Wellness Resources: Books & Fitness Props
Below are some books and other items that you may find useful as resources for developing your own self-care routines and wellness-oriented personal practices, categorized by topic of interest. The fitness props listed are the same ones we use at our office (except for the Pilates Toe Corrector), and the other links are to items and resources that our clients have found helpful over the years. Note that we do not receive any compensation for the links offered below.
Pilates & General Fitness
Useful visualizations ensure you really “get” the intended emphasis of each exercise.
Includes advanced “Reformer on the Mat” exercises for an added challenge.
The most comfortably thick and durable general-purpose fitness mat we’ve found.
Foot & Ankle Strengthening
Correct big toe or arch alignment and strengthen your base of support.
Pilates Toe Corrector for correcting big toe alignment and strengthening arches.
Airex Pad for balance and stabilization exercises.
Foam Rolling & Self-Care
Myofascially-focused ball rolling techniques in detail.
Soft foam roller and ball rolling techniques.
Short-term relief for tight or sore muscles, headaches, etc.
A softer foam roller for techniques with a myofascial or neuromuscular emphasis.
Soft “Franklin Balls” for exercises and gentle rolling.
Firm “Pinkie Ball” for foot exercises and trigger points.
Yoga & Stretching
A classic text on the practice of Hatha Yoga.
For efficiently increasing flexibility, while building strength through your full range of motion.
Durable, heavy, non-slip cork yoga blocks.
Fascia & Anatomy
Tom Myers’ groundbreaking work on the Anatomy Trains myofascial meridians.
Both of Bernie Clark’s books on yoga anatomy are excellent technical manuals.
Both of Bernie Clark’s books on yoga anatomy are excellent technical manuals.
Managing Stress & Chronic Tension
Restorative Yoga techniques, bolstering, and positioning.
Breathwork exercises, techniques, and stretches.
TRE: Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises. Skip to the end for the exercises.
Standard-sized restorative yoga bolster.
Narrow bolster for breathing exercises and chest/shoulder stretches.
Neck support pillow.
Wrist & Forearm Health
Mechanical keyboard with Cherry Brown MX switches for tactile feedback (PC/Linux).
Mechanical keyboard with Cherry Brown MX switches for tactile feedback (Mac).
For the “Tyler Twist” exercise.