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Book details
  • Genre:HEALTH & FITNESS
  • SubGenre:Exercise / General
  • Language:English
  • Series title:Balance
  • Series Number:1
  • Pages:88
  • eBook ISBN:9781098309749
  • Paperback ISBN:9781098309732

Falling Is Not An Option

A Way to Lifelong Balance

by George Locker

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Overview

Book Review by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite *****

A stable and balanced walk with zero falls should be everyone's goal, but as we age, our agility and steadiness decrease. Can we prevent the loss of our stability? Is there anything we can do to restore our balance and once again enjoy moving? Falling Is Not An Option (A Way to Lifelong Balance) by George Locker provides the principles behind excellent balance and methods to move without the fear of falling. Included in the book are exercises that everyone of every age can practice to help them improve their balance and stability. With Postural Retraining exercises focused on activating and using postural muscles to ensure stability, taken from techniques used in the martial art form of T'ai Chi, this book gives the reader the simplest tools to create a secure lifestyle. Even if you are using a walker or other means of support, this book is meant for you as well as the athlete. Including instructions and clearly depicted exercises, everyone has the opportunity to enjoy an upright and fall-free life!

Falling Is Not An Option (A Way to Lifelong Balance) by George Locker is a revolutionary health and fitness reference manual that benefits everyone who wants to build and maintain a steady and mobile lifestyle as they age. Mr. Locker has created an enlightening and uncomplicated guide that explains why we need to work on our balance and the detailed instructions on how to improve it. Presented with photographic illustrations and easy to follow instructions, the exercises are simple enough for everyone to understand and execute. The glossary at the end of the book is the perfect addition that assists those who are unfamiliar with some of the words and terms used in the text. Informative and inspiring, everyone who wishes to grow old gracefully without the worry of falling will want to own this book. Beautifully presented. I can hardly wait to try the techniques!

 

Four more Five Star reviews:

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/falling-is-not-an-option

Description

 

Falling Is Not an Option begins by exploring the nature of balance: its inherent beauty, its elusive source, its necessity, and its common loss late in life. The book discusses the physics and biomechanics of balance and details the importance of the postural muscles (those that involuntarily control balance and stability). It explains how athletes in sports such as surfing and skiing remain stable and upright, and the implications for balance exercises. The section that discusses what balance is not, is particularly noteworthy.

The second part of the book presents 15 weight-bearing postures and exercises, described in words, and illustrated with 122 sequential photos of the author demonstrating how to perform them. These exercises activate and strengthen the postural or balance muscles, and over time develop the ability to create downward force to increase stability and improve movement.

The 122 photos are best viewed in the 8 1/2"x 8 1/2" softcover or on an e-screen of similar size.

Postural Retraining™ is an incremental method that emphasizes simple positions, small movements, and increased duration. It does not have to be memorized, can be done at home or in groups, and requires no equipment.

The book concludes with a glossary of terms linked to the text.

Falling Is Not an Option is an original, provocative, and groundbreaking work of the widely misunderstood subject of human balance. The author, who has studied T'ai Chi as a martial art for 40 years, writes with authority and from experience. Because of its focus on developing and maintaining automatic balance skills, Falling Is Not an Option is a much-needed guide both for health professionals and their patients.

 

About the author

 

Over 40 years ago, I had the good fortune to begin the study of T'ai Chi Chuan as a martial art with Grandmaster Cheng Hsiang Yu, who was born in Shanghai, China. Our class met in a Buddhist Temple in New York's Lower East Side. As my classmates and I got stronger and more stable, Master Yu always stayed well ahead of us, into his 80's!

Of course, this is not a book about the martial side of T'ai Chi. Postural Retraining exercises teach the balance and stability component of T'ai Chi, which is the most important. 

Apart from T'ai Chi, I am an attorney in NYC, have a magnificent daughter, and ski and kayak in the Adirondacks.

At 71, my balance and stability are awesome.

 

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