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3.67 of 5 stars
Here's an innovative and practical approach to eliminating chronic muscle pain, written by a popular occupational therapist with thirty years of ex... read full description

reviews

Aug 07, 2011
LDYFuji rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I had the pleasure of working with Craig while living in Maine. He started me out slowly and let me realize it was okay that I wasn't stretching like I used to... but that I could get there again if I wanted.

Of course, he recommended his book. My first thought was, "great, he just wants to sell more books." Boy was I wrong!!! This book opened up even more than I was getting in person because I could read and re-read as I needed. No more forgetting was it this way... or More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jul 25, 2009
Judy Ross rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Better than a massage. Better than my favorite yoga class. That's how I feel after doing a half hour of Williamson's exercises. His premise is that sometimes muscles become tense over a long period of time. At some point you are no longer aware that you are tensing the muscles, but the tension causes pain in your body. These simple movements relax your body. Even better, they retrain your body and help you develop more effective, comfortable posture.

I read part one and skipped to the More...
Aug 28, 2008
John rated it: 5 of 5 stars
A transformative book!

I learned more about the workings of our muscle system from 10 pages of this book than all my school days combined. An amazingly lucid book about muscle pain and what causes some of us to get stuck in a pattern. Headaches, neck aches, back aches...

The basic premise is this: Muscle pain can be caused by two things.
1. Injury. Know how to treat and heal and injury.
2. Patterning, or reflexive muscular tightness. This can be caused by an acci More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Mar 26, 2009
Brittany rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Yay Shambhala! I found this in a bookstore and realized it was perfect for an injury I had acquired about 2 years ago by landing the wrong way during a dance rehearsal. I've had this side/back/shoulder/neck injury consistently interrupting my life for 2 years now. I'm back in physical therapy and reading this book has opened up a whole new world to me. I'm understanding my body and my 'injury' better. Taking the suggestions and the theories the author makes to heart, I can feel myself impro More...
Mar 26, 2009
Nancy rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I picked this book off a library shelf while looking for some guidance on how to address some recent pain in my lower back. The author presents a thorough explanation of the interconnection between body alignment and muscular pain. He then offers a series of exercises to help relax different muscle groups to relieve pain in various parts of the body. A good starting point for me.
Dec 17, 2009
Rebecca rated it: 4 of 5 stars

This book is well-balanced in practical and theoretical advice regarding how to manage chronic muscle pain, tension, repetitive stress injuries, tendonitis, etc. The basic principle rests on what Williamson calls "kinesthetic awareness," a quality most of us lack. Learning to develop our kinesthesia is the key to pain-free living. Williamson includes "explorations" in each chapter in order to develop this awareness. Part II of the book includes exercises tailored to More...
Oct 13, 2010
Amanda rated it: 3 of 5 stars
The first part of the book was intersting and informative. The true value of the book, and thus the rating will ultimately be determined by how these exercises help me turn my rock-hard shoulders into clay.
Mar 17, 2008
Foxthyme rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Excellent information. Quite similar in theory to Somatics and Feldenkrais and Egoscue all mixed together. Learn to relax the muscles to gain balance. Exercises to help you do so. A far far far better method than pain meds and bedrest.
Dec 19, 2007
Melody rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Helpful exercises but one must actually do them regularly. Which is so unfair. Clearly written and easy to understand and follow.
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Aug 29, 2008
Sherrie rated it: 3 of 5 stars
tough to get thru unless you have a great knowledge of the body. It would be helpful to have pics.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)
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Jan 11, 2012
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Dec 15, 2011
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Nov 08, 2011
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Jul 25, 2011
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Jun 10, 2011
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May 17, 2011
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Mar 25, 2011
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Jul 19, 2011
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Jan 20, 2011
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Dec 06, 2010
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May 18, 2010
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Mar 12, 2010
Paula rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Jan 16, 2010
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Nov 14, 2009
Austin rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Oct 15, 2009
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Jul 11, 2011
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