Instruction in basic exercises targeting women's core, butt, and legs. Generously illustrated to show muscles each exercise strengthens and elements of the skeleton used. Tone and contents are pretty sexist and body-negative. I noted that it was written by two men for women--it shows and it's not a good look. ( )

Most of us are familiar with the importance of visualization as a tool to achieve your goals. People pay expensive fees for seminars on how to visualize for success, and therapists of all kinds promote this skill for their patients. Even advanced cancer treatment centers are including visualization as a valuable tool in their overall arsenal. Why? Because visualization works.

Delavier's Sculpting Anatomy for Women makes it easy to visualize which parts of your body are involved in various exercises and activities through extensive, beautifully rendered detailed illustrations and photographs. More than that, it also teaches you how each part works together for a healthy, energetic body.

Every Devalier book provides detailed step-by-step guidance, has what amounts to coaching comments and warnings for each exercise so you do not harm yourself. The illustrations help you understand exactly which muscles are being targeted; visualization made easy. Another plus: there are illustrated variations in case you need to modify it for your current needs.

Most exercises in the book do not need special equipment. Some may require a bench, a chair. or weight lifting gear, but they are the exception not the rule.
There is a short but comprehensive chapter on nutrition at the beginning of the book that gives you real insight into why modifying your diet is a crucial companion to exercising effectively. The book's final chapter helps you plan a program that will maximize results by helping you define your body type - which in turn determines what kind of exercise program will be most effective for you.

What I appreciated most of all was the positive attitude towards age. The author emphasizes though it may take longer for women over 30 to achieve realistic results, those results are possible if women take a slow and steady, dedicated path to them. He assures us we can continue to build muscle " . . . even to the age of 70."

Another positive is that the author maintains that exercising at home can be as effective as doing it at gym. Imagine saving time and money and avoiding humiliation as slender young things flounce about - undermining your confidence and sapping your hopes. This book makes you feel you truly can achieve a better core, butt and legs by following its suggested exercises and guidelines. It feels as if you have a personal coach with you in the privacy of your home; a coach who believes in you and wants you to succeed. ( )

I thought this book was an excellent source for those with little experience. It gives great diagrams, pictures and step by step instructions. However, I thought it a bit light on the scientific end...very limited nutrition guide...and the blurb on cellulite borders on ridiculous. I thought it a good and thorough guide for those beginning on a course of exercise however, very easy to follow. ( )

I was impressed by the thoroughness of this text, as well as the clear communication of the techniques and principles involved. The tips around each illustration helped me maintain good form and get the most out of the exercises described. I also appreciated that this book included foundational principles helping me comprehend the underlying structure of bones and muscles as well as tips on diet to help me achieve the best results. This is an excellent text.

Delavier’s Sculpting Anatomy for Women

As a health counselor, coach and acupuncturist, I have come to appreciate the wide selection of titles offered by Human Kinetics and especially those of Delavier. The illustrations are so clear & precise, presented here along with photos and simple descriptions of basic yet powerful exercises. After I show clients these illustrations many are motivated to buy their own copies. I have found other more detailed or complex anatomy charts & books to be too intimidating or unclear to clients, as to precisely what will be affected by an exercise.

If you are a beginner at working out, or a “back–again–after–a–long–pause”, you will find this an excellent starting point, whether you are working with a trainer or not. If you’ve been working on yourself for a while, this might be a tweak to inspire you onward. The nutritional section (8 out of over 100 pages) is almost a cute throw-away, so don’t expect more than general concepts that can be explored in further depth elsewhere. The richness of this book is in the motivational visuals!

Remember, the four foundations of health are:
1. Diet & exercise!
2. Diet & exercise!
3. Diet & exercise!
4. Diet & exercise! ( )