Stretching & Flexibility [Paperback]

Kit Laughlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

Everyone knows that stretching is good for you, for all sorts of reasons -- but the most important one is rarely mentioned. Stretching feels great to do and leaves you feeling wonderful. How to get the most out of this aspect of stretching is part of what the book is about.

No matter whether you're an office worker wondering how to stretch that tight spot between your shoulders and neck or a martial artist wanting to do side-splits, this is the book for you. Or possibly you're a weekend athlete and you want to know how to get more whole-body rotation to improve your golf swing. Perhaps you've just finished gardening or the housework and you want to know how to relax your back. Or maybe you simply want to know what's the best way to stretch your hamstrings.

Whatever your interest in stretching, this book will provide the techniques you need, from the easiest exercises to the most difficult. It is organised into 15 lessons, plus an 'unnumbered' one which you can do anytime to check your progress. The book features:

* 96 stretching exercises, plus additional warm-up movements
* exercises which use the Contract-Relax (C-R) method
* advanced stretching movements
* exercises for all parts of the body, including hands and feet
* exercises for athletes, grouped by sports
* exercises shown in partner and solo versions
* over 700 photographs
* many illustrations of key anatomical details

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Stretching is healthy and natural: animals do it all the time. Stretching can alter consciousness by releasing tension in both the body and the mind. Laughlin, who teaches at the Australian National University Sports Union, has developed a comprehensive stretching program that combines basic warm-ups and yoga-type postures performed solo and with a partner to stretch virtually every muscle in the body. To explain exactly what takes place during these workouts, Laughlin provides accurate anatomical diagrams which show precisely which muscle groups are involved in various movements of the body, and the book's more than 700 photographs may be all readers need to perform the stretches he recommends, but the text is extremely clear and detailed as well. Laughlin presents nearly 100 exercises in all, and every part of the body is covered, from neck muscles down to fingers and toes. This is an excellent guide for athletes, health instructors, physical therapists, and all who want to increase their flexibility, strength, and peace of mind. David Siegfried
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia; 1 edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743200691
• ISBN-13: 978-0743200691
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #666,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Stretching

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Detailed and not for the illiterate, August 5, 2004

By 

Richard (OC, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stretching & Flexibility (Paperback)

I have had this book for 5 weeks and can tell you that it is an effective means of increasing your range by informing you what proper stretching is all about. My guess about the people who didn't like this book is that they are use to the "Stretching for Dummies" type writing style where they can open the book, assume a position, and get busy. This is not that type of book. I suspect that people of that nature will never benefit from any stretching book as stretching requires diligence, determination, and patience, all three of which the negative reviewers seem to lack.

That being said, I have gained greatly in some areas and not so much in other areas. Having done both yoga and pilates I know enough to know that it is probably related to my technique. Nonetheless, this is the optimum book for stretching as I have own Pavel's, Wharton's, and others.

On top of everthing else I have said, Kit has a website with a discussion board where you can ask questions and Kit, along with others, will answer.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stretching and Flexibility, September 20, 2000

By 

Jim Pickles (St. Lucia, Qld Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stretching & Flexibility (Paperback)

This is by far the best book on flexibility training that I have ever come across. I am sure it will become the ultimate reference text on this issue. The text and illustrations are detailed and complete. Every aspect of each exercise is discussed. The book does not take any short cuts. Very precise information is also given on how to go into and out of stretches, and how every muscle involved is to be used. This is the sort of information that is essential to proper stretching, but is normally missing from flexibility books. It finishes with stretching recommendations for different sports.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that really EXPLAINS flexibility, September 28, 2005

By 

Ms. Jennifer Arthur (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stretching & Flexibility (Paperback)

As someone who has never been flexible and couldn't figure out why (I always thought something was just wrong with me), I was truly delighted to find this book. Lesser books show models falling into position as if it were pleasant and easy, with no real narrative of what it might feel like to an adult just starting to work on this. Yet even as a youngster I couldn't sit on the floor with my legs straight out and did not understand why it was so hard for me.

This book addresses people like me directly. It opens with Laughlin's account of his own puzzling inflexibility. Dancers he knew had such an ease about them that he was convinced they were somehow made differently from him. The rest of the book is a detailed explanation of what flexibility is, followed by the exercises.

Some of the exercises were nice surprises, ways I never would have thought of to stretch. Sharing them with friends ("try this!") has provoked many "wow"s. I showed one to a friend, and now he has other friends convinced that he's a healer because they feel so good when he presses down on their shoulders for them, as shown in the book.

I also bought the DVD. A no-nonsense, no fluff production. Well worth it.