Full-Body Flexibility

by Jay Blahnik

Incorporate the best, most advanced techniques into your stretching program! Full-Body Flexibility presents a unique system that blends the best stretching methods from yoga, Pilates, martial arts, and sports training into stretching sequences that
-challenge muscles with multiple techniques to attain maximum flexibility, -strengthen muscles so that they can support the body throughout specific moves in the entire range of motion, and -balance muscles equally in opposing muscle groups and on both sides of the body. The stretch sequences are organized by body region and by type of movement so that you can quickly find a flexibility workout ranging from 10 to 40 minutes. The workouts help you to target tight muscle groups and relieve tension around problem joints, increase effectiveness of specific movements, and warm up and cool down for your specific activity. Full-Body Flexibility also includes performance and recovery stretch sequences for the most popular sports, including sports that involve throwing and swinging, jumping and power, and running and endurance. Stretches are accompanied by photos and detailed instruction to help you execute each technique correctly. Full-Body Flexibility offers the most advanced, effective stretching system available, head to toe.

Genres: Fitness, Nonfiction, Health

216 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2003

Reviews

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Dynamic stretching (movement of a stretch) is widely preferred over static stretching

- Active stretching; you use your own muscle for movement, passive stretching: you borrow outside force for stretching (such as using a wall): dynamic active stretching is widely preferred

- Stretch before exercising is not currently preferred: it's actually more prone to injury. Instead, people should stretch independently without any workouts associated with it

- A stretch ought not to feel painful, but feels good: do what's right for YOU. Since everyone is built and experiencing things differently

- The goal of stretching is gradually expand on stretches that you have limited motion on: over time, your motion might expand with more stretches and your body getting used to it

- Equalization: make sure both part of your body are in sync with flexibility: do not emphasize on part of your body that's more flexible, instead, always focus on the part that's less flexible

[Jevgenij · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same problem as many other books on stretching: there is too little information about each stretch - sitting and standing head bend - what's the difference, which is more suitable for what? Also for some stretches it would be beneficial to specify in which leg you should feel the stretch - e.g. for pigeon (which is called "dancer" in this book) - should you feel it in your front or rear leg?

[StrangeBedfellows · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is brilliant in its simplicity. It's filled with easy-to-follow stretching exercises that target all the different parts of the body. With this book, you can really go beyond old school techniques and learn to properly improve your flexibility. Utilize one of the many individual exercises or try one of prepared routines for a specific area or purpose. Everything is accompanied by colorful photos to show you the correct movement, and there's even a chart directing you to which stretches work for specific muscles. And you don't have to be a health nut or a yoga master to get value out of this book. This is something that could benefit all people in their everyday lives.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blahnik's book explains how to design your own stretching routine, lists many stretches, and has a section of specifically designed routines at the end. The instructions and pictures are clear and easy to follow. I did not read each of the individual stretches. I have already found the neck and shoulders routine very helpful. I am excited to try the sports routine for runners. Overall, thumbs up.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly a book with illustrated exercises and programs to follow.
I've been stretching for a bit, but still feel really stiff, the program of exercises that I decided to start with truly cold feel the stretch.
I am hoping to stick with this and give you an idea later of how well things work out for me.
So far pretty good though.

[Cate Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but a little too basic for me. It would be perfect for someone just starting out who wanted to become more limbre.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and clear resource for athletes and normal people alike.