The Essential Guide to Stretching

Chrissie Gallagher-Mundy's stretching program will help you

¸ keep your muscles and joints mobile and flexible, reducing the risk of injury during exercise;
¸ improve your posture and physical alignment, easing back pain and avoiding stiffness;
¸ relax and unwind, relieving muscle tension and soothing aching joints.

You'll find

¸ charts to help you determine your level of flexibility;
¸ programs to follow, such as the "Morning Wake-Up Routine";
¸ exercises for each body part;
¸ warm-ups and cool-downs for different sports, from swimming to skiing, golf to gymnastics;
¸ routines for stretching with a partner;
¸ the latest techniques, from PFN stretching, which uses muscle contractions to "trick" your body into deeper stretches, to ballistic stretching, which prepares the body for more active exercises.