Master the Art of Running With the Alexander Technique by Balk and Shields
The past doesnt matter; its the next step that counts.
Millions of regular runners, as well as those new to the sport, find that physical and mental barriers can stop their progress short of full potential. Instead of pleasure and fulfilment, running all too often leads to frustration and injury.
A new book with an entirely different perspective on running now promises to break down these barriers.
The Art of Running is based on the proven principles of the Alexander Technique; encouraging good use of the body and greater awareness of the way it functions. At first sight, running and Alexander Technique seem unlikely companions: one is a competitive activity (challenging ones peers or the clock), the other a discipline that values form and process above end gaining. Yet, as the book clearly shows, Alexander Technique has the ability to transform running into a creative act which can be enjoyed rather than just endured.
The Art of Running includes a variety of personal histories and over 40 carefully selected photographs, ensuring that this is both a practical and an inspirational guide. Visit www.artofrunning.com for further information.
Malcolm Balk, a qualified Alexander teacher and level 4 running coach, and Andrew Shields, Sports and Fitness editor of Time Out, have combined to show how to achieve and maintain fitness without injury. By following their advice the reader can overcome self-imposed limitations to enjoyable and successful running.
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Master the Art of Working Out - With the Alexander Technique by Balk and Shields
Are you a gym slave? Do you pound the treadmill relentlessly and believe that reducing your speed, even a fraction, is a catastrophic failure? Do you try to lift heavier and heavier weights despite the messages of pain resonating from your body? Or do you simply drift through your workout focused only on the TV screens that adorn the gym wall or the sounds coming from your ipod?
Then you are not alone. This is the routine for most people at thousands of gyms across the world every day – yet it’s a desperately unimaginative and ineffective way to exercise.
Master the Art of Working Out offers a radically new approach to fitness training. Using the principles of the Alexander Technique, which places the fundamentals of coordination, balance and posture above everything else, the authors teach us how to make exercise more thoughtful and more stimulating by looking at working out
as an art rather than just a means to an end.
All aspects of gym-based exercise are covered – resistance training, using machines and free weights, fitness classes, flexibility, cardiovascular and core training – with the emphasis at all times on total awareness of the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of what you are doing, so you can better understand your body and, in turn, work out with greater ease, efficiency and grace.
The book is crammed with illustrations and tips on how to enhance your skills – whether you are a dedicated gym-goer or a first-time exerciser. A variety of inspiring case studies from other converts to the Alexander Technique prove that mastering this approach to working out really is the key to getting the most out of your gym sessions.
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