The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief


Clair Davies - 2001
    Trigger point therapy is one of the most intriguing and fastest-growing bodywork styles in the world. Medical doctors, chiropractors, and alternative health practitioners are all beginning to use this technique to relieve the pain of individuals suffering from undiagnosable soft tissue pain-a condition that studies have shown to be the cause of nearly 25 percent of all doctor visits. The technique involves applying a gentle, sweeping stroke to trigger points, places in muscle or connective tissue where a lack of oxygen causes swelling. These points are easily located by general readers and create pain throughout the body in predictable patterns characteristic to each muscle, producing discomfort ranging from mild to severe. The stimulation of the point causes an increase in the oxygen level in the area and often produces instant relief. The first edition of The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook has made a huge impact in the use of this dynamic technique. This is the first major revision of the overnight classic, a complete update that includes new information specifically for massage professionals as well as a detailed discussion of progressive muscle relaxation techniques that can reinforce the therapeutic power of trigger point work.

The Ultimate Beginner's Running Guide: The Key to Running Inspired


Ryan Robert - 2012
    She obsessed about her weight and let it take control of her life. Eventually she even lost the confidence she once effortlessly displayed. As an avid runner, Ryan knew if he was able to get his niece to start running she would gain self-confidence, better mental and physical acuity. It would also allow her a better focus on health rather than weight. Ryan started writing notes to his niece about different aspects of running. These notes became the impetus for his book Running Inspired.Running Inspired provides a wealth of information for the non-runner and beginning runner. The book covers everything from proper form, to shoes, to running schedules, and food. There is also information on how to stay motivated including visualization exercises. These are the tools Ryan used to teach his niece to run inspired and they will help you too.Ryan's writing style is friendly, easy to read, and non-judgmental. If you have ever thought about running, even if you've never tried it, Running Inspired is the perfect place to start.

Progressive Calisthenics: The 20-Minute Dream Body with Bodyweight Exercises (Calisthenics)


John Powers - 2015
    When it comes to bodyweight training, there is nothing more frustrating than losing fat, without building muscle on top of that fat loss. Most people just aim for a lower number of the scale, but if you want a powerful, functional body, you should also be gaining muscle, as you are losing fat. This is where Calisthenics training comes into play.It is one of the best, most effective ways to improve your overall health. But how can you learn the right calisthenics exercises, the right nutrition for your workout, and the right lifestyle to compliment your new body? This is where Progressive Calisthenics comes in! In this book, you will learn twelve of the top bodyweight exercises, designed to make you not just lose weight, but actually build muscles and improve flexibility. You will finally have not just a body that looks great, but a body that is strong and is primed to take serious punishment. These exercises make you live longer and your body stay healthy longer. Addition to that, you will find the most effective advanced bodyweight training exercises and 30-Day Challenge to take your body to the whole new level! And the best part of this book is that the results happen FAST! No more waiting around for your diets or workout regimen to show results. With this program, you will begin to see the fat melt away and the muscle mass packing on. What could be better than that? Only twenty minutes a day and you will be seeing great results, which will only motivate you to work harder! This book is equipped with workouts that are great for beginners and for advanced athletes. No matter your level, you can find a workout and a diet plan that fits your lifestyle and helps you achieve what you want to achieve. Can it really be that easy?With this book IT IS! Not only will you find detailed workout and nutritional guidelines, you will find answers to all of the following questions and more! • Is a bodyweight workout the same as weight training? • Can calisthenics actually help you build strength and real muscle? • Is calisthenics mass easy to build? • How do you do calisthenics exercises and for how long? • What kind of exercises can be done without equipment? • Do I need to take supplements? The best food choices to make. • What kind of exercises you should do to lose weight fast? • How to amp-up the basic bodyweight exercises to increase lean muscle growth? • How to have a killer abs? • and much more...

The Vital Psoas Muscle: Connecting Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being


Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones - 2012
    The psoas is the only muscle in the human organism that connects the upper body to the lower body, and its importance extends to the nerve complex and energy systems.   As modern-day populations grow more sedentary, psoas-related lower back and hip pain, and the ailment of "sitting too much," are on the rise. Even the most active of athletes can suffer from psoas imbalance and pain. The Vital Psoas Muscle demonstrates how to keep the muscle in balance through specific exercises designed to strengthen and utilize this amazing muscle, and discusses its vital role in the emotional and spiritual state of the human being. The interconnection between the psoas and the root chakra is explored, along with yoga poses and postures that stimulate the psoas. Eighty full-color illustrations depict anatomical details, and show the key stretching and strengthening exercises in this practical and comprehensive treatment of the most important skeletal muscle in the human body.

The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess


Lou Schuler - 2005
    This book is for the woman whos ready to throw down the Barbie weights and start a strength and conditioning program that will give her the body she wants. Illustrated.

Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide


Hal Higdon - 2005
    Aspiring or veteran marathoners will benefit enormously from its proven guidance."This new edition focuses on first marathoners, women runners, and those new to the sport; and as always, Higdon shows how to build up mileage and gives advice on running long, speedwork for distance runners, defensive running strategies, and planning for peak performance.

Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory


Deena Kastor - 2018
    In Let Your Mind Run, the vaunted Olympic medalist and marathon and half-marathon record holder, will reveal how she incorporated the benefits of positive psychology into her already-dedicated running practice, setting her on a course to conquer women's distance running. Blending both narrative running insights and deep-dive brain science, this book will appeal to and motivate steadfast athletes, determined runners, and tough-as-nails coaches, and beyond. This memoir, written by perhaps the most famous American woman active in the competitive world of distance running, will appeal to the pragmatic athletic population, and jointly to fans of engaging sports narratives, inspirational memoirs, and uplifiting biographies.

Hwpo: Hard Work Pays Off Transform Your Body and Mind with Crossfit's Five-Time Fittest Man on Earth


Mat Fraser - 2022
    A student of engineering, Fraser optimized his body like a machine, and his absolute dedication to the training program he designed for himself is now legendary. For years, every single decision he made was weighed against the question: Will this help me win? If the answer was no, he didn't do it. If it would give him even the slightest edge or advantage, he would--no matter the cost. Fraser became a master of identifying his weaknesses and then seeking out training methods to improve them, and he's idolized in the fitness community for his relentless pursuit of peak performance. It's not hard to see why he achieved so much success--but how is a different question.Throughout his career, Fraser has been highly guarded about his specific training techniques (after all, sharing them would not help him win the CrossFit Games). But with his recent retirement from competition, Fraser is finally ready to open up about his path to the podium. HWPO reveals the workouts, training hacks, eating plans, and mental strategies that have helped make him a champion. It's an incredible resource of elite training strategies, illustrated workouts, and motivational stories, and it's a glimpse into the mind of one of the world's greatest athletes. No matter your level of fitness, no matter if you've never attempted CrossFit before, this book is your total training manual.

Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training


Thomas Kurz - 1987
    Use our method to attain maximum height in your kicks and to be able to kick at that height with no warm-up! Learn: * How to stretch safely and quickly to achieve and maintain your maximum flexibility * How to make your muscles grow stronger and longer so you stay flexible all the time * How to do splits even if you are over 40 or 50 * How to kick high and do splits with no warm-up * How to develop each of the three kinds of flexibilityÂ�dynamic, static active and static passiveÂ�to suit every athlete's needs * What exercises are "no-no's" if you want to stretch your muscles * All the factors limiting flexibility * Brilliantly simple tests of hip joint mobility and muscle length that dispel common misconceptions of what limits flexibility the most

The Oxygen Advantage: The Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques for a Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter You


Patrick McKeown - 2015
    With a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Dr. Joseph Mercola. Achieve more with less effort: The secret to weight loss, fitness, and wellness lies in the most basic and most overlooked function of your body—how you breathe. One of the biggest obstacles to better health and fitness is a rarely identified problem: chronic over-breathing. We often take many more breaths than we need—without realizing it—contributing to poor health and fitness, including a host of disorders, from anxiety and asthma to insomnia and heart problems. In The Oxygen Advantage, the man who has trained over 5,000 people—including Olympic and professional athletes—in reduced breathing exercises now shares his scientifically validated techniques to help you breathe more efficiently. Patrick McKeown teaches you the fundamental relationship between oxygen and the body, then gets you started with a Body Oxygen Level Test (BOLT) to determine how efficiently your body uses oxygen. He then shows you how to increase your BOLT score by using light breathing exercises and learning how to simulate high altitude training, a technique used by Navy SEALs and professional athletes to help increase endurance, weight loss, and vital red blood cells to dramatically improve cardio-fitness. Following his program, even the most out-of-shape person (including those with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma) can climb stairs, run for a bus, or play soccer without gasping for air, and everyone can achieve: Easy weight loss and weight maintenance Improved sleep and energy Increased concentration Reduced breathlessness during exercise Heightened athletic performance Improved cardiovascular health Elimination of asthmatic symptoms, and more. With The Oxygen Advantage, you can look better, feel better, and do more—it's as easy as breathing.

Barefoot Running and Minimalism: Everything You Need to Know to Make the Healthy Transition to Minimalism and Barefoot Running (Runner's World Essential Guides)


Scott Douglas - 2011
    By introducing a thick layer of cushioning and an elevated heel between the foot and the ground, modern running shoes alter natural running form. But modern running shoes alter form in ways that lead to injury. Therefore, getting back to a more natural running gait by running in little-to-no shoe will lead to improved form, which should lower injury rates.A key reason to run barefoot or in minimalist shoes is to allow your feet to work more naturally, free from the confines and controls of overly engineered running shoes. Unfortunately, too many runners, eager to run more naturally, have gone too far, too fast, from one extreme to the other. The realities of modern life have weakened our feet, ankles, and lower legs, and our bodies have adapted to the shoes we have worn for most of our lives; if we suddenly start running in little-to-no shoe, our bodies are not prepared for the new stresses.Runner's World Essential Guides: Barefoot Running and Minimalism provides historical context, thoughts, advice, and tips on making a healthy transition. The foremost authorities on running on the planet show you how to ease into a transition from conventional running shoes to barefoot running or minimalist shoes, starting with some simple at-home tests to see if your feet already have the strength they need to handle little-to-no shoe. You’ll learn a step-by-step process for safely moving away from doing all your running in big, bulky shoes, including guidelines on how to introduce barefoot running into your regimen.Whether you want to learn more about the barefoot craze that’s swept the nation or you want to introduce barefoot running into your training plan, this indispensable guide contains everything you need to get started!

Run for Your Life: How to Run, Walk, and Move Without Pain or Injury and Achieve a Sense of Well-Being and Joy


Mark Cucuzzella - 2018
    Mark Cucuzzella explains the simple mechanics of how our bodies have evolved and adapted to run. Despite our natural ability and our human need to run, each year more than half of all runners suffer injuries. Pain and discouragement inevitably follow. Cucuzzella's book outlines the proven, practical techniques to avoid injury and reach the goal of personal fitness and overall health.      His book--the first running book to be written by a professor of medicine with the credibility of the Air Force behind him--gives us a straightforward, easy-to-follow look at the anatomy, biomechanics, nutrition, and/or clinical medicine with clear drawings and black-and-white photographs. The book provides illustrated exercises designed to teach healthy running, along with simple progressions, a weekly/monthly schedule detailing common mistakes, and cautions that allow the reader to tailor the training regime to individual needs and abilities. With an annotated list of videos and other innovative, book-Internet links.     The proceeds from RUN FOR YOUR LIFE will go to support Mark Cucuzzella's community work through his non-profit organization, Eastern Area Health Education Center/Freedoms Run.

Treat Your Own Back


Robin McKenzie - 1980
    The world-renowned McKenzie Method detailed in this book is a simple process that is proven to work.This publication contains easily understood exercises and vital information to enable you to self-manage your back pain and gives you an insight into the cause and effect relationship which helps to prevent recurrence of back pain.You can become independent of spinal manipulation or drugs that only treat the symptoms of your back pain, and not the cause. Just check out the research or the testimonials from readers who have found enormous relief from the "world's best-selling back book of all time".This book on back pain treatment is right for you if you suffer from recurrent low back pain, including Slipped Disc, Fibrosis, Lumbago, Arthritis in the back, Rheumatism and Sciatica.Now completely revised and in its 7th Edition, Treat Your Own Back has helped more people achieve freedom from back pain than any other publication.

Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection


John E. Sarno - 1991
    Sarno saved me from a life of pain.” — Howard Stern  The New York Times bestseller that has helped thousands leverage the mind-body connection to heal lower back pain and live pain free—without drugs, surgery, or physical therapy.  Offering a surprising, noninvasive solution to an epidemic of pain, Dr. John E. Sarno’s research on TMS (Tension Myoneural Syndrome) reveals that stress, anxiety and other psychological factors, not structural abnormalities, are the root cause of chronic pain. TMS develops as a result of repressed emotions which trigger tension in the body and deprive muscles and nerves of oxygen. The solution? Recognize the emotional roots of your TMS and sever the connection between mental and physical pain. With Dr. Sarno’s expert guidance you will learn:How the mind-body connection can permanently heal shoulder, neck, and lower back painHow accepting negative emotions like anger, anxiety, fear, or grief can reverse physical symptomsHow we condition ourselves to think back pain is inevitableWhy you should resume physical activity as soon as possibleSharing case histories and the results of his extensive, groundbreaking research, Dr. Sarno’s life-changing insights show readers how to banish back pain and reclaim their lives for good.

Body For Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength


Bill Phillips - 1999
    These people include:Hundreds of thousands of men and women who read his magazine for guidance and straightforward information about exercise, nutrition, and living with strength.Elite professional athletes, among them John Elway, Karl Malone, Mike Piazza, and Terrell Davis ?ho have turned to Phillips for clear–cut information to enhance their energy and performance.People once plagued by obesity, alcoholism, and life–threatening ailments who accepted a personal challenge from Bill Phillips and, with his help, have regained control of their bodies and their lives.When you begin to apply the information in this book, you will be proving to yourself that astounding changes are within your grasp too. And, you will discover Body –for–LIFE is much more than a book about physical fitness ?t's a gateway to a new and better life, a life of rewarding and fulfilling moments, perhaps more spectacular than you've ever dared to dream before.Within 12 weeks, you too are going to know ?ot believe, but know : that the transformation you've created with your body is merely an example of the power you have to transform everything else in your world. In language that is vivid and down–to–earth, Bill Phillips guides you, step by step, through the integrated Body –for–LIFE Program, which reveals:How to lose fat and increase your strength by exercising less, not more;How to tap into an endless source of energy by living with the Power MindsetTM;How to create more time for everything meaningful in your life;How to trade hours of aerobics for minutes of weight training ?ith dramatic results;How to make continual progress by using the High–Point TechniqueTM;How to feed your muscles while starving fat with the Nutrition–for–LIFE MethodTM;How thousands of ordinary people have now become extraordinary and how you can, too;How to gain control of your body and life, once and for all.The principles of the Body –for–LIFE Program are surprisingly simple but remarkably powerful. So allow yourself to experience the force of the information in this book, allow yourself to take your mind, your body, your life to a higher point than you may have ever dreamed you could. All in as little as 12 weeks.