Lotte Berk Books

I have great respect for Lydia Bach. Unlike Callan, she named her method after its creator, ballerina Lotte Berk, and demonstrated the famous exercises with grace and elegance. The photographs are beautiful and do not fail to capture the enjoyment this method of exercise produces. As for the exercises, to me they are miraculous. I highly recommend this book, it is almost a collector's item for Lotte Berk method aficionados.

I found this book and exercises at a time in my life when I was a new mother with a back problem. I turned to this book as a last resort.
My experience: I lost weight, got in shape, and strengthened my back. I've had no back problems for the past 17 years.
20 minutes of my time for at least 2-3 times a week. One does not need to be in shape to do the exercises. One needs to be patient and take the time to learn each exercise and only do them at their own capacity. The process is more important than the end result. Use common sense. One can do these exercises anywhere with no equipment.
The book is user friendly. One needs to read the text to get the most benefit and understand the exercises.

After learning that Callan Pinckney based her world-famous Callanetics exercises on the Lotte Berk Method, I've long been curious to learn more about the original program. As I understand it, Ms. Berk herself wrote a book, but copies are rare these days and cost a fortune. As you can imagine, I was delighted to come across this one written by one of her former disciples Lydia Bach. Sadly, my high expectations were dashed the moment I began reading it.

Of course I expected it to be a little outdated (it was published in the early `70's); however, most of the movements she demonstrates look like a back injury waiting to happen. Don't get me wrong. Ms. Bach had (and still has) a near-perfect figure and her execution is impeccable. It's more that there are absolutely NO examples of how to modify these killer exercises until one reaches a phenomenal degree of strength and flexibility.

In all fairness, I understand that the Lotte Berk Method has been improved over the past few decades under the direction of Ms. Bach. In fact, I would still be open to attending a class if it were ever offered in my area. Until then, I'll stick with Callanetics. Because of Ms. Pinckney's own experiences with severe knee and back pain, she found ways to make having a great body possible for EVERYONE.

Both Lydia Bach and Callan Pinckney studied under Lotte Berk for a time, then went their separate ways. Callan did some modifications to the exercises so that people with back problems (which she also had) could do them, as well as people who were just starting out. Lydia did not modify them. When you read this book, you definitely get the message that if you are not already fit, or someone who has the flexibility of a ballet dancer or a yogi, don't bother.

It kind of has some artsy/grainy black and white photography, and is interesting if you are looking at the original method to see where Callanetics came from, but as a manual of exercise, even though it demonstrates the positions, it is not as "ordinary people" friendly as Callanetics. Buy Callanetics instead, you won't be sorry.

Thank goodness that this book is out of print! Even when it was published back in the 70s it contained erroneous and rediculous information. Ms. Bach advises readers not to exercise while they are overweight because the fat will be converted into ugly bulky muscles!!! There are many such silly, uneducated statements throughout the book. The Lotte Berk method takes its movements from ballet, yoga, and therapeutic back exercises. This is nothing new. Pilates was doing it much better and for decades before anyone ever heard of Lydia or Lotte. While Ms. Bach specifically states in her book that one must study the method with a personal instructor in order to achieve true and proper form and thus results - one would have to live in New York and have lots of $$$ as the Lotte Berk Studios are expensive, exclusive, and for the wealthy. I understand that Lotte Berk is now available on video (gee, it sure took them a long time to get on the exercise video bandwagon)! Don't waste your money on Lotte Berk video,dvd,book (whatever). I highly recommend one of the many Method Pilates and Callanetics videos out there. You will not be sorry.