Stretching: 30th Anniversary Edition

I've owned this book for a number of years but recently it's come into its own for me as I'm currently in rehab from a serious shoulder injury. With the help of my physio I've added a lot of complementary isometric work from this book to my programme. To summarise: * visual approach - every stretch is illustrated in easy to follow diagrams of the movements and stages. Dyslexia friendly presentation. * very good indexing - easy to find stretches for specific conditions e.g. shoulders and also defined sporting activities. * emphases on: understanding your own limits, warming up, who the stretches are for (who needs to do the splits?), taking away the tendency to be competitive (the stretch is for your body, not some ideal!). Go slow or at your own pace entirely - you are the boss! * encouragement to photocopy specific pages to refer to while sitting at your desk or in your car. Lovely nudge theory here! * the sections devoted to named routines e.g. golf. Great to have the guidelines about time and order. Every stretch though is referenced elsewhere in the book so you'd have to look up and learn 16 stretches for golf. This is a great opportunity for a website (I'd happily pay to join) where you could search for a sport or injury and it would just flip up a whole programme for you.

This is an excellent book and probably all you need to start to include something in your life that everybody who doesn't want to succumb to growing up/old and becoming stiff and rigid SHOULD DO. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN USING THIS BOOK FOR A YEAR NOW IS THAT ONCE YOU DECIDE THE EXERCISES THAT FIT YOU, EMOTIONALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY, YOU CAN BUILD A DAILY ROUTINE, which doesn't interfere with the rest of LIFE. THis gives one a long lasting feel good factor of well-being, which is a fantastic side effect of stretching your body.

I feel passionate about how good this book is and keep recommending it to all my friends, I have been using it regularly for over a year. The everyday stretches and the neck, arm and shoulder stretches done regularly really ease my tight muscles and aches and pains from running and overuse of computers. I feel so much better when I do these regularly. The book is very well laid out with an explanation of the different stretches possible for each muscle group and then provides lots of different stretch sequences for different sports or everyday activities, from which you can easily find the more detailed explanation of the correct way to do each stretch. Whenever I lapse from my stretching routine, the way the book is laid out makes it easy to retsart by just starting again with the desired sequence.

Very useful exercises that appear to cover all parts of the body. I find stretching enables me to avoid or even rectify injuries caused by bad posture and over exercising; generally, it makes us feel better. Helpful illustrations.

Stretching is now a new way of life for me - prior to getting this book I was in agony with back pain and sciatica; I'd been taking loads of painkillers to try to ease the pain but it wasn't working. This book has revolutionised my life - it taught me a number of moves that allowed me to give up the painkillers - it's saved me money and made my quality of life a whole lot better. I'm now trying other stretches to improve my general health. For me it does more for your well-being than hours of painful exercise! I recommend this book with absolutely no reservations...

whether you're new to stretching and want to learn more or are an old-hand and just like to have a comprehensive 'library' reference tool this book is for you. Very detailed and broad spectrum of stretching is covered, written in a way which is easy to understand for the beginner without losing focus on the technique and gives plenty of options to make the stretches easier/harder depending on your own level. this isn't my first stretching book (or DVD) but can imagine it could well be my last - the is the whole package, why keep looking?

This book has been in circulation for about 40 years if not more and has proved its efficient and easily explained exercises. Comprehensive for all parts of the body and in all sports, offices and homes. And for all ages. The book does not have any realistic competitors. Buy with confidence of satisfaction.

An amazing book full of good stretching exercises for all ages and abilities. I bought this following a knee replacement,and needed to loosen the whole leg up,it was very helpful to me. I also found other useful stretches,that I'd done previously with the instructions to do them correctly. Great value.

scheint ein wirklich tolles, informatives Buch zu sein. Sinnvoll gegliedert. Mit unzähligen Abbildungen. Die Zeichnungen der abgebildeten Personen sind auf die notwendigen Informationen reduziert und die Muskelgruppen, auf welche sich die aktuell beschriebene Dehnungsübung auswirken soll, farblich markiert. Die Beschreibungen zu den Bildern sind kurz, prägnant und verständlich - soweit ich das bisher beurteilen kann. (habe das Buch gestern erst erhalten und konnte bisher nur hineinschnuppern). Kein Geschwafel, keine Mehrdeutigkeiten. Cover und Aufmachung haben einen nostalgischen Touch. Das Buch wirkt harmonisch und ich freue mich darauf, weiterzulesen. Gefällt mir optisch und inhaltlich sehr gut.

Great Illustrations and written explanations about the proper form for any area of your body.. Stretching out those little aches and pains will keep you going.

lovely book on stretching without injuring oneself. Has something for everyone including elderly. This book helps people who practice yoga to explore gradually.

L'approche de Bob et Jean Anderson permet à tous sans exceptions de découvrir et entretenir leur corps par la pratique des étirements. Il n'est pas question ici de compétition, de dogme de la forme "parfaite" ni de contorsionniste mutilatoire. Il s'agit simplement de se faire plaisir tout en se faisant du bien. Les différents étirements possibles sont tous précisément dessinés et détaillés un à un dans la première partie du livre. Ils sont ensuite proposés sous forme de routines en double pages spécifiques à différentes activités de la vie : étirements pour les salariés au bureau, étirements pour les arts martiaux, étirements devant sa télé, étirements au lever, étirements du soir, etc'. Les routines sont toutes relativements courtes (max. 15-20minutes) et très simples à réaliser. Sans remplacer l'aide précieuse d'un professionnel de santé, ce livre est un compagnon de route valable pour ceux qui cherchant à retrouver ou entretenir la fluidité du corps. Dans un des chapitres, Bob Anderson nous parle du chat. Observez le, vous verrez qu'il pratique ses étirements tous les jours de sa vie et ce sans jamais forcer: c'est vers ce genre de discipline que ce livre vous emmène.

I purchased one of these books back in the eighties. I loved it and used it often. The diagrams and explanation for the stretches make this book easy to use. I can attest to the stretches being very helpful for stiff muscles, loosening up before working out or running. I also used the original book to use stretches that helped me alleviate some sciatic pain I experienced in my lower back and thigh. I was glad to see it still available and improved. There are stretches in here for almost any scenario you can experience in work or sports. Great, great book. Thanks Bob Anderson. Highly recommended to anyone young or old to stay limber and flexible and avoid muscle strains and injury.