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Aerobics Some people cringe each time they hear their aerobics instructor say, "Only eight more." Others get that adrenaline rush after cycling up their local mountain. You can utilize the Net to find information about all forms of aerobic activity and talk to other aerobics fans who will remind you that all your efforts are worthwhile. Web:
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Ashtanga Yoga Ashtanga is a type of yoga practice, sometimes referred to as Power Yoga. According to the tradition of the yoga teacher Patanjali, the full study of yoga involves eight areas, and the name ashtanga comes from the Sanskrit words for "eight limbs". Actually, ashtanga yoga, like most schools of yoga, concerns itself primarily with two of these eight areas: asanas (yoga poses) and pranayama (control of the breath). The practice of ashtanga yoga consists of performing a long series of postures, integrated with a specific type of breathing. I have studied ashtanga yoga for a long time, and I do some every morning. Ashtanga yoga is hard to master -- it takes proper instruction and a lot of practice -- but it's the best way I know to build your body to be strong, flexible and healthy. There are several different ashtanga series. Most people do the first series -- the second and third series are very difficult -- which consists of about eighty asanas. Each asana has a long Sanskrit name, which can be confusing to a beginner. To help you understand the terminology, one of these Web sites contains information I have compiled to show exactly what each name means. For example, Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana (a particularly strange pose) can be translated as follows: ardha = half, baddha = bound or restrained, padma = lotus, ut = intense, tan = stretch, asana = pose. In other words, "half-bound-lotus-intense-stretch-pose". Sound like fun? Web:
Fitness Statistics show that 37% of all statistics about fitness are meaningless. Or maybe it's 74%. Actually, I think it's 98%. I would be hard-pressed to think of any part of our popular culture that is so important, yet so misunderstood and riddled with half-truths. Fitness instructors, magazine writers, aerobics teachers, health club employees, and many health professionals repeat scientific-sounding silliness so often that I would challenge anyone to explain how to tell the difference between what is true and what seems to be true just because people believe it. I am going to give you some fitness resources, but for goodness sakes, don't believe everything you read. For example, I found a Web site that says if you weigh 150 pounds and you garden for 10 minutes, you will use 49 calories. A 175-pound person, however, would use 57 calories. Do you believe this? Is it even meaningful? (In this case, the numbers were taken from a publication put out by a running shoe company and posted on the Web.) It's good to use your body, but, please, don't forget to use your mind. Web:
Fitness Talk and General Discussion We all know we should exercise every day. And we all know that sometimes we don't like to exercise every day. So when you are having one of those days, maybe it would be more fun to talk about it than actually do it. If so, Usenet is always there, and lots of people are ready to talk. Usenet:
Jump Rope Jump rope can be as simple or as challenging as you want. Want some fun and exercise at the same time? You can get a rope, start jumping, and leave it at that. Want to compete and push yourself to the limit? You can join a team, learn a lot of fancy acrobatic moves, and become a jump rope athlete. Whatever you choose, don't delay: go get a rope and hop to it today. Web:
Powerlifting Powerlifting is competitive weightlifting with an emphasis on brute strength. In powerlifting, competitors perform three types of lifts: a squat, dead lift and bench press. (Olympic lifting, by contrast, uses the snatch and clean-and-jerk, in which technique is more important.) Powerlifting can be rewarding, but it is crucial to train properly and to know what you are doing. Web:
Pregnancy and Exercise Exercising during pregnancy can help you be more comfortable with the weight gain, prepare for the rigor of labor, and recover more quickly after the delivery. You may also be able to minimize the discomforts of pregnancy, as well as improve your mood and sense of well-being. Here are some resources to show you which exercises will help the most, and how to plan a program for yourself. Just remember, after you are finished with your workout, it's up to your husband to cook you dinner and wash the dishes. (That's his exercise for the day.) Web:
Running Running can be delightful, if you are in good shape and you know what you are doing (and you have good shoes). When I want to relax, I run up a long, steep hill that is one mile from bottom to top. The first time was difficult, but, with practice (I like to do it every day), I got used to it and now the run is fun. Once your body becomes fit, you begin to realize that running is very much a mental challenge. Believe me, running an entire mile up a steep hill is difficult, and, although I know that my body can do it, I have to summon up my mental reserves to make the experience pleasant and fulfilling. If you are a runner (or you want to be a runner), you can use these resources to help yourself understand what you need to know, and to motivate yourself to excel. Web:
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Sports Doctor When you want to play doctor and nobody is around, just connect to this Web site. You can pretend to be a sports doctor and click on your patient's symptoms until you reach a diagnosis. You can also find a medical glossary to help explain some of the terms used in the diagnosis, as well as read explanations of various medical conditions. And if you like to reduce your appetite, you can watch movies of various surgical procedures. Web:
Stretching and Flexibility If exercise is an important part of your life, stretching should be the most important part of your workout. I do yoga every day, and a large part of my workout consists of stretching. There are two reasons for this. First, the best way to make muscles strong is by lengthening them (as opposed to making them thicker). Long muscles allow for greater flexibility. Second, proper stretching gets your circulation going, enabling your muscles to perform well without the risk of injury. Web:
Walking Regular walking is an excellent form of exercise that is accessible to everyone. These sites have information about power walking, race walking, and walking for sport, exercise and leisure. For discussions about walking (when you are resting from your exertions), try Usenet. Web:
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Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Do you eat nutritious high protein and swallow raw eggs? Try to build up your shoulders, your chest, arms and legs? Do you do press-ups and chin-ups, cloak and jerk, do the snatch? Do you think dynamic tension must be a catch? Well, try the Net, and maybe, in just seven days, it can make you a man. Web:
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Women's Fitness Being fit and healthy requires you to have a variety of information available when you need it. Here are some resources that cover fitness and health considerations for women: toning, weight control, weightlifting, workout routines, nutrition, and so on. I have also included resources to help you find information about women's sports and activities around the world. Web:
Yoga I have been doing yoga for years (Ashtanga and Iyengar styles), and I can tell you that it works. However, it is hard work, and a good yoga workout will make you sweat profusely. Perhaps the best way to put it is that yoga is like a sewer: what you get out of it depends on what you put into it. These Web sites have a lot of information about yoga styles, asanas (poses), traditions and classes. If you want to see what people talk about when they are not doing their practice, take a look at the Usenet discussion group. Here you will find all the traditional cultural pursuits of the yoga community: spiritual and physical development, sharing ideas, personal growth, and gossip about other people. Web:
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Yoga Postures If you are doing your own yoga practice at home, there is no teacher to help you perfect your asanas (poses). Doing an asana properly can make a big difference, so do take a few moments to check out these Web sites, where you'll find illustrations and instructions to help you with the most common asanas. Web:
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