What is Yoga anyway? Mention the word yoga and most people imagine a lithe young woman leaning so far backwards that she can touch the floor behind her with her fingertips. Thus begins Linda Johnsen's introduction to this engaging and often profound book. Unsurprisingly she goes on to explain that yoga is far far more than the hatha postures seen by the casual observer. Yoga is a way of life and its lessons are seemingly without number. SPIRIT ON THE MOVE is a collection of personal essays first published in Yoga International magazine that express the variety of riches found along the path of yoga. Some essays are light and humorous while others are deeply thoughtful and spiritual. One writer describes how yoga has helped him face his own mortality. Another chronicles her yoga-inspired journey out of 'chocolate addiction'. Still another confesses her past as a yoga snob who saw wealth and authenticity as incompatible. What will you learn from the first hand accounts of this diverse group of contributors? Certainly you'll emerge from this book with a newfound appreciation for what yoga really is. But more to the point you'll gain insights of your own how what you learn in yoga class translates into your daily interactions with others how to move gracefully and skilfully through all that life brings you and how to never forget the real purpose of your journey here on earth.

Since its development over a decade ago, Suspension Training (R) has remained a popular choice for developing strength, stability, core power, flexibility, and balance because it delivers results. Used by the best of the best, from personal trainers to the elite athletes they work with, Suspension Training (R) is a respected and essential component of conditioning programs worldwide. Approved and endorsed by TRX (R), the global leader in functional training products, programming, and education, the Complete Guide to TRX (R)Suspension Training (R), Second Edition, is the authoritative resource on safe, effective, and optimal use of Suspension Training (R) and programming. Written by renowned strength and conditioning expert Dr. Jay Dawes, the book offers 100 exercises, 40 variations, and 24 ready-to-use programs designed to take your workouts to unprecedented levels. The second edition is packed with full-color photos, demonstrating how to perform each exercise, as well as 14 assessments to help determine fitness level and gauge training progress. Complete Guide to TRX (R)Suspension Training (R) also shows you how to incorporate Suspension Training (R) into circuit training and injury prevention programs as well as programs for improving strength and power, speed and agility, balance and stability, and flexibility. If you are tired of repetitive workout routines, sick of waiting for equipment at a crowded gym, or simply looking to enhance your current regimen, look no further than Complete Guide to TRX (R)Suspension Training (R). Note: Fitness Anywhere LLC has granted Human Kinetics Inc. permission to use TRX (R) trademarks in accordance with TRX Trademark Usage Guidelines for the purposes of publishing Complete Guide to TRX (R)Suspension Training (R).

Pranayama, the practice of breath control, is detailed here in an easy-to-understand and even easier-to-practise format. Professional yoga instructor Scott Shaw introduces 16 breathing exercises and shows you how to get the best benefit from each of the forms by training, refining and witnessing your breath. Try one of the calming breaths, Nadi Sudi or the Nerve Purifying Breath. Have a long day ahead with no breaks until after dinner? Allow Ujayi or the Hissing Breath to work its miracles. Here you will learn how to breathe while moving, standing and leaning and how these variations can affect your breathing practice. Use the instruction offered in "The Little Book of Yoga Breathing" to feel more focused and energized.

Nei Gong has been a well-kept secret within the Daoist sects of China for centuries. Based upon the original teachings of the great sage Laozi, it has only ever been taught to close students of the masters chosen as the heads of the ancient orders. This book provides a breakdown of the entire Nei Gong process, and explains in plain English the philosophy which underpins Nei Gong practice, and which is based on the original teachings of the ancient Daoist priests. The methodology of Sung breathing, an advanced meditative practice which has until now been reserved for 'inner-door' students is described, and the book contains an entire set of Qigong exercises accompanied by instructional photographs and drawings. This book will be of interest to all practitioners of Qi Gong, martial arts and meditation, and will be a rewarding read for anyone interested in Eastern philosophy.

A comprehensive guide to yoga, its history, philosophy and how to incorporate the practice into your everyday life. Expert yoga practitioner Lucy Lucas offers fresh insight into the history, philosophy and science of yoga, helping you to truly understand its ancient wisdom. Includes more than 50 step-by-step sequences. CONTENTS Chapter 1: What is Yoga? Including The history of yoga and Yoga philosophy Chapter 2: How Yoga Works Including How we move and why it matters, How yoga impacts upon the brain and A guide to poses Chapter 3: How to Live Your Yoga Including A practice for hip strength and mobility, A gentle flow for boundaries and Letting in more of the good

In the popular "Little Bit of" series: a fresh, accessible introduction to the postures and practice of yoga. Although it is an age-old practice originating in India, yoga is still embraced by many as a means of enhancing physical, mental, and spiritual health. Not only does it calm and strengthen, but yoga can improve flexibility and mental clarity through deep breathing and poses. This accessible introduction presents the history and philosophy of the form, along with basic poses--including Adho Mukha Svanasana/"Downward Facing Dog," Virabhadrasana/"Warrior," and Vrksasana/"Tree"--and advice on incorporating them into a daily exercise program.

There is something terribly wrong with the state of exercise as we know it presently. Sales of treadmills, running shoes, gym memberships, and yoga classes are at an all-time high, but so too are our national levels of obesity and Type II diabetes. Ever since the 1960s the exercising public has been told to stretch for flexibility and to perform low-intensity steady-state aerobic exercise for their cardiovascular systems and some form of resistance training to keep their muscles strong. With regard to diet, they have been told to restrict or omit macronutrients such as fats and carbohydrates and given lots of other advice with regard to calorie-counting. Could it be that this information, however well intended, was mistaken? And is it really necessary to devote so much time to the pursuit?

Fitness researcher and pioneer John Little has spent more than twelve years researching the actual science underpinning our most prevalent beliefs about exercise and has come away from the enterprise convinced that we need an entirely new paradigm, one that would involve reliance on briefer workouts. He presents this revolutionary new approach in The Time-Saver's Workout.

Among the fascinating revelations presented in this book:

• Certain types of exercise can actually make you less healthy and fatter.
• Taking large doses of food supplements might actually shorten your life and put you at greater risk for disease.
• Stretching to become more flexible or to recover quicker from injury has been found to do neither of these things.
• Resistance training, once considered to be the weak sister of exercise, is now looking like the best form of exercise one should engage in.

The new protocols that Little exposes offer a far safer alternative for those looking to become stronger, fitter, and healthier without spending their lives in the gym.

“My experience working with Skyhorse is always a positive collaboration. The editors are first-rate professionals, and my books receive top-shelf treatment. I truly appreciate our working relationship and hope it continues for years to come.”
–David Fischer, author

Simple yet effective, the practices in this book will help you get your energies humming. Beginning with a clear explanation of the fundamental concepts of Chinese medicine, the book presents simple meditations and traditional physical exercises based on this theory. Regularly practicing these exercises will lead you into greater awareness of your body, and gradually restore your health from the inside out. The Five Element Questionnaire will help you know your personal Element type so you can target your exercise program to your own needs.

As seen on the Today Show! Dynamic Aging isn't that same old "senior fitness," "senior stretching," "senior strength" book you've seen again and again. This book is about using simple exercises to feel better and get back to living vitally no matter your age. "Don't blame your age if you're feeling creaky. It could just be the way you're using (or not using) your body." Washington Post on Dynamic Aging as a "Book for the Ages" Movement is a powerful tool and changing how you move can change how you feel, no matter your age. Dynamic Aging is an exercise guide geared to an over-50 audience that includes: 30+ illustrated exercises moves for pain-free feet and strong hips moves for better balance and getting over the fear of falling how to improve sitting, standing, and walking posture go from stiff shoulders to arms that can reach, carry, and lift how to stay fit to drive tips for moving more in daily life! Alongside Bowman's exercise and alignment instructions are stories and advice of four women over seventy-five who began this program over a decade ago. Along the way they found recommended surgeries unnecessary, regained strength and mobility, and ended up moving more than they did when they were 10 years younger. From hiking in the mountains to climbing ladders and walking on cobblestones with ease, each of these women embodies the book's message: No matter where you're starting, if you change how you move, you can change how you feel.

With over 45 years of experience in the ring, on the mat, and in the street, Loren W. Christensen understands the daily challenges martial artists face. In this book he has put together a collection of over 400 tips, drills, principles, concepts, and exercises to give you the edge, no matter what style of martial art you practice. Discover quick and innovative ways to improve your punching, kicking, sparring, and self-defense skills-plus dozens of tips to develop speed, power, and flexibility. If you are feeling stuck or bored in your martial arts routine, Loren's no-nonsense style will get you up and training with a fire you have not felt in years. Highlights include: *10 ways to improve your speed*5 ways to increase your power*10 ways to train for self-defense*10 ways to improve health and fitness*Dozens of tips for improving kicks, blocks, and hand strikes*Guidance on psychological preparation Fighter's Fact Book includes hundreds of training methods drawn from the author's vast experience, research, and interviews with top instructors from around the country. This is an essential reference for every martial arts student and instructor.

Gold Winner - 2011 IP's Living Now Awards Honorable Mention - 2011 Eric Hoffer Award WHAT IS TAI CHI BALL? Tai Chi Ball training used to be common practice in both external and internal martial arts. Unfortunately, due to its secrecy, fewer and fewer people have learned it. Today the art of Tai Chi Ball Qigong is almost forgotten. HOW CAN I USE IT? Fortunately, this book (and the companion DVDs) allows interested students to practice this effective training and incorporate it into their general exercise routine, or martial arts regimen. HOW WILL TAI CHI BALL TRAINING BENEFIT ME? For martial artists, Tai Chi Ball Qigong training can strengthen the torso, condition the muscles, and increase physical power by using the mind to lead the qi. It can be a major training tool to enhance pushing hands ability. For general exercise, Tai Chi Ball Qigong training helps those who might overly focus on 'core body exercises' to strengthen their hips, knees, and ankles. You will learn to move the vertebrae of the spine, increase energy through various breathing techniques, and learn to move many joints properly at different angles.

The term "functional training" has been associated with a fair amount of controversy ever since it became part of the fitness training vernacular more than a decade ago. In Functional Training Anatomy, noted strength and conditioning specialists Kevin Carr and Mary Kate Feit cut through the clutter and misconceptions about functional training and cover all aspects of how to build a purposeful, effective, and efficient program that provides the strength, stability, and mobility you need to support your body in life and in sports. Beginning with a clear definition of what functional training entails, you will learn about the importance of mobility training and its impact on movement quality, performance, and injury reduction. Use the warm-up activities to prepare for high-intensity activities. Use the medicine ball and plyometric exercises to learn to produce and absorb force. Develop power with Olympic lifts, kettlebell swings, and jumping exercises. Improve strength in the upper body, lower body, and core with hip-dominant, knee-dominant, pushing, pulling, and core exercises. See the inner workings of each of the exercises with superb full-color illustrations that show the primary and secondary muscles and connective tissue being used. The detailed instructions for these multiplanar and unilateral exercises ensure you execute each one correctly and safely. The Functional Focus element shows how the exercises translate to specific activities, whether that be an explosive athletic move or simply moving a box. Functional Training Anatomy incorporates traditional and nontraditional exercises and mobility drills that will help you increase functional strength and reduce injury so your body is prepared to support the demands of athletic performance and daily living. CE exam available! For certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. The Functional Training Anatomy Online CE Exam may be purchased separately or as part of the Functional Training Anatomy With CE Exam package that includes both the book and the exam.

Sports Nutritionist Matt Fitzgerald has spent nearly twenty years studying the diets of top professional endurance athletes, who are among the fittest and healthiest people in the world. As a result, he has identified five core habits,most of which are contrary to what popular diets advise,that are essential to maximizing workout benefits. The Endurance Diet shares key strategies for optimal health and performance: eat everything, eat quality, eat carbohydrate, eat enough, and eat individually. Whether you want to lose weight, win a race, or look a little more like an elite athlete, this plan is for you. I am always amazed at how much I learn from Matt Fitzgerald's books."-Shalane Flanagan, Olympic bronze medalist

In "If You Like Exercise... Chances Are You're Doing It Wrong," author Gary Bannister tells us that "the power-to-be have all but destroyed the value of muscle isolation, discredited the use of machines in general, ignored everything related to the work of Arthur Jones and replaced it with a ten-cent solution." He claims that until the field of exercise defines what is true and what is not, it will never have the impact that it could.

Muscle strength, the only factor that can produce human movement and the only factor that performs work, is disappearing from today's training regimens. This study and guide analyzes current concepts and training systems-such as Pilates, "functional" training TRX, cross-training, kettlebells, and more-and compares their benefits to those of proper strength training to provide a clear picture for everyone.

"If You Like Exercise... Chances Are You're Doing It Wrong" rekindles the high intensity strength-training principles of Arthur Jones, the founder of Nautilus. Bannister focuses on the concepts of intensity, form, frequency, duration, number of repetition, speed if movement, and muscle fatigue, supporting them with current research. Logically applied, proper strength training is the only system capable of satisfying all five potential benefits of exercise-an increase in strength, flexibility, cardiovascular condition, body-composition, and injury prevention.

Follow Your Breath is a practical introduction to life-changing breathing techniques, offering a 'breathwork menu' so you can turn to the page according to what you need at any given time and access this incredible life hack. Whether it's calming down, sparking up, preparing for physical activity, settling in for a deep meditation, dealing with a health or sinus issue, focusing for a test, managing insomnia or wanting to get a natural euphoric high, Follow Your Breath has you covered. Breath activates communication pathways between the mind and body to positively affect our emotions, and we can even use the breath as a vehicle to shift our level of consciousness. In Follow Your Breath you are offered a range of easy-to-follow practices with step-by-step instructions, diagrams and post-practice notes so you can start shifting your mental state today. By using this book you'll unlock one of the greatest - and most accessible - life hacks. Your breath will become your personal, pocket-ready superpower that you can pull out anywhere, anytime - no complicated equipment needed.