Best Pilates Books for Beginners and Beyond (2026)
By The Pilates Verdict Team · October 6, 2026 · 15 min read
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Of the best Pilates books for beginners, our top pick is The Pilates Body, Revised and Expanded Edition by Brooke Siler. It came out in December 2025 and covers more than 50 mat exercises with no machines needed, according to its publisher, Penguin Random House.
A book suits you if you want to learn mat Pilates at home at your own pace. The right one depends on four things: your level, whether you learn best from photos, drawings or anatomy illustrations, whether you need mat or apparatus work, and how current the edition is. Some of the best-known titles are more than 20 years old.
How we chose: We don't test products. We compared each book's stated scope, exercise count, level and page count from its publisher (Penguin Random House/DK, Human Kinetics) or retailer (Balanced Body). We checked author training against publisher bios or the author's own site and cross-checked editions in Open Library. We didn't rank by Amazon ratings because we couldn't verify them, and we didn't rely on editorial roundups. Where a detail couldn't be confirmed, we say so. All sources are listed at the end.
Our Top Picks
- Check price on Amazon
Best Overall for Beginners
The Pilates Body, Revised and Expanded Edition (Brooke Siler, 2025)
2025 edition with 50+ mat exercises, beginner modifications and progressions, no machines needed.
- Check price on Amazon
Best Step-by-Step Photos
Pilates: Body in Motion (Alycea Ungaro, DK)
50 mat exercises from beginner to advanced, each with step-by-step photos and checklists.
- Check price on Amazon
Best for Anatomy
Pilates Anatomy, 2nd Edition (Isacowitz & Clippinger)
46 exercises with detailed anatomical illustrations, from Human Kinetics.
Quick comparison
The Pilates Body, Revised (2025)
- Level
- Beginner and up
- Exercises
- 50+ mat
- Format
- Mat, photos and drawings
- Price tier
- $10–20
Pilates: Body in Motion (2002)
- Level
- Beginner to advanced
- Exercises
- 50 mat
- Format
- Mat, step-by-step photos
- Price tier
- $10–20
15-Minute Pilates (2019)
- Level
- Not stated
- Exercises
- 4 routines
- Format
- Mat + weights, photos
- Price tier
- $10–20
Women's Health Big Book of Pilates (2013)
- Level
- Beginner and experienced
- Exercises
- Not stated
- Format
- Mat, props, cardio circuits
- Price tier
- $20–30
Pilates Anatomy, 2nd Ed. (2020)
- Level
- Enthusiasts to instructors
- Exercises
- 46
- Format
- Anatomy illustrations
- Price tier
- $20–30
Pilates, 3rd Ed. (2023)
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Exercises
- 200+
- Format
- Mat + 8 apparatus, photos
- Price tier
- $30–40
Return to Life Through Contrology (1945)
- Level
- Not stated
- Exercises
- 34 original mat
- Format
- Mat, original illustrations
- Price tier
- $10–20
Pilates For Dummies (2002)
- Level
- Not stated
- Exercises
- Not confirmed
- Format
- Illustrated
- Price tier
- Not confirmed
| Product | Level | Exercises | Format | Price tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Pilates Body, Revised (2025) | Beginner and up | 50+ mat | Mat, photos and drawings | $10–20 | View |
| Pilates: Body in Motion (2002) | Beginner to advanced | 50 mat | Mat, step-by-step photos | $10–20 | View |
| 15-Minute Pilates (2019) | Not stated | 4 routines | Mat + weights, photos | $10–20 | View |
| Women's Health Big Book of Pilates (2013) | Beginner and experienced | Not stated | Mat, props, cardio circuits | $20–30 | View |
| Pilates Anatomy, 2nd Ed. (2020) | Enthusiasts to instructors | 46 | Anatomy illustrations | $20–30 | View |
| Pilates, 3rd Ed. (2023) | Intermediate to advanced | 200+ | Mat + 8 apparatus, photos | $30–40 | View |
| Return to Life Through Contrology (1945) | Not stated | 34 original mat | Mat, original illustrations | $10–20 | View |
| Pilates For Dummies (2002) | Not stated | Not confirmed | Illustrated | Not confirmed | View |
Price tiers are based on publisher or retailer list prices (Balanced Body for Return to Life). Amazon prices are often lower, so check the listing. Page counts are in each review below.
The best Pilates books
Best Overall for Beginners
1. The Pilates Body, Revised and Expanded Edition (Brooke Siler, 2025)
Brooke Siler's The Pilates Body first came out in 2000. Penguin Random House released the revised and expanded edition on December 2, 2025, so it's the newest book on this list.
According to the publisher:
- Scope: more than 50 mat exercises, done "without machines"
- Visuals: step-by-step photos, line drawings and visualizations
- For beginners: modifications, progressions and troubleshooting
- New in this edition: a chapter on pandiculation with 16 matwork variations
- Format: 256-page paperback, also sold as an ebook
Siler trained for a decade under Romana Kryzanowska, a protégée of Joseph Pilates, and ran re:AB Pilates, her Manhattan studio, according to her publisher bio.
Buy the 2025 edition. The original 2000 Broadway Books edition (194 pages, per Open Library) is still around, but the revised edition replaces it.
Pros
- ✓ Newest edition on this list
- ✓ Beginner modifications and progressions
- ✓ No equipment beyond a mat
Cons
- ✗ Mat only, no reformer work
- ✗ Easy to buy the older 2000 edition by mistake
Best Step-by-Step Photos
2. Pilates: Body in Motion (Alycea Ungaro, DK)
DK's Pilates: Body in Motion by Alycea Ungaro covers "fifty mat-based exercises" from beginner to advanced, according to Penguin Random House. They include The Hundred, the Wall Sequence, Open Leg Rocker, Corkscrew, Swan Dive and Shoulder Bridge. Each one comes with step-by-step photos and checklists.
- Published: February 2002, 176 pages
- Author: the publisher calls Ungaro "a pioneer of the Pilates method" and says she serves on Fitness Magazine's advisory board
It's more than 20 years old, but mat exercises like these haven't changed much. You may see the book listed with the subtitle "A Practical Guide to the First 3 Years" on Penguin Random House's page. We couldn't confirm which subtitle is correct, so search by author and title.
Pros
- ✓ 50 mat exercises from beginner to advanced
- ✓ Photo-led layout with checklists
- ✓ Lower price tier
Cons
- ✗ Published in 2002
- ✗ Subtitle listed inconsistently
Best for Short Workouts
3. 15-Minute Pilates (Alycea Ungaro, DK)
If you'd rather follow a routine than learn moves one by one, 15-Minute Pilates (DK, 2019) is built around four 15-minute workouts, according to Penguin Random House. The subtitle promises "Four 15-Minute Workouts for Strength, Stretch, and Control." Each one needs only a mat and weights.
- Visuals: step-by-step photos, plus "feel it here" graphics that show which part of your body to focus on, according to Penguin Random House
- Recap: a pose-sequence summary at the end of each program
- Length: 112 pages
It's also by Alycea Ungaro. Penguin Random House doesn't give a level for it.
Pros
- ✓ Ready-made routines for busy days
- ✓ "Feel it here" focus graphics
- ✓ Short and focused
Cons
- ✗ You'll need a set of weights
- ✗ Fewer exercises than a full reference book
Most Comprehensive
4. The Women's Health Big Book of Pilates (Brooke Siler)
At 432 pages, The Women's Health Big Book of Pilates by Brooke Siler and the editors of Women's Health is the longest book here. Penguin Random House says it covers:
- Basic mat moves
- Pilates at work and while traveling
- Using props
- Cardio circuits
- Dietary guidance
The publisher pitches it at both beginners and experienced practitioners. It came out in October 2013.
Check the format before you buy. Penguin Random House lists it as a paperback, but the Amazon page labels it hardcover.
Pros
- ✓ The widest scope here, from basics to travel workouts and props
- ✓ Same author as our top pick
- ✓ Aimed at beginners and experienced readers
Cons
- ✗ From 2013
- ✗ Heavy at 432 pages
- ✗ Format listed inconsistently
Best for Anatomy
5. Pilates Anatomy, 2nd Edition (Isacowitz & Clippinger)
Pilates Anatomy (2nd edition, Human Kinetics, 2020) explains 46 exercises with detailed anatomical illustrations, according to the publisher. It's written for fitness enthusiasts, Pilates instructors and practitioners, and physical therapists.
The authors are Rael Isacowitz, founder of BASI Pilates, and Karen Clippinger, professor emerita at California State University, Long Beach and a former clinical kinesiologist, according to Human Kinetics. Balanced Body also sells the book.
It's a 272-page paperback. Since it focuses on the muscles behind each move, it works well alongside a photo-led how-to book.
Pros
- ✓ Detailed anatomical illustrations
- ✓ Authors with teaching and kinesiology backgrounds
- ✓ Pairs well with a beginner how-to book
Cons
- ✗ Fewer exercises than the how-to picks
- ✗ More technical than a beginner guide
Best for Going Deeper
6. Pilates, 3rd Edition (Rael Isacowitz)
Rael Isacowitz's Pilates (3rd edition, Human Kinetics, 2023) is the book to grow into. Human Kinetics says it has more than 200 exercises with new photos, covering mat work plus eight pieces of apparatus:
- Reformer, Cadillac and Wunda Chair
- Ladder Barrel and Step Barrel
- Ped-a-Pul, Arm Chair and Magic Circle
It gives difficulty ratings and resistance recommendations. It isn't a beginner book. Human Kinetics aims it at intermediate to advanced practitioners and teachers. It's a 392-page paperback.
Pros
- ✓ 200+ exercises across mat and eight apparatus
- ✓ Difficulty ratings and resistance guidance
- ✓ Useful for home reformer owners and teachers
Cons
- ✗ Intermediate to advanced, per the publisher
- ✗ Highest price tier here
Best Original Source
7. Return to Life Through Contrology (Joseph Pilates)
Joseph Pilates called his method "Contrology." He published Return to Life Through Contrology in 1945 with William J. Miller, according to Wikipedia. Balanced Body says it includes "his original 34 mat exercises, with instructions and illustrations." Its edition is a 105-page black-and-white paperback, listed at $20 on Balanced Body's Contrology store.
Several editions exist, including a Presentation Dynamics edition and a 2012 Pilates Method Alliance reprint, according to Open Library. Page counts and prices vary by edition.
It's a short historical text, so in our view it suits curious or committed practitioners more than true beginners. No source we found rates how beginner-friendly it is.
Pros
- ✓ Joseph Pilates' own 34 mat exercises
- ✓ Short read
- ✓ Useful context for any practice
Cons
- ✗ 1945 text, no modern modifications
- ✗ Many editions to choose between
Plain-Language Explainer
8. Pilates For Dummies (Ellie Herman)
Pilates For Dummies by Ellie Herman was published by Hungry Minds in 2002, according to Open Library. Its Open Library description says the "Pilates method is explained and illustrated with exercises that stress strengthening and stretching..." It runs about 334–347 pages, depending on the listing.
Herman runs a studio in Narberth, Pennsylvania and offers mat, reformer, Cadillac and chair certification programs, according to her website.
We couldn't confirm whether it's still in print or whether a newer edition exists. Treat it as a dated but approachable introduction.
Pros
- ✓ Plain-language explanations
- ✓ Author runs teacher certification programs
Cons
- ✗ Published in 2002
- ✗ In-print status and price unconfirmed
Also worth a look
-
Caged Lion: Joseph Pilates and His Legacy by John Howard Steel is a history of Joseph Pilates, not an exercise book. Open Library lists a 214-page 2020 edition from Last Leaf Press. We couldn't confirm details of its content or the author's background.
-
Pajama Pilates by Maria Mankin is an illustrated home guide that Balanced Body sells. It has 40 exercises, each with step-by-step instructions, benefits and modifications. We couldn't confirm the page count, publisher or Amazon availability.
-
Lesley Logan's Pilates Mat Flashcards are 59 cards covering the original mat repertoire, according to Balanced Body. They're handy if you want cues on the mat instead of a book.
-
Teacher and clinical titles: Balanced Body's book catalog is mostly instructor and clinical texts, such as The Osteoporosis Exercise Book, Safe Movement for All Spines and Teaching the Universal Reformer Repertoire. If you have a medical condition, ask your doctor or physical therapist before choosing one.
How to choose a Pilates book
Tap the diagram to enlarge
Pilates books for beginners vs. advanced readers
Most of these books are open to beginners, but not all. Penguin Random House says Siler's revised Pilates Body includes beginner modifications and progressions. Body in Motion runs from beginner to advanced. Human Kinetics aims Isacowitz's Pilates (3rd edition) at intermediate to advanced practitioners and teachers. If you're new, start with one of the first three picks.
Tap the diagram to enlarge
Mat only vs. apparatus
Most people reading at home need a mat book. Siler's book is explicitly "without machines," and Ungaro's books are mat-based, though 15-Minute Pilates adds weights. If you own a reformer or plan to take studio classes, Isacowitz's 3rd edition covers the Reformer and seven other pieces of apparatus. Our reformer vs. mat Pilates guide explains how the two differ.
Photos, drawings or anatomy illustrations
- Step-by-step photos: The Pilates Body (with line drawings), Body in Motion, 15-Minute Pilates
- Anatomy illustrations: Pilates Anatomy
- "Feel it here" focus graphics: 15-Minute Pilates, according to Penguin Random House
- Original illustrations: Return to Life Through Contrology
Check the edition and date
Book listings often mix editions. Look for:
- The Pilates Body: the 2025 revised and expanded edition (256 pages), not the 2000 original (194 pages)
- Isacowitz's Pilates: the 3rd edition (2023), which is the one Human Kinetics now sells
- Pilates For Dummies: 2002, and we couldn't confirm a newer edition
Books vs. classes and videos
A book shows you the order of exercises, the setup and the cues. Some, like Siler's and Ungaro's, include modifications for beginners. A book can't watch your form, though. In our view, pairing it with a class or an instructor-led video is sensible, especially at the start. If you're heading to a studio, see what to expect at your first reformer Pilates class.
Keep expectations realistic. Wikipedia's Pilates article, citing a 2015 Australian Government review of natural therapies, says Pilates "has not been shown to be an effective treatment for any medical condition." A 2015 systematic review of nine trials in healthy adults (Campos et al., Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness) found Pilates improved abdominal muscular endurance compared with no exercise, but found no clear difference in flexibility. Treat a book as a learning tool, not a treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Pilates book for beginners?
For mat work at home, The Pilates Body, Revised and Expanded Edition (2025) is the newest beginner-friendly option. Penguin Random House says it has more than 50 exercises with photos, beginner modifications and progressions. Pilates: Body in Motion covers 50 mat exercises from beginner to advanced with step-by-step photos, according to the same publisher.
What book did Joseph Pilates write?
Two: Your Health (1934) and Return to Life Through Contrology (1945, with William J. Miller), according to Wikipedia. Balanced Body says Return to Life includes his original 34 mat exercises.
Can you learn Pilates from a book?
Books show the sequence, setup and cues, and some, like Siler's and Ungaro's, include beginner modifications, according to their publisher. A book can't correct your form, though. In our view, pairing it with a class or an instructor-led video is sensible.
Is Pilates Anatomy good for beginners?
Human Kinetics aims it at fitness enthusiasts, instructors and physical therapists. It explains 46 exercises with anatomical illustrations, so it works well as a companion to a how-to book. Rael Isacowitz's separate Pilates (3rd edition) is aimed at intermediate to advanced practitioners.
Do I need a reformer to use these books?
Not for the beginner picks. Penguin Random House describes Siler's book as "without machines," and Ungaro's books are mat-based (15-Minute Pilates adds weights). Isacowitz's Pilates (3rd edition) is the exception: it covers eight pieces of apparatus, including the Reformer.
What is the best Pilates book for reformer?
Of the books we compared, Rael Isacowitz's Pilates (3rd edition, 2023) is the one that covers reformer work. Human Kinetics says it has more than 200 exercises across mat work, the Reformer and seven other pieces of apparatus, with difficulty ratings and resistance recommendations. It's aimed at intermediate to advanced practitioners and teachers.
What books do Pilates instructors use?
We couldn't find a survey of what instructors use. Human Kinetics aims Pilates Anatomy (2nd edition) partly at Pilates instructors, and Isacowitz's Pilates (3rd edition) at practitioners and teachers. Balanced Body's book catalog is mostly instructor and clinical texts, such as Teaching the Universal Reformer Repertoire.
Are these Pilates books available as ebooks?
We could only confirm one. Penguin Random House sells The Pilates Body, Revised and Expanded Edition as an ebook as well as a paperback. We didn't confirm ebook or Kindle editions for the other books, so check the listing.
The verdict
Start with The Pilates Body, Revised and Expanded Edition if you're new and want a full mat program. It's the newest book here and includes beginner modifications, according to its publisher.
Check price on Amazon- Want step-by-step photos: Pilates: Body in Motion covers 50 mat exercises.
- Short on time: 15-Minute Pilates gives you four ready-made routines.
- Want to understand the muscles: Pilates Anatomy, 2nd edition.
- Past the basics or using a reformer: Isacowitz's Pilates, 3rd edition.
- Curious about where it all started: Return to Life Through Contrology.
A Pilates mat is the only gear most of these books need. See our guide to Pilates equipment for beginners, or browse more Pilates at home guides.
Sources
- Penguin Random House: The Pilates Body, Revised and Expanded Edition
- Penguin Random House: The Women's Health Big Book of Pilates
- Penguin Random House: 15-Minute Pilates
- Penguin Random House: Pilates: Body in Motion
- Human Kinetics: Pilates Anatomy, 2nd Edition
- Human Kinetics: Pilates, 3rd Edition
- Balanced Body: Return to Life Through Contrology, Contrology store listing, Books, Pajama Pilates
- Open Library: The Pilates Body (2000), Pilates For Dummies, Pilates: Body in Motion, Return to Life (2012 reprint), Caged Lion and Return to Life editions
- Wikipedia: Joseph Pilates and Pilates
- Campos RR et al., "Effect of the Pilates method on physical conditioning of healthy subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis," J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 2015: Europe PMC abstract
- Ellie Herman Pilates: studio site
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