Mind-Body Fitness For Dummies

To reap the holistic benefits of any mind-body exercise, students must relax and stay focused throughout their class. That's tough to do when the instructor seems to be--or actually is--speaking a foreign language, or when the physical movements seem equally foreign to the body. In Mind-Body Fitness for Dummies, Therese Iknoian, president of the Total Fitness Network, successfully breaks through such "language barriers," providing beginners with the confidence to explore new classes. Iknoian draws from her impressive health, fitness, and journalistic background to offer the insider's skinny on 11 holistic exercise methods. She divides these into three basic groups: the centuries-old (yoga, tai chi chuan, and qigong), the "modern classics" (Pilates, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, inversion therapy, and Laban), and the "new kids" (NIA [neuromuscular integrative action], body rolling, chi ball). Then, with plenty of humor and empathy for her reader, she quite ably dissects each. Complete how-to information about each fitness method reads easily and leaves little mystery. The history, philosophy, principles, and postures of each style simply flow across the book's 300-plus pages; clearly, this project was no chore for its world record-breaking author (race walking, 1994 Indoor 3K) who also holds a master's degree in exercise physiology. Understandable illustrations, accompanied by Iknoian's lucid instructions, will help readers practice specific moves and stances before going public. Anyone who has heard about improved physical and mental health as a result of a mind-body exercise regime--but has hesitated to dabble--will be encouraged by this thoroughly enjoyable and educational primer. --Liane Thomas