The Pilates Edge (Avery Health Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was pleased to finally find this book a few years ago, as I was looking for a way to help with my fencing. As a book geared towards athletes, it assumes that you don't simply want to "look and feel fit", but build a real core that helps you become a stronger athlete, no matter what your sport.
I appreciated that the illustrations of the exercises (which are very well done) featured both authors, drving home the idea that Pilates is a fitness regimen for BOTH men and women who want to be stronger. Too many times books about exercise systems focus on one gender, which can turn people off... I often felt that Pilates suffered from being marketed too strongly towards women when it is a very universal exercise system.
I also very much liked that the core exercises (there are many) were ones that did not require any extra equipment, relying on your own body weight and range of motion to accomplish the movement. The sample exercise programs at the rear of the book emphasize this. Other sections of the book that include weights, bars, etc. are considered as supplemental to the core system and can be added as needed. Personally, this helped me to stay with the exercises, because I didn't need to have anything with me to do them.
An excellent book. I highly recommend it.

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Complete body conditioning for golf, running, tennis, swimming, cycling, skiing, and other sports and activities. Originally developed by Joseph Pilates for boxers, gymnasts, and dancers, Pilates is a unique body-conditioning method that teaches precision movement generated from the center of the body-the "powerhouse"-which includes the abdominal muscles, lower back, and buttocks. The Pilates Edge demonstrates how the basic principles of Pilates can enhance sports training and promote athletic achievement as well as everyday health and fitness. With this instructive book, athletes and anyone seeking to improve their physical performance will learn to strengthen and condition their bodies while preventing injuries through a basic Pilates workout, designed with variations for beginner and advanced levels. The authors provide specific workouts for golf, running, racket sports, swimming, cycling, and skiing, giving special attention to the muscle groups and common injuries associated with each sport.

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Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain Review

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(More customer reviews)Written by an author who has suffered with chronic pain himself, Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain takes a specific stand on why you're hurting and what you should do about it. In a nutshell, the idea is that chronic pain is due to imbalances in the body- mainly those of posture and alignment, which can be corrected through proper motions the book calls "E-cises". Here's a few highlights...
-the book starts you out with three chapters that go over its main ideas
-from there, you go to specific chapters for specific problems (like the foot, the back, the shoulder, etc.)
-you'll find lots of good pictures that do a good job of showing you how to do the exercises
-you don't really need a lot of equipment to do the exercises- mainly some pillows or something to rest your arms and legs on
-there are routines for maintenance, as well as specific sports (like soccer, football, etc.)
Mostly good stuff here, as you can see, and an all around sensible approach I thought. I did find the exercises simple enough, and will probably help relax a lot of pain sufferers to boot.
The negatives? Not many. The only thing I think that might turn off some people, is the time involved- sometimes its recommended you do them for 45 minutes to an hour. But, you get out of it what you put into it.
Worth a good look, I recommend any chronic pain sufferer give them a try. Those with back pain might also be interested in Treat Your Own Spinal Stenosis.

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Resistance Training Instruction - 2nd Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Whether you are a personal fitness trainer looking for new movements for your clients or a self-starter who wants to learn from the best, this is the book for you. Everette Aaberg is one of the nation's premier personal trainers and biomechanics experts. I had the pleasure of learning and studying biomechanics and advanced biomechanics from Everette at the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas. Biomechanics is the study of human movement with a weight bearing load, force or resistance and how these forces affect the body both in a constructive and sometimes destructive manner. Peforming movements "biomechanically correct", as Everette suggests, is a formula for efficiently working your muscles while protecting your joints and avoiding injury. I have learned the power of his theories first hand with my personal training clients. Lift safe, the way your body was meant to move, and the results may astonish you. Proper form and technique is explained throughout with excellent anatomy illustrations of what primary and secondary muscles are being worked. A good variety of exercises for the entire body are included. Every fitness enthusiast should have this on their bookshelve. You may find yourself dragging it to the gym with you. - Michael J. Merlino, Certified Professional Fitness Trainer

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Ensure optimal results for your clients with the most efficient training and teaching techniques for resistance exercise. Covering all the major muscle groups, Resistance Training Instruction provides all the tools to improve the function, performance, and appearance of your clients.

Detailed illustrations combined with expert technical guidance demonstrate how to target specific muscles as well as the most efficient alignment, positioning, and lifting technique for each exercise. In addition, you will learn how and when to vary intensity, volume, recovery, and exercise sequencing to customize any routine.

Organized by movement function, emphasizing the connection between technique and results, each exercise provides the following:

-Step-by-step instructions for setup and technique

-Guidance on monitoring, cueing, spotting, and coaching clients for the safest, most effective training

-Full-color anatomical illustrations that depict muscle use throughout each exercise

With sample periodized programs, Resistance Training Instruction demonstrates how to develop base strength, improve whole-body fitness, and design advanced split routines by selecting, combining, and sequencing the best exercises for each client.

Used by the renowned Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research to certify personal trainers, Resistance Training Instruction makes it easy to achieve maximum gains for all of your clients.

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The Rider's Fitness Program Review

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(More customer reviews)As a week-end rider, I eagerly anticipated the release of this book because I wanted to target my riding muscles to help me improve.
The first disappointment came when I realized I needed to belong to a gym. They do give you home alternatives for some, not all, of the exercises but many are not workable, requiring anchor points at specific heights for the resistance band alternatives. I supposed I could tap a bunch of screw eyes into one wall and the ceiling, but I bet my landlord wouldn't be too happy!

There was also a pretty complete set of equipment you were expected to own; benches, free weights, weight bars, ankle and wrist weights, exercise balls, medicine balls, resistance bands, tilt boards, rollers, etc. The helpful web link to sources of the equipment took me straight to one of the author's equipment sales web page. I had about half the equipment needed and am being resourceful for the things I don't have. Free weights, exercise balls, medicine balls, resistance bands and tilt boards are all going to be needed.
The second disappointment was most of the exercises were the same old same old. Some of them were packaged a bit differently and toward the end of the six week series, the exercises look more interesting, combining strength, balance and posture in one exercise. (I have read the whole book and have completed week one)
At first, I thought the layout of the book was a bit awkward, but as I began to use it, it bacame clear the variations in routine (One of the things I really like about the book) makes the layout necessary. There is a warm-up/stretch section without a lot of instruction, so I just used what I thought was appropriate for that days workout.
A good bit of information is included in the Introduction so read it carefully.
I was hoping for something a bit more revolutionary, but if you are lifting weights and doing a core based workout such as Pilates, you won't find anything different in this book.
I am planning on doing the whole six week series as directed, so if something exciting occurs down the road, I'll come back and amend my review.

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Here is the perfect book for beginning riders who are using muscles they never knew they had before, advanced riders who want to stay in top form (especially as they get older), and weather-bound riders who can't get out during the winter but want to be fit when spring arrives.The Rider's Fitness Program details a fun and effective six-week program that strengthens the muscles riders use while improving overall balance, flexibility, and coordination. The book features more than 85 exercises designed to help new riders get over the aches and pains of getting started and experienced riders hone their skills and technique and prevent injuries. The ultimate goal, of course, is to achieve "oneness" with the horse.The routines are flexible, so individuals can customize the workout they need for jumping, dressage, reining, endurance, polo, or rodeo. The exercises are accompanied by step-by-step photographs that demonstrate how to perform each action properly (with an emphasis on safety). The exercises are progressive, from basic to advanced, and suitable for riders at all fitness levels.The authors also include fundamental information on diet, general health and safety, and what clothing and equipment are necessary.The Rider's Fitness Program is a comprehensive handbook for riders of all experience levels, with workout routines for every type of riding discipline.

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