New York City Ballet Workout: Fifty Stretches and Exercises Anyone Can Do for a Strong, Graceful, and Sculpted Body

by Peter Martins, Howard Kaplan, Paul Kolnik (Photographer)

New York City Ballet Workout is a revolutionary fitness program that will help you begin to develop lean abs, firm buttocks, a contoured waist, sculpted legs, slim thighs, strong arms, perfect posture, flexbility you never thought possible--and grace and poice of a dancer. More than three hundred stunning step-by-step and other photographs throughout make this the most beautiful and easy-to-use exercise book ever created.This elegant book is unlike any exercise book ever published. Graced with more than 300 instructional exercise photographs and extraordinary duotone portraits of New York City Ballet dancers, The New York City Ballet Workout explores the company's philosophy of balancing art, life, and fitness.By combining elements of New York City Ballet's balletic regimen with practical strength-building exercises, The New York City Ballet Workout can help people achieve a strong, graceful, and flexible body--one that displays the impeccable poise that is the trademark of New York City Ballet dancers.

Many exercises of The New York City Ballet Workout were once confined to the world's elite rehearsal studios. Now, as refined by Peter Martins and his company, these exercises have been designed as a comprehensive, holistic approach to the body that can be used by anyone from the out-of-shape to the serious athlete, to attain a lean, hard, beautiful body. From flexibility to endurance, this is a complete exercise program for men and women.

Genres: Fitness, Nonfiction, Health, Reference, Self Help, Collections

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 1997

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent the week of Christmas 2021 watching I don't know how many versions of The Nutcracker ballet on YouTube and then ordered some books on ballet.

This is one of them. It came the other day and I have skimmed through it and learned that there are a few moves here that I will be able to do. I have a condition that affects my connective tissue and I am very limited in my activities. I know better than to think I will be doing the entire workout someday, and I certainly will never have "a strong, graceful, and sculpted body". I just want to be mobile for as long as possible and I am eager to see if this, combined with my very simple yoga routine and other tricks I have developed over the years, will allow that to happen.

So I will be using this book starting in January 2022 and hopefully throughout the year, and I thought I would just record all of this now.

Positive thinking!! lol

[Arielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great intro book! It covers almost everything! It starts off with some history--referring to Balanchine, then dives right into what the workout is to the dancers and what it should be to the reader. It has testimonials (so to speak) from the dancers from the company, and ways to modify each exercise for those who are not flexible enough yet. The pictures are beautiful and clear. There are tips and notes for each work out. The book is broken up so clearly and easily from warm-up and stretching to different focuses (such as abs or legs).

The book tells the reader how long each section should take, which muscles should be engaging, and when to exhale. My favorite parts are the extra things the book includes. It has a section at the end where it breaks down the exercise into workouts specifically for those who play different contact sports. It also has two whole pages of music suggestions! Wonderful wonderful book!

My only complaint is that there is not more in there. I know it's already a lot, but I want more!

[Friedrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

there are lots of programmes out there, but few have the glamour of the NYCB workout. if you have a career or are considering a career as a personal trainer or in a related field (and have the qualifications to take their course), i'd recommend adding the NYCB workout to your 'repertoire' of certifications (i did the teacher training back in 2003, i think).

although the NYCB workout will never be a pop-culture phenom such as tae bo, it's certainly guaranteed to have much greater longevity. it is ballet after all, and presented by the world's most prestigious ballet company. something to consider when deciding where to invest your time and money: the NYBC is an institution, not the hard sell of the latest fitness 'guru'.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photography and clear instructions. I practiced ballet in my younger years, and have always wanted to get back into it. The older I got, the more impossible it seemed. This book has helped me to see that's it's never too late to reap the rewards of ballet, even if I'll never perform again.

Good for anyone of any fitness level, and no equipment nor tutus needed.

[Jeancburke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photography. Makes following the moves a straightforward effort, especially with the enumerated instructional steps to guide the user on every page. The accompanying tips Peter Martins provides go the extra mile to engaging in good form. If gym goers are looking for new ideas and ways of approaching workouts, this book is a smart tome to turn to. The youthfulness and optimal toning of the ballet dancers' physiques may not be exactly representative of the average individual seeking self-improvement in a gym, but they can inspire one to accomplishment nonetheless.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for anybody who wants to workout and have beautiful body!!!

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find this one in a used bookstore and it’s worth your while for its definition and illustration of ballet dancers as the ultimate athletes. Strength, speed, agility, stamina: no pink, no tutus. Just silky black and white photos of muscular performers demonstrating posture, turnouts, and tendus.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ‘Music for Your Workout’ at the back of the book really introduces you to the culture of real ballet as a complete adult beginner. This addition really enhances the “workout”and makes you feel that much closer to what the NYC Ballet dancers do daily.

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book for years to help me with figure drawing.

[Judy Lindow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I miss the arch, the turnout, moving with grace, moving through space, considering beauty in your movements. Relaxed shoulders, posture, carriage, and most importantly exercise and stretches that do not bulk up the body. These are basic exercises - however, they are basic, because they are very useful. So it's a nice compilation and the photos are motivating.

The photos, bios, and history of the company are fascinating. There are many little tidbits without there being a lot of text. I'm familiar with many of the trends: yoga, ujam, zumba, spinning, triathlon, etc … and it's refreshing to revisit dance. I'm definitely excited about doing and seeing more dance. Discovering the book was perfect timing for me.

BTW, I do a lot of social/club dancing, yoga, aerobic classes, and I it doesn't bother me in the least that this is an introduction-like book.

[Wade McReynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

NYC Ballet Workout was a pretty novel idea ten years ago, and the photos are still really nice, but there's probably dozens of Pilates books on the market now that teach similar exercises. Also, this book has almost no upper-body stuff.

[Jacob Cruzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. I can do the workouts with my three daughters who love ballet and it is good to mix up the workouts.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent ... I refer to it from time to time.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the DVD's are more accessible.

[Eilis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! It is helping me so much!!