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.

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.

Manage everyday pain with this effective, trainer-approved program that uses resistance stretching to increase strength, release tension, rejuvenate tissues—and much more. This accessible guide gives step-by-step instructions for people who feel tight or older than they should, people with poor posture, athletes who want to boost their performance, and those who want something more than conventional stretching. This book provides you with many different stretches for the whole body including the hands and feet, as well as routines for specific goals such as improving posture, helping office workers stay healthy, stretching the back, and more. Even those with sedentary lives will see and feel a difference, with just 10-20 minutes of stretching yielding benefits that may last the whole day. Many of us are limited in our movements, hunched over, or tight. Ideally, we would move in a variety of ways throughout the day, keeping our bodies fresh and youthful. However, office jobs and sofas can lead to bodies that are imprisoned in a cage of tension, whose tissue is dehydrated and stuck together, with some areas that are very weak or tight. Normal stretching is not strong enough to break us out of that state. When we tense our bodies and move through that tension, we engage the fascia and recondition it into a more youthful state, restoring great posture, elasticity, and power.

Stretching for Functional Flexibility is a reference guide for the safe, effective, and efficient application of stretching exercises to improve range of motion and movement potential. Based on the most current research, this text is a valuable reference for physical, occupational and massage therapists, athletic trainers, fitness trainers, coaches, sports and orthopedic physicians, doctors of chiropractic, and many other professionals dealing with the health and performance of the musculoskeletal system. The text provides all of the information necessary to design and implement a safe and effective stretching program. A companion Website will offer the fully searchable text and an image bank for instructors.

Fit stretching exercises into your day with easy 10-minute routines Discover how easy it is to improve your flexibility, reduce pain, and eliminate stress with just a few minutes of stretching every day. This illustrated guide provides you with essential stretches and simple routines for increasing your range of motion, supplementing physical therapy, and more. Featuring 60 individual stretches for your neck, feet, and everything in between, the detailed instructions and informative images in this book give you everything you need to incorporate stretching into your life. You'll also find insight on how to develop short, multi-muscle routines for everyday living, exercise, and even injury recovery. This collection of stretching exercises includes: Stretches for the whole body--Practice a variety of stretching exercises that target nine critical muscle groups, from head turns and cross-body stretches to hurdler's stretches and towel pulls. 10-Minute routines--Improve the effectiveness of your stretching and make it easy to stick with thanks to 35 short routines you can do virtually anywhere. Clear guidance--Find the exact stretches and routines you need fast thanks to chapters focused on specific muscle groups. Keep yourself fit and flexible with this guide to simple and effective stretching exercises.

Ultimate Flexibility is the book you've been waiting for. More than a collection of exercises or an explanation of technique, Ultimate Flexibility is a complete guide to stretching for martial arts, from the very basics of why you should stretch to detailed workout guidelines for every style and level of martial arts practice.Written by acclaimed author and martial artist Sang H. Kim, Ultimate Flexibility is your guide to achieving maximum flexibility in your training. Begin with an in depth look at the hows and whys of flexibility and stretching.

The ability to manage your body through stretching is a valuable tool to have when it comes to our physical and mental wellbeing. Stretching is a natural way to alleviate pain, relax, gain mobility, tone your muscles, and even lose weight. It also helps you fall asleep faster, wake up rested and full of energy, clear your mind, and keep you focused. Stretching is not something that only we humans do. Even animals stretch in one form or the other to maintain their agility and stay in shape for their adventures. It is the most natural way to whip yourself into shape and start living your best life. We all understand how fast-paced life has become and how technological advancements have changed our daily routines and made us more inclined to sit all day. Furthermore, the COVID pandemic has changed the world as we know it even more, and though we find it very comfortable to work from home with nothing but pajamas on, it's taking a toll on our bodies. Slowly but surely, we realize that we can't touch our toes, we groan and moan when we try to get out of bed, when we need to pick up something from the floor, we try to do it with our feet because bending over seems impossible, and crossing our legs is a challenge. That downward dog position has become our worst enemy. So why do we put ourselves through this, knowing what our bodies can achieve? Each one of us has the potential of improving, and by regularly stretching, we can become a much better version of ourselves. Stretching is not just about gaining flexibility. It is also a way to focus and find your center, practice concentration, learn how to ignore the outside world for a few minutes, and make time just for yourself. It is also a good way to improve your circulation, which in turn leads to a stronger immune system. When it comes to stretching, it is also important to remember that the stretch itself should be the focus of your attention, not the number of repetitions or how far you go. Moreover, stretching is a waste of time if you don't do it in the right position. By not paying attention to this, you will not only not gain any benefits, but improper stretching can cause injury and pain. So you must be objective about your strength and flexibility and know your body's abilities and limitations. When we talk about stretching, many of you would think that it's easy and simple, but in fact, stretching can be an intense physical exercise, so while some of the stretches are easy, others can be challenging. What is important to remember, however, is that giving up is not an option. Sometimes it takes time to get your body into the right position, and some of the poses can require some patience, but still, if you go with your own pace, stay disciplined, and stay focused, you will see your body changing in ways you could never have imagined. These changes don't always manifest in the mirror, but rather in the ease you feel as you go through your everyday activities, the peace of mind you achieve, and the overall quality of your life. So, let's dive in!