Pilates is one of the fastest growing exercise trends. Now Ellie Herman, a renowned Pilates instructor and author, shows how to make Pilates more interesting and enjoyable. In this book, she introduces the reader to popular workout accessories that expand and amplify Pilates matwork exercises. This book details each prop's unique characteristics and explains how it can enhance Pilates in its own way; the magic circles tone arms, the small ball held between the legs shapes thighs, the foam roller...
Elite athletes have long relied on personalised stretching programmes to improve flexibility and prevent injury. What you might not know is that many of those targeted stretches have a much broader application, one that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. "Prescriptive Stretching" features full-colour anatomical illustrations and step-by-step instructions for 40 of the most effective stretches to eliminate pain, alleviate muscle soreness, improve balance and flexibility and preve...
Improve your balance, strength, focus, and martial skills with this elegant and effective Chinese weapon, from America's most respected author and teacher of Shaolin Gong Fu. Mastering the Art of the Northern Shaolin Sword requires extensive physical training, which will result in a strong, finely-tuned body and mind. And as self-defense, Shaolin Sword is indispensable, improving your perception, timing, and reactions, allowing for the quickest and most appropriate response to any given situatio...
Honorable Mention - 2014 Eric Hoffer Award This book offers beginner a smart way to learn qigong (chi kung), the ancient Chinese system of gentle breathing, stretching, and strengthening movements. You will use the Eight Pieces of Brocade, one of the most popular qigong healing exercise sets, to improve your overall health and well-being. Commonly known in China as the Ba Duan Jin, these exercises have been practiced for over 1,000 years. Choose the sitting set, the standing set, or both. Lear...
Push Hands is the "other" part of tai chi that makes your practice a true living art Tai chi push hands practice is a necessary next step for tai chi practitioners who wish to make their art come alive. Push hands practice requires two people to engage in a variety of "light touch" moving and walking routines. By practicing these movements, practitioners begin to develop tai chi's sensing, listening, and yielding skills. Combined, these skills are the first step for developing your tai chi as a...
In the hierarchy of life, breath always wins. It persists 22,000 times daily, but you get to decide whether the way you breathe is to your benefit or detriment. Breath becomes compromised by stress, disease, and the environmental trappings of progress; you can still breathe under this pressure, but it leads to poor breathing habits that slowly whittle away at your health. In Body by Breath, bestselling author Jill Miller takes you on a journey through your breathing body and presents more than...
Deepen your practice and discover the myths, gods, sacred animals and imagery that lie hidden in your favourite yoga postures Meet the monks and maharajas, gods and gymnasts who shaped yoga as we know it. Have you ever wondered why yoga postures look the way they do, or how they got their names? From Lotus to Warrior, Cobra to Happy Baby, this book takes a fresh look at the stories behind 30 familiar poses. By drawing in on Hindu scripture, mythology and the animals, birds and flowers the or...
Anatomy & 100 Stretching Exercises for Tennis
by Guillermo Seijas Albir
"Find 100 stretches that will take your racket game to a whole new level. From the occasional tennis player to the high-performance athlete, everyone can benefit from knowledge about biomechanics, ergonomics, stretching techniques, and more. Discover guidelines and advice designed to help tennis players, as well as paddleball, squash, and badminton enthusiasts improve their safety and performance. Beginners and advanced players will find: Instructions on choosing the right racket to fit your spe...
Personal trainer, founder of Bumps & Burpees, and new mum Charlie Barker provides you with workouts designed specifically for you to do safely during your pregnancy.Learn how to keep your baby safe when working out and what physical changes you can expect in each trimester. Step-by-step exercises designed to develop your strength, fitness and flexibility, will help you to carry your growing baby in greater comfort, prepare you for childbirth, and recover well. Best of all, you can do it all at h...
Turn your yoga routine on its head! Designed to take you from a beginner to intermediate to advanced yoga student, this helpful guide shows you how to progress from downward dog to the most intricate of handstand poses. Inversions and arm balances are considered the pinnacle of yoga training. They have numerous benefits and are often some of the most beautiful poses in a yoga practice. They also have a huge intimidation factor, but are easily accessible when learned in progressions for proficien...