Stock photo.

Curves, Twists and Bends

A Practical Guide to Pilates for Scoliosis

by Alan Herdman; Annette Wellings

Review this book!
Average customer review: rating star

(Based on 1 review; Read reviews)

No summary of this book is available at this time. Click here to contribute a summary of Curves, Twists and Bends.

Available editions of Curves, Twists and Bends

	9781848190252, Paperback, Jessica Kingsley Pub, 2009 $13.62 (NEW) Other copies of 9781848190252

Customer Reviews

on Oct 22 2009, feeney said:

"Do you have major scoliosis (curvature of the spine)? Do you intend to keep it under control? *** If so, you resemble co-author Annette Wellings. At age 37, Ms Wellings's scoliosis began hunching her more and paining her more. For she next ten years she experimented with the gentler exercises among those associated with yoga and Pilates. Results: her body looks more normal. One shoulder is no longer higher than the other. Back pain went away, except when Annette played hooky from her exercises. *** Multi-talented Annette Wellings (teaching Pilates is only one of many things she does) teamed up with Alan Herdman who had introduced Pilates to the UK four decades ago. In collaboration they wrote CURVES, TWISTS AND BENDS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PILATES FOR SCOLIOSIS. That text describes in considerable detail the many forms scoliosis takes. It then describes and illustrates some 34 gentle exercises that can hold scoliosis at bay. Throughout, emphasis is on stretching neck and spine and building up muscles on sides of the body notably weakened by spinal curvature. *** CURVES, TWISTS AND BENDS goes beyond mere exercise, however. It also discusses the impact of a curved spine on the sufferer's psyche. It ends with tips on dieting, sleeping, sitting, carrying ("Never use a bag that hangs from your shoulder"), standing, dressing (wear loose fitting clothing, layer them,), selecting shoes ("Forget about very high heels and stilettos") and pulls all this advice together by outlining a structured health care plan for you to tailor for yourself (no two scolioses are remotely the same). The book also includes a short glossary of terms of art such as abductors, kyphoscoliosis, pelvic floor and stenosis. *** I do not suffer from scoliosis, though I know people who do. I have not studied Pilates, though I was familiar with a quarter or more of the 34 exercises described. Good posture and spine lengthening are part of tai chi, with which I am familiar. *** This short, quick-developing book taught me much about two important subjects: scoliosis and Pilates. Not every move in Pilates is safe for scoliosis sufferers, notably flattening the spine to excess while lying on the floor. This book has strengthened my intention to learn more of Pilates and to watch out for early signs of scoliosis among my grandchildren and other youngsters. From a half dozen case studies presented in CURVES, TWISTS AND BENDS I gather that many youngsters are physical dynamos until their early teens when suddenly things start going wrong (or at least they first notice them) with their spines. There has to be early, systematic medical testing to assure the strongest possible spines and supporting muscles. Passive, fatalistic acceptance is not the way to manage scoliosis. Pilates can make a big difference. -OOO- "

Review this book!