Tag Archives: Sports

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Aerobic Training: How Doing It Properly Can Improve Health

Aerobic In The City

Aerobic In The City (Photo credit: MR MARK BEK)

A lot of people nowadays are using various medications and going on crash diets to lose some unwanted pounds and improve their health. Because of this phenomenon, the benefits of aerobic exercises have been overlooked. Two of the more famous forms of aerobic exercise are running and jogging. Doing these activities lead to improved physical appearance, healthier heart, and elevated moods.

The primary benefit of this kind of exercise is a healthy heart. The human body responds to the increased need for oxygen that comes with running or jogging. As aerobic exercise takes place, the circulatory system responds by pushing itself harder which prompts the heart to beat faster. Just like other muscles in the body that receives a healthy dose of workout, the heart becomes stronger with regular aerobic training. A stronger heart pumps blood more efficiently and improve blood flow to many parts if the body. Because of a healthy heart, climbing stairs can be a breeze and walking or running long distances may less difficult. One’s body therefore becomes more efficient in handling everyday tasks that can be encountered.

Like other physical activities, regular aerobic training can give a healthier looking body to individuals who engage in them. For people who workout regularly, the muscles become more toned and lean because fat is burned off. In addition to these physical improvements, greater muscle density contributes to bone strength and reduce the risk of breaking bones as one gets older.

Medical studies also add that moderate or intense physical activities may prompt the body to produce substances called endorphins. These substances are produced by the brain that may elevate one’s mood and eliminate feelings of stress and anxiety. This effect is called by many health experts as the runner’s high.î

However, individuals who want to engage in aerobic training should consult health professionals or train with a professional instructor. Because improper or too much training may do more harm than good. Extreme exercise may increase the production of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These hormones aid the body in switching to a more efficient fat-burning metabolism to preserve glycogen in the muscles and aid blood vessels in the delivery of oxygen to the muscles. However, stress overload can occur if an individuals does not dial down the intensity even for short periods. This may cause an increase in white blood cells that eliminate bacteria, viruses, and even cancer cells. When the intense exercise is finished, the number of immune cells may decrease. It is theorized that any viruses or bacteria present in this stage may multiply and cause infection which may weaken the immune system.

Aerobic training and other physical activities should be done properly to avoid ill-effects that improper or over-training may bring. Individuals who want to engage in such activities can begin aerobic training by walking or jogging five minutes in the morning and another five minutes the evening. The next they can add a few minutes to each aerobic session. Soon, they could be walking briskly or jogging for 30 minutes a day and reap the benefits of regular aerobic exercise.

 

 

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Biking For Health And Fitness

A cross country mountain bike race.

A cross-country mountain bike race. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are many different types of bicycles available on the market today, the comfort bicycle, which is used by many recreational bike riders, a trail bike or light duty mountain bike, cruiser bikes, recumbent bikes and heavy-duty mountain bikes. No matter which type of bike, or biking interests you biking is a great way to increased stamina, improved cardiovascular strength and all around better fitness.

Recumbent bikes have become very popular for the middle-aged and older riders. On a recumbent bike you have a very comfortable seat that you can lean back in, quite like sitting in your favorite reclining chair. Your butt is very comfortably cushioned. Your feet are out in front of you, quite like when you’re driving your car. Recumbent bikes are the fastest type of bicycle. One reason is that with your legs extended forward and pedaling in front of you, you are able to move much more weight with much less effort than on a conventional bike where your legs are underneath of you. Beginning recumbent riders will tell you it takes a while to develop what are called “recumbent muscles” but once you do you’ll never go back to an ordinary bicycle.

Mountain biking is a popular activity that is enjoyed by a wide age range of people. Heavy duty mountain bikes can be quite costly, so it may be best to go to talk to a mountain biking organization about bike rental. You may only decide you need a light duty mountain bike which would also be good for regular riding. Not all mountain biking trails are killers and for experts only – they had to start somewhere too! Mountain biking trails are rated somewhat like ski trails, the easiest is green, an intermediate is blue and difficult trails are pink. Go slowly, mountain biking can be hard on the joints, and you’ll need to learn how to handle the bike to minimize chance of injury.

Whichever type of bicycle you choose, just do it! Biking is a great way to achieve an aerobic work out and burn calories at the same time. The best part is that anyone can ride a bike and it’s a great family recreation to be enjoyed together.

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Beat the Clock to Get Fit

A Marine of the United States Marine Corps run...

A Marine of the United States Marine Corps runs through a creek. Original caption: “Lance Cpl. Anthony M. Madonia emerges from the water during the swimming portion of the triathlon. Marines and Sailors of Marine Security Company and the Naval Support Facility in Thurmont, Md., participated in the Catoctin Mountain Triathlon, July 20.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There’s not enough time! There are only 24 hours in the day!

Not having enough time … it’s the #1 excuse for not exercising. Deadlines at work, appointments, family obligations … all clamour for your attention. Exercise gets shunted off to the side … it’s not a priority.

Well … it should be. Make it one of the important activities of your day … make it a deadline to get in shape, make it an appointment, make it an obligation. It’s that important!

~ Exercise for Success ~

When you’re under pressure … it’s easy to make excuses and not exercise. You’re tired, you can’t afford the time. But, most successful people find the time. And because they find the time … they are successful.

You see … when you don’t exercise, you get out of shape … when you’re out of shape, you can’t work efficiently. In the end, you actually put yourself under more pressure.

Exercise can contribute to your success … it can help you meet those deadlines … be ready for those appointments … have the energy for those family obligations. You see, exercise is a great way to give yourself a break. It gets rid of the pressure … it frees your mind.

Getting more exercise will help you lose that tired feeling. When you get your body moving … your heart pumping … your lungs breathing fresh air in deeply … you refresh your body. The benefits of getting even a little exercise are many.

~ Wake Up the Little Grey Cells ~

Even if you only go for a brisk walk … this great exercise will shed some stress and sharpen your thinking. You could waste the whole day trying to solve a problem … or you could go for a good walk, clear your mind, and have the solution handed to you on a silver platter.

Yes … exercise pays off. Not just in fitness, but in a mind and body that function better and give you peak performance. And peak performance means you’ll get things done in record time.

Still think you don’t have enough time to exercise?

 

 

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Did you know…

Muhammad Ali, who engaged in more 'fight of th...

… that today is the anniversary of the Fight of the Century? In 1971, in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali in a 15-round unanimous decision that allowed him to keep his world heavyweight boxing championship.

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NCAA Mens Basketball Rankings-AP-Coaches Poll-Top 25

How is your team doing this year?  These are the current NCAA Mens Basketball rankings as of February 18, 2013.  Who do you think will be in the final four and who do you think will win it all?  Leave comments!

NCAA Mens Basketball Rankings

 
Associated Press Top 25
1. Indiana
2. Miami (Fla.)
3. Gonzaga
4. Michigan State
5. Florida
6. Duke
7. Michigan
8. Syracuse
9. Kansas
10. Louisville
11. Georgetown
12. Arizona
13. Kansas State
14. Oklahoma State
15. Butler
16. New Mexico
17. Marquette
18. Ohio State
19. Wisconsin
20. Pittsburgh
21. Memphis
22. Colorado State
23. Oregon
24. Virginia Commonwealth
25. Notre Dame
Complete details

02/18/2013
Coaches Poll
1. Indiana
2. Miami (Fla.)
3. Gonzaga
4. Florida
5. Michigan State
6. Duke
7. Michigan
8. Syracuse
9. Kansas
10. Louisville
11. Georgetown
12. Arizona
13. Kansas State
14. Oklahoma State
15. Butler
16. New Mexico
17. Wisconsin
18. Ohio State
19. Memphis
20. Marquette
21. Colorado State
22. Pittsburgh
23. Oregon
24. Virginia Commonwealth
25. Notre Dame
Complete details

02/18/2013
Top 25 (and one)
1 Indiana
2 Miami (Fla.)
3 Michigan State
4 Michigan
5 Florida
6 Gonzaga
7 Duke
8 Kansas
9 Syracuse
10 Arizona
11 Georgetown
12 Kansas State
13 Louisville
14 Oklahoma State
15 Butler
16 Marquette
17 Pittsburgh
18 New Mexico
19 Wisconsin
20 Ohio State
21 Minnesota
22 Notre Dame
23 Cincinnati
24 Virginia Commonwealth
25 Memphis
26 Colorado State
Complete details
(02/17/2013)
NCAA Mens Basketball Rankings-AP-Coaches Poll-Top 25 (dominicspoweryoga.com)Related articles
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The Anatomy of a Golf Swing

An animation of a full golf swing displaying t...

An animation of a full golf swing displaying the appropriate and professional technique. Each of the 9 frames in the animation are based on this image. The animation was made in both Adobe Photoshop CS and Adobe ImageReady. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Many people envy the likes of Tiger Woods because of his world championship winning golf swing. To the avid golfer, the joy of watching these pros in action and seeing the way they swing the club to hit the ball is a joy like no other. To a true lover of the sport the perfection of the swing is the Holy Grail of golf. The golf swing is the defining skill that separates the greenhorn from the veteran and the golfer from the poser.

Because of the popularity of golf in almost all of the countries of the world, many people have come up with instructional guides, books and CDs that could help improve the golfer’s swing. Some of them are effective with some people and some of them are not. The reason behind this difference in the output is the human anatomy. There are no two people who are exactly alike in the same way no two golf swings are alike. Because of the body structure of some people, there are techniques that really don’t work for them.

For example a stocky golfer would have a hard time matching the flexibility and nimbleness of a slender golfer and in return the slender golfer will have a hard time matching the power of the swing of the stocky golfer. Because of the stockiness of golfer A, he is able to use his broad shoulders in smashing the golf club far, but because of the nimbleness and flexibility of golfer B he is able to reach farther behind his back to give his club a wider range of motion for the swing creating a higher velocity impact on the ball.

The outcome of the distance of the two golfer’s swing maybe the same but the technique is different with each golfer. This difference in technique is because of the difference of the body type.

Another way to look at your golf swing is with the help of mathematics and a little bit of physics. When you look at it this way you will be able to see the impact of the numbers on your game. A study shows that professional golf players achieve a club head speed of 100 miles per hour at the very bottom of their swing right before they hit the ball. Tiger Woods can swing up to 125 miles per hour that means he can hit 25 mph faster that other professionals.

He achieves this by reaching farther back on his set up that most golfers. Physicist have already studied golf in relation to the angular motion and the torque force that changes the angle of the club when it hits the ball. Velocity is also an important factor in your golf swing. Almost all club heads weigh the same and for a golfer to hit the ball farther they need to achieve maximum club velocity or they must have higher club head speed at the bottom of their swing.

One of the most common misconceptions that a golfer has is snapping the wrist right before impact is like pressing the nitro button in the straightaway lane. When golfers do this they are actually slowing down the velocity of the clubhead making the golf swing lighter. This is a bad habit that should be avoided.

This usually happens when a golfer is standing to close to the ball during the golf swing.

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How to Improve Your Rusty Golf Swing

Augusta_National_Golf_Club_in_Augusta_Georgia_5

Golf is a sport of luck, chance and lots of skills. It involves all of these three things working together to have a perfect game. It is an individual sport where everyone who aims to play it starts with the same skill set as everyone else. Compared to other games and sports that are played by people, golf highlights the differences in the styles of the athletes with every golf swing.

Speaking of golf swings, one of the most obvious differences in the playing style of different champions in the game of golf is their golf swing. Because of the differences in body type, arm length, shoulder length and arm strength, each individual golfer have different kinds of swings. The fundamentals of the game are the same for everyone with the exception of the swing. Some people hit hard enough to send the golf ball flying over 300 yards without much effort and for some people sending the ball 100 yards seem to be harder than finding a decent wife.

Even though the discrepancies in the swing usually determine the playing style of the golfer, there are ways on improving your golf swing good enough for professional tournaments. One of the most important steps to follow is the position of your neck and head during the swing. This is the most common tip given by coaches and it is one with the immediate results. The technique is to keep your head and neck in the same straight line with the rest of your spine.

Relaxing your head and neck so they find their place in the alignment of the spine and the neck region is important at this stage. Make sure that your arm will fit under your chin as you make the swing to keep the alignment straight. One of the common mistakes about the technique is that some golfer tuck the head into the shoulders to keep the rest of the neck moving. This does not work because during the motion of the swing the arm is forced to go around the chin, bending and affecting the line of flight of your ball.

To maximize the effect of this exercise, remember to put into practice at 25 times in a row. After the 25th swing rest for a while and practice another 25 swing in a row. Maintain your body position and your head and neck alignment. Make minor adjustments to make the position more comfortable. Do the exercise at least an hour to two hours in a day to make sure that your body is remembering the position it is most comfortable with. You might say that this is like conditioning your body to align itself automatically for every swing.

Another great way of improving your swing is to relax your body as you swing. Tense muscle movement leads to limited dexterity and flexibility. Relaxing your body as you swing helps a great deal in improving your game. When your body is tense, the burst of kinetic energy is cut short because it is hindered from moving in a free-flowing way. And of course balance.

Balance is important in improving your golf swing because it directly affects the force that ball is hit with. Proper balance during the golf swing helps a great deal in releasing the maximum hit force.

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Senior Fitness

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Staying fit and mobile plays a large role in senior health. it’s not always easy to maintain fitness levels as we age. Naturally, our bodies change, but we don’t want them becoming immobile! Here are some tips to make your senior years more enjoyable and fit.

As much as possible, continue doing your daily living tasks. Taking a bath, even if it’s just a sponge bath, gives your arms a mini-workout. you’re bending and keeping flexible, which is vital for proper joint health.

Cooking involves peeling vegetables, some walking, bending to reach pots and pans. Don’t fret that you may not be able to do all grocery shopping by yourself. As long as you can continue cooking at home, this allows more chance for movement.

So, were continuing our daily tasks, and now it’s time to consider some specific exercise.

Golfing provides fun, a chance for walking, bending, and maintaining flexibility. Even miniature golf allows for some of these tasks, so join the grandkids if you can.

Perhaps getting out to a golf course isn’t possible for you right now. Buy one of those mini-putting greens you can use indoors. Even these will improve your ability to move more freely.

Several times a day, make it a point to stop and work on a flexibility exercise. For instance, stretch your legs while sitting in the recliner. Do five or six mini leg lifts or stretch your arms over your head and hold them there for a count of ten. All activity, even simple ones, increases your ability to move freely and with less pain.

Check with your doctor about the exercises he or she suggests. You may be asked to visit a physical therapist who will work with you on improving your fitness. Therapists have some fun ideas on staying fitter simple games you can play in your home with your grandkids, like batting a balloon back and forth with a plastic racket. you’ll find yourself enjoying the exercise even more with your children around!

By making a simple choice each day of staying mobile as much as possible, you increase your chances of living a more independent life.

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NFL Playoff Brackets and Results 2012-2013

These are the results of the NFL playoffs as of January 19, 2013.  How are your NFL teams doing?  What are your predictions for the super bowl.  Will the AFC or the NFC prevail?

NFL Playoff Bracket and Results

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