The miracle of flexibility A head-to-toe program to increase strength, improve mobility, and become pain free

Drawing upon her years of formal dance training, Esmonde-White (who readers might know from her PBS series) introduces readers to Essentrics, a gentle movement program that emphasizes a full range of motion to improve one's strength and flexibility. The author argues that programs such as Pilates, static stretching, or high-intensity workouts designed to push bodies to the limit don't consider all 360 joints and 650 muscles that make up the human body and the natural way it's designed to move. Much of this book is dedicated to targeted workouts that can be done with minimal equipment. There are routines for every day (including mornings), stress relief, chronic pain, and much more. At the start of the workout section, various movements are detailed with both full-body images and specific ones of affected joints. VERDICT Readers will gain knowledge of concrete movements and exercises that will reduce their pain, improve their mobility, and help them move gracefully through life.--Whitney Bates-Gomez