Fusion Workouts is published by Human Kinetics and available with 10% PAA member discount from Booktopia.
Pilates practitioners are movement specialists and we tend to mix and match the best exercises to help clients maintain alignment, strength, balance and conditioning of the whole body. ‘Fusion Workouts’ is another book showing how to blend movement modalities.
This book is good for anyone who has no idea of how to structure a home routine. It’s simple to read and is honest in its expectations and delivery – however too simple for a Pilates practitioner who already has those skills.
It offers examples of short, medium or long workout programs, for time management considerations. The sample workouts are easy to follow for people who have a basic idea of what some exercises should “look like” but whether their primary focus is clear is debatable. The workout exercises are cross referenced with page numbers to highlight targeted focus of each exercise – However, this is potentially a barrier to ease of use.
The book generally keeps away from pathologies and contraindications, which is disconcerting with an aging population wanting self-help books to improve health and fitness with little to no anatomy awareness.
Blending different methods of movements in a workout can be beneficial but to say they are the “perfect” (pg. 279) blend is a big claim. Especially when some movements would be too hard without a breakdown of the exercise first. Imbalances in our bodies create dysfunctional movement and have a negative effect on a person’s willingness to continue the workout.
Overall, the book would be best read by interested participants in classes who are pathology and injury free that have a decent body awareness. It is too simple for the accomplished Pilates instructor.
Helen Stamatakos
PAA Member L3 Professional Instructor, Founder and instructor at Pilates Insync, Menai, NSW
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