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Science of Pilates: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect Your Practice
Explore the physiology of 30 key Pilates exercises, in-depth and from every angle, and master each movement with confidence and control.
Did you know that a Pilates practice can help strengthen your core, improve flexibility and posture, and help reduce stress and anxiety at the same time?
Backed by scientific research, learn how Pilates exercises benefit every system in the body. Science of Pilates reveals the facts, with annotated artworks that show the mechanics, the angles, how your blood flow and respiration are affected, the key muscle and joint actions working below the surface of each exercise, safe alignment, and much more.
With insight into variations on the Pilates movements and a Q&A section that explores the science behind every aspect of the exercise system, look no further than Science of Pilates to achieve technical excellence in your practice and optimize the benefits of Pilates to your body and mind.
Did you know that a Pilates practice can help strengthen your core, improve flexibility and posture, and help reduce stress and anxiety at the same time?
Backed by scientific research, learn how Pilates exercises benefit every system in the body. Science of Pilates reveals the facts, with annotated artworks that show the mechanics, the angles, how your blood flow and respiration are affected, the key muscle and joint actions working below the surface of each exercise, safe alignment, and much more.
With insight into variations on the Pilates movements and a Q&A section that explores the science behind every aspect of the exercise system, look no further than Science of Pilates to achieve technical excellence in your practice and optimize the benefits of Pilates to your body and mind.
679 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 22, 2025
At the end of the day, it is still a textbook, but it is nicely laid out and makes understanding pilates in simple terms. Also, the graphics and diagrams are done well.
Appreciate all the modifications and advancements for the traditional exercises along with tips for lesson planning and helping specific groups (i.e., runners, those with acute back pain, pregnancy, scoliosis, swimmers, etc.).
PILATES REALLY IS FOR EVERYONE. Highly recommend finding a way to add to your routine.
Appreciate all the modifications and advancements for the traditional exercises along with tips for lesson planning and helping specific groups (i.e., runners, those with acute back pain, pregnancy, scoliosis, swimmers, etc.).
PILATES REALLY IS FOR EVERYONE. Highly recommend finding a way to add to your routine.
December 4, 2023
really helpful
This book resonated with me. So helpful in explaining the nuances between just “exercise” and really connecting with core (and mental) strength development. A great way to improve and benefit more in my Pilates workouts.
This book resonated with me. So helpful in explaining the nuances between just “exercise” and really connecting with core (and mental) strength development. A great way to improve and benefit more in my Pilates workouts.
January 22, 2024
aging gracefully
The author made Pilates more accessible to people who need exercise modifications. It is a safe way to stay flexible and save our muscles from atrophy. Her book makes it less likely to misunderstand instructions and hurt yourself. I highly recommend this book.
The author made Pilates more accessible to people who need exercise modifications. It is a safe way to stay flexible and save our muscles from atrophy. Her book makes it less likely to misunderstand instructions and hurt yourself. I highly recommend this book.
February 21, 2025
I LOVE how simple but effective the explanations are in this book. If you are looking to teach Pilates or just want to deepen your knowledge for your personal practice this book is great!!
July 21, 2025
learned oh so much! i love this book
September 4, 2025
Very easy to look through this book, good reference might help with pilates teacher anatomical understandings; try all the things.
November 29, 2024
It's a fantastic book about how to do pilates right. It is very scientific, but still interesting. I wish I had a copy of the book!
December 21, 2024
I initially borrowed this book from the library and after 4 days I had to buy one for myself!
I love DK's "Science of" series so much. This book boasts a clean, visually appealing layout with full-colour illustrations of over 100 Pilates exercises and all the muscle groups they target. This book is packed full of information! There's sections on the history and principles of Pilates, traditional and contemporary Pilates, the physiology of Pilates and scientifically backs up exactly how Pilates benefits muscles, joints, nervous system, stress and anxiety, gut health and more.
I wasn't sure if I'd like the CGI illustrations but I do. They clearly lay out the proper preparation and execution of each move. I like the transparent body view to see the position of the muscles and skeleton for each exercise. And there's good ethnic diversity for each CGI model! I loved seeing the woman with her buns in a braid! That's me! I can see people complaining about the lack of body diversity, but it doesn't matter because we're focusing on the muscles and skeleton.
Then the book gets into Pilates exercises broken up into sections like stability exercises (ex. hundred, scissors), rotation exercises (ex. one leg circle, double leg lift), strength exercises (ex. roll up, corkscrew), and mobility exercises (ex. cobra, mermaid). And each exercise is really accessible because almost all of them have modifications or adjustments. I like that I can build up to doing the hundred by doing the single leg hundred, then the double table top hundred, then the double table top and abdominal curl hundred!
Next is a section dedicated to Pilates training routines, my favourite! There are routines for all levels ranging from beginner, intermediate, to advanced, with several different programs (ex. full body, upper body focus, spinal mobility), training for different sports (ex. swimming, running, strength training), and more specific routines (ex. prenatal, back pain, arthritis).
I really like the variety of routines there are for each program. I crave a little variety, so I like that I can vary what I do on given day. There's lot of choice!
I've done three workouts with this book and I've enjoyed each one a lot. I'm not new to Pilates but I haven't done Pilates in a minute so I started at the beginner level and adjusted a few exercises to give myself a greater challenge. I like that there's a progression chart on page 180 that teach me what I should master before progressing to more difficult workouts. I like how much I can customize my program to my needs with this book!
But I caught a few errors in the text. For the intermediate exercises on page 184 the wrong page is listed for the leg pull back and one leg circle. But I easily remedied that by writing in the correct number with a sticky note. There could be more errors in other routines, but I haven't gone through each one.
I also wish there was a warm up and cool down for the beginner program or a general one for all the workouts.
I'd absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in and or curious about Pilates.
I love DK's "Science of" series so much. This book boasts a clean, visually appealing layout with full-colour illustrations of over 100 Pilates exercises and all the muscle groups they target. This book is packed full of information! There's sections on the history and principles of Pilates, traditional and contemporary Pilates, the physiology of Pilates and scientifically backs up exactly how Pilates benefits muscles, joints, nervous system, stress and anxiety, gut health and more.
I wasn't sure if I'd like the CGI illustrations but I do. They clearly lay out the proper preparation and execution of each move. I like the transparent body view to see the position of the muscles and skeleton for each exercise. And there's good ethnic diversity for each CGI model! I loved seeing the woman with her buns in a braid! That's me! I can see people complaining about the lack of body diversity, but it doesn't matter because we're focusing on the muscles and skeleton.
Then the book gets into Pilates exercises broken up into sections like stability exercises (ex. hundred, scissors), rotation exercises (ex. one leg circle, double leg lift), strength exercises (ex. roll up, corkscrew), and mobility exercises (ex. cobra, mermaid). And each exercise is really accessible because almost all of them have modifications or adjustments. I like that I can build up to doing the hundred by doing the single leg hundred, then the double table top hundred, then the double table top and abdominal curl hundred!
Next is a section dedicated to Pilates training routines, my favourite! There are routines for all levels ranging from beginner, intermediate, to advanced, with several different programs (ex. full body, upper body focus, spinal mobility), training for different sports (ex. swimming, running, strength training), and more specific routines (ex. prenatal, back pain, arthritis).
I really like the variety of routines there are for each program. I crave a little variety, so I like that I can vary what I do on given day. There's lot of choice!
I've done three workouts with this book and I've enjoyed each one a lot. I'm not new to Pilates but I haven't done Pilates in a minute so I started at the beginner level and adjusted a few exercises to give myself a greater challenge. I like that there's a progression chart on page 180 that teach me what I should master before progressing to more difficult workouts. I like how much I can customize my program to my needs with this book!
But I caught a few errors in the text. For the intermediate exercises on page 184 the wrong page is listed for the leg pull back and one leg circle. But I easily remedied that by writing in the correct number with a sticky note. There could be more errors in other routines, but I haven't gone through each one.
I also wish there was a warm up and cool down for the beginner program or a general one for all the workouts.
I'd absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in and or curious about Pilates.
December 23, 2025
loved the photos
Great photos of muscular identification and what becomes activated with each exercise. Enjoyed looking through it and further confirms how necessary pilates is to long term health.
Great photos of muscular identification and what becomes activated with each exercise. Enjoyed looking through it and further confirms how necessary pilates is to long term health.
January 29, 2026
I recently started taking pilates classes and this gave me some good background information that wasn't really presented in class. I found the descriptions of the individual movements and breath work helpful.
March 23, 2026
Great book with visual illustrations, if you’re an instructor it’s basically material you’ve already seen but it’s good to read about it. Also comes with modifications for osteoporosis, arthritis, etc.
January 29, 2023
Pilates teaches movement from your core to create strong, lean muscles and an efficient movement system.
January 29, 2024
The books of this DK series are top notch!
November 7, 2024
The information is presented alongside excellent diagrams, very clear and comprehensible.
December 14, 2024
A useful guide to Pilates.
December 30, 2024
Very helpfull with making new classes and interesting in choices of combination and different levels 👌
March 10, 2026
The front matter was so good that it made me want to get other titles in this exercise series.
The latter part of the book gave example exercise routines for various activities and conditions.
The latter part of the book gave example exercise routines for various activities and conditions.
January 2, 2026
Stunning book. Exercises are clearly explained at a level suitable for those simply looking to deepen their practice or experts with years of experience.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews