Tattoo Mendem: exercise

Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Angelina Ballerina Twirling with Nigel Lythgoe, Larry King for Heart Health

Legendary talk show host, Larry King, has put on his dancing shoes to boogie down with Angelina Ballerina™ and Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer of “So You Think You Can Dance” and “American Idol,” in a new PSA that debuts in July celebrating the health benefits of dance. The PSA was produced by HIT Entertainment, one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers, and the Dizzy Feet Foundation, a national organization founded by Lythgoe, director/producer Adam Shankman, “Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba, and actress Katie Holmes, among others. The Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow PSA will be part of the overall Dance 4 Your Life!, a new national health campaign that was recently launched by the Larry King Cardiac Foundation and the Dizzy Feet Foundation, and asks Americans to dance their way toward an active and healthy lifestyle.

“I had an incredible time talking with my friends Nigel Lythgoe and Angelina Ballerina about dancing your way to good health,” said Larry King. “It is extremely important to spread the message of taking care of your heart. And what better way than to encourage people of all ages to have fun, get up and dance your way to a healthier life!"

The PSA spotlights dancing as a heart-healthy form of exercise and features Lythgoe and King being interviewed by Angelina Ballerina (sporting Larry’s signature suspenders and eyeglasses) about the benefits of dance at any age. After the interview, King and Lythgoe join Angelina in a rousing dance number. The PSA will be featured in an online campaign and social media campaign that will encompass kid-targeted websites, including the official Angelina Ballerina website,www.angelinaballerina.com.

King is the founder of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, which provides funding for life-saving cardiac procedures for individuals who, due to limited means and no insurance, would be otherwise unable to receive life saving treatment.

“The Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow program has been instrumental in encouraging young people to pursue their love of dance,” said Nigel Lythgoe. “Partnering with HIT Entertainment and Larry King, the Dizzy Feet Foundation continues to achieve its goal of promoting dance as a wonderful, healthy activity for people of all ages.”

In addition to the recently produced PSA, HIT’s Angelina Ballerina™ Stars of Tomorrow Program (AB Stars), in partnership with the Dizzy Feet Foundation, recently awarded scholarships to three dancers in the AB Stars program who have shown exceptional promise. From AB Stars dance programs hosted at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in New York City and the Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta, three young dancers each received a $2500 scholarship this past spring to continue their dance education.

“Through our PSAs and scholarship programs, the Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow program and the Dizzy Feet Foundation are reaching more and more youngsters who are embracing the power of dance,” said EJ Minor, Vice President, Marketing, HIT Entertainment. “We welcome Larry King as our newest ambassador to promote dance as a healthy form of exercise.”

The AB Stars program was inspired by Angelina Ballerina, a beloved publishing property created by Katherine Holabird and Helen Craig about a little mouse who works hard to reach her goals. Kicking off last year, the AB Stars program helps raise awareness for the benefits of dance by providing classes to children. Goals of the AB Stars program include helping to build confidence, inspiring creativity and promoting physical health, while making dance accessible to all children. To learn more about the Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow Program, visitwww.angelinaballerina.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Friday, June 17, 2011

Men's Health Month: Improve Heart Health with Wahoo Fitness

June is Men’s Health Month which was created to bring awareness of preventable health issues in men. With cardiovascular and heart disease as one of the leading causes of death among males, it’s important that men understand that activities such as running, cycling and other cardio workouts can help maintain heart health and prevent potential heart issues. Wahoo Fitness, a designer and manufacturer of wireless fitness sensors and accessories designed for use with smartphones, has created a line of products that utilize the iPhone or iPod touch to help men track fitness while staying in shape.

Here is a taste of some male-friendly products that are compatible with over 60 of the leading health and fitness apps:

Aerobar Bike Mount: For the cyclist who wants to mount the Wahoo Bike Case on a triathlon-specific bike, this product is the newest out of Wahoo’s line-up. Adjustable to accommodate a range of widths between aerobars, riders can easily view and track their progress at a quick downward glance. The device can be permanently or temporarily mounted ($14.99)

Wahoo Key: Reads data from any ANT+ sensor including stride sensors, bike speed, cadence sensors, heart rate, blood pressure monitors, etc. and merges real-time activity information with all iPhone and iPod touch functionality including favorite playlists and the best fitness apps ($79.99)

Heart Rate Sensor: Monitors exertion and heart rate of any activity via this accurate, reliable and comfortable strap. Integrated sensors transform electrical activity produced by the heart into digital information while soft fabric prevents misalignment, ensures comfort and prevents chafing ($49.99)

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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Book Review - Stover

About the Book

Parents worried about issues such as childhood obesity, bullying and the amount of time children spend plugged in have a friend and ally in Kathy Brodsky, a psychotherapist, poet and author of uplifting children's books. Her new book Stover, about a fit pig who exercises and eats right, is full of "helping words" that gently promote conversations about the issues today facing children and families.

"I've been a clinical social worker for 40 years and about 10 years ago, I started to write," says the New Hampshire-based author and mom of two grown sons whose works are found at www.Helpingwords.com. "All of my books have these wonderful questions in the back of them that pertain to the messages and the story, and they lead to further discussion for parents, teachers, and kids."

It's no wonder schools have used Kathy's books for week-long lessons. And Stover, featuring an adorable pig intent on staying fit, continues the conversation-starting style that made Kathy's previous books, My Bent Tree (2008) and The Inside Story (2009), hits with kids, parents and teachers.

Little Stover, as envisioned by Kathy and drawn by acclaimed illustrator Cameron Bennett, is "the cutest little pig you've ever seen," Kathy says.

"He's a pig who goes to the gym and he eats in a healthy way. And in the back of the book, we have questions about being fit and eating healthy foods. I think it's the most exciting book I've ever done."

Kathy's philosophy of helping kids and families talk about tough topics through gentle, encouraging "helping words" is summed up on her website — "Live, Laugh, and Learn with Kathy Brodsky." My Bent Tree (based upon the loving support Kathy received from her mom during a childhood battle with polio), The Inside Story and The Winner Is... all gently and playfully teach that diversity is beautiful and each person is valuable. The open-ended questions Kathy poses at the end of each book help parents and kids talk about issues such as bullying, peer pressure, self-esteem and friendship.

Now Stover, a minor character in The Winner Is..., takes center stage. The persistent pig brings Kathy's passion for encouraging healthy family lifestyles into the mix as he shows that anyone – even a pig – can be healthy.

"I wanted to show with Stover that even if you're not skinny-skinny you can be fit and healthy," she says.

An animal lover whose previous book Just Sniffing Around focused on a family's love for their dog, Kathy made Stover a pig to showcase the achievements of underdogs everywhere. Choosing a returning character from a previous book gives kids a comforting reassurance too, she says.

"It's like putting on a comfortable pair of slippers. I think familiarity is something very important for people because we all feel more comfortable with things we're familiar with," she says.

Stover also continues one of Kathy's signature themes started in her first book (for adults) Moments in Our Lives (2004): Everything in life is connected.

"You never know where something can lead, and one thing leads to the next which leads to the next," she says.

Visit Kathy Brodsky's public website at: www.Helpingwords.com

My Take on the Book
Stover is a happy little pig. He enjoys playing in the mud, but then quickly cleans up and heads to the gym to exercise.

Stover is the epitome of a healthy lifestyle. He chooses nutritious food to eat for breakfast like oatmeal and fruit. Stover enjoys snacks which include vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and water.

As Stover enters the gym he encounters many friends. He uses different kinds of equipment and participates in different classes to exercise. Stover hikes on the stair climber, races on a bicycle, uses a mat for yoga, runs on the treadmill, takes a step to use for aerobics class, and lastly Stover is on a swim team and swims laps.

Stover is a pig, but Stover is a fit pig. Through this story the author uses rhyme and helpful suggestions to encourage you and your child to choose a healthy way to live. Notice at the end of the story there are many good discussion questions.

This is a delightful book to share with a child. It is one that should lead to a discussion about exercise and how exercise can become a part of your life. Enjoy this story!

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Monday, April 25, 2011

Product Review - Aerobie Sprint Flying Ring

The History of the Aerobie® Brand

During the 70′s and early 80′s while working as a consulting engineer and teaching part time at Stanford University, Alan Adler invented toys in his spare time and licensed his ideas to toy companies. Alan was also an avid sailor who taught himself aerodynamics in order to be able to design sailboats. His love of inventing toys and his new found knowledge of aerodynamics led him into the pursuit of better flying toys.

He began his interest in flying toys by studying ways to improve conventional flying discs that are descendents of the old Frisbee pie tins. His analysis and experimental work led him to the discovery that flying rings rather than discs have an advantage when it comes to balancing aerodynamic lift over a wide range of speeds. (See Alan’s paper for a more detailed explanation.) His work led him to a series of flying ring inventions. The first was the Skyro ring that he licensed to Parker Brothers.

Alan designed and built the first prototype of the Aerobie ring with its spoiler rim that balances lift over a wide range of throwing speeds in early 1984. The first throw of the Aerobie ring on Roble Field at Stanford showed Alan he had something special. The ring flew straight and true for an incredible distance, "as if sliding on an invisible sheet of ice." Onlookers were amazed.

The Founding of Aerobie, Inc.
Alan knew the Aerobie ring could be a hit. He also knew the flying performance of the Aerobie ring was going to be dependent on maintaining aerospace quality standards in the manufacturing processes. He therefore founded Superflight, Inc (now Aerobie, Inc.). in 1984 to manufacture and sell his high performance sport toy inventions beginning with the Aerobie flying ring. For its first 20 years of existence, Aerobie Inc. was officially named Superflight, Inc. However, in recognition of the fact that all of the products were named Aerobie and everybody knew the company as Aerobie, as of 2005, our company’s name is officially Aerobie, Inc.

Aerobie, Inc. Today
Aerobie, Inc. is still owned by Alan and he still works on inventing new, exciting sport toys. They now manufacture thirteen Aerobie brand products and sell them through retailers of all types throughout the United States and to distributors in over thirty countries. All Aerobie brand sport toys are known for their extraordinary performance and quality. Their warehousing, packing, and shipping are all done in San Carlos, California.

The Future of Aerobie, Inc.
The company is always looking for new and exciting products. Since their first two golf discs, released in the Summer of 2003, have been quite popular, they expect to continue to develop their presence as a golf disc manufacturer.

They make the spectacular Aerobie Sprint flying rings that can turn an hour of exercise into an hour of fun for any group of kids or grown-ups. That hour of fun can spread into a family activity that gets everybody together and moving in a fantastic game of catch. Sprint rings are great for kids 7 and up!

My Take on the Product
My family loves to get outside and have fun together. This disc is so much fun! I call it a disc because it is so much more than a frisbee. This disc flew so far, I was completely amazed and I kept challenging the disc, pushing myself and the disc o go further. I even took the disc to a local football field to try it out and the disc performed, I mean it really performed. I was able to get it thrown from almost one end to the other. Never before have I seen a disc that can fly as far or as well as this disc. Be careful in high wind areas as the wind can really carry this disc far, even when you don't want it to. As a parent, I loved this disc as it truly encouraged my kids to have fun outside, and though it only seemed like minutes outside, we actually were outside for over an hour!

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Monday, April 18, 2011

Get Fit America for Kids: Inspiring Conscious Happy Active Children

By Scott Cole

I have been working with children since 1986, and in those early years I worked with suicide prevention teens in the Dallas area---to this date the toughest audience in my career. I mention this because sometimes adults feel that a child may just be “lost” and that what we are doing for them is perhaps not “breaking through” and never will.

Believe me, that is a common feeling to have, and certainly faced with what we see in America today---children who are morbidly obese, diabetic, medicated, and experiencing ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), it is no wonder that adults and parents feel frustrated, which seems to be pushing us farther from what we need to be doing---and that is reversing this ugly sad uninspired trend of cutting time and funds for music, art, and physical education.

I can share unequivocally that when given the chance to move, express, and learn something new and different like Yoga and Tai Chi, children respond, not always when and how you want them to, but trust me, the seeds are planted and these mindful movement programs make a huge difference. By the end of my term with the suicide prevention teens, I remember one girl coming up to me, hugging me crying, “Don’t leave, I love it when you come see us.” I never forgot that.

Let us consider what are children are NOT getting:

Healthy, organic, soil-grown food that for the most part could prevent adult-onset diabetes and obesity.
Movement in all forms: Dance, Yoga, Tai Chi, Physical Education and PLAY every day. Children NEED to breathe, move, express, scream, and ultimately experience healthy quiet time.
Nature Experience: Outdoors, or certainly learning about Nature through “field trips” as we used to call them.
Healthy levels of TOUCH, both from adults and their peers. Activities that involve touch and physical/social communication are needed now more than ever as children bury their heads in video games, computers, cell phones, instead of looking into the eyes of their friends and touching each other in healthy play or activity.
Support at home and in school: The United States is #36 on the longevity list worldwide (tied with Cuba according to the United Nations list), and is the most obese nation on Earth. This translates into adults who have the same issues in charge of making decisions to prevent the current generation from having the problems we have.

America’s current in-home and educational landscape isn’t coming close to any viable solution until concerned adults (WE) take charge of it at ALL levels.

Let us consider addressing what children today NEED:

First off, we need to make it MANDATORY that organic REAL food is served in schools, and have the children take an active part in learning about food, crops, and conscious farming. No more corn subsidized fructose corn syrup in drinks and fruit cocktails, no more packaged nutrient-less slop, no more low-quality after-thought beef and chicken fingers, and all soda machines should be eliminated. Not the most popular decision I know, but AMERICA IS ADDICTED to this “STUFF” that isn’t real food, and our bodies are in rebellion. If children had normal levels of blood sugar, and are not doctored up by medication or addictive fast-food and sugars, ADHD would be reduced and we would start to see healthy alert, active children re-emerging. The problem arises in budget and corporations that bid for these contracts, promising more for less dollars, and inevitably it is about profit, not about providing great food for our kids.
If anything should be subsidized by the government, it should be food for our public schools, but organized by a non-corporate committee of nutritionists, parents, organic farmers, and educators.
Next, we need to implement all forms of movement and PE in schools: Yoga, Tai Chi, Sports, Kickball, and Creative Play. We just need to get our kids moving and playing again! Whoever decided that eliminating PE would make our children “study more” has never dealt with children. Once children play, emote, and express, they are more likely to actually WANT to sit down and read a book, study, or be quiet.
Children need to learn more about their surroundings, from farming to crops to geography to nature. Whenever I do the Get Fit America in-school assemblies, I teach barefoot, and if allowed by the school, the children are allowed to take their shoes off too. This ALONE is a big adventure that gets the children excited to play and learn. It still amazes me that something so natural and simple is not the norm anymore. We talk about feeling the earth, listening to and becoming aware of Nature, and how our bodies are designed to touch and feel through the feet and hands, all incorporated with the movement and exercise.
Touch is vital for any person. Touch deprivation can contribute to depression, loneliness, and anti-social behavior that can manifest in a lifetime of discomfort around others. After I have the children moving for awhile in the school assemblies, I then introduce a Partnered section of the program where the children get to touch, do mirrored-image movement, and learn to stretch and trust each other. I tell them, “If you let go of your partner you are letting go of yourself.” Most of them get the lesson.
Adults need to do their part and understand that even if we don’t get the lessons of healthy living, it is VITAL for us to make choices that will influence our children for the better.

American obesity is an addiction, and adult onset diabetes is preventable, so unless we want to watch people age, become medically dependent, become lethargic, depressed, and inactive, then we need to turn this big ship around and get back on course to dock in an environment that will have clean pure water, organic healthy food, mindful exercise and creative encouragement as standard fuel for a healthy life.

Parents, teachers, educators, and concerned adults need to play an active part in each community, as part of an expressive society that both honors and cherishes our children enough to give them the tools to become the healthiest, most mindful, articulate, compassionate generation ever.

Get Fit America TOP TEN ACTIVITY MOTIVATORS FOR KIDS

Walk: Anywhere, anytime, with friends and supervised if needed
Jump Rope: Great for coordination and fun to do
Dance: Learn a new Hip-Hop routine and perform it
Play Sports: Solo and interactive, wonderful for social skills and self-esteem
Stretch or Do Yoga: Different poses are fun to try, learning proper breathing and focus
Learn Martial Arts: Tai chi, taekwondo, karate, judo teach self-respect and discipline
Garden and Build: Dig holes, build a flowerbed, create a stone pathway, plant, get your hands in the soil
Get Active Outdoors: Create an obstacle course, hopscotch, climb trees, hike
Play in the Water: Lakes, beaches, and pools, enjoy swimming, building sandcastles, tromping through the mud
Sketch, Draw, or Create: Draw your favorite Yoga pose, sketch your feelings, see www.getfitamerica.us to see other children’s drawings from the school assemblies

Scott Cole is a former National Aerobic Champion, star of Abs of Steel, and creator of the top-selling Discover Tai Chi series for adults. His work with children began in 1986 with suicide-prevention abused children, which won him an AFAA Notable Award. Cole continued to fine-tune his in-school assemblies and has taught children in Texas, California, Florida, Connecticut, Maryland, and Wisconsin.

Get Fit America for Kids original NAPPA Award-winning workout DVD and the ALL-NEW Get Fit America for Kids LIVE!!! Adults for Kids Educational DVD is available through www.scottcole.com and www.getfitamerica.us .

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