The Genius of Flexibility: The Smart Way to Stretch and Strengthen Your Body

by Bob Cooley and Robert Donald Cooley

Book Overview

Utilizing a revolutionary technique that has been user-tested by thousands of people from Olympic athletes to people suffering from serious injury, The Genius of Flexibility presents a 16-step stretching regimen for unique muscle groups that dramatically improves flexibility and strength while improving physiological and psychological health.16 Steps to Complete Freedom of Movement The Technique: RESISTANCE STRETCHING(R) offers immediate, cumulative,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743270878
• ISBN13: 9780743270878
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

The Genius of Flexibility

Last summer i spent a week with Bob Cooley at his workshop. There i bought his book. Best thing i have done for my Body. I am a Massage therapist and now use the stretches from his book on my clients. It is amazing what happens to people who feel well and can move as they moved in their 20's yet they are 60 years old. The book is easy to read and easy to follow. Every therapist needs this as their Handbook. Bob Cooley's "Genius of Flexibility is the ultimate guide to stretching. Thanks Bob my life has not been the same. People think of me as a Genius. I highly recommend this book and will buy his next one. Karin Vastola

Become flexible now once and for all!

I have been in the fitness industry for 20 yrs as a fitness instructor/Personal Trainer/Sports Nutrition. This system was the answer I was looking for, I teach almost evey formats you might know in a Group Fitness Class setting. Sometimes teaching several classes a day. I Needed more out of my stretching routines to keep my pace, I turn to yoga for a flexibility benefit, only to found out it was painfull to get in some of the poses it didn't feel right i was not able to fully enjoy the experiene.SO I went looking for a new answer, that is when I found Bob's book,I was ready to give something new a try after reading and reviewing the book I started to practice some of the stretches that were familiar to me from yoga, I was amazed! I could not belief what happened to my flexibility, it took one try to accomplish years of yoga practice. I now enjoy my yoga practice even more, i can get in the poses the right way, I can actually feel as my muscles are stretching and is not painfull anymore. My fitness level improved 100% Inches came off my thighs just from Stretching, My Nutrition also took a turn, i was no longer craving sugar. Bob's System has freed my body in all ways, I am able to keep with my body demands and I enjoy my job more than ever. I wanted to help my clients and my students to become more flexible I became an intern, After introducing this method to my clients and classes, we are hooked! There is no other way to get flexible now! we will never go back to stretching any other way, if you are ready to change your life, you need " The Genius of flexibility". Thank you Bob, you have not only change my life, but the life of every person I teach.

There's nothing else like it

The Meridian Flexibility System is not only the "Smart way to Stretch and Strengthen your body" it's also the easiest, most efficient way to get the muscle tone and flexibility that would take hours each week with traditional methods. I have been practicing Meridian Stretching for years, and it has honestly changed my life. Bob Cooley's book, "The Genius of Flexibility" presents an introduction to the Meridian Flexibility System. It briefly covers what Cooley has discovered about traditional stretching vs. resistance stretching, stretching related to traditional Chinese medicine and how stretching can improve your health. The majority of the book is made up of three levels of self-stretches (beginner, intermediate, advanced/strength training) and one level of assisted stretches in the order of the energy cycle. Each stretch includes start and finishing pictures, how to get into the stretch, how to resist, how to breathe and psychological and physiological benefits of each stretch. In order to benefit from this book, you must spend time to understand how to resist while stretching. This is not a book that you can just scan through and do the stretches. Because the stretch happens during the movement from the start to the finishing pose, some of the stretches are not easily understood by reading the descriptions. Some stretches may need to be varied or demonstrated in person. I like to look at the book as a guide for home stretching, but it does not replace my weekly sessions with a certified trainer in the system. Besides a large increase in flexibility, I have personally experienced immediate health changes, muscle and tendon repair, reduction in back pain and personality changes. Physically, I've had serious headaches disappear within minutes. I've felt my sinuses open up in the middle of a stretching session. A twisted knee was not only healed, but strong within two weeks. Chronic neck and upper back pain disappeared. After only two months with the system, I'd gotten the body I always wanted - six pack abs and all. Psychologically, certain stretches make me laugh, think of friends and solve problems. Cooley's ideas may seem eccentric upon first reading, but from my personal experience, I can assure you he is right on. What Cooley has discovered and created through this system is so complex and revolutionary, it would take him a lifetime to write it all down. There are gaps in the book, based on the fact that it is only 310 pages long. While "The Genius of Flexibility" doesn't give all the answers right away, it is the only book dedicated to this method of flexibility and strength training. I would highly recommend it along with taking a workshop or private session to fully understand the system.

Flexibility training and *MUCH* more

I started training with Bob Cooley over four years ago using the flexibility training system he developed. Prior to this I really thought I knew how to stretch, warm up, and prepare my body for athletic competitions like the running, cycling, and triathlons I have competed in for years. I thought I was flexible and strong, but for some reason I kept experiencing the pain and discomfort from injuries, and disappointment from performing at less than what I expected. I tried many different things but it didn't matter, I still got injured and frustrated since more time and training didn't help at all, it actually hurt me more. Once I started working with Bob's system I gained results that I would have never expected before. Not only did my speed, strength and endurance improve but so did my confidence in my abilities. My body now works like a finely tuned machine and I'm much more confident that the pain will not return, nor will the repetitive little injuries that I had for more than a decade. I'm recommending this book and video for anyone who works out, competes athletically, and is looking for more from their routine. Flexibility training will work for both your body and mind, it has for me.