Aging Backwards: Reverse the Aging Process and Look 10 Years Younger in 30 Minutes a Day

A ground-breaking guide to understanding how aging happens in our cells and how to maintain and repair those cells--and roll back joint pain and muscle loss at any age--through gentle, scientifically designed workouts based on Classical Stretch and Essentrics, developed by the author and star of PBS's Classical Stretch series.
     It's never too late to slow down, or even reverse, the effects of aging. The human body is designed to function for the full length of its life--and with gentle, full-body flexibility and strengthening exercises we can look and feel tremendous, vibrant and active at any age, and well into our senior years. After all, the body is the world's most efficient self-healing machine. And yet, remarkably, many of us neglect the single most important system in the body--the one that makes all the others work--the muscular system.
     The typical message we get as we age is that we can move less and should take it easy--exactly the wrong advice. Surprisingly, fitness enthusiasts often do as much harm to their bodies as people living sedentary lives. For example, yoga instructors get tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome from daily stress on wrists and elbows; Pilates instructors suffer pectoral and tricep muscle atrophy and even professional athletes grow overweight and suffer countless ACL, meniscus and disc injuries. Ligaments are virtually ignored by most exercises routines and yet joint health is essential in order to remain active. But these afflictions don't happen overnight, and with Aging Backwards we can slow or prevent their onset, and often reverse their symptoms.

MIRANDA ESMONDE-WHITE began her career as a ballet dancer, performing around the world with the National Ballet of Canada. Shortly after leaving the company she opened her own dance and fitness centre in Montreal, but soon realized that the popular workouts of the day left her clients' muscles looking bulky and were jarring on their joints. So, with the mentorship of doctors, physiotherapists and feedback from her clients and fans, she set about designing the "anti-aerobics" workout that became Classical Stretch and Essentrics. As a result, Esmonde-White has become one of the most sought-after stretch and bio-mechanics trainers in Canada. She is well known for her work with Olympic medalist diver Alexandre Despatie, world champion squash player Jonathon Power, Canadian skating champions Joannie Rochette, Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davidson, members of the Montreal Canadiens and students from the Cirque du Soleil School/École National de Cirque. For the past 15 years she has been the host of a daily exercise show on the PBS Network in the USA, has written a college textbook and is the host of a series of Classical Stretch and Essentrics DVDs. She also holds regular workshops for Level 4 Olympic coaches as well as for universities and colleges, and travels internationally, giving lectures on Breast Cancer rehabilitation. The author lives in Montreal, QC.