Fitness Without Stress: A Guide to the Alexander Technique (Hardcover)

by Robert M. Rickover (Author) "Several years ago I watched a man kill himself in the name of fitness..." (more)
Key Phrases: movement habits, unnecessary tension, harmful habits, Alexander Technique, New York, John Dewey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Robert Rickover has deftly combined the popular and the serious. Popular in this case means easily accessible information written in an easy-to-read style, and serious means that the information is solid and well-researched.

"The book is a guide - a guided tour if you like - from the beginning years of the Technique to its present, with a look into its possible future, a guide through the workings of a lesson, and a resource book for those who want to find an Alexander Teacher.

"As the world of the Alexander Technique continues its rapid expansion, the need for a book of this kind has become evident. Fortunately for all of us, Robert Rickover has taken the time to write it." -- Frank Ottiwell, Director of the Alexander Training Institute of San Francisco

Product Description
The author starts by exposing the myth the "fitness" is the same as health, and goes on to describe what real fitness is and how the Alexander Technique can help people achieve it. It contains several case histories, covers what happens during an Alexander lesson and how to find a qualified teacher. The book gives examples of how people have used the Technique in yoga, massage, the martial arts, physical therapy and pregnancy. It also provides a complete listing of Alexander Technique resources, including books and videos, magazines and journals and professional societies.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Metamorphous Pr (July 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943920329
• ISBN-13: 978-0943920320
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #830,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best short introduction I've read., April 24, 2000

By A Customer

I count myself extremely fortunate to have been given a copy of this book by a friend late last year. I had read a few other books about the Alexander Technique, but this one got me to actually phone a local teacher and take a series of 15 lessons. The severe shoulder, wrist and neck pains I'd been experiencing for years are now almost all gone - those lessons I count as the best investment I ever made in my own well-being.

If you have chronic aches and pains, by all means investigate this method. Fitness Without Stress will tell you all you need to get started. I'm about to buy a couple of copies for my older children who I think could benefit from this method.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is an excellent introduction., March 12, 1998

By A Customer

I had heard about the Alexander Technique and its benefits from several colleagues, but couldn't for the life of me understand what it was all about. I'd also read a couple of articles but was still mystified. Them someone suggested I read "Fitness Without Stress" and I finally began to understandwhat the Alexander Technique was all about.The book is clearly written and begins in a way that makes a lot of sense to me - by comparing and contrasting the approach of the Alexander Technique to that of most fitness programs in vogue today.Another thing I liked about the book was the inclusion of several personal accounts. The book also provides information on where to go if you want to take a lesson or a workshop, or if you want to read more in depth about the Technique.This is a great "first read" about the Alexander Technique. Be forwarned though: it is not a do-it-yourself book. (In my experience with the Alexander Technique teaching process, which began after I read the book some five years ago, you really do need the help of a skilled teacher to get started in most cases.)

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to the Alexander Technique., September 25, 1999

By A Customer

This is the book to read first if you don't know anything about F.M. Alexander and the Alexander Technique. And if you DO know something of the Technique, it's a great book to give to friends or relatives who are curious about it. My 85 year-old grandmother read it and said, "That's the first time I understood why you're taking lessons." (That after almost a year of trying to explain it to her myself!)