These are a few good resistance band exercises that will help improve speed and agility. Brandon Roy is using a resistance band that attaches around his ankles and performs a split squat jump working on explosiveness. He also performs a resistance band walking lunge with a medicine ball rotation working on hip flexibility, leg strength, and obliques.
These are a few basketball drills that focus on speed, agility, and hand-eye coordination using a tennis ball. (Presented by Alan Stein)
These are a few ball handling drills to warm-up to. This video has good dribbling and ball handling progressions. It starts with beginner drills and moves to more advanced ball handling drills. (Presented by Kevin Sutton)
Over the past few months I have started to workout again. In the past, when I worked out, I found myself doing the same free weights and the same weight machines, and after awhile I was bored with the whole workout routine. I am sure I am not the only one that finds themselves in the weight room looking for that alternative workout. Well when I was out at a school in Somonauk, Illinois. I was student teaching a Lifetime Fitness class. I had a cooperating teacher that gave me insight to a whole new world off workout routines, and together we started to find more and more alternative workouts for those students. The alternative workouts I am referring to is "Cross Fit." These workouts require little to no equipment and can be done in less than a half hour. Which was great because our class was 44 minutes long. We had more and more students trying the challenging cross fit routines. The students each time walked away enjoying the challenging workout, and came back the next day checking the board for their next challenge.
Cross fit is defined as:
Creating the “quintessential athlete” is the goal of CrossFit Training. It is a fitness training method that employs strength and conditioning, and involves a combination of gymnastics, sprinting, and weightlifting. Though it is not sport-specific, it promotes both broad and general overall fitness. The programs are performed in high intensity fashion and are based on functional movement, with workouts lasting 20 minutes or less in duration. Also, the method does not employ the use of any type of weight machines.
Where standard fitness training focuses on maybe a half dozen fitness domains, CrossFit requires proficient achievement in 10, specifically:
The method employs various calisthenics, free weights, gymnastic rings, kettlebells, and pull-up bars. Athletes are required to perform a variety of activities including carrying odd objects, flipping giant tires, jumping up on boxes, rope climbing, rowing, running, and skipping. Athletes have to perform at a fast and hard pace, oftentimes with no rest, and gymnasiums designated strictly as CrossFit gyms use ranking and scoring systems in order to transform the regimen into a sport.
CrossFit also certifies its own trainers and publishes its own journal. The naysayers of the methodology basically define it as an insurgent type of movement wherein conventional fitness wisdom needs to be questioned. Introductory classes are available and called either Boot Camp or Elements of CrossFit. The adaptations of CrossFit are categorized as follows:
CrossFit for Athletes CrossFit for Kids CrossFit for Seniors CrossFit for Soldiers in Austere Environments CrossFit in the Park
Fitness professionals and sportswriters are critical of CrossFit because so much intensity and technique are required, that it is felt that the participants are constantly at high risk of injuring themselves. The response to the criticism is that CrossFit cites the key element of its methodology, namely that workouts are scaled and varied on an individual basis. CrossFit also has an extremely high drop-out rate (nearly 80%) which opens the method up to even more criticism.
The common response to the critical remarks is that the competitive atmosphere and high intensity is not for everyone, claiming that the high drop-out rate is the same at conventional gyms. CrossFit also criticizes the conventional method saying that clients rely on machines, pay up front for memberships that are oftentimes abandoned early, and record minimal gains in performance.
CrossFit proponents see their training as a way to build whole-body functional fitness coupled with preparing a person for most physical challenges. This is contrary to the views of medical experts who view exercise as a habit that promotes health and nothing else. The CrossFit method involves a variety of sports and training techniques that builds functional fitness by prescribing a versatile, yet diverse exercise program. This exercise training method has become very popular, and is the technique of choice for both the US Navy Seals and decathlon training.
Above article is from: http://www.crossfitinfo.com/
So if you are looking for that alternative challenging workout try out Cross Fit. It is an intense full body workout that will challenge you every time. I enjoy a few of the following Cross Fit workouts, and perform them regularly, cross fit black jack, cross fit baseball, and my favorite... cross fit "Fran." These workouts can be modified to meet your needs and intensity. Such as altering weights and time. Then as you progress you can increase your weight or time. Other cross fit workouts challenge you to do a specific amount of rounds as you time yourself. This is the challenge that some may be looking for. The reward would be timing yourself and then the next time you do that workout try to improve upon your time. If this sounds like its for you check out http://www.crossfit.com/ and begin training today.
-Use a box and a physioball/stability ball -Keep Body in the Plank Position -Squeeze the ball with fingers towards the ground -Focus on balance and control -2x12
Cross Fit:
Deck of Cards:
Face cards are 10 Aces are 11 Numbered cards as valued
Pick a card and perform the movement and the number of reps specified....Cycle through the whole deck.
Hearts= Push-ups Diamonds= Ab Crickets Spades= Burpees Clubs= Squats
The snow is falling and that means an excellent chance for a full body workout. Yes I am talking about that never ending task during the winter months... Shoveling Snow. Shoveling snow can be a good chance to get a full body workout, when done with a shovel, but there is also a chance for injury. When you shovel snow you are exerting force, lifting a heavy load, and using various muscle groups. You are also working in a cold climate, the cold air makes it harder to work and breathe, which may add extra strain to your body.
The following article from: http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/work_out/a2003-10-23-a2003-10-23-shovelsnow.html ... gives many good tips to think about before going out to shovel, no matter your age or health.
Seasonal Fitness: Shovel Snow Safely Who doesn't love to gaze at beautiful, freshly fallen snow? But shoveling it is a whole different ball game.
Done properly and safely, shoveling snow can be a great workout. But shoveling the wrong way can cause back strain or injury - even a heart attack.
Researchers have reported an increase in fatal heart attacks among snow shovelers after heavy snowfalls, according to Julie Garden-Robinson, assistant professor in the Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences Department at North Dakota State University.
Like weight lifting, which also requires you to exert a lot of energy without much movement, "snow shoveling may cause a quick increase in heart rate and blood pressure," says Garden-Robinson. One study found that after only two minutes of shoveling, the heart rates of physically inactive men rose higher than those normally recommended during aerobic exercise.
Playing It Safely Of course, not everyone who shovels snow is at risk for having a heart attack. But people who smoke or have a history of heart trouble, pain, back problems, or other ongoing health concerns need to be really careful, says Nicholas DiNubile, MD, a spokesman for the American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons and medical consultant for the Philadelphia 76ers. "Check with your doctor because it's [shoveling] a very vigorous, demanding activity on your muscular and cardiovascular system."
As with any physical activity, it's also a good idea to warm up your muscles before exerting them. This will keep you from straining them and hurting yourself. Walk around a bit or march in place for a few minutes. Then stretch your back, arms and legs.
Bending forward, backwards, and to each side will help loosen up your back. DiNubile suggests lying on your back and bringing your knees to your chest.
Your back is especially vulnerable when you first wake up, DeNubile says. That's because your muscles stiffen after you've been lying in bed for six or more hours. The discs in your back also refill with fluid during the night, which makes them easier to pop when you exert yourself, much like an overfull water balloon.
So if you're heading out to shovel the driveway to go to work, be sure you warm up your lower back first. Taking a warm shower helps too.
Other rules also apply. For instance, drink enough water before, during, and after your shoveling. "Dehydration is just as big an issue in cold winter months as it is in summer," says Garden-Robinson.
And avoid caffeine or nicotine, since these stimulants can increase your heart rate and cause your blood vessels to narrow, which puts extra stress on your heart.
Also be sure to dress properly for the weather. Wearing layers that you can peel off once you work up a sweat will help you avoid getting overheated. Gloves, a hat, a scarf to protect your face, and waterproof boots that keep you from slipping, should be part of your shoveling wardrobe.
Here are some other tips to make shoveling easier and safer:
Get a good shovel. Look for a lighter-weight shovel that suits your size. A smaller shovel will allow you to scoop up less snow at a time and avoid getting hurt. DeNubile says shovels with a bend in them, as opposed to the straight, broomstick-type style, are better for your lower back.
Pace yourself. Start shoveling soon after newly fallen snow since it is lighter than wet, heavily packed snow, and take small breaks (shovel an inch or two, rest, and repeat). Start out slowly to avoid putting too much stress on your heart all at once.
Push, rather than lift. When you can, try pushing the snow away from you, rather than lifting it, to avoid straining or twisting your back. Look for a shovel with a blade that makes it easier to push snow.
Use your legs. If you must lift snow, fill your shovel no more than half full. Bend your knees and lift with your legs, rather than your back. Keep your back straight. Avoid throwing snow over your shoulder or to the side, which causes your back to twist and can injure your shoulders.
Watch for ice. Look out for ice under the snow or on the ground that can cause you to slip and fall. Black ice, which looks like water but is actually thin ice, can be especially dangerous.
Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask someone to help you if it's a huge job, says DeNubile. "Clean some of it yourself but don't feel like you have to do it all."
Listen to your body. If you feel tightness in your chest or have any pain, stop right away and call your doctor. If you're sore after shoveling, take a hot bath, get a massage, or take a pain reliever, says DiNubile. If you still don't feel well, see your doctor.
Finally, a good fitness program that builds strength and endurance can make shoveling snow a lot easier for you, according to DiNubile. "A year-round conditioning program really prevents injuries and problems."
Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, National Safety Council, North Dakota State University Extension Service
So remember to stay safe during these next few winter months, and take the extra precautions before going out to shovel. Remember to warm-up your body and stretch before shoveling to prevent back injury. Wear proper clothing, use your legs when heavy lifting, push rather than lift when possible, and most of all enjoy this joyous alternative workout.
-Palms start by facing you -As you push the weight up rotate your palms aways from you -Full arm extension above your head -Rotate palms back to facing you as you bring the weight back down -Slow controlled movement
When lifting many people often focus on the front of their bodies and often forget about the back. The posterior chain made up of your calves, glutes, hamstrings, and lower back are an important area to improve upon in your daily exercise plan. These muscles help athletes in improving overall performance (such as deceleration, later movement, and hip flexion), but also help in improving those constantly injured areas (lower back and knee). If you are a non-athlete these muscles are constantly used in everday work and can help with around the house chores where a bent back, heavy lifting, or twisting takes place. The importance of a well rounded workout is important. Below are some exercises that will help you strengthen your posterior chain.
Start focusing on form with low weight.
Exercises: 1. Dynamic stretching before any activity. This works on balance, skill performance, and muscle flexibility while warming up for activity.
2. Static stretching after any activity. This old school type of stretching should not be performed before activity due to it's negative effect on muscle performance.
3. Supine Bridges Back & heels on the floor. Knees bent at 90°. Curl your toes up. Lift your hips by squeezing your glutes until your body is straight from knees to shoulders. Hold for 5 seconds, come back down, repeat.
4.Mule Kicks. Bend over on a bench. Face down & hands on the floor. Kick 1 leg back & up by extending your hip and squeezing your glute. Hold the contraction for 5 seconds and come back. Repeat for 10 reps, switch legs.
* Don’t Use Your Lower Back. Keep your spine neutral. Brace your abs hard as if someone would punch you in the stomach. * Don’t Use Your Hamstrings. Squeeze your glutes hard while extending your hips. You can bend your knee. * Quality not Quantity. The goal is not get as high as possible, the goal is to squeeze your glute as hard as you can. Lead with your glute.
5. Birddogs. Get on all 4s. Arms & thighs perpendicular to the floor. Brace your abs as if someone is going to punch you in the stomach. Extend your hip while extending your opposite arm.
* Keep Your Spine Neutral. Don’t hyper-extend or arch your lower back. Brace your abs. Put a water bottle on your lower back for feedback. * Quality not Quantity. If you can’t do them correctly, keep both arms on the floor. If that’s still too hard, go back to mule kicks.
6. Fire Hydrants. Get on all 4s. Arms & thighs perpendicular to the floor. Lift 1 leg to the side by contracting your glute. Press your heel back by extending your leg. Come back. Repeat. This is a mix of birddogs & clams.
* Keep Your Spine Neutral. Don’t hyper-extend/arch/rotate your lower back. Keep your abs braced. * Don’t Use Your Hamstrings. Cramps in your hamstrings means you’re not using your glutes. Squeeze your glutes as hard as you can. * Quality not Quantity. The goal is not to go fast or doing a lot of reps. The goal is squeezing your glutes. Hold each position. Source:http://stronglifts.com/how-to-optimize-posterior-chain-power-glute-activation/
7. Romanian Deadlifts
8. Barbell Good Mornings
9. Dumbbell Deadlifts and Back Extension -Dumbbell Deadlift focus on pushing through your heals -Back extensions focus on staying long and tall -Slow and controlled movement
Place your hands under your hips. Lift your legs 6 inches off the floor and begin walking, raising each leg approximately 36 inches off the ground. Keep your legs straight and moving. This is a four count exercise.
Cross Fit: (source: US Tactical/navyseals.com)
-100 Sit-Ups -100 Flutter Kicks (4 Count) -100 Leg Levers
Leg Levers Lift your feet 6 inches off the floor. Raising both legs approximately 36 inches off the ground, keep your legs straight and off the floor until specified number of repetitions are complete. (source: http://www.military.com/military-fitness/workouts/achieving-washboard-abs)
When it comes to fast food there are many ongoing debates. Which fast food chain has a better burger or chicken nuggets. Or Which fast food chain has better fountain drinks. In the end I wanted to know which fast food chain is the healthiest for the consumer. Fast food and healthy don't go together, but it is hard to stay away when you need that quick bite to eat and you are crunched on time. Today we are going to look at McDonald's and Wendy's. I think both have a strong say in who has the best chicken nuggets and they both have some good BBQ sauce. Lets take a closer look at what meal is going to be healthier. I checked out the nutrition facts for McDonald's at http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/bagamcmeal/nutrition_facts.html
10 Piece white meat chicken McNuggets- 460 calories 29 grams of fat Medium French Fry - 380 calories 19 grams of fat Medium Coca Cola - 210 calories 0 grams of fat
Total Meal= 1050 calories and 48 grams of fat
Now let's take a look at the challenger: Wendy's http://www.wendys.com/food/NutritionLanding.jsp
10 piece Chicken Nuggets - 460 calories 30 grams of fat Medium French Fry - 430 calories 20 grams of fat Medium Coca Cola - 210 Calories 0 grams of fat
Total Meal = 1100 calories and 50 gram of fat
And the winner is.... McDonald's by 50 calories and 2 grams of fat
When looking at both these meals from both fast food chains you need to really rethink that quick stop for a bite to eat. If you are in real need of a fast food chicken nugget meal, McDonald's is your healthier choice. You should also realize in that meal you are getting, 73% daily value of your grams of fat and 1050 calories, which depending on how often you exercise could be 1/2 or 1/3 of your daily caloric intake. I am guilty of making that quick stop every now and again, but I feel that in moderation it is okay.
Don't let this be you...
NEW YORK (CNN) -- A federal judge Thursday threw out a class-action lawsuit by two Bronx teenagers claiming McDonald's used false advertising and that the chain's food made them fat and contributed to their health problems.
The plaintiffs' lawyers claimed unknown ingredients and processing made foods such as french fries, Chicken McNuggets and Filet-O-Fish sandwiches damaging to consumers' health.
"The plaintiffs have made no explicit allegations that they witnessed any particular deceptive advertisement, and they have not provided McDonald's with enough information to determine whether its products are the cause of the alleged injuries," said U.S. District Court Judge Robert Sweet.
"Finally, the one advertisement which plaintiffs implicitly allege to have caused their injuries is objectively non-deceptive."
Sweet ruled the plaintiffs could not re-file the lawsuit.
In January, the judge dismissed the first version of the suit, saying the plaintiffs failed to show McDonald's food was "dangerous in any way other than that which was open and obvious to a reasonable consumer."
But Sweet allowed the plaintiffs' attorneys file again after they revised the suit to try to establish the existence of dangers "not commonly well known."
Sweet said in his first ruling that McDonald's cannot be blamed by consumers who choose to eat there.
"If a person knows or should know that eating copious orders of super-sized McDonald's products is unhealthy and may result in weight gain," Sweet wrote in January, "it is not the place of the law to protect them from their own excesses."
"We trusted that common sense would prevail in this case, and it did," McDonald's spokeswoman Lisa Howard said in a statement released from the company's Oak Brook, Illinois, headquarters.
"Today's dismissal is further recognition that the courtroom is not the appropriate forum to address this important issue.
"McDonald's food can fit into a healthy, well-balanced diet based upon the choice and variety available on our menu."
The company said more than 20 million people eat at McDonald's in the United States every day.
"I think you should contact my lawyer. He has my reaction," Roberta Pelman, mother of plaintiff Ashley Pelman, told CNN. The plaintiffs' lawyer, Samuel Hirsch, said he had no comment.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/09/04/mcdonalds.suit/
Since then, McDonald's has changed many things in their kitchen, they have done away with the super sized meal, changed their chicken nuggets to all white meat, and changed the oil they use with their french fries, nuggets, and fish fillets. At least we are seeing some positive health changes in the fast food industry.
Next head to head challenge: Which fast food chain has the healthier double cheese burger... Coming Soon.
Agility Agility is the ability to change the direction of the body in an efficient and effective manner and to achieve this you require a combination of:
Balance The ability to maintain equilibrium when stationary or moving (i.e. not to fall over) through the coordinated actions of our sensory functions (eyes, ears and the proprioceptive organs in our joints)
Static Balance - ability to retain the centre of mass above the base of support in a stationary position
Dynamic Balance - ability to maintain balance under changing conditions of body movement
Speed the ability to move all or part of the body quickly
Strength the ability of a muscle or muscle group to overcome a resistance
Co-ordination the ability to control the movement of the body in co-operation with the body's sensory functions e.g. catching a ball (ball, hand and eye co-ordination)
How do we improve agility? We can improve our agility by improving the component parts of agility (listed above) and practicing the movements in training.
Agility Ladder In various fields of sports competition, the body is constantly asked to perform movements from unfamiliar joint angles. The main objective for agility ladder programs is to promote a wide range of different foot and movement patterns. These skilled movements become second nature and the body is able to respond quickly to various angles that are required in sporting events.
We can improve our agility by practicing the movements in training and an agility ladder is an essential tool in a complete agility program. The standard ladder is 10 yards long with 18 inch squares but you can construct your own ladder using sticks or tape.
When beginning an agility ladder program start with 2 to 4 drills and once you master these then introduce new drills.
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/agility.htm
These are some videos of speed and agility ladders drills that you can try in your workouts. Speed and agility workouts will carry over into your sport and developing these attributes can make a major difference to your performance on and off the court/playing field.
*Start with low reps and low speed/movements and work your way up to higher reps and faster, quicker movements, this will help to build up your joints and muscles surrounding those joints.*
The frequently asked questions are "How do I increase my vertical jump?" and "How do I increase my speed?" If you work to increase one, you will always increase the other. These are areas that take hard work and consistency to improve upon. The following article will give you some insight on where to begin on your quest to improve upon these areas or to find your elusive magic bullet as the author of the article calls it.
This is an article from http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kelly11.htm By: Kelly Baggett
One question I'm probably asked more then any other is, "What is the best exercise to improve my vertical jump?" Or, "What is the best exercise to improve my speed?" A lot of people think there's some secret exercise or movement that will turn them into explosive superstars overnight. In truth, there is and that exercise is called consistency and hard work!
If you aren't willing to put forth consistent effort no single exercise will give you what you want. Having said that, there are many quality exercises that will enable you to focus on the specific targets that your workouts must hit and save you gobbles of time in the process of achieving your performance goals.
In this article I'll attempt to shed some light on these questions and help you avoid going round and round playing a game of pin the tail on the donkey searching for that elusive magic bullet. I'll give you some of the top proven exercises for both speed and vertical jump improvement.
Instead of wasting your time I'll break speed and leaping ability down and show you the exact qualities your workouts must target and then give you the secrets, or exercises, that will enable you to hit those targets and make the most of your training time.
A lot of you may wonder if the exercises to improve one area (speed or jump) work to improve the other. In fact, the ability to accelerate quickly and jump high correlate very well with each other.
Any time you train to improve your vertical, you'll nearly always notice you also get faster and vice versa.
This is because the qualities of strength required are very similar. In fact, due to this, you can many times get faster without running, and jump higher without jumping, as long as you're enhancing the type(s) of strength required in each through your training regimen.
To prove this all you have to do is take a look around. Have you ever seen a good sprinter who can't jump high and a good leaper who's slow as molasses? Me neither.
First understand that there really can't be a single best exercise for everyone because different training means have different effects and the type of strength that one person needs to improve his or her speed and jumping ability may be the opposite of what another needs. For example, someone who's lacking in basic strength will get great results with common strength exercises such as the squat.
Another person might have plenty of strength, but not enough "spring", so an exercise like depth jumps will be his best training tool while the squats will do far less.
Understand that different training means have different influences on speed and vertical jumping ability. Speed and jumping ability both require an athlete to display large amounts of power. If you've read the power training article you know that power is a combination of strength and speed.
Power = Strength x Speed
When performing a sprint, you can think of power as the amount of force that you apply into the ground with each stride. Obviously the greater the force, the more ground you're going to cover with each stride. This is what is responsible for your stride length. Your stride length is then combined with your stride frequency, or, the speed at which you cycle your legs when you sprint, to determine your running speed.
So, you can increase your speed by either increasing your stride length or increasing your stride frequency with the largest potential increases coming from an increase in stride length, where power is of utmost importance.
In the vertical jump, you can again think of power as the amount of force you put into the ground at toe-off, which is responsible for the speed at which you leave the ground and the height that you jump. The more power you apply with respect to your bodyweight - the higher you're going to go - And with respect to technique - that's about all there is to it!
Time Of Force Application
Realize in a sprint you have anywhere from .10 to .20 seconds to apply maximal power with each foot-strike. As you accelerate you have about .20 seconds but as you gain top speed and your stride frequency increases your legs naturally move faster so you only have about .10 seconds when running at top speed.
In the vertical jump you only have about .20 seconds to apply max power. This is why the ability to jump high and the ability to accelerate quickly have such a good correlation.
No matter what it all comes down to hard work, consistency and finding the exercises that will work for you. Some exercises that the article talks about are the squat and depth jumps. Other exercises to look into are lateral box jumps, regular box jumps, box blasts, good mornings, depth drops. These exercises will help you increase your leg strength and your overall speed, which will carry over to increase your leg power. (Power = Strength x Speed) With these increases, you will see a higher vertical and a quicker first step.
The above videos are good demonstrations of some exercises that may help you in your quest to jump higher and run faster (acceleration). A lot of these exercises over lap and work some of the same muscle groups, start with working on form of the exercise using light weight, high reps for muscular endurance, and then work your way up to a higher weight with lower reps to build/gain muscle. In the end vertical jump and speed go hand in hand.
With the many gaming systems out there and with winter and the holidays around the corner, here is a look at a good way to start fitness and stay off the couch (for adults and children) while playing your game system. The nintendo wii and wii fit have been hard to find since its release, here is an article from: http://reporting.journalism.ku.edu/summer08/utsler/2008/07/nintendo_wii_does_it_have_heal.html
The article talks about some benefits the wii and wii fit bring to the table.
With the Wii fit's popularity, recent release and of course being an exercise game people are turning to the Wii fit to get their allotted exercise. Even the Westin Hotel chain has started to use them in their WestinWORKOUT program. But with the increasing popular of the Wii fit, some are skeptical about whether it provides any health benefits at all.
The Wii fit allows a person to exercise using a balance board choosing from 40 different exercise games in four categories: yoga, aerobics, balance and strength training. Wii fit allows you to create your own character called a Mii and track your fitness progress through your Body Mass Index (BMI). People can play many games like hula hoop, boxing, running, yoga, basic aerobics and more.
But while many people and places are using the Wii fit for their exercising, experts don’t know actually how much the Wii fit can help people lose weight and stay healthy. Experts believe spending 15 to 30 minutes on a Wii game will not expend the energy that is the same as six to eight hours like a regular workout gives people. The overall feeling of the Wii fit is that it’s not a alternative to regular exercise but could be a great complement or way to starting exercising.
“Electronic games like the Wii are not substitutes for regular exercise. They cannot give you the same workout as a regular workout,” said Joseph Donnelly, Director of Energy Balance Laboratory at the University of Kansas.
While experts say the Wii fit can’t replace regular exercise, they see some benefits from the Wii fit and the Wii itself. It’s a good way to burn calories, help with arthritis, get into exercising and more.
John Moores University conducted a study on the Wii itself and figured out that while the games burn a good amount of calories it’s not comparable to actual workouts. For example a game of Wii tennis burns approximately 179 calories per hour, while an actual game of tennis burns 270 calories per hour. But while the Wii doesn’t compare to actual activities greatly, it does beat out its big rival the Xbox. By burning more calories while playing it rather than the Xbox does.
The Nintendo Wii has also released new games for the wii fit balance board, such as Shaun White Snowboarding and Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2008. The following video shows the new Shaun White snowboarding trailer, and talks about how the game has incorporated the wii balance board into the game play.
Hopefully there will be more games to come for the nintendo wii and wii balance board, to keep you off your couch and busy through these winter months.
-Straddle feet and place hands on hips in starting position -Squat Down, touch the ground, and then jump as high as possible -Squat Down, touch the ground again, and then return to starting position -Never Bend at the Waist to touch the ground 1x5 at a slow cadence to start
Definition of Yoga: state of union between two opposites - body and mind; individual and universal consciousness; a process of uniting the opposing forces in the body and mind in order to achieve supreme awareness and enlightenmentWhat yoga can do for you
The physical benefits: Creates a toned, flexible, and strong body. Improves respiration, energy, and vitality. Helps to maintain a balanced metabolism. Promotes cardio and circulatory health. Relieves pain. Helps you look and feel younger than your age. Improves your athletic performance.
The mental benefits: Helps you relax and handle stressful situations more easily. Teaches you how to quiet the mind so you can focus your energy where you want it to go - into a difficult yoga pose, on the tennis court or golf course, or in the office. Encourages positive thoughts and self-acceptance.
The spiritual benefits: Builds awareness of your body, your feelings, the world around you, the needs of others. Promotes an interdependence between mind, body, and spirit. Helps you live the concept of "oneness." http://www.yogamovement.com/
Rooting for Jim Larranaga for 2013 NCAA Tournament
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It's the eve of the NCAA tournament 2013 edition, and I realize I haven't
posted in a long while. Seeing that is Spring Break for me, I thought I
should po...
Be willing to share
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If you've found just one item of value on this blog over the last year or
so, then it's been worth it. I've certainly enjoyed it. Even more, I've
enjoyed i...
