Stretching: 20th Anniversary (Stretching) by Bob Anderson

Product Description

This is the book that people tell their friends about, that trainers recommend for virtually every sport and activity, and that medical professionals recommend to people just starting to get back in shape. Stretching first appeared in 1980 as a new generation of Americans became committed to running, cycling, aerobic training, and workouts in the gym - which all seem commonplace now. It features: more than 20 new stretching routines, including those for sports enthusiasts; travelers, children, gardeners, and people in wheelchairs; an abbreviated version of each routine for people in a hurry; new information on the stretching vs. warming up controversy; and new and improved drawings.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #1209 in Books
Published on: 2000-06
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
223 pages
Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
When Bob Anderson first published Stretching in 1980, the fitness movement was new to most Americans. The term aerobics had just been coined in 1968, and few people outside bodybuilding circles had heard of Arnold Schwarzenegger yet.

Now, fitness is such old hat that it's even had a backlash or two. Lots of the original ideas have been called into question, including the preeminence of aerobic exercise. But flexibility is bigger than ever; Pilates and yoga are two of the fastest-growing fitness programs in the U.S. in the early 2000s. The type of stretching Anderson recommends--called "static," meaning you sit in one place and hold the stretch for a specified amount of time--isn't exactly trendy, but it remains the most accessible way for entry-level exercisers to improve their flexibility. (Or, perhaps more important, to keep from losing whatever flexibility they have as they get older.)

Those who already have the version of the book that's been put out by Shelter Publications since 1980 won't find a whole lot that's new in this 20th-anniversary version. Some of the simple drawings by Anderson's wife, Jean, have been updated to show athletes in sport-specific outfits doing stretching routines, and there are more routines than before. The new edition includes routines for children, stretches to do in front of the TV, and some exercises to do before and after gardening. Plus, the old staples remain--stretching routines for all muscle groups, and pre- and postplay sequences for common sports (football, baseball, basketball) and a few uncommon ones (equestrian, motocross, rodeo). He's also created routines for sports that barely existed in 1980, such as snowboarding, triathloning, and inline skating.

The constant in Stretching is ease of use. Anderson doesn't need a lot of complex explanations because the drawings are so easy to follow. He makes it clear that stretching should make you feel better, not worse, and that it's not a competition. Any little bit you can do is better than not doing anything. That's a timeless message, which is why his book has been such an valuable reference for the past 20 years. --Lou Schuler
Customer Reviews

An Exercise Classic
You can look at the pictures in this book and in one glance tell which muscles get stretched performing different types of stretches. It is great for someone like me who has some muscle imbalances and needs to stretch some muscles and strengthen others. It is also a good book to have to look up stretches to do for times when you have tight muscles in just certain spots as the stretches are grouped by body part.

I have had this book for years and refer to it all of the time.

Looks archaic, but great reference!
I purchased this based on my chiropractors recommendation. She strongly encouraged me to read the beginning chapters so that I understood how the book was written and how to interpret the illustrations. (I am still getting through this - I hate instructions!!) I have been a dancer for years, but never had a resource to search for the exact muscle group that I was trying to work when my normal routine did not stretch the right area. My favorite feature is the body diagram (pg 24-25) which acts as a quick reference to select the group of muscles (and corresponding page) that you are looking to stretch. The section that details specific stretches for different activities has been exceptionally handy as I don't always realize all of the muscles a certain activity uses. I just picked up golf and have been using these stretches before and after playing - it has made a noticeable difference in how I feel when I play and most importantly, the next day! Simply great for visual people and when you need a reference for a muscle group that you aren't used to stretching. Highly Recommended!

great book
This is a wonderful book it is easy to read and with the help of the drawings it is easy to figure out how to do the stretches.