact and descriptions of massage techniques are thin and inadequate.

I've just finished my ITEC holistic massage, reflexology and aromatherapy exams. It's frustrating, but you will need these LT books to pass the exams. ITEC like to put obsure bits of Louise Tucker misinformation into theory exams.

Get it as cheap as possible because you won't learn much from from it and you won't to use it once your qualified.

By the way, I don't belive that the rave reviews of this book are real. They can't be. They cannot POSSIBLY be talking about the same book!

More poor information from a poor "professional" body, 07 Feb 2006
The fact that this book is required reading for any course shows just how endemic poor standards of teaching are in this country. Any teacher using this text as their reference and not refusing to pass it on to students should be ashamed of themselves. If you are thinking of joining a massage course and this is the main source of information then PLEASE find yourself another college with some dignity.

Quite poor for most purposes, 01 Sep 2005
This is the coursebook for the ITEC holistic massage course. It is written by people who run ITEC so you need it. But it isn't all that good.

I definately would NOT recommend it to anyone not doing that course. It spends far too much time talking about physiology and anatomy that you don't really need to know in order to do a massage. You would be spending your money on about 10 pages worth on info. Other books either go into more detail on swedish massage or cover other forms.

Even for the course taker it's pretty empty of specific info on how to actually do a massage. Also the physiology and anatomy are a bit low level and not consistent. You will find a description of a muscle on a chart yet it doesn't appear on the picture! How hard would have that been to get right? If you are doing that course then you are going to buy this anyway because it teaches you the terms that will be used in the exam, even if they are not correct!

conflicting information, 26 Nov 2002
I have p