Description:
Stretching is an often-overlooked component of total fitness, although it's an essential step to help prevent stubborn muscle and tendon injuries that require long periods of time away from the gym. "Stretching is like the neglected middle child in the 'fitness family'; it is just as important as the other two siblings--cardiovascular conditioning and strength training. And the older we get, the more important stretching becomes," say the editors of Fitness magazine. Next to a lack of time or knowledge, what probably deters most exercisers from stretching is confusion over the five schools of thought on technique: static, ballistic, active, and passive stretching, plus PNF, or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. The folks at Fitness explain each of these stretching methods and make a strong case for stretching the recommended minimum of two or three times a week. (While stretching won't help you lose weight or increase the strength of your muscles, it does improve posture, circulation, and balance; lengthens muscles; soothes painful joints; lowers blood pressure; minimizes postworkout fatigue and pain; and prevents or helps relieve lower-back pain.) In this Stretching 101 course, you're given tips on when to stretch, proper alignment, how to breathe during stretching, and when to back off. Each of the more than 100 stretches include clear illustrations and explanations--you'll know exactly when you're doing each move correctly. All major muscle groups are covered, including the lower back, the buttocks and hips, quads and hip flexors, hamstrings, inner thigh, calves and Achilles tendon, abdominals, the torso, upper back, chest and shoulders, arms, neck, wrists and fingers, the ankles and feet, and even the face. A short section on specialty stretches requires a wooden pole, exercise ball, ballet barre, and suspended horizontal bar, all available at sporting-goods stores. You can customize the stretches into your workout routine using the book's suggested stretches for various situations: for the morning and the evening, for those who stand all day, for pregnant women, for those over 50, and nearly two dozen sport-specific stretches. Fitness Stretching is highly recommended for both beginning and experienced athletes and fitness novices. --Erica Jorgensen
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