The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon. One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, Learning to Breathe Fire combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die. The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals. In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out.

A practical approach to business transformation Fit for Growth* is a unique approach to business transformation that explicitly connects growth strategy with cost management and organization restructuring. Drawing on 70-plus years of strategy consulting experience and in-depth research, the experts at PwC’s Strategy& lay out a winning framework that helps CEOs and senior executives transform their organizations for sustainable, profitable growth. This approach gives structure to strategy while promoting lasting change. Examples from Strategy&’s hundreds of clients illustrate successful transformation on the ground, and illuminate how senior and middle managers are able to take ownership and even thrive during difficult periods of transition. Throughout the Fit for Growth process, the focus is on maintaining consistent high-value performance while enabling fundamental change. Strategy& has helped major clients around the globe achieve significant and sustained results with its research-backed approach to restructuring and cost reduction. This book provides practical guidance for leveraging that expertise to make the choices that allow companies to: Achieve growth while reducing costs Manage transformation and transition productively Create lasting competitive advantage Deliver reliable, high-value performance Sustainable success is founded on efficiency and high performance. Companies are always looking to do more with less, but their efforts often work against them in the long run. Total business transformation requires total buy-in, and it entails a series of decisions that must not be made lightly. The Fit for Growth approach provides a clear strategy and practical framework for growth-oriented change, with expert guidance on getting it right. *Fit for Growth is a registered service mark of PwC Strategy& Inc. in the United States

An imbalance between high energy intake – due to inadequate diet – and reduced energy expenditure – caused by sedentary habits – is believed to create an inherent risk of obesity among individuals. Lifestyle changes among preschool children coupled with health problems (cardiovascular, metabolic, orthopedic, psychological etc.) correlate to an observed increase in body mass index and may even predispose growing children towards obesity in their adult life. Adequate physical activity in the form of regular exercise (in terms of intensity, frequency and duration) has been shown to reduce BMI and have a positive impact on health and physical fitness levels among children. Thus physical activity programs have been applied for obesity prevention and treatment with some degree of success. Physical Activity, Fitness, Nutrition and Obesity During Growth focuses on research findings and recommendations to mitigate obesity risk in children during early growth stages. The reviews presented in this volume give readers an interdisciplinary insight into the realm of obesity as a global epidemic in early childhood. The review also discusses interventions based on physical activity, which can help combat obesity among children while avoiding undesirable strategies (such as strict diets). The book is intended for public health officials, social workers, as well as general medical practitioners and counsellors.

Maximize athletic performance and increase strength and endurance through the power of yoga. Incorporating yoga into your fitness regime can help you perform better on the sports field and in the gym! Learn how yoga works and integrate key yoga poses and routines to improve flexibility, core strength, and prevent injuries. For centuries yoga has been used to improve overall health and strengthen the mind and body. This yoga guide focuses on helping men perform at their highest fitness levels. Inside the pages of this yoga book you'll find: - More than 50 postures with full-colorr photos and step-by-step instructions. - Over 20 workout routines tailored to specific performance goals, such as endurance and power, or improving your running or weightlifting performance. - Focuses on the functional aspects of yoga, including sports performance and injury prevention. - Information on how yoga can specifically benefit men. - Easy-to-follow steps to execute yoga postures. Yoga is known to have plenty of benefits, but did you know that it also has benefits specifically for men and athletes? At the core, this ancient practice is based on stretching different muscle groups for greater flexibility, ease of movement, and greater power. And these benefits translate to sports performance, gym gains, and overall health - allowing your body to move as it should. No chanting required to master these yoga postures and workouts! Written by Dean Pohlman, sports coach and author, this yoga book for men is focused on yoga's functional fitness benefits and less on the spiritual or emotional aspects. A wonderful gift and fitness resource, Yoga For Men: Build Strength and Improve Performance will help men meet their performance goals, play harder and feel better.

This book explores the rise, size and shape of the European fitness industry by using harmonised data as well as in-depth analyses of national surveys in fifteen European countries. Following an introduction to the socio-historical and conceptual aspects of fitness, the collection presents the scope of fitness as a business and participatory activity. Furthermore, both policy and governance issues as well as community and supply angles are considered. Drawing on this unique material, the book will appeal to students and scholars of sport business, sport economics, sport management, and social sport sciences, but also to administrators, policymakers and entrepreneurs in the international and national sport and health community.