Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery

by Eric Franklin

Eric Franklin’s classic reference is back in a new full-color edition, complete with new material and exercises for instructors to use with their dancers, other performing artists, athletes, and classes.

In Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery, Third Edition, Franklin—an internationally renowned teacher, dancer, and choreographer who has been sharing his imagery techniques for more than 35 years—teaches the use of imagery to increase self-awareness, improve body image, and apply anatomical and biomechanical principles for more efficient movement.

This expanded new edition includesmore than 600 anatomical imagery exercises to improve posture and body alignment, release excess tension, and prevent injuries;over 500 full-color illustrations to help readers visualize the exercises and use them in various contexts;four audio files containing guided imagery exercises led by Franklin and set to music; andupdated chapters throughout the book, including new material and exercises to address fasciae and connective tissue.“The pictures and the words in your mind influence the feelings in your body, which in turn feed your thoughts and mental pictures,” Franklin says. “To create powerful and dynamic alignment, you need to fertilize your mind and body with constructive information and weed out destructive thoughts.”

This book will help readers do just that as they discover their natural flexibility and increase their power to move. Franklin expertly guides readers through foundational concepts of posture, dynamic alignment, and imagery; explores different types of imagery and guidelines for using them; and delves into biomechanical and anatomical principles, including the body’s center and gravity, the laws of motion and force systems, and joint and muscle function. He then provides exercises for anatomical imagery, covering every area of the body from head to toe. The book closes with two critical chapters on defining dynamic alignment and on integrating dynamic alignment exercises into workouts and programs.

Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery, Third Edition, will help readers experience the biomechanical and anatomical principles that are crucial to athletes, dancers, other performing artists, and yoga and Pilates practitioners. The techniques and exercises presented in the book will guide readers in improving their posture—and will positively affect their thoughts and attitudes about themselves and others and help them feel better, both mentally and physically.

Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes both the book and exam.

Genres: Fitness, Bodies, Health, School, Nonfiction

511 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 1996

About the author

Eric Franklin is the founder and director of the Franklin Method. He created the Method over 25 years ago, first teaching in Switzerland, Germany and Austria and further in the USA, China, Japan and many other countries. He earned his BS from the University of Zurich and his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Eric teaches at universities and schools throughout the world including the Juilliard School in New York, Rutgers University, the University of Vienna, the Royal Ballet School and the Laban Center in London. He has taught Beyonce’s & Celine Dion’s world tour dance companies. In 1998 he introduced the first dance conditioning methodology to mainland China.

Eric presents his work at numerous conferences, such as the World Congress for Lower Back and Pelvic Pain, the Pilates Method Alliance and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Eric Franklin is author 21 books, including of Dynamic Alignment through Imagery (2012), Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance (2013), Relax your Neck – Liberate your Shoulders (2002), Pelvic Power (2003), Inner Focus, Outer Strength (2006) and Beautiful Body, Beautiful Mind (2009). Eric Franklin’s books have been translated into German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, French, Czech, Chinese and Korean.

Reviews

[Vitali · Rating 5 out of 5]

The name of the author is Eric Franklin (not sure how to send this feedback to the 'librarians'.

Yes it is a great book, and not just for dancers, but everyone who wants to improve their alignment or movement patters. Eric has studied Body-Mind Centering and his books are a wonderful exhample how BMC can be transmited to a larger public. He uses wonderful illustrations that are hard to forget. It is a powerful book.

[Tishia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very informative. It is a creative way to work with the body, using imagery to affect movement. Franklin is a highly trained movement professional, and his book is very useful for dancers or any person wanting to improve their quality of movement.

[Cassie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. I truly admire Franklin's ability to explain complex sciences like physics & anatomy in a way that is simple and applicable. His imagery work completely redefined the power of the MindBody connection for me, and was the first time I even remotely understood simple physics. Can't wait to finish the sections on the shoulders and breathing. This is a great study for movement instructors or enthusiasts who want to gain a greater understanding of what their body is and how it works.

[Henedchoueiry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to stay focused in reading it but very rich in information. I have gotten it 5 years ago but never read it from cover to cover. A workshop would probably be very useful in order to read through the book a bit quicker

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful resource for dancers of all kinds. Comprehensive without being confusing. Great illustrations and incredibly useful exercizes to make the most of your body's potential for movement.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me to think about the way bodies move in a different light. The imagery is very helpful in my instruction of Pilates and Gyrotonic.