Vital Core Training is an e-book written by Leslee Bender a personal trainer with more than 40 years in the industry. It provides a catalogue of core exercises using her branded Bender Ball (or any small inflatable Pilates ball.)
The book is broken into 3 sections – foundation, exercises & workouts. The foundation section provides a basic introduction of relevant anatomy, breathing, postural assessment, planes of motion and learning types.
The exercise section has a comprehensive repertoire of core exercises using the ball. It is divided up into standing, kneeling, supine etc and graded from beginner to advanced. The photos and instructions are clear and easy to follow with some basic alignment cues. Pilates instructors may find the cues quite simple; no sensory or energetic imagery cues are offered. Several exercises offer regressions and progressions, however there are no contra-indications provided for any of the exercises.
The exercises are summarised in beginner, intermediate & advanced workout tables in the final section with links for easy reference.
In summary, if you are new to using a small Pilates ball you will find some creative ways to incorporate it into your personal workout or teaching. However, this book is best suited to the lay person or personal trainer looking for some creative ways to integrate a small Pilates ball into an exercise routine or class. Most of the concepts and exercises found in Vital Core Training would not be new for a comprehensively trained Pilates Instructor.
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