"Stretching with Ease" is a user-friendly, fully illustrated instructional manual for creating your perfect personal stretching program. Why should I stretch? What muscles should I stretch? How will it help me? You’ll find the answers to these questions and much more in Stretching with Ease. Discover the many ways you can work with your body to assist it to be fluid and flexible. Your body is built for movement and with stretching and flexibility training you increase both your ease of movement and life quality. Fitness expert Linda Minarik takes you from the basics and benefits of stretching, to all you need to know to make stretching a lifelong habit. Part I offers the important background information necessary before you begin to stretch, including using the tool of breathing. Part II provides clear directions for 76 essential stretches that target different muscle groups—they can all be easily done at home without any special equipment. Along with detailed instructions and helpful tips, each stretch includes a color photograph with an anatomical illustration so you can actually see inside the stretch. This visual reference enhances your understanding and practice of the movement. Part III has effective step-by-step stretch routines to accomplish different goals, such as relieving tension, stiffness or pain, and preparing for various daily activities and sports. Part IV offers invaluable resources to enrich your flexibility experience, including useful lifestyle tips and how to create your own routines. Stretching with Ease offers the practical guidance and supportive encouragement you need to develop a body that moves easily—and loves to move!

Avoid and treat back injury, improve your health, and maintain your posture with this illustrated guide to stretches for your back. Avoid and treat back injury, improve your health, and maintain your posture with this illustrated guide to stretches for your back. Fitness and stretching expert Linda Minarik provides a comprehensive guide to working with your body to assist it to become fluid and flexible, so that back pain becomes a thing of the past. She explains why you should stretch and how muscles respond to stretching, then gives clear instructions for a range of stretches you can use to help your back, not only targeting the back muscles but also the abdominals, hips, and thighs. All of the stretches can be done easily at home without any special equipment, and photographs are overlaid with illustrations to show which particular muscles are being stretched in each case. Linda also provides stretch sequences for warming up, to relieve pain, and to incorporate stretching into your daily life.

"This book is a smaller-format edition of the vastly popular Stretching: 30th Anniversary Edition (ISBN: 9780936070469), with a re-edited main section, using readable bulleted lists, and updated for references to new technology. It does not supersede the larger addition, but is offered as an alternative"--

Put some spring in your step--simple stretches to soothe your soreness Movement is life--and stretching is an easy way for you to increase your flexibility, ease aches, and generally improve your quality of life. This easy-to-follow guide shows you how stretching long and slow can help you find fast pain relief and enhance your range of motion. Take a deep dive into how muscles work and the health benefits of stretching, including plenty of how-tos for beginning stretchers. Get moving with 70 fundamental stretches, all designed to target specific affected areas--or introduce stretching to your day-to-day using 25 routines that can be done anytime and anywhere. Stretching for Beginners includes: Beginner to limber--Jumpstart your stretching with guides to performing each stretch safely, proper breathing techniques, and more. Focus your flex--Extend your reach with illustrated step-by-steps for essential exercises--organized by anatomical regions. Home stretch--Find the right routine to relieve specific aches and pains, reduce daily stress, or warm up for a variety of activities. Stretch your possibilities, achieve a healthier, more flexible life with Stretching for Beginners.

The best stretch book to relieve back pain.

A highly practical guide to achieving great results with stretching Did you long ago learn to fear and dread stretching because of overbearing P.E. teachers who forced you to touch your toes? It doesn't have to be that way anymore. Stretching is a powerful tool that can bring you new ease of movement, an increase in your physical capabilities, and deep composure that requires you to do nothing more than breathe. You can always have access to it—and best of all, it's free! Stretching for Dummies shows you that stretching is actually easy to do—and reveals how you can reap the amazing benefits of stretching anywhere, anytime. It explains in simple terms how you can stand taller, look thinner, keep stress from getting the best of you, keep your muscles from feeling achy, and nip injuries in the bud. You'll discover: The why’s, where’s, when’s, and how’s of letting loose and snapping back How to keep from hurting yourself The benefits of stretching with a partner How to target specific areas: such as head, shoulders, knees, and toes The art of breathing correctly How to use stretching to sooth lower back pain Stretches to start and end your day right Stretches you can do at your desk Stretches for various stages of life—including stretches for kids and seniors This easy-to-use reference also includes a list of ten surprising around-the house stretching accessories, along with ten common aches and pain that stretching can help. Regardless of how old or young you are, Stretching for Dummies will introduce you to a kinder and gentler form of flexibility that will reduce that nagging tension and tenderness in your muscles and truly make you feel good all over.