The Whartons' Stretch Book: Featuring the Breakthrough Method of Active-Isolated Stretching

Excellent information but you can fine it also on Utube

I've kept coming back to this book for 20 years. Some of the criticisms of other reviewers have merit. The illustrations and directions can be confusing and add to the time needed for the routines when starting out. And many, maybe most, users will have trouble making time for the entire full-body circuit. The authors' insistence that each "zone" routine must include all exercises tends towards an "all or nothing" outlook that will lead some readers to choose "nothing."Even so, I give it five stars because I've yet to find a better stretching routine for the core (Zone 1 in the book). It take me about 30 minutes to get through it with 10 reps and 2-second holds, and I always feel taller, straighter, and more relaxed when I finish. There are other, more accessible stretching options for neck, shoulders, arms and hands, and lower legs/feet, but the Zone 1 core stretches remain the one routine I will do after a workout.

This book is concise and well put together. The explanations for the various stretches are well written and easy to follow and the diagrams are excellent. The length of time required is a bit daunting at first, but I find this improving as I get to know the routine and details of the stretches. I liked the fact that they provide benchmarks for how flexible you should be, and tests of how flexible you are to start with, so you can measure progress. I found some of my muscle groups were OK, but quite a few are too tight, an eye opener, and the probable reason for a recent nasty case of shin splints from hiking. I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out. Best of all, I felt good after doing the routines, which is a great incentive to do more. A one inch thick dog leash with an adjustable loop works better than a rope, for the many stretches requiring the assistance of a rope!I had gotten this book from the library, and meanwhile ordered the Aaron Mattes book from Amazon.... However the Whartons book seems better organized and easier to follow, for me, so I just ordered my own copy. I guess that's the best recommendation I can give.

I am 49 years old and really felt like I needed to get on a stretching program for my health. I am very pleased with their program. One problem that I had was using a rope I had a tendency to pull too much and was overstretching so now I'm doing the stretches without a rope, but I might add one in the future. After a few weeks you notice that your joints slowly start loosening up and I imagine that over a long period of time that you would get very flexible. Personally I believe that to do all of the stretches in one day is too much. So I will do Zone 1 one day, then Zone 2,3 & 4 the next day and then Zone 3 the next day. Also their program has you to do 10 reps and hold each stretch for 2 seconds. I started out doing around 2 reps and have worked up to 4 and may try to add more in the future. I had done little stretching in the past and was very inflexible. I have some tendonitis in my arm which has not gotten any better by doing these stetches. It takes time before you get all of the stretches down and it becomes second nature for you to go through them at a rate that's not slow. Overall I would recommend this book and program.

I thought the book was great. It gave you the basics at the beginning and then got to the stretches. It divides the body up into zones. These exercises are so comprehensive they include finger stretches and stretches for your feet! I'm middle aged and now have a completely sedentary job in front of computer screens as many of us do. By stretching my muscles I am finding natural pain relief. Carpel tunnel has been a problem for me as well as rheumatoid arthritis in my feet. This book is basic, nothing fancy but it is complete. You can concentrate on just 1 area of your body or do a different "zone" every night, which is what I'm doing. I bought it used and paid $6 for it. It's an investment in your health and darn inexpensive. The cover was different than what was pictured but it's the same book. I'm completely satisfied.

This is the third copy of this book that I have purchased because I give it out to friends who have back problems. I have had back problems since I was 23 (I'm now 56)and tried traditional medicine and then went to a chiropractor on a monthly basis for 10-years. A few years ago I had a herniated disc and was seeing my chiropractor once a day. I was still in severe pain. I saw the stretch book at a book store and decided to try it.It really worked. After doing the stretches in the book for 21 days I was pain free. I also stopped seeing my chiropractor and haven't had any severe pain since. I'm so flexible now that I can adjust my own back. As long as I continue the stretch program there are no back problems. Currently, I bicycle at least 150 miles per week. The occasional spills on my bike do not result in any serious injury because my body is so limber from stretching.I recommend this book for everyone because when you stay flexible you are less prone to injuries. This book has a stretch for every part of your body.

I think the stretches are great. But the way the book is written it is very difficult to figure out how to perform some of the stretches. The drawn pictures help with some, but on others they are not enough to figure out what is going on and then the explanation seems a bit confusing too on a few of them. Though I would like to say that most of the stretches are easy to figure out, but it is frustrating that a few of them I feel like I am guessing on how to do them. Also, a couple errors in the color chart that explains different levels of flexibility. I have been following the book for a few weeks and I like the technique and will continue with it. I am thinking about getting the DVD they offer on their website to clarify the movements.Another pet peave I have with it, is they say it will only take about 20min to go through all the stretches and that is not true in my experience. It takes me 20min to get through Zone 1 stretches. Then about 20-30min to get through Zone 2-5. I have memorized Zone 1, so I move through it pretty quick, but I still take 20min to do it. I end of doing mostly Zone 1 and 5 to save time.

Excellent book that encompasses a number of properties of muscles to guide and manage the effects of exercise. The 2 second hold and the relaxation induced by moving in the opposite direction to the target muscle first are really effective. I would note that I find increasing the amount of stretch after each 2 sec hold is not advised if the muscle is holding any tension and I find that applying the technique on a longer term basis can act as a re-educator for problematic muscle tension or guarding. Overall a great book…..only issue really bad illustrations.

I Wharton hanno fatto la storia dello stretching. Chi è interessato a guadagnare mobilità può affidarsi ciecamente a questo libro.

Nice

awsome

If you do not know how to stretch properly this book is great. it is divided into sections and these sections are linked to the sport that you practice