Full-Body Flexibility for Women

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Incorporate the best, most advanced techniques into your stretching program! Full-Body Flexibility presents a unique system that blends the best stretching methods from yoga, Pilates, martial arts, and sports training into stretching sequences that

• challenge muscles with multiple techniques to attain maximum flexibility,
  
• strengthen muscles so that they can support the body throughout specific moves in the entire range of motion, and
  
• balance muscles equally in opposing muscle groups and on both sides of the body.

The stretch sequences are organized by body region and by type of movement so that you can quickly find a flexibility workout ranging from 10 to 40 minutes. The workouts help you to target tight muscle groups and relieve tension around problem joints, increase effectiveness of specific movements, and warm up and cool down for your specific activity.

Full-Body Flexibility also includes performance and recovery stretch sequences for the most popular sports, including sports that involve throwing and swinging, jumping and power, and running and endurance. Stretches are accompanied by photos and detailed instruction to help you execute each technique correctly.

Full-Body Flexibility offers the most advanced, effective stretching system available, head to toe.

About the Author

Jay Blahnik has more than 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. He is the spokesperson and education consultant for the Nautilus Health and Fitness Group. For more than 10 years, Blahnik has served as a spokesperson for Nike’s programs and products and provides direction and consultation to Nike regarding fitness industry trends and product design. In addition, he is an education consultant, program developer, and spokesperson for the BOSU Balance Trainer. Blahnik also serves as a consultant and program developer for some of the world’s largest and most successful fitness chains. Recently, he developed a new series of successful programs titled “Leg Xpress” and “Ab Xpress” for 24 Hour Fitness, and he has developed the new indoor cycling program for Bally Total Fitness.

Blahnik was named one of Shape magazine’s Top 5 Group Exercise Instructors in the United States in 2000 and was selected as the IDEA International Fitness Instructor of the Year in 1996. He has starred in more than 17 award-winning exercise videos and has been the technical advisor and director for some of the best-selling exercise videos of all time. He served as the exercise consultant and choreographer for Jane Fonda’s final six highly acclaimed videos and has worked with, consulted, or trained many of the world’s leading exercise video superstars.

Blahnik is a master member of IDEA, an organization devoted to promoting fitness, health, and wellness. He is on the American Council on Exercise (ACE) editorial advisory board and is an Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) continuing education provider. Blahnik is also the inventor and designer of The Power, a fitness machine designed to make closed-chain strength exercises easier to do.

Blahnik’s clients have included Jane Fonda, Faye Dunaway, Jonelle Allen (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman), Leonard Lauder (Estée Lauder), Iman (supermodel), and Tawny Kitaen (America’s Funniest People), to name a few. He currently trains athletes as well as numerous Iron Man competitors. Blahnik has appeared on many television and radio shows, and his work has been featured in Shape, Sports Illustrated, Self, Fitness, Family Circle, Vogue, Living Fit, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Outside, Fit, and Skiing magazines. He has been consulted as a fitness expert for hundreds of newspaper articles around the world.

Blahnik has presented educational workshops and motivational seminars in all 50 states, England, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Germany, Australia, France, Scotland, Korea, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands.

Blahnik lives in Laguna Beach, California, and enjoys running, ocean kayaking, and surfing.

Table of Contents

Part I Total Body Stretch System
Chapter 1. Preparing to Stretch
Chapter 2. Neck, Shoulders, Arms, and Hands
Chapter 3. Chest, Back, and Abdominals
Chapter 4. Buttocks, Hips, Quadriceps, and Hamstrings
Chapter 5. Calves, Shins, and Feet
Chapter 6. Multiregion Stretches

Part II Fitness and Sports Routines
Chapter 7. Fitness Routines
Chapter 8. Sports Routines
Chapter 9. Specialty Stretch Routines

Words of Praise

"Jay Blahnik is a diamond in the fitness industry! InFull-Body Flexibility he has created an indispensable tool for anyone looking to make substantial gains in physical health. Jay’s comprehensive, in-depth, and easy-to-apply strategy combined with muscle group graphics, positioning arrows, and range of motion recommendations result in a refreshing understanding and goal-oriented approach to improved flexibility that many will find revolutionary."

Kari Anderson
American Council on Exercise fitness director for 2003
International fitness personality featured in 25 workout videos

"Jay Blahnik’s extensive knowledge and teaching experience are evident in the concise and accurate descriptions of the goals and techniques of the various stretches. This unique book should improve the performance of recreational and competitive athletes and enhance the comfort of nonathletes while they perform daily activities."

Benjamin D. Rubin, MD
Team physician, co-chairman, Sports Medicine Committee
United States Diving