Relax Into Stretch: Instant Flexibility Through Mastering Muscle Tension

by Pavel Tsatsouline

Book Overview

Conventional stretching attempts to literally elongate your tissues, which is dangerous and ineffective. Relax into Stretch simply teaches your muscles to relax into a stretch. If you compare traditional training to a messy hardware reorganization, then Relax into Stretch is an efficient software upgrade.While stretching tissues may take years, changes in the nervous system are immediate Your muscles will start noticeably elongating from your first...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0938045288
• ISBN13: 9780938045281
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Dragon Door Publications
• Length: 138 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.4" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

When everything else fails....

I almost didn't buy this book because some of the reviews are so negative...but I'm glad I did anyway. A few points: 1. This method absolutely works...I say this after studying karate for 4 years (hundreds of kicks, stretching that included pouring water on the floor and having someone push down on your back, staying in stretched positions for up to an hour, etc..) yoga, stretch machines, standard stretch routines. Through all this, my stretch increased very little. I couldn't even sit on the floor with crossed legs without discomfort. My karate instructor used to say I had the flexibility of a rock. Pavel's method works. Get the book! The concepts are simple, but revolutionary. A few more points: 2. There is enough information and stretching routines in the book to last for years. I don't understand the reviews that say there is not enough info in the book, too many pictures, etc...I appreciated the fact that I could quickly go throught the book and get right into the stretching. 3. There is another reviewer who outlines all of the potentially harmful stretches, based on his assessment as a doctor. However, all of the stretches he talks about are in the advanced stretching section of the book; they are extreme exercises, that Pavel clearly states are not for beginners. 4. Appearances can be deceiving...for example I was experiencing slight lower back pain from one routine and then I went back and read how to do the exercise, and realized I was overstretching, not controlling my breathing and tension as described in the book. In spite of the clear, "simple" format of the book, it is rich in information, that must be read carefully. 5. One last point: this book is for those who need to get to the next level. (I can't believe someone recommended Anderson's "granny" stretch book over this one; give me a break) Whether to reach top levels of fitness, martial arts study, rock climbing, etc...I'm thinking of someone who is into total fitness.) On the other hand, it's also worth reading for the weekend athlete, only because the knowledge can help one prevent injuries and avoid harmful stretching methods. Disclaimer: this is not a cheerleader review for Pavel. I have no connection with him whatsoever, just a very appreciative reader. Get the book!

This is the right path to the full dead split.

This book, like all of Pavel's works, is a great find. Don't let the size of the book fool you; information is packed in more densely than in any "Muscle Media Fitness for Mullets" P.O.S. you'll find everywhere else. This book containes clear, concise explanations of the theories involved, detailed descriptions of the methods used, and illustrations for each stretch. This guide fits in perfect with the rest of Pavel's works; to get the full benefit, you should get "Power to the People" and "Super Joints". Each book compliments the others. Personally, I have gone from barely-able-to-touch-my-toes to rock-bottom-dead-split in 6 months using the techniques described here. That's why I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

Makes Perfect Sense

I always had a sense that there was something wrong with the way stretching was typically taught and understood. When you stretch your muscles, they become tense. This can be observed by anybody, quite easily. Simply continuing to stretch beyond this point - the way most of us learned, is painful. It's no fun at all, and if you do manage to make any progress, it's over the course of months or years. I knew there had to be something better out there.Found it! This is it. You learn to control the tension in the muscle, and the stretch happens naturally. This book tells you why this works, and how. There are 30+ stretches in this book, some for muscles you may not have previously though of stretching. It's not painful, and it's a routine you can look forward to. You no longer have to stretch because somebody told you it was good for you. You won't be stuffing yourself into a suitcase like a contortiounist over night, but you will make significant progress in one session (your first).Now, I doubt Pavel invented this method, and there seem to be other books on the subject, so let me address other aspects of this book. It's a blast just to read it. Pavel has a unique wit, the likes of which I have not seen before. His style allows him to be very straightforward about what he is teaching you. Even the pictures are charming. These aren't those akward pictures that you see in fitness books, where the subject quite obviously does not want to be photographed, and consequently you don't feel quite right looking at them. He seems to be enjoying himself. There's even pictures where he's showing you what NOT to do, and he has a finger pointing at you as if to say "Now there, don't you try this, Comrade!"I typically do not write reviews, but I'm very happy with this book and had to share. Have fun, Comrades.

Key Advice for Improvement (even at advanced levels)

Although on the surface, the exercises may not seem that different from those you could find in other books, the mental imagery (pushing the walls) and fine details of execution (push in lower back) are the big difference. This is the best book, by far, of the author's collection. If you only get one of his books, this is the one (more complete than "Beyond Stretching", which paradoxically is a previous work to this one, not, as the title might suggest, a next step).

Pavel is a genius!

I am a Tai Chi player who recently got your excellent book "Relax into Stretch". I am enjoying your book immensely, and already told several colleages, who will also get it. I have never been very flexible, but I believe that your techniques will enable me to finally be able to touch my toes without bending my legs, and improve my Tai Chi form as well. (Ultimately, the Splits may even be possible!)Thank you for this inspirational book!