Delavier's Core Training Anatomy

This is perhaps the most comprehensive, well-illustrated, and easy to use reference manual for any kind of exercise that I've seen. The explanations are clear and precise, the exercises themselves are categorized in ways that are useful (not just for creating the look of fitness, but fitness itself in its several varieties), and the illustrations and photographs make it nearly impossible to not understand what's going on when you train your core musculature.

But perhaps the most important aspect of this book is the keen awareness that while everyone would benefit from some core training, there are different kinds of benefits for different kinds of purposes (both in looks and in performance). This nuanced approach is particularly show more important for someone looking to increase core strength for a specific purpose (e.g., to increase cycling performance without adding additional bulk and weight). show less

Delavier's Core Training Anatomy is a beautiful book, beautifully written. As a natural scientist, I appreciate the detail provided, the excellent anatomical drawings and the specific answers to logical questions anyone would have when beginning core training. I am not an athlete, in fact I know next to nothing about weight-lifting, etc. So I was looking forward to a book that would get me started in retraining my 50+ year old body in order to protect my back health and prepare me for the rigors of retirement. I am beyond delighted with Delavier's Core Training Anatomy book. It provides a step-wise approach to identifying training goals, beginning and advanced training program development, and even a section on training for specific show more goals (wellness, six-pack ab development, and sport-specific conditioning). This single book will take me from my present flabby condition through to having a healthy back and, if I persist in my training, a 6-pack abdomen before I reach my 60s!! Fabulous. In addition to being well-written, wonderfully organized and beautifully illustrated, this soft-cover book is well-made. It is a heavy book with plenty of clay in the paper and, as a result, it has the 'feel' of a high-quality publication. At the same time, it is not too thick to carry to the gym. I am looking forward to putting the information in this great book into practice, AFTER I talk to my doctor about my plans (as suggested in the book for anyone with back problems, hernia, etc.). Hurray for Delavier's Core Training Anatomy, a book jocks and nerds can appreciate. show less

I had planned to submit a review of Delavier's Core Training Anatomy earlier, but upon its arrival my husband picked it up and has been reluctant to part with it. It fired his enthusiasm for getting back into shape because of its clear, simple text and precisely rendered illustrations and effective photographs. I have never seen him respond to exercise materials as he has to this book. The publisher, Human Kinetics, always produces quality books, but this particular book can fire you up to want to exercise because it reduces reluctance through a solid presentation that makes you feel that your understand how to achieve your goals and why other approaches may have been ineffective.

My husband has tried to shore-up sagging abdominals for show more a long time, but always quit routines that were either boring or painful. Delavier gives him the insights into how the body works, a variety of approaches, and ways to avoid injury while training. I believe this time, with this book, my husband will achieve his goals.

There are 460 visual depictions of the recommended exercises and the body itself. There is not guesswork. You know which exercise will impact which muscle group and why. Delavier ensures you know how muscles, joints and bones work together and are affected by the 100 exercises divided into 60 programs. There is truly something for everyone in this book, male or female, young, middle-aged or older. You can improve both your body's health and appearance through the knowledge this book provides.

This is not just another general fitness book. It targets the core specifically and then provides routines designed to the specific needs of its readers. Therefore, you can aim for sculpting abs, reducing fatty tissue, improving your heart health or reducing lower back pain, but you can also train for enhanced performance in over 20 different sports. You will be taught what you should do, how you should do it, and why it is important.

The book is divided into 6 parts: a general introduction that helps you key into identifying your goals and how to achieve them by giving you the nuts and bolts answers you need to start and maintain a program, how to make your abs more visible,specific exercises complete with tips and cautions, advanced exercises and techniques to further your program, exercises involving machines and accessories, and finally, a section on sports and goal-specific programs incorporating those exercises allowing you to fine-tune your approach (e.g., of special interest to me as a woman is how to minimize bloating and digestive problems and how to minimize or avoid lower back pain.)

Core muscle fitness is more important than looking sexier. It improves posture, protects and strengthens spinal health, avoids back pain, improves digestion and reduces risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Done properly, as illustrated and discussed in this book, you can also get cardiovascular workouts equal to hours of running, but without the risks of joint damage to your knees and back. Now, if that isn't enough to tempt you, just take a look at the book itself. The quality of the information, illustrations and photography will blow you away. I always offer books I receive to review to my husband to get his take on it. This is the first book he has studied, whose recommendations he is trying, and the first one that he was reluctant to part with long enough for me review. I understand why. In fact, I may have to buy another copy so we each have our own. It is that good. show less

Call this book poetry for the torso. It’s just great. Great visuals. Lovely language. Good instruction. I own and adore all of Frédéric Delavier’s books and enjoy using his exceptional illustrations to look under my skin at the muscle and skeletal system. This book is a welcome addition as it concentrates on core strength, developing a sturdy and sculpted middle area. A strong torso is vitally important for good posture and good health, as well as for maintaining attractiveness. I am a yoga teacher and will use concepts and lessons laid out in this book to explain correct movements. For example, why not to arch the back when doing leg lifts. Delavier warns not to endanger the spine by performing “fake” abdominal exercises that show more create imbalance.
Reading the book I found out a few things I didn’t know, too: for instance, we all wear an “Apollo’s Belt.” It lies on the junction of the waist and thighs--more specifically it’s the lower part of the internal oblique muscles--and is so named because it resembles Apollo’s Lyre. Anyone seriously interested in sculpting the mid-section, in bodywork, body building, or yoga will benefit from adding Core Training Anatomy to their library. show less

Wow--what an inspiring book! Delavier's Core Training Anatomy is an exercise book for folks who want to know why certain exercises are beneficial--and how to maximize that benefit. On one hand, it's an anatomy lesson; on another, it's a practical how-to guide for--as the title promises--"core training." Photographs of folks performing exercises (and these are beautiful people, I must add: half the inspiration comes from wanting to look more like these folks) are coupled with labeled diagrams of muscles and muscle groups--think diagrams from Gray's Anatomy--everything in a glossy, full-color presentation. How nice it is--for someone who's not studied anatomy formally beyond health class in junior high--to know the names of the muscles show more (and bones, in some instances) and how they interact with one another when the body moves in certain ways!

The book is organized into six parts. Part 1 (ca. 20 pages) encapsulates the kinds of things a personal trainer would tell you: practical information about frequency, duration, and content of exercise routines--which, of course, depend on your own personal abilities and goals. (Cautions are aplenty.) Parts 2 through 4 (ca. 70 pages) focus on abdominal exercises. Many can be done on the floor, with a chair, or against a wall. Others require minimal equipment: resistance bands, a stability ball, a medicine ball, a pull-up bar. Part 5 (ca. 20 pages) includes exercises using machines and additional accessories. And Part 6 (ca. 25 pages) includes a variety of sample workout programs, organized by skill level or particular goal.

An attribute I particularly like are the photographs or illustrations that show how not to do certain exercises: In other words, when you're doing exercise X (photographed with correct body position here), make sure you don't position a certain body part this way (photographed or illustrated there). These visuals are helpful to me simply because I have an easier time seeing what to avoid than figuring out what a textual description of what to avoid physically translates into.

This book, then, seems as if it would be best appreciated by the educated (or inquisitive) exerciser who's keen on sculpting his or her abdominals--whether for improving cardiovascular health, reducing fat, relieving lower-back discomfort, aiding performance in endurance and other sports, or just for the sake of vanity. Oh, did I say that the models are gorgeous? show less

Delavier's Core Training Anatomy is a beautifully written and illustrated book on core exercises. Delavier writes with the layman in mind, although he does use scientific terminology. He begins with the hows and whys, listing 20 reasons for developing your core before moving onto the whats- the exercises that develop the core.

Disclaimer: I won a copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. However, my package was stolen and this review is from a library copy of the book.

Once again, Human Kinetics and Delavier do not disappoint with a beautiful, informative, full-color illustrated guide to core training. There are exercises in here from the total beginner to beefcake gym rat. I like the guidelines and cautions for exercises that are not helpful, as well as all of the information on how to and how not to do the exercises in this book.

My favorite part of this manual is the back, where the authors have helpfully put together different routines based on what your goal is - toning your six pack, increasing your endurance, or becoming as ripped show more as the guy doing the poses in this book. show less