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The Power of Stretching: Simple Practices to Promote Wellbeing
With the aid of beautiful illustrations and easy-to-access organization, teacher and licensed massage therapist Bob Doto teaches you how and what to stretch to reclaim your power and well-being—including 60 specific stretches spanning from your head to your toes.
Stretching is accessible to anyone, is quick and easy, can be done in most environments, and has proven to relieve pain, increase rates of recovery, as well as help manage stress and anxiety. With The Power of Stretching , quickly gain an understanding of this powerful tool. First, you'll Then find out how to stretch every part of your body using 60 different stretches , with a color-coded map of the regions of the body to use as a reference. Each stretch discussed includes an image, bulleted instructions, and helpful notes and tips.
Another section helps you pinpoint the stretches that are right for you based on common occupational and sports activity profiles , along with common injury profiles . Each entry provides information on how the activity or injury relates to the body, interesting facts and statistics, as well as references to the appropriate stretches for rehabilitation.
Feel better faster with this elegantly designed guide to stretching.
Stretching is accessible to anyone, is quick and easy, can be done in most environments, and has proven to relieve pain, increase rates of recovery, as well as help manage stress and anxiety. With The Power of Stretching , quickly gain an understanding of this powerful tool. First, you'll Then find out how to stretch every part of your body using 60 different stretches , with a color-coded map of the regions of the body to use as a reference. Each stretch discussed includes an image, bulleted instructions, and helpful notes and tips.
Another section helps you pinpoint the stretches that are right for you based on common occupational and sports activity profiles , along with common injury profiles . Each entry provides information on how the activity or injury relates to the body, interesting facts and statistics, as well as references to the appropriate stretches for rehabilitation.
Feel better faster with this elegantly designed guide to stretching.
- GenresFitness
128 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2020
13 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 30, 2020
The Power of Stretching by complementary medicine enthusiast, yoga guru and wellness advocate Bob Doto is about as self-explanatory and eponymous as a book can be, and most of us are fully aware of the importance of looking after our muscles. The book starts off with a necessary and solid foundation by setting out simultaneously concise and in-depth/comprehensive information on why we stretch and why it feels as good as it often does, the basic anatomy of stretching, the proven benefits of stretching, general guidelines for performing stretches and a plethora of hints and tips to enable you to perform a stretch to its full potential.
What I particularly liked about this book is that it doesn't cater to merely a certain audience or demographic as everyone can participate in these stretching exercises regardless of age, fitness level or disability. There are many days due to diagnosed illnesses I can be almost completely immobile but I am still able to feel I am at least making some daily movement due to this book and others like it.
It features over 60 different stretches that cover from the head right down to the toes, are explained in easy step-by-step instructions accompanied by gorgeous complementary images and layman's terms are generally used throughout the entirety of the text with any necessary explanation’s being done in straightforward to comprehend definitions. It’s very easy to understate the benefits a book such as this can have, but I know that I have beyond a shadow of a doubt seen changes in my body during my time using these exercises. They are quick, effective and, best of all, free; you need to spend a big fat zero in order to partake in these wondrous treatments.
Overall, this is an accessible, user-friendly and informative guide to stretching, and despite not usually being the biggest fan of the colour pink I loved the structure and layout of everything so much that I have purchased a copy for myself refer to. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Fair Winds Press for an ARC.
What I particularly liked about this book is that it doesn't cater to merely a certain audience or demographic as everyone can participate in these stretching exercises regardless of age, fitness level or disability. There are many days due to diagnosed illnesses I can be almost completely immobile but I am still able to feel I am at least making some daily movement due to this book and others like it.
It features over 60 different stretches that cover from the head right down to the toes, are explained in easy step-by-step instructions accompanied by gorgeous complementary images and layman's terms are generally used throughout the entirety of the text with any necessary explanation’s being done in straightforward to comprehend definitions. It’s very easy to understate the benefits a book such as this can have, but I know that I have beyond a shadow of a doubt seen changes in my body during my time using these exercises. They are quick, effective and, best of all, free; you need to spend a big fat zero in order to partake in these wondrous treatments.
Overall, this is an accessible, user-friendly and informative guide to stretching, and despite not usually being the biggest fan of the colour pink I loved the structure and layout of everything so much that I have purchased a copy for myself refer to. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Fair Winds Press for an ARC.
November 21, 2019
This is a good, easy-to-use book that walks you through simple stretches for all parts of the body. Illustrations and steps are provided for all kinds of stretches grouped by area of the body, and then specific stretches are recommended for a wide variety of needs (dealing with headaches, relieving aches from many different kinds of sports and exercise, relieving stress, etc.). Very easy to use. Especially recommended for those who are looking for specific types of stretches for injuries and issues.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
November 14, 2019
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This book is full of useful and easy to follow information on stretching and how to stretch for certain aches and pains. I found this very helpful as I suffer from Sciatica and have stretches to do already but I found some different ones from this book to do too. The book also suggests which stretches are good for thongs such as if you have a job where you sit down alot of your day, or drive alot of your day, and for sports such as skiing and surfing.
I found it a very helpful book that i will be referring to again and again.
This book is full of useful and easy to follow information on stretching and how to stretch for certain aches and pains. I found this very helpful as I suffer from Sciatica and have stretches to do already but I found some different ones from this book to do too. The book also suggests which stretches are good for thongs such as if you have a job where you sit down alot of your day, or drive alot of your day, and for sports such as skiing and surfing.
I found it a very helpful book that i will be referring to again and again.
October 16, 2025
good resource. Bad reading:) It'll be a good book to have in the bookcase for when I need it!
January 16, 2023
This is the third of fourth wellness book I’ve picked up from Five Below. When I was a student physical therapist, I used books like these to help familiarize myself with common therapeutic exercises/activities because it’s a subject area that schools typically assume you’ll gain knowledge in during clinicals.
This book was just as helpful as others I’ve read!
It’s a good resource for anyone just curious about the body and how to use movement to our advantage.
From a physical therapist point of view, the pictures and stretch descriptions are patient friendly and easy to understand. I could see it being a useful tool if a patient is a more visual learner or prefers to read a description prior to attempting an exercise.
I think a person with little to no pain wanting to incorporate more movement into their day could easily benefit from this text with little guidance. If someone has more complex or involved pain, some professional therapeutic guidance might be a bit more warranted early on. But, as always, it is important to check with a provider for safety.
This book was just as helpful as others I’ve read!
It’s a good resource for anyone just curious about the body and how to use movement to our advantage.
From a physical therapist point of view, the pictures and stretch descriptions are patient friendly and easy to understand. I could see it being a useful tool if a patient is a more visual learner or prefers to read a description prior to attempting an exercise.
I think a person with little to no pain wanting to incorporate more movement into their day could easily benefit from this text with little guidance. If someone has more complex or involved pain, some professional therapeutic guidance might be a bit more warranted early on. But, as always, it is important to check with a provider for safety.
November 14, 2019
I was curious about this book since I’ve recently acquired a standing desk station at work and am looking to incorporate more stretches. As Bob states, ‘this is a book for everyone currently existing in a body’. I really liked the layout, design, and soft-color scheme; overall an inviting and calming book. I thought it was a great ‘basic’ book – just enough information to be able to retain, and simplified drawings that make an impression. It’s also a great reminder to stretch everyday for health and well-being. I’ve also never consciously thought about stretching my eyes, and ears. While I enjoy being active in running and lifting weights, after breaking my foot (on black ice of all things), I’ve been incredibly slow to pick up my normal pace, even after a couple of years. This book has encouraged me to start thinking about getting back into fitness with the appropriate stretching techniques.
November 18, 2019
The Power of Stretching by Bob Doto is a simple, easy to follow guide for stretching. It starts simply with eyes and ears and rounds out with triceps to hamstrings. It is a quick guide that one can get through in no time at all and after an introduction on the how's and whys of stretching, it goes through muscle group to muscle group with diagrams. I was able to flip through the pages while following along with the stretches. I particularly enjoyed the closing chapters on activity stretches: i.e. stretching for particular sport activities such as skiing or hiking. He also includes stretching for some of todays activities that we would not think of such as texting. My thumbs appreciated that! All in all, this is similar to a poster one would hang to follow along with but in book format. I found it useful and give many thanks to Fair Winds Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2019
A beautiful book with very good illustrations and explanations, this is for those who like the stretches in Yoga, but not the rest of the system.
While other books start with the biggest and most visual stretches, this one goes from the top and down, and while this is logical in itself, it's also very practical in our life today. We tend to use our heads more than our legs.
The last chapter is organized by practical needs, and it's very clever, as you can find what you need very fast.
A book to keep close all the time.
While other books start with the biggest and most visual stretches, this one goes from the top and down, and while this is logical in itself, it's also very practical in our life today. We tend to use our heads more than our legs.
The last chapter is organized by practical needs, and it's very clever, as you can find what you need very fast.
A book to keep close all the time.
February 17, 2020
This book offers a good overview of 60 stretching exercises for the entire body, organized by target area and including tips on how to increase the stretches, safety tips, etc. Each stretch is illustrated, and I liked that the book had drawings rather than photos, as it makes it easier to see what muscles are being targeted. There are also sections with suggested stretches for various work and sports related activities, and stretches to help deal with aches and pains. A good resource for anyone!
#ThePowerofStretching #NetGalley
#ThePowerofStretching #NetGalley
October 16, 2022
This is the fitness book I've been looking for! It's a comprehensive book of most of the stretches I'll ever want to learn. It combines the stretches you would learn in gym class with yoga poses, also with simple little ones focusing on just your hands or just your feet. A one-stop shop.
I like the part at the end that gives you recommendations for stretches to do for specific things, like standing all day and walking, and that target specific painful areas of the body. Super useful for my job. Only 5 bucks at 5 below!
I like the part at the end that gives you recommendations for stretches to do for specific things, like standing all day and walking, and that target specific painful areas of the body. Super useful for my job. Only 5 bucks at 5 below!
February 21, 2023
This book has some great information about stretching with helpful illustrations and tips for when to do the stretch based on pain or activities you do. It did get repetitive and could have been organized better.
March 21, 2020
Absolutely loved reading this helpful book on stretching. Easy to use! Highly recommended.
November 7, 2020
Others have commented on content... so my review is more practical - borrowed Bob’s book from the library... liked it so much, I bought a copy!
August 4, 2024
Great visuals and listed steps to complete stretches effectively.
Love to pull it out before bed and be mindful of where I’m holding tension.
Love to pull it out before bed and be mindful of where I’m holding tension.
May 4, 2022
Probably good for the average person
I'm a physical therapist assistant so this was a little to simplified for me however it will probably help someone out there who doesn't know a while lot about stretches. It's not a terrible book.
I'm a physical therapist assistant so this was a little to simplified for me however it will probably help someone out there who doesn't know a while lot about stretches. It's not a terrible book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews