Health

Top tips for becoming self-employed Have you decided to become a personal trainer and need some guidance? Are you currently working as a personal trainer for an employer but want to develop your career and strike out on your own? Have you already taken the plunge into self-employment and want to grow your business? In any of these three cases, this book is just right for you! Drawing on over ten years’ experience in the personal training industry, author and personal trainer Stefan Liebezeit helps you find your path as a self-employed personal trainer, navigate the maze of red tape and lead your own business to success. Far from being dogmatic, Stefan Liebezeit answers the most important questions on your journey into and through self-employment in a straightforward, open and authentic way.ExcerptStefan Liebezeitis a qualified sports instructor specialising in recreational and competitive sport. In 2012, he founded the MUNICH PERSONAL TRAINING LOUNGE together with Tino Schönburg. For this, both were nominated as ‘Personal Training Newcomers of the Year’ at the 2013 Neos Awards. This was followed in 2018 by the opening of the second MPT Lounge in Planegg. Stefan works at the Lounge as a personal and athletic trainer and also acts as an expert, speaker and instructor for various institutes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Through his MPTL GROW project, Stefan and his team offer their own specialist workshops for personal trainers.

Run better with the Pose Method ® Get faster | Boost your endurance | Avoid injuries | Improve flexibility and coordination Whether you’re a top-level athlete or a keen amateur: all runners strive to improve, to run faster and further, and to avoid injuries. This goal can be achieved with the Pose Method. It combines the individual postures of the body into a single, perfect running posture and transforms this into a fluid movement that conserves energy and makes your running style as efficient as possible. Dr Nicholas Romanov, sports scientist, Olympic coach and inventor of the Pose Method ®, provides a comprehensive introduction to this unique running technique. Romanov shows how to use gravity to your advantage whilst running, rather than relying solely on your muscle strength. A wide range of running exercises helps you learn the specifics of the technique and internalise the new movement pattern. Strength and flexibility exercises support your preparation. Using weekly training plans, you can then combine all elements of the training programme and work specifically with the Pose Method – for greater speed and endurance, fewer injuries, improved mobility and coordination, and, of course, a significant improvement in your running performance. About the author Dr Nicholas Romanov is a world-renowned sports scientist and the inventor of the Pose Method ®, a specialised running technique that utilises gravity. He emigrated from Russia to the USA in 1993. In Miami, he founded the Romanov Academy of Sports Science, where sports technique is taught and coaches are trained. Romanov has successfully coached various athletes, including two Olympians, and has published several books and scientific articles on the subject of technique training.

A strong and flexible psoas muscle improves your mobility and helps prevent injuries and back pain Despite its immense importance for our overall mobility, most people have never even heard of the psoas. The psoas muscle group runs through the lower back and connects the upper body to the pelvis. It ensures an upright gait, straight shoulders, the correct alignment of the legs and spine, and is responsible for hip flexion and mobility of the lumbar spine. Because of all these important functions, a strong yet flexible psoas is essential. This book describes the role and importance of the psoas and demonstrates flexibility exercises from various sporting disciplines such as yoga and Pilates, as well as stretching and self-massage using a foam roller (myofascial release). It also includes a series of strengthening exercises for the psoas and presents workouts at various levels of difficulty. The 50 exercises, all fully illustrated and described in step-by-step instructions, strengthen the core muscles, improve posture, increase mobility and ensure an all-round healthy and strong psoas.

Simple and effective techniques for acute and chronic pain One in ten people complain of shoulder and neck pain. The pain is often caused by what is known as impingement syndrome, in which tendons, ligaments or muscles become trapped in a joint space, leading to irritation and degeneration of tendons and bursae. This results in painful restrictions on movement. All too often, doctors recommend shoulder surgery, even though it is often not at all necessary. Regular mobility exercises, combined with strength training for the external rotators, can often be sufficient to successfully treat impingement. However, even after surgery, gentle movements and targeted muscle strengthening can be crucial for a speedy recovery. Sports therapist Katharina Brinkmann and sports editor Nicolai Napolski not only summarise the key information on the background and causes of impingement syndrome, but also present techniques and exercises that can be used to alleviate the symptoms simply and effectively. About the authors Katharina Brinkmann is the founder of YOU Personal Training. As well as working as a yoga teacher and personal trainer, she also practises as a sports therapist in a clinical setting. Her areas of specialism include yoga and fascia training, which she has combined extremely successfully in her books *Yoga-Fascia Training* and *Functional Training for Women*. Nicolai Napolski is editor-in-chief of www.trainingsworld.com, Germany’s leading sports expert portal. As a keen snowboarder, mountain biker and climber, he is no stranger to injuries. He is the author of several books, most recently *Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome*, which he co-authored with personal trainer Katharina Brinkmann. Read an extract 

Strong feet for a healthy life A natural way of moving is the foundation for a healthy life for the whole body. Wearing the wrong shoes not only restricts your mobility, but often leads to painful foot problems and other conditions caused by this. Incorrect footwear leads to foot misalignments and is detrimental to muscle development and overall posture. This makes it all the more important that we relearn how to walk barefoot or get as close as possible to this ideal by wearing barefoot shoes. In her book, mobility expert Katy Bowman explains what to bear in mind when switching from conventional shoes to minimalist footwear. Numerous exercises help to prepare the feet and legs for this new freedom of movement and to train the muscle groups that are particularly challenged. After all, if you don’t want to risk injuries or strains, the transition should be made gradually. *Barefoot* is the perfect guide to ensure this transition is simple and effortless, enabling you to embark on a healthier and happier life with strong feet. About the author Katy Bowman studied biomechanics and subsequently developed the Nutritious Movement™ system. She writes for her own award-winning blog and for health media outlets across the US, and is also a welcome guest on radio and television programmes, talk shows and news broadcasts. Her books are highly acclaimed bestsellers and have been translated into many languages worldwide. Riva Verlag has published *Movement Is in Your DNA*.Read an extract

People have always wondered what constitutes a good and fulfilling life. With the help of the card game based on Rolf Dobelli’s bestseller *The Art of Living Well*, you can now reflect on and discuss life’s fundamental questions, either on your own or in a group. At the start of each round, each player draws their own perspective card, which determines the angle from which they should approach the question at hand. On the back of each of the 52 question cards, you will also find Rolf Dobelli’s perspective, which enriches your discussion with an inspiring point of view. In this way, with every new round of play, you gain fresh insights that broaden your horizons and make a good life many times more likely.