Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive and complete guide for beginners and athletes
Review: I was looking for a complete guide about stretching and I've found this book. I started from the very first page without jumping directly to the last section with all figures but read the guidelines about stretching. Once you've done this, you can jump back and forth through the various sections and stretch what you need according to your sport activity. Believe me it works as long as you follow the author's suggestions. I sleep better, I run better, I feel better. Thanks Bob.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated, it needs improvement.
Review: I was not that impressed by this book. The book is overrated; it needs a lot of improvement. I got nowhere with it.
Rating:
Summary: good for those who use computers all day long
Review: I'm a computer programmer, and the pain in my hands had gotten quite severe, to the point of considering changing careers. I thought it might be arthritic, but the doc disagreed, and "prescribed" this book for me. The three pages on finger, hand, and office-related stretches were worth the price of the book to me; 95% of my pain has cleared up.
Rating: 
Summary: Good stretch book for fitness professionals.
Review: I'm a fitness professional and I've been scouring bookstores for a decent stretch book that I could use to plan comprehensive stretch routines for my classes. Finally I found it. Stretching by Bob Anderson is the best stretch book I've found yet for my purposes. The illustrations are quite good. They show a man with longish, curly hair wearing a wool ski hat--which struck me as funny. But then again, it was published in the 70s. I like how this book is organized. It's separated into parts of the body, i.e. legs, neck etc. It also outlines sports specific stretch sequences which is helpful for the general public. I don't like the fact that you have to read the text of each stretch to learn which specific muscles each stretch emphasizes. Overall, I intend to use this book to plan stretch routines routinely. If you're a fitness professional looking for a stretch reference book, this is a pretty good one.
Rating:
Summary: Best book on stretching. Recommended by Everyone!
Review: I'm writing to add to the praise that the other reviewers have heaped on this book. It's easy to read, and you really do feel better when you do the stretches. I'm a middle aged man, overweight, and not at all flexible, and I've found that it helps a lot. If you do the stretches, you'll literally start to feel better after two or three days. This is the only physical activity I've run across that pays off so quickly. Someone else complained that certain types of stretches weren't included in the book. According to the text, some stretches were left out because they were risky -- people who don't know what they're doing might hurt themselves. Perhaps the missing isometric stretches that were mentioned fall into that category. I don't have any back problems, but I do several stretches that target the back and spine as part of my daily routine. That's when I most appreciate the conservative approach taken by the authors, as it seems like there would be a lot of potential for trouble there. The fact that so many people with back problems do these stretches safely, and receive benefits from them, says something important about the book's approach. I don't know if this is the quickest way to become more flexible. I do know that it's a good way to become more flexible, that it works, and that I haven't had any problems at all -- no pain, no injuries, nothing. I like it a lot.
Rating:
Summary: Very useful, very well thought out
Review: I'm writing to add to the praise that the other reviewers have heaped on this book. It's easy to read, and you really do feel better when you do the stretches. I'm a middle aged man, overweight, and not at all flexible, and I've found that it helps a lot. If you do the stretches, you'll literally start to feel better after two or three days. This is the only physical activity I've run across that pays off so quickly. Someone else complained that certain types of stretches weren't included in the book. According to the text, some stretches were left out because they were risky -- people who don't know what they're doing might hurt themselves. Perhaps the missing isometric stretches that were mentioned fall into that category. I don't have any back problems, but I do several stretches that target the back and spine as part of my daily routine. That's when I most appreciate the conservative approach taken by the authors, as it seems like there would be a lot of potential for trouble there. The fact that so many people with back problems do these stretches safely, and receive benefits from them, says something important about the book's approach. I don't know if this is the quickest way to become more flexible. I do know that it's a good way to become more flexible, that it works, and that I haven't had any problems at all -- no pain, no injuries, nothing. I like it a lot.
Rating:
Summary: Great book to get in shape to...
Review: I've studied goju ryu karate for almost ten years now and as a result have several orthopedic injuries (my knee, neck, and shoulder). They all make working out rather hard to do without agrivating injuries for several days, so I've gotten rather out of shape and fallen out of karate.
This book, however, has me on the mend. The stretches are great--very well thought out, safe, and easy to follow. The directions are easy to read, but most of the illustrations alone show you what to do without reading a word (though I do agree with other reviewers, they are a bit cheesey--but if it ain't broke, don't fix it!). I use the stretches to CAREFULLY isolate my injured muscle groups before and after I work out, and I've reduced my pain drastically.
I've stretched for years using the traditional stretches of my dojo that my sensei has shown me. These stretches go way beyond that level. In fact, I intend to give it to my sensei for xmas this year.
Another great feature of this book is the sections in the back for different activities. It has a quick run down of what stretches to do for various sports--karate, running, ball games, stretches in the office while sitting down, whatever suits your fancy.
If you're looking for a book on stretching, look no more. Add this bad boy to your shopping cart and move on. If my injuries were worse, I may not be able to use the stretches, but after seeing physical therapists and a personal trainer, I know enough about my body and my injuries to not push it. For recuperation or just staying fit and flexible and feeling good, this is a great book. When I'm done doing these stretches, I feel like I just mediated...
Rating:
Summary: Stretch for fitness
Review: I've used this book for several years in all the sport activities that I have been involved in. From my teenage years to my early 30's - I have found the stretches in this book to be a worthwhile endeavor. The author provides several stretching routines for a wide variety of activities. Secondly, there are drawings, which demonstrate the correct way to do these stretches. Stretching is an important part of any exercise regime and this book helps out by providing a necessary guide to stretching. The author points out the dangers of overstretching and gives the reader good advice for their regimes.
Rating:
Summary: Long time believer
Review: I've used this book to train and help prevent injury with Ski Patrollers, mountain rescue climbers, and even fencers. A "must have" for trainers of kids and active adults, be they, teachers, parents,guides or coaches. Used as quick reference or in preparing a complete program this book provides the necessary information in an easy to understand and well illustrated format. You can't go wrong by adding this to your library.
Rating:
Summary: A lifetime of fitness in this book
Review: If you are looking for a book on stretching, go no place else, this is it. While there are other new theories on proper stretching technique for specific results, or muscle fibers or sports, this book and the techniques it teaches are widely considered the mainstream of stretching technique. You will find stretches for almost every single muscle in your body. Diagrams of each stretch show proper stretching technique and where the tension should be felt. The book runs through each of the main stretches, suggests a program for everyday stretching, and has a number of sport-specific programs. Yes, the pencil diagrams are corny, but as soon as you get over that, you will realize there is a wealth of information in here. Should you do yoga or stretching? Yoga w/ a tape or a class is certainly a mind/body event that many people enjoy as a part of their fitness routine. But for a fitness regimen, a 20 minute stretching routine every morning or night has advantages over yoga. Yoga is essentially stretching exercises combined with isometric weight resistance. But yoga can often overextend or place undue stress on the ligaments/tendons and often the positions are not stretching the full length of the muscle, and if they are the positions often stretch the muscle to its limit immediately, rather than gradually, which has been shown to provide better flexibility results. With regard to the isometrics, if you are looking to build strength and/or muscle you need the progressive weight resistance that free weights or machines will provide - the isometrics will not provide significant results. Stretching on a regular basis (along w/ aerobics and eating right) will leave you feeling relaxed and energized and if there is one stretching book you should own, this has got to be it.
| 
