Author: Yamuna Zake, Stephanie Golden
Binding: Paperback
Published: 1997-09-01
ISBN: 0892817305
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

$13.57

Body Rolling: An Experiential Approach to Complete Muscle Release
by: Yamuna Zake, Stephanie Golden

Editorial Review:

A revolutionary method that teaches bodywork practitioners and their clients how to feel the inner logic of the muscular system.
Each body has its own logic, its own language of release. This internal logic is at the heart of Body Rolling, an innovative technique that uses a ten-inch ball to stretch muscles, freeing restrictions in the body, increasing blood flow, and promoting healing. Body Rolling teaches "touch and tell" anatomy; you learn to physically find the origin of a muscle and sense what it feels like for that muscle to fully release. Experiencing first-hand the interrelationships in the muscular system comes as a revelation to most bodywork therapists. Body Rolling is an excellent treatment for a number of conditions, and it can re-teach muscles to move effortlessly and painlessly. It creates structural changes that are positive, permanent, and powerful, and that prevent new injuries from occurring.
The author explains the underlying principles of her technique, shows how to get started, and gives instructions for basic side, front, and back routines.
Detailed chapters focus on treating specific conditions such as lower back pain, neck problems, and the effects of aging.
Here's a workout with one big difference from all the others: it uses a ball. Among others, the kind of lightweight vinyl ball you often see stacked up in huge cages in toy stores (perhaps the cheapest piece of workout equipment ever). Zake, a yoga teacher and bodywork practitioner, began developing her techniques 20 years ago to help herself recover from a hip injury. She believes that rolling on the ball in various ways stimulates muscles at their origins, causing them to relax and elongate; at the same time, the gentle pressure increases circulation to the muscles and tendons. This in turn helps balance the body and relieve all kinds of painful conditions in the back, neck, shoulders, and legs, as well as improving the results produced by any other bodywork techniques. Body Rolling is structured for bodywork practitioners to use with their clients, and the anatomical language is somewhat technical. Still, the exercises are well illustrated, and there's no reason readers with a certain amount of fitness knowledge can't do these routines themselves. If you really get into it, you can order more flexible, reinflatable balls from Zake's company.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

Not light reading - A technical book for correcting real musculoskeletal issues:

This book is not a good intro into body rolling if you are a lay person. It is designed to present routines to be used as corrective exercises and for training her instructors.
For a good intro, buy the kit and the DVD and the newer book.
If you are really "motivated" and understand what the muscle origin and insertion is and are interested in rolling through and releasing various levels and layers of muscle tissue, then buy the book. I own both books, and unlike most authors, did not find any... more info

Your body will thank you:

This is a technical book, as mentioned by the other reviewers. I am a certified personal trainer but I had to think pretty hard sometimes to visualise where I was supposed to be during the exercises. Due to that fact I also purchased Yamuna Zake's second book 'The Ultimate Body Rolling Workout' to fully understand the exercises in lay terms.
I cannot express enough how wonderful Zake's program is. For years I have been working out religiously at the gym but have seen more results in a month of rolling... more info

A breakthrough in self-exploration:

This book is not for the person who wants an easy fix. But for anyone willing to put in the time it is just this side of miraculous. You will likely add inches and flexibility to your ribcage - increasing room for your lungs and other internal organs (I added 1-1/2 inches in 3 weeks). Your posture will improve, and as a result, you will likely add to your height (I added 1/2"). But best of all, you will look and feel rejuvinated. I have done yoga, weight lifting, walking, running - all the normal stuff.... more info

Technical - For Professionals and Wannabes:

I figured out on my own that rolling on a ball was a very effective way to deal with my back problems. According to the book I even figured out the exactly correct size ball for my size. I figured that this book would provide some great additional info. Frankly, it probably does, but the terminology and assumed knowledge of anatomy is so great that I quickly got glassy-eyed.
Bottom line: The technique is great, and the book is informative, but unless you have a technical background in body work, or are... more info

Accessories: