Essential Stretch: A Better Way to Flow Through Life

I was hoping for more of a standard stretching book as it relates to exercise and less of a basic Yoga instruction. There isn't really any isolation type of stretching in this book; it appears to be mostly Yoga postures on the floor, involving lots of bending and twisting and swooping sorts of things. I'm merely flipped through here since purchasing, but it seems like a beautiful book for what it is- nicely written with good pictures and clear directions. I wouldn't reccomend this to people who weightlift and are looking for a stretching book. Instead try "Full-Body Flexibility" by Jay Blahnik.

I'm surprised there are so few reviews for this book, and none really since it first came out. In my own life I have learned how truly valuable stretching is and how good it makes you feel. The title is very apt....because a consistent stretching program really is essential whether or not you exercise heavily. After you get into a stretching program you will WANT to stretch daily and if you don't you will notice the difference and be driven to do it, believe me! This book has about 62 pages of information, introduction to the purpose and benefits of stretching, and touches on more esoteric benefits of meditation and relaxation gained from it. The rest of the book consists of various stretches...very well illustrated with photographs. Some of the more complex stretch take 2 pages and show step-by-step photos of each position thru the stretch. The printed descriptions are excellent...concise and easy to read. Each stretch tends to occupy one page, with a stretch name, description of what body parts it affects, a description of the benefits of the stretch, concise instructions for performing the stretch, and multiple photos of the positions of the stretch. Also included are some small stretches you can do at a desk, in a car in traffic, on an airplane, and so on. This really is the best stretching book I've yet to come across, and it's very easy to use. I just wish there were a video to go with it!

Wow! Michelle's book is awesome! After trying different forms of yoga and a couple other stretching books, this one really hits the mark. I have been using the routines set out in the back of the book and they are great! Plus, the stretches are described in the routines section as well! No more flipping from page to page. After I do these stretches I feel warmed up and loose, and a relaxing coolnes in my muscles. Good but possibly long beging section on the theory of her system, and phillosophy. Touching none the less. I love the hip opening stretches best. Very relaxed form of stretching. Great book that I would recomend over many others. DANCERS - she uses some theory of Luigi's, if you know who he is, in her stretches. I love that.

Hello,I am a forty year old construction worker in pretty good shape from the physical labor involved with my job. I have never been exceptional in the flexibility dept. but again my job has enough challenges to keep me passibly flexible. For almost one year now I've been engaged in weight training and martial arts. It has been through the martial arts that my true flexibility has come to light. I have tried several well known books and techniques doing both static and ballistic stretching. I had only achieved moderate increases and was considering yoga as my next step. Like a perfect accident, the clerk at the book store put a copy of Essential Stretch in my hand and after reading the back cover and three or four pages of its compostiton I knew I had found the keys to the universe.I could go on and on about Michelle LeMay.Anyone, man, woman, young, not as young, interested in improving the quality of their lives immeasurably, should own and use this book everyday!. I've only had this book for a week and my life is better already. This book is extremely well written and anyone can practice the techniques Michelle teaches.