FINALIST - Sports, 2016 Best Books Award This 3rd edition includes a new and easy-to-follow layout. Each technique is presented in four to six large photographs with detailed instructions on how to perform the movements. Motion arrows are used on the photographs to help you execute the movements correctly. DISCOVER THE MARTIAL ESSENCE OF TAICHI CHUAN Here's your chance to take the next step in your tai chi journey Martial applications found within tai chi chuan are a direct link to your tai chi as a form of self-defense. When you study the martial side of tai chi, you can become proficient in a variety of high-level skills, including sensing, neutralizing, yielding, striking, chin na, and even throwing. If you know a tai chi form, you are going to discover the essence of your movements by becoming aware of their martial applications. If you are practicing tai chi pushing hands, you will greatly improve your skills with this understanding of martial applications. If you are ready, you are going to love the amazing tai chi fighting set. This fully choreographed set (requires a partner) will combine all your tai chi skills into one 5-minute routine. This book includes *Martial applications for the Yang-style long form*Martial applications for Yang-style tai chi pushing hands*The complete Yang-style tai chi fighting set For any style of tai chi chuan, this book will be important for practitioners who wish to develop a deeper understanding and advanced skills. *Learn how to analyze the forms and defense applications in your tai chi, gaining higher-level knowledge of your style.*Discover the martial applications of Yang-style. These insights will give you greater understanding of your own art.*Find inspiration. Dr. Yang's writing will inspire you to investigate the martial applications of your tai chi style.

Developed for Navy SEAL trainees to help them meet the rigorous demands of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community, this comprehensive, illustrated guide covers all the basics of physical well being as well as advice for the specific challenges encountered in extreme conditions and mission-related activities. The special operations experts in the Navy SEALs rely on their physical ability to overcome obstacles and avoid injury or even death. So their training methods are proven and thorough. This full-illustrated book covers: Calculating energy expenditure Definitions, functions, and daily allowances of carbohydrates, fats, and protein Nutritional considerations for endurance and strength training activities Active recovery from injury Cardio-respiratory conditioning Appropriate gear for running and swimming for fitness Exercising in extreme and adverse weather And more. Compiled by physicians and physiologists chosen for their knowledge of the NSW and SEAL community, this manual is a unique resource for anyone wanting to improve his or her health, strength, and endurance.

Qigong is an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine that involves coordinating breathing patterns with physical postures to maintain health and well-being. Liu Zi Jue: Six Sounds Approach to Qigong Breathing Exercises is an accessible, fully-illustrated guide to this particular qigong exercise, which focuses on breath control. Liu Zi Jue regulates and controls the rise and fall of Qi (vital energy) through the inhalation and exhalation of six sounds. The exercises feature slow, gentle movements that are safe and easy to learn and are suitable for people of all ages and in all conditions of health. The routine strengthens the liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys, thus helping to balance the energy and functions of the internal organs, and has also been shown to have a calming effect and to alleviate stress. Each routine is described step-by-step, and is illustrated with photographs and key points. The authors also point out common mistakes and offer advice on how to correct these. Complemented by an appendix of acupuncture points and accompanied by a digital download, this book will be of interest to Qigong and Tai Chi practitioners at all levels, students of martial arts and anyone interested in Chinese culture.

Leading yoga teacher trainer Melanie Cooper brings you the essential guide to teaching yoga and adjusting asana (yoga poses). The first part of the book explores the fundamentals of teaching in a simple, clear, accessible way. The author covers how to teach crucial concepts such as breath, muscle lock and gaze, as well as more general topics including injuries, ethics and the spiritual aspects of yoga. Part 1 also includes a quick-look guide to counting the Primary Series, and teaching points for each Primary Series posture. In the second part of the book the author demonstrates helpful techniques for deepening common yoga postures, and provides a complete guide to hands-on adjustment for the Ashtanga Primary Series. With a wealth of information, clear writing, and fresh, detailed photography, this is an invaluable resource for qualified yoga teachers, student teachers, and yoga students who want to take their practice to the next level.

Step up to the barre and strengthen your core with 100 at-home barre exercises! Infused with elements of ballet, barre classes were introduced by Lotte Berk in the 1970s as a new way to combine dance with traditional exercise. Just about any barre class will involve a lot of reps of small, pulsing movements (lifting and lowering limbs a mere inch or two) at the barre, with a heavy focus on the legs, glutes, and core and emphasis on form and alignment. Barre Fitness provides 100 at-home barre exercises from the fundamentals to more complex moves with a focus on building strength and improving technique--no barre required! Trained at the ground floor of the prestigious Lotte Berk Method NYC (where barre fitness originated), Fred Devito and Elisabeth Halfpapp bring first-generation teaching and training experience and the acclaim of the Core Fusion(R) brand to this guide to at-home exercise, geared toward your fitness goals. This book breaks down the set ups, progressions, and sequences for all of the classic barre exercises to empower you to perform them at home with clear photographs and easy-to-follow descriptions and program routines. Each exercise explains the benefits and how they can be combined for different results. Learn how to integrate these barre exercises into your daily workout routine, while mindfully incorporating healthy eating and stress reduction habits, for living a healthier lifestyle regardless of your age or fitness level. Whether you want to tone and shape your muscles (without gaining muscle mass), build your core strength, lose weight, increase flexibility, combat aging, rehab from injury, or supplement your current fitness routine (or any combination of these), Barre Fitness offers the solutions you're looking for.

Yoga was created as a science for liberation, but in modern times it is used by many to improve physical and mental health, helping us become more productive at work, more caring in relationships, more responsible contributors to society, and better inhabitants of this planet. If yoga does accomplish all that--as many practitioners report--how exactly does yoga do it? How does yoga work? Believe it or not, the answers lie in how the human body and mind function. Eddie Stern's One Simple Thing: A New Look at the Science of Yoga and How It Can Transform Your Life explains from both a yogic and a scientific perspective how the human nervous system is wired. It describes the mechanics taking place beneath the surface of our bodies and shows how we can consciously use yogic practices to direct and change our lives in positive ways. Drawing on modern neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and decades of practice and teaching, Eddie Stern reveals how what we do--from diet to chanting, from postures to meditation, from ethical practices to breathing techniques--affects who we become, and how a steady routine of activities and attitudes can transform our bodies, our brain functions, our emotions, and our experience of life.

Yogini's Dilemma provides a roadmap for aspiring yoga teachers to help them answer the question: "Do I want to be a yoga teacher?" In Yogini's Dilemma, certified yoga therapist and founder of the Yoga Mandala School, Nicole Grant, lays out the classical eight-faceted path and wisdom of yoga so that aspiring yoga teachers can better decide whether teaching yoga is for them. By mapping the relationship between body, mind, spirit, and culture, they will discover the tools needed to take the next steps with confidence and curiosity. Nicole draws from over two decades of dedicated yoga practice in the lineage of Sri T. Krishnamacharya to teach aspiring yoga teachers how to: Truly embody their practice Turn motivation and inspiration into action Navigate the yogic path and decide whether teaching is for them Identify and address the physical, mental-emotional, and spiritual barriers that get in the way of knowing what comes next for them with yoga Implement yoga practice in everyday life no matter their decision

Hit the ground running with this easy, total-body training guide.

Whether you're a weekend runner looking to get in better shape or a road warrior aiming to tackle your first marathon, Easy Running Plans has something for you.

Throughout this book, you'll learn the most effective stretching routines, strength workouts, and technique drills for runners--culminating in seven, easy-to-follow running plans. Whatever your goal may be, these plans will help you get there. And with the total-body approach, you'll not only get the most out of your runs but acquire the skills necessary to keep injuries at bay.

Easy Running Plans contains the following:

• Lace up--Choose the training schedule that best suits your needs, whether you're looking to make steady gains or have your sights set on a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or marathon.
• Study up--Learn the fundamentals of proper running form, stride, injury-prevention, and recovery.
• Speed up--Improve your speed, strength, and endurance with detailed illustrations depicting over 40 stretches, exercises, and drills--all of which can be performed at home, with little-to-no equipment.

With candid, witty, and compelling experiences of yoga from renowned memoirists, including Cheryl Strayed (author of the number-one "New York Times" bestseller "Wild"), Claire Dederer (author of national bestseller "Poser: My Life in 23 Yoga Poses"), Dinty W. Moore (author of "The Accidental Buddhist"), Neal Pollack (author of "Stretch: The Making of a Yoga Dude") and many others, "Going Om" shares a range of observations about this popular practice. Unlike books on yoga that provide instruction on technique, "Going Om" is a unique collection of personal narratives from celebrated authors. This anthology of original material values the quality of writing over the authors' flexibility. Ira Sukrungruang shares his heartbreaking struggle as a 375 pound yoga student discovering self-worth on his mat; Gloria Munoz explores the practice of stillness with lyrical elegance in the midst of her busy mind; Neal Pollack's signature sarcasm leads to surprising turns at yoga class with his dad; Elizabeth Kadetsky uses yogic wisdom while coping with her mother's devastating Alzheimer's.

Next Level eating means prioritising eating in your daily routine. It means understanding the power food has to nourish, heal, support and energise your body. Daniel Davey is a performance nutritionist who has helped Ireland's most successful athletes to raise their game, and here he draws on everything he has learned to deliver the science of how food can help us perform at our best physically and mentally every day. The recipes in this cookbook are simple, delicious, nutrition-packed and uniquely designed to help you unlock the key to an enhanced life. They can be used to support specific training goals, to help you recover from injury or if you are in need of an immune system boost. Daniel also shares the secrets of how he has helped his top clients develop the right mindset to make consistently good food and lifestyle choices - and reap the rewards. This is a transformative cookbook that will change your relationship with food and arm you with the knowledge to bring your health and performance to the next level.

Over the last 20 years the professionalization of both codes of rugby (league and union) has led to increasing demands on players. The Science of Sport: Rugby provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the science behind preparing for performance in rugby. Using key scientific research and practical applications, the book offers an insight into how science can inform practice to improve player performance. The authors contributing to this book are world leading in their respective fields, ranging from academics researching rugby performance to practitioners delivering this information within the professional game. This new book covers: movement and physiological demands; fitness testing; fatigue and recovery; nutrition; strength and conditioning; injury rehabilitation; decision-making; skill assessments; young rugby players; talent identification and development; referees and finally, coaching planning and practice. This book bridges the gap between theory and practical application.

Astanga Yoga is a dynamic and energetic form of yoga that uses the breath to flow from one posture to the next. The postures, or asanas, are linked by vinyasa sequences, creating a heat that cleanses the body, while the mind stays clear and calm. The book begins with the history and philosophy behind Astanga yoga, explaining the important principles that any practitioner needs to know. The standing, seated and finishing asanas appear in the order that they are practised, and postures are shown in detail with clear instruction, and moderations to tailor the practice to all levels. The full sequence of the Primary Series is also shown all together, for easy reference. Finally, there is a section on abridged sequences, showing shorter, timed routines for everyday use. Authoritative teaching and beautiful photography make this the perfect introduction to Astanga Yoga.

Anatomy of Exercise is revolutionary for its insights into how different muscles of the body actually work during exercise. The book is organized by body area and shows common sequences in the progression of a typical workout. Lifelike anatomical illustrations demonstrate each exercise and reveal in colorful detail exactly which muscles are engaged, which are being conditioned and how those muscles respond.

The following features help the reader gain the greatest benefit from each exercise and thereby improve fitness and well-being:

Detailed, full-color anatomical illustrations for all the exercises Annotations identifying the active and stabilizing muscles Concise how-to instructions for each exercise Identification of the specific muscles that benefit the most from each exercise Suggested modifications for different levels of difficulty Instructions on stabilizing the body throughout each movement A visual index of exercises that allows easy navigation through the book A glossary of anatomical terms.

No other book provides such rich detail tailored to the general reader. Beginners, those already committed to exercise, competing athletes, trainers, coaches, physiotherapists, massage therapists and the many others involved in fitness will find Anatomy of Exercise fascinating, instructive and practical.

Are you age 40 or over and want to maintain your workout intensity even as your body starts to age? Are you not yet ready to give up intense sweat sessions? Ageless Intensity offers a research-backed perspective on how high-intensity exercise can not only maximize health benefits past age 40 but also help minimize the physiological effects of aging. Fitness expert Pete McCall provides straightforward science-based information on how the same high-intensity exercise that provides a number of health benefits-from increased lean muscle mass to burning fat to reduced heart rate-can also influence human physiology in a way that can reduce the biological effects of time. Learn about the impacts of aging on the body and how to keep getting results from working out hard and pushing yourself to your limits while doing it safely, lowering the risk of injury, and building in the needed recovery for a body that may be starting to show signs of aging. You'll gain practical knowledge on the importance of strength and power, mobility work, and recovery as the keys to boosting your efforts to build and maintain muscle, burn calories, and help joints stay mobile as the body ages. The exercises included are designed to be challenging and deliver tangible benefits to middle-aged and older adults. Save time with the predesigned workouts or customize a complete workout plan to maximize your results and combat the effects of aging. Reaching the "over-the-hill" milestone doesn't mean you have to slow down. Ageless Intensity is your guide to maintaining fitness with high-intensity exercise and workouts to remain active, stay in shape, and enjoy your favorite activities for the rest of your life. CE exam available! For certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. The Ageless Intensity Online CE Exam may be purchased separately or as part of the Ageless Intensity With CE Exam package that includes both the book and the exam.

As water can purify your skin, so breath is capable of cleaning your whole being. That is the philosophy behind this simple yet inspiring volume on the essence of breath technique in yoga practice. "Breath" shows readers that as you reconnect with the breath through effortless observation and increased awareness, the doors within our souls can be opened leading to feelings of renewed energy, greater calmness, and clarity of mind. Whether you are a complete beginner or already practice, these subtle, gentle, and inspiring suggestions will guide you to a deeper, more natural appreciation of the essence of yoga.