Full-Body Flexibility

Rating:
Summary: Not the best by a long shot
Review: I guess I've become something of a collector of stretching books, beginning with John Anderson's "Stretching," and going up through "Stretch and Strengthen," by Joan Atler (or Alter), then an English book on stretching whose name I no longer remember, "Fitness Stretching," by the editors of Fitness Magazine, and now this title. It's telling that Jay Blahnik is, according to the brief bio on the back cover, a very successful marketer. He isn't a researcher, writer, academic, therapist or physician, or athlete. The introduction contains useful, but certainly not unknown, information. The exercise descriptions are bland, and the photos uninspiring; good drawings would be way preferable. Probably the part of a good fitness book most evidently lacking in this one are explanations of the reasoning behind the exercises chosen, and how to do them. Very cursory explanations of the specific need to stretch any given muscle group are provided, certainly not enough to spark anyone's interest or motivation. A couple of the above listed books do an excellent job at that, and at describing each exercise in greater detail. This is the only fitness book I own written by a person who is primarily into marketing, with possibly one exception, and it will be the last.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I have been looking for a good book on stretching, and there are so many out there, I had no idea which one to select. However, I have been to a couple of Jay's presentations (author), and he is an amazing teacher. So, I thought buying his book would be a safe bet amongst all the other choices.

It is amazing! Easy to understand, great pictures and some interesting new information about stretching I did not know. Mostly, though, I love the routines. Every stretch book has stretches, but not every one has routines! There is a simple to follow routine for everything from tight shoulders to lower back problems. Some short routines, and some longer routines.

I love this book, and have already noticed a difference in the way I feel and my flexibility.

Rating:
Summary: I am glad I did not listen to the one negative review...
Review: I have been looking for a good stretching/yoga book, and came across Full-Body Flexibility and was reading the reviews. I have actually seen Jay speak in person, and so I was compelled to buy it. I was not surprised by the positive reviews, but was very surprised by the negative one because I thought Jay had a lot of interesting things to say about stretching and flexibility in the lecture he presented. I am a personal trainer, and enjoy Jay's approach and philosphies because he keeps things simple and straight-forward. I bought the book, and was very satisfied and impressed, and am baffled by the negative review. The pictures are clear, the instructions are simple, and the entire concept of active or "unassisted" stretching is VERY unique and not found in most books. In addition, Jay's book has great stretching routines at the end that I have found very useful and so have my clients. I have used the routines many times since I bought the book. I have seen Jay speak in person. He is not just a marketer. He is a renowned Trainers with an extensive background in exercise and health education. In fact, he has provided me with useful training information over the years that is often better than the PhDs in the same field. Jay has been a trend-setter in the health club fitness industry for years, and continually clarifies, simplifies and organizes what is often complex information into easy to understand and use exercise protocol that I use every day in my exercise routines with my clients and students. I am not sure what that particular reviewer was looking for in a stretch book, and maybe he never read the the opening section of the book (where much of the interesting information is presented), but I think it is a great book. Easy to read. Clear organized pictures. A variety of stretches. Routines I can use. Not a clinical text book, but not an artsy-fartsy picture book either. Well done...

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource
Review: I have seen Jay at fitness conferences before and knew I could trust him as a great resource. This book did not disappoint me. As a group fitness instructor and new personal trainer, I was looking for a book to go beyond the basics. This certainly did the trick. Jay's approach is applicable to anyone - novice or stretching pro. The pictures and text are so easy to follow. There were many familiar stretches in the book but also quite a few that were new to me. I also liked the timed stretch routines and sports specific stretches. His 3 step approach takes stretching beyond the basics. I've incorporated many of the moves into my classes and they love it. This will always be a great reference book for me. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource
Review: I have seen Jay at fitness conferences before and knew I could trust him as a great resource. This book did not disappoint me. As a group fitness instructor and new personal trainer, I was looking for a book to go beyond the basics. This certainly did the trick. Jay's approach is applicable to anyone - novice or stretching pro. The pictures and text are so easy to follow. There were many familiar stretches in the book but also quite a few that were new to me. I also liked the timed stretch routines and sports specific stretches. His 3 step approach takes stretching beyond the basics. I've incorporated many of the moves into my classes and they love it. This will always be a great reference book for me. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a comprehensive stretching book!
Review: I was an athlete in my younger days and now only get to workout occasionally - but I know the importance of stretching, and over the years have lost so much flexibility. This book has helped me get it back and it's so easy to follow! There are routines for every level, clearly explained with great pictures demonstrating each move. I never thought I'd like yoga with all the strange positions and such, but the yoga-inspired poses in this book make it simple and I actually feel how effective they are. I'm buying this book for all the "weekend warrior" athletes on my Christmas list.

Rating:
Summary: No need to look further
Review: Sometimes exercise "books" are tough to follow becuase the pictures don't move. But Jay's book has been done it in a way that helps the reader grasp the concept. The photography and easy to understand descriptions are actually capture the movement.

Jay Blahnik is one of the most forward thinking professionals in fitness. In the last ten years, he has become the fitness expert people go to for sound research and exercise application that "make sense". Like his workshops and lectures, this book is fun, easy to read, easy to apply and easy to adapt to every individual looking to gain, maintain or improve flexibility! This is truly a GREAT BOOK!

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: this book does a good job of explaining stretches as well as setting up stretching routines. i have been using the routines for a month or so and it has increased my flexibility as well as help me recover faster after workouts. all in all this a great book for the price.