A visual presentation of Tibetan yoga, the hidden treasure at the heart of the Tibetan Tantric Buddhist tradition - Explains the core principles and practices of Tibetan yoga with illustrated instructions - Explores esoteric practices less familiar in the West, including sexual yoga, lucid dream yoga, and yoga enhanced by psychoactive substances - Draws on scientific research and contemplative traditions to explain Tibetan yoga from a historical, anthropological, and biological perspective - Includes full-color reproductions of previously unpublished works of Himalayan art Tibetan yoga is the hidden treasure at the heart of the Tibetan Tantric Buddhist tradition: a spiritual and physical practice that seeks an expanded experience of the human body and its energetic and cognitive potential. In this pioneering and highly illustrated overview, Ian A. Baker introduces the core principles and practices of Tibetan yoga alongside historical illustrations of the movements and beautiful, full-color works of Himalayan art, never before published. Drawing on Tibetan cultural history and scientific research, the author explores Tibetan yogic practices from historical, anthropological, and biological perspectives, providing a rich background to enable the reader to understand this ancient tradition with both the head and the heart. He provides complete, illustrated instructions for meditations, visualizations, and sequences of practices for the breath and body, as well as esoteric practices including sexual yoga, lucid dream yoga, and yoga enhanced by psychoactive plants. He explains how, while Tibetan yoga absorbed aspects of Indian hatha yoga and Taoist energy cultivation, this ancient practice largely begins where physically-oriented yoga and chi-gong end, by directing prana, or vital energy, toward the awakening of latent human abilities and cognitive states. He shows how Tibetan yoga techniques facilitate transcendence of the self and suffering and ultimately lead to Buddhist enlightenment through transformative processes of body, breath, and consciousness. Richly illustrated with contemporary ethnographic photography of Tibetan yoga practitioners and rare works of Himalayan art, including Tibetan thangka paintings, murals from the Dalai Lama's once-secret meditation chamber in Lhasa, and images of yogic practice from historical practice manuals and medical treatises, this groundbreaking book reveals Tibetan yoga's ultimate expression of the interconnectedness of all existence.

The need for qualified high school strength and conditioning professionals has never been greater. Whether following the framework for long-term athletic development or teaching weight training as a lifelong fitness activity, you need to offer both the environment and instructional skills to safely develop strong student-athletes. NSCA's Guide to High School Strength and Conditioning will equip you to deliver the highest-quality program in the high school setting-whether you are a strength and conditioning professional, physical education teacher, sport coach, or administrator. Written by a team of contributors within the world-renowned National Strength and Conditioning Association, NSCA's Guide to High School Strength and Conditioning summarizes the primary duties and responsibilities of the various positions and roles that contribute to developing a safe and effective program. It provides insights into the benefits of offering a strength and conditioning program at the high school level and offers advice for the implementation of such a program. Examples are also provided for strength-and-conditioning-related PE curriculums to demonstrate how those types of programs can work and how they connect to the SHAPE America national standards and grade-level outcomes. The text is loaded with information that can be practically applied to any high school program. You will learn the variables to consider when designing a resistance or cardiovascular training program and 13 detailed protocols for conducting assessments so you can objectively evaluate movement and performance. Detailed exercise descriptions include beginning position, movement phases, breathing guidelines, modifications and variations, and coaching tips. The descriptions, along with accompanying photos, teach proper technique for 28 common resistance training exercises, 10 bodyweight exercises, 12 anatomical core exercises, 11 static and dynamic stretching exercises, 12 plyometric exercises, 10 speed and agility drills, and 5 cardio machines. Sample warm-up sequences and exercise sessions for resistance, plyometric, speed and agility, cardiovascular, and circuit training are also provided-all of which follow the programming guidelines and recommendations for high school student-athletes. NSCA's Guide to High School Strength and Conditioning includes the evidence-driven information that will help any high school strength and conditioning professional-including both coaches and teachers-to become the best practitioner possible. This valuable resource is one that you will turn to for many years to come as you build a solid strength and conditioning community for your student-athletes. Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education course and exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately, or as part of a package that includes all the course materials and exam.

"A strong, stable core is the foundation of virtually all physical efforts."

Pilates and yoga practitioners as well as dedicated athletes are familiar with the concept of "core stability." They understand its importance in achieving and maintaining superior fitness. A strong and stable core improves athletic performance, increases power and endurance, reduces stress on the body and minimizes the chances of injury. It helps to improve balance and posture, alleviates back pain and minimizes fatigue. Even everyday actions are easier, whether climbing stairs or lifting a box or holding a baby.

The muscles most responsible for core stability run the length of the trunk and torso. They include the famous "six pack" abdominal muscles, the muscles that underlie the spinal column and neck and which help to rotate the back, the oblique muscles, and the muscles of the hips and thighs. Exercises designed specifically to address these muscles are the only way to build a stable core.

"Anatomy of Core Stability" features such exercises. They are designed to work the entire core musculature, from the major muscles in the abdomen, spine, lower back, torso, hips and thighs, which endure the greater effort, to the smaller assisting muscles, which support the larger. Many exercises use inexpensive equipment such as a stability ball, medicine ball, free weights and wobble board.

"American Reference Books Annual" praised this series' first book, "Anatomy of Exercise," as "fascinating" and recommended it to "medium-sized and large public libraries as well as high school and undergraduate collections." This latest addition to the series will prove equally commendable and is an important purchase.

The "Anatomy of..." series has revolutionized how people can approach their fitness needs. The books are ideal references for beginning exercisers and amateur athletes, elite competitors, trainers, physiotherapists, coaches, sport injury clinics, yoga, pilates and fitness instructors, team doctors and specialist professionals.

If muscle growth seems nonexistent, but you don't have time to spend more hours in the gym each day, don't give up. There is a better way. Featuring a revolutionary approach to male physique transformation, Elite Physique: The New Science of Building a Better Body offers a fresh approach to body sculpting. Based on scientifically proven strategies for making workouts more effective, Elite Physique features over 100 exercises and 50 exercise videos for men seeking training programs designed to build muscle, burn fat, or target those problem areas that are slower to respond to training. Written by Dr. Chad Waterbury, a physical therapist who understands how bodies change with age, Elite Physique shows you how to make radical physical changes by manipulating sets, reps, and frequency and by deciding when and how to use advanced training methods. You'll start by performing an honest physical assessment to establish a starting point and more accurately gauge your progress. As you move into exercises for the lower body and upper body, you'll find tips on altering exercises to alleviate stress on primary joints like the shoulders, elbows, wrists, lower back, hips, and knees. Video clips offer demonstrations of many of the exercises, highlighting proper technique and common mistakes. You'll learn the finer points of sculpting the midsection and will be able to create programs to target a lagging body part, either as an add-on to full-body training or as a stand-alone high-frequency training plan. Waterbury also includes advice on how to make staple lifts such as squats, deadlifts, and presses more joint friendly for older, more physically battered lifters. He breaks down how training must change as you age-with a program for a 20-year-old looking different than one for a 50-year-old-to safely pursue your goal of a lean, muscular physique. Designed for men looking for the most effective approach to ignite their physique transformation, Elite Physique is a go-to resource. CE exam available! For certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. The Elite Physique Online CE Exam may be purchased separately or as part of the Elite Physique With CE Exam package that includes both the book and the exam. Note: A code for accessing the online video is included with this ebook.