Inner Focus, Outer Strength: Using Imagery and Exercise for Health, Strength and Beauty Paperback – September 1, 2006

I had already read much of Franklin's book Conditioning for Dance. I found it very insightful and full of potential help for the physical pain I experience, but as I have no dance experience and was not familiar with many of the dance terms, I thought that perhaps one of his books about alignment for lay people might be better.I didn't have funds to buy several of his books at this time, so I chose Inner Focus, Outer Strength: Using Imagery and Exercise for Health, Strength and Beauty. I absolutely love the focus this book has on finding joy in movement and letting that be at the heart of all your fitness activity. And I really delight in the imagery excercises in this book. Last night I fell asleep imagining one of the excercises I had just learned - my body felt so relaxed.For those who haven't read anything by Eric Franklin, he specializes in presenting imagery that helps people to understand, heal, and relax their bodies. It isn't hocus pocus type stuff, but the kind of healing that happens simply through understanding and being able to picture what is happening as you use your body.Text book anatomy and physiology seemed boring to me in the past, but Franklin has a way of making me want to learn it. It is a joy to understand more of the workings of the human body. He makes anatomy learning a delight and I'm considering purchasing both Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery by Franklin and a book by another author entitled Anatomy of Movement (by Blandine Calais-Germain).

Inner Focus, Outer Strength is sort of like a crash course in the Franklin Method, covering posture, breath, muscles, organs and daily life with thorough, fun exercises. The organ chapter is especially valuable, detailing how important the organs are for overall muscle and postural alignment, as well as energy levels. I think this book would make a great introduction to the full body, Franklin Method style, before getting his other books. I highly recommend this book, especially paired with Pelvic Power and his mini books on the psoas, fascia and feet.

I have all of his books, even Conditioning for Dance even though I have never done any sort of organized dance in my life. Although his books might seem a little superficial at first glance, you will soon realize that Franklin knows far more about the how the body moves than you could ever imagine. Eric Franklin is so far ahead of other "fitness gurus" that there is no comparison. He truly understands how paying more attention to your posture and movement can dramatically affect your whole life. You'll never really get rid of that tension headache or that pain in the neck unless you start listening to what your body is trying to tell you.

Eric Franklin has compiled a wonderful series of imagery exercises that will give the average person an understanding of how the body works, without being overwhelmed.

Eric Franklin knows more about the body than anyone!

Loved this book. Have returned to it again and again. Eric Franklin is the master of imagery and gives the reader an entirely new way of considering the body. All of his books are excellent.

a new way of thinking & live