Ellie Herman's Pilates Reformer, Third Edition

I LOVE my LeisureKing reformer! The color is pretty and it's so nice to have the reformer in my home. I am 5’6” and was worried about the length. It is long enough and can be adjusted for your height. I can use it at my convenience and not have to dash out the door to attend a class...which isn't cheap! This reformer is smooth, easy to put together, and is well worth the money. In the long run the savings will be well worth it. I was attending Pilates classes 4 times a week, so this reformer will pay for itself within a couple of months.

Great manual for Classic instruction.

Yes, it's hideously expensive, but I think the pages from 12 to 27 alone justify the price. They might be subtitled: "How Not to Cripple or Kill Yourself on the Reformer." Pages 12-13 cover the "Eight Principles of Pilates" and Ellie adds her own called "Body Awareness." Pages 14-19 include excellently described and photographed "Pilates Alphabet," in other words, the basic positions from which you generally move to or return from other exercises. Pages 20 - 21 cover "General Movement Vocabulary," again, excellently described and photographed. Pages 22 - 23 cover the famous "Neutral Spine, Neutral Pelvis," which are so critical to Pilates and, in fact, nearly all exercises, including things you'd think wouldn't relates to Pilates at all, like arm presses from a weight bench. and pages 24 to 27 cover what I have called "how not to cripple or kill yourself" on the Reformer. Here she covers "Spinal Flexion" and "Spinal Extension," each section including discusions about "General Contraindications," "Disc Dysfunction," and "Caution."Because absolute precision of movement is so critically important in Pilates exercises (no "good enough for the weight room" here), these pages should be in every book, CD, or DVD ever published on anything even remotely concerning Pilates. For instructors, she also includes a brief description on "Assisting People." Surprisingly, that's where she has put some critical information on "teaching prone back extension exercises to folks with weak abdominals, glutes, and hamstrings." This one paragraph should be printed in large letters anywhere there's a Reformer available to the public. Now I know why health clubs don't leave Reformers out in the open. Although, come to think of it, you could do the same amount of damage with, say, a leg press sled. "Oh, I can do 250," I told my trainer one day. "Put on another ten." BUT can you walk the next day is the question.The rest of the book is, as described by other reviewers, absolutely excellent. I think the highest compliment is to say, "It's actually worth its outrageous price." I'm glad I bought it.

Excellent book & teacher. Easy to read., understand. Yes, it’s expensive but worth the $$ if it keeps us from an injury & I think it will. comprehensive & detailed. Will use it for many years.

This book is exactly what I was looking for! It's worth every penny! I especially love the workouts with the pictures all in order! Each exercise is explained very well and once you know them you can just use the chart for your workouts. I want to blow them up and hand them on the wall! Thank you Ellie!

I bought this book after I had already read through it several times, I checked it out at the Library and then borrowed it from a friend of mine, this was over the course of a year and finally I decided this was worth the money to own, but $70 is a lot to fork out for a book, but believe me when I say it was worth every penny,this book has helped me tremendously not only for teaching my clients but for myself. I have one other Reformer book which came with my cert. and it is great, but this one really does have a lot more in depth exercises. If you are an instructor or just practicing on your own, this book will be very helpful.

As a recently certified pilates instructor I am constantly looking for information to aid in my learning experience. This book is a wonderful tool in my journey. Easy to read and understand I would recommend this to any instructor looking to add to their pilates library.

Love this book and I am going to invest in the other Ellie Herman Pilates books. Her focus is on classical Pilates, with a simple introduction, nice reference and simple definition of each move. The photos are critical for explanation and are a great addition for anyone who is "into" Pilates, who is advancing and who want to make the most of their pilates experience. Highly recommend.