A Pilates' Primer : The Millennium Edition

by Joseph Pilates

Customers interested in this book should look up the revised edition, now titled PILATES EVOLUTION, ( ISBN 978-1-928564-91-1), which includes the entire text of PILATES PRIMER, plus extensive new material. This older combination edition entitled Pilates Primer included both of the published works of Joseph Pilates, as does its Revised Edition, now titled Pilates Evolution. Both the older Primer and the revised edition, Pilates Evolution, contain the only authorized copies of the Library of Congress books originally written by Joseph Pilates in 1934 and 1945.
This Pilates Primer made available in one volume all of Pilates’ early Twentieth Century philosophies, principles, and theories about health and fitness, as well as the exercises, poses, and instructions fundamental to his exciting fitness program. You will also learn every single one of his original 34 mat exercises taught to his own students. Living testimony to the validity of his own teachings, Joseph Pilates shares in these writings his fundamental tenets of posture, body mechanics, correct breathing, spinal flexibility, physical education, and his law of natural exercises.

Genres: Fitness, How To

158 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2000

Reviews

[Natalía Papadopoúlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

New thoughts from years ago

I started reading this purely out of curiosity for the original thoughts of what I see today under dozen of variations, I was wondering what Pilates is without all the balls and elastic bands that were added later on to the price. But what I found especially interesting as a designer is that Pilates have thought and invented his own chairs and beds so that our spine is rested in a natural way and a whole system around how to move. Of course there are few things to take with caution (as rinsing your nose with water from the tap, not sterilized) but overall I found this very arousing to the mind. Think how many years ago it was written!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd actually give this 3.5 stars, but I'll be generous & round up. The book is interesting to get a feel of how Pilates initially introduced his methodology. However, the book is very outdated - in language, philosophy & even medical advice. My other complaint was a lot of the writing was focused on exposing the "quacks" in the physical fitness & medical fields. A lot of preaching. Despite all this, I do think there is solid information buried in there. It's also interesting to see how Pilates, in the 1930s & 1940s, saw the abundance of misinformation regarding health, & that pushing the body to extremes was not the answer. Yet, here we are 80-100 years later and we've kept pushing.

[Allyson Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book and interesting to see where the exercises and philosophy started. He does rant a bit in the end and is very excited about his discoveries and philosophies. One must remember this was written in the 1930's so some of his philosophy's can seem dated. However this is a good book with great start off exercises and a nice view into the mind of the creator of Pilates.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love Pilates, you will get a lot out of these little books. If you aren't sure, you will hate these books. Joseph Pilates' theories informed my practice, even his crazier ideas. He was passionate about his work and I liked reading in his own words what he intended with Contrology, the original name of Pilates.

[Daniella Sforza · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the definitive soured as would be Light on Yoga. Why so expensive? It's up to $603.00 on Amazon! The lowest price being $79 but each little book can be had for$ 15. Odd

[Abigail Sewall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very interesting to read as a modern reader and fan of pilates fitness classes. A lot of the societal influences that shaped Joseph Pilates work at the time are still true today. He talks about fitness being a business keeps us buying a "cure" but prevents us from making the changes in our lifestyle to put our health first. He talks about how work and capitalism are degrading all of our health. His system is a lot less glamorous than what you would practice at a modern pilates studio but the foundational ideas are the same. He did have some kind of sus ideas about vaccines and gender and other things that I'm pretty sure would have gotten him cancelled in 2025 but still an interesting read.

[Julia Kulgavchuk]

A curious read but not really valuable for Pilates practice. It sounds old-fashioned in a way that may even defer from the practice. What's the deal with masturbation being literally "the curse of mankind"? The straight spine part is also quite cringeworthy.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll try this old-timey-wimey style exercise regime sometimes for laughs. Very reminiscent of Charles Atlas

[sofia bessette · Rating 4 out of 5]

informative and foundational if you are interested in pilates

[Kevin Kosar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good, But Often Hard to Comprehend...(read more)

[Marcos d Ornellas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nor really interesting.

[Patty Vela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginnings.....