Lydia Bach/ Callan Pinckney
The principle behind both of these techniqes is very precise control. First, the body is positioned in strict alignment with the pelvis tucked, really tucked foward. Only then are small movements are done is this position (if you can move) These concentrated contractions are followed by intense stretches. It has it's roots in yoga, ballet and rehabilitative exercises and is surprisingly tough. The Lotte Berk Method as taught by Lydia Bach is the toughest of the two systems. Callanetics is a modified version that advances to the more difficult exercises.
The Lotte Berk Method by Lydia Bach was published in the early 70s so there is some outdated exercise advice that was geared to women. Lydia Bach suggest that one should diet before doing these exercises because excess fat is like working out with weights and will cause bulkiness. There are no modifications to make allowances for bad knees, back and posture problems. The instructions are clear and the photography is artsy/grainy and is still a good layout almost 26 years later. The book starts with stretches, then thighs, stomach, bottom and sex. I think this may be the forerunner to the Firm's pelvic contractions. Each chapter has anatomical illustration of the muscles being worked at the beginning.
Callanetics starts with a brief history of Callan Pinckney's vagabond trek around the work during the 60s. She's from an old American family. (Any history teachers out there?) To get back in shape, she ended up in London and learned these exercises and upon returning to New York, worked in an exercise studio teaching this method. Did she work with Lydia Bach, I don't know. Because of her congenital back problem and comments from her clients with various limitations and pains, she began to make small modifications that were still just as effective but enabled her clients to take advantage of this unique exercise technique. Her book doen't have the artsy quality of Bach's Lotte Berk Method. She seems anxious to emphasize that these are regular people, not professionals posing for her book. There are some impressive before and after pictures, especially of a student named "Jeanne" who really had some serious saddlebags. Her approach has many modifications for various conditions that ails us yet there are some advanced exercises such as the open and close. The written instructions are clear and detailed. Some of the comments seem cheesy. The videos are still available at retail and from Collage and are probably exercise video classics by now.
I ordered the Lotte Berk Method from their Manhattan studio and found the Callanetics book at my parents' home.
Instructor comments: Fit magazine did a highly acclaimed article on the Lotte Berk Method in a their April 1999 issue and a follow-up in the August 1999 issue. I thought they look similar to Callanetics. I was right. Callan Pinckney and Lydia Bach both learned this method in England from Lotte Berk herself and apparently went their separate ways. Callan Pinckney release a book a few years ago called Callanetics Fit Forever and still looks incredibly fit for someone approaching 60.
Jean-Leslie Wakefield
Jean Ebyrd@AOL.com
12/19/99
