Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This DVD is based on Bob Anderson's well-known book by the same name. It provides a solid introduction to basic athletic-type stretch, albeit in a rather dry manner.
The DVD is nicely chaptered; I've listed the chapters (along with the times as given on the menu) and added my own short descriptions below.
Getting Started, 7:09. This is a short educational segment about stretching which begins by showing people engaged in various athletic activities and stretches (somewhat dated-looking). Bob Anderson then comes on screen and reviews his philosophy of stretching. He emphasizes that stretching is NOT exercise and that stretches should feel comfortable at all times; he focuses on "easy" and "developmental" stretches as opposed to "intense" stretches. Bob also introduces his two models, Marlon and Debbie.
Neck and Back Stretches, 12:14. In this first segment, Bob leads Marlon through a series of very gentle stretches for the back, mostly from a reclined position. There are no neck-specific stretches, but Bob reminds you to keep your neck in alignment with your back.
Legs, Groin, Hips, and Feet Stretches, 12:30. Here, Bob leads Debbie through a nice series of standing and sitting stretches for the lower body. Most of the stretches are held for a longer duration (about 15 seconds), and Bob also includes instructions on massaging your feet, although only one foot is demonstrated.
Upper Body Stretches, 10:20. This was my favorite stretch segment. Starting from kneeling and moving to standing, Bob again leads Marlon, this time focusing on stretches for the shoulders, neck, and torso; it ends with a nice upper body twist.
Everyday Stretches (A Daily Routine), 12:29. This final segment is instructed by Bob alone via voiceover. Here, Bob includes stretches from each of the above segments to form a nice full-body routine. However, because there are more stretches included, he also moves more quickly through each stretch; I would have liked to see some longer holds here. In addition, I found the music quite distracting and jarring, as it alternated between loud bells/chimes and no music at all, which I did not feel was very conducive to relaxation.
Soemthing about this DVD didn't really "click" with me; as mentioned above, I found it to be quite dry (Bob barely cracks a smile the entire time) and thus not very relaxing. However, this is a solid athletic stretch DVD that could be very useful to someone who is looking for short stretching routines to incorporate into their fitness regimine and/or daily life.
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The Book is an excellent introduction to stretching that includes who should stretch, how to get started, caring for your back, and much, much more. Each recommended motion is carefully diagrammed to help you stretch the right way everytime. 223 pages in the book.The Video/DVD leads you though easy-to-do stretches for back, groin hips, legs, feet, and upper body. Concludes with a 14 minute daily routine you can use for everyday fitness. 60 minutes.
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