Washington, Jan. 15 : Researchers have said women who engaged in at least 150 min/week of aerobic activity and at least 60 min/week of muscle-strengthening activities had the most substantial risk reduction compared with inactive women.

In this week's research, Anders Grontved (Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA, and University of Southern Denmark, Denmark) and colleagues prospectively followed up 99,316 middle-aged and older women for 8 years from the Nurses' Health Study ([NHS] 2000-2008) and Nurses' Health Study II ([NHSII] 2001-2009) who did not have diabetes at baseline, and determined whether their weekly time spent performing resistance exercise, lower intensity muscular conditioning exercises (yoga, stretching, toning), and aerobic moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reported at baseline and in 2004/2005 was associated wit h a reduced risk of new onset of diabetes.

During the 705,869 person years of follow-up, 3,491 women developed type 2 diabetes. They found that resistance exercise and lower intensity muscular conditioning exercises were both independently associated with a reduced risk for diabetes, even after adjusting for aerobic activity and many other potential confounding factors.

The study has been published in journal PLOS Medicine.

--ANI (Posted on 15-01-2014)

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20 min aerobics/day can dramatically reduce women's diabetes risk

1/14/14 health By GEORGIA KRAL First Timer: Trying Crunch Live for an at-home workout

Photo credit: Professional dancer Craig Smith leads the class Gospel House Aerobics at Crunch and on Crunch Live.

Sometimes, you just don't want to leave your apartment. And as for working out, well, getting to the gym really can be the hardest part. Enter Crunch Live. For just $9.99 a month, you can work out in your living room (or, let's face it for you cohabitants, your bedroom), by viewing workouts online.

But is it possible to get the same workout at home as you would in a class with an instructor who's making sure not only that you're inspired to keep going ("Looking good, Georgia!", or more accurately, "Get those knees up, Georgia!") but also that you're doing the moves correctly?

It depends.

Some classes, like Rear Attitude, are perfect for an at-home workout. A simple, 30-minute class divided into two sections, Rear Attitude was easy to follow, didn't involve any complicated steps and was made up mostly of light aerobics and calisthenics. When I finished my final leg lift, I felt the way I would had I just wrapped up a class in a studio.

The next class I tried, Gospel House Aerobics, was a little harder. Led by professional dancer Craig Smith, this dance class was fun, but for someone without any formal dance training, the steps didn't come, shall we say, naturally. It was a little frustrating, but my heart rate was up. So while I didn't feel as if I was truly getting the steps, it did feel like a good workout.

I attended the class at Crunch the following week, and having Smith there showing me the steps, and making sure I got them, certainly helped.

But the point of working out is to sweat, burn calories and to try and have fun, not necessarily to learn the hottest new dance moves. In the physical class, surrounded by other people, there was some pressure to get the moves down lest I stick out as the one without moves.

In the comfort of my apartment, on the other hand, that didn't matter. There was no worrying about getting it right.

Originally posted here:
First Timer: Trying Crunch Live for an at-home workout

1/14/14 health By GEORGIA KRAL First Timer: Trying Crunch Live for an at-home workout

Photo credit: Professional dancer Craig Smith leads the class Gospel House Aerobics at Crunch and on Crunch Live.

Sometimes, you just don't want to leave your apartment. And as for working out, well, getting to the gym really can be the hardest part. Enter Crunch Live. For just $9.99 a month, you can work out in your living room (or, let's face it for you cohabitants, your bedroom), by viewing workouts online.

But is it possible to get the same workout at home as you would in a class with an instructor who's making sure not only that you're inspired to keep going ("Looking good, Georgia!", or more accurately, "Get those knees up, Georgia!") but also that you're doing the moves correctly?

It depends.

Some classes, like Rear Attitude, are perfect for an at-home workout. A simple, 30-minute class divided into two sections, Rear Attitude was easy to follow, didn't involve any complicated steps and was made up mostly of light aerobics and calisthenics. When I finished my final leg lift, I felt the way I would had I just wrapped up a class in a studio.

The next class I tried, Gospel House Aerobics, was a little harder. Led by professional dancer Craig Smith, this dance class was fun, but for someone without any formal dance training, the steps didn't come, shall we say, naturally. It was a little frustrating, but my heart rate was up. So while I didn't feel as if I was truly getting the steps, it did feel like a good workout.

I attended the class at Crunch the following week, and having Smith there showing me the steps, and making sure I got them, certainly helped.

But the point of working out is to sweat, burn calories and to try and have fun, not necessarily to learn the hottest new dance moves. In the physical class, surrounded by other people, there was some pressure to get the moves down lest I stick out as the one without moves.

In the comfort of my apartment, on the other hand, that didn't matter. There was no worrying about getting it right.

See the original post here:
First Timer: Trying Crunch Live

This winter, the Ann Arbor YMCA will offer an expanded schedule of classes with offerings from Aqua Aerobics to Zumba.

In addition to structured classes, members are free to utilize the two indoor pools, indoor track, free weights and fitness machines at their convenience.

The Winter Session began Jan. 6. Every age group is welcome at the Y: there are parent/child swim lessons for infants as young as six months and adapted exercise classes for seniors including EnhancedFitness.

The Y offers scholarships to those who may be unable to cover the cost of the membership, and many fitness classes are free to members. There is no annual contract to sign, which provides flexibility for those who may be in town for a limited period of time.

This session members can also experiment with Gyrokinesis, and expanded schedule of studio cycling classes, an inner tube water polo league for both children and adults, Pickleball, a triathlon training class as well as community volunteer opportunities.

The popular ChildWatch program has been expanded on Saturday mornings so that kids 4 and up can play in the KidZone (free for members) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Y has swimming (masters, teams and classes), Yoga (Vinyasa and Iyengar as well as yoga for pregnancy, children and teens), Feldenkrais, Dance (Nia, Bollywood, Zumba, Ballet, Salsa, Beledi, Jazz and Hip Hop), Fencing, Gymnastics (both competitive teams and instructional classes), Martial Arts (Aikido, Judo, Jujutsu, Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi), Pilates, Ballet Barre, TRX, Studio Cycling, Wrestling as well as sports leagues for kids and adults. It offers classes that address chronic diseases such as Diabetes Prevention, Livestrong at the YMCA and Pedaling for Parkinsons.

Not into sports? The Y also offers classes in art, theatre and music as well as a Spanish immersion program for pre-schoolers.

Teen leadership opportunities include the Youth in Government program, inwhich participants learn about the legislative process by writing their own bills and culminates in a trip to Lansing; and Youth Volunteer Corps on school holidays, when teens participate in community service.

The Y is at 400 West Washington Street in downtown Ann Arbor and has a parking lot underneath the building. Continued...

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ANN ARBOR: A2 Y offers expanded winter schedule for kids, adults

Photo by Ian Pearce

The Knifeannounced last week that they're bringing theirShaking the Habitualliveshow, whichhas featured"absurdist aerobics" and "danceoke", to North America.Today, they've shared the exact datessurroundingtheir sets at Coachella, which takes placeApril 11-13 and April 18-20, as Brooklyn Vegan points out.

As previously reported, the show has been tweaked since its European incarnation last year, but is a "continuation," the band writes, with some new songs. Light Asylum's Shannon Funchess, who sang onHabitual, will perform on the tour.

The Knifewrote abouttheir touring intentions:

Shaking the Habitual, the album, lays the groundwork for this show. Based on the artistic and political ideas therein, we play with the expectations and question habits of the concert, the dance performance, the club and the music festival.Working within a highly commercial, professionalised and male-dominated music industry, we strive to twist and strangle hierarchies to find other ways of organizing work and its conditions. Disrespecting borders between digital and analogue, fake and real, professional and dilettante, star and cast, experimental acts and glamorous shows, nature and culture, audience and artist, blood family and chosen family, dance and action, a Buchla and bongo and the sound of a hit and a kiss.

The Knife:

04-11 Indio, CA - Coachella 04-15 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater 04-18 Indio, CA - Coachella 04-21 Denver, CO - Fillmore 04-23 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom 04-35 Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus 04-26 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis 04-28 Boston, MA - House of Blues 04-30 New York, NY - Terminal 5

Read our interview with the Knifehere. And here's the Knife's 13-minute film onShaking the Habitual:

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The Knife Detail North American Tour Dates

JACKSON, Wis. | Think of it as Viking aerobics.

Sure, there are other ways to get a nice cardio workout, but none that involves brandishing a long sword like a marauding Norman.

Which is partly what drew folks to a daylong sword camp sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association last week. For first-timers, it was curiosity and the chance to learn how to wield a long sword think Hagar the Horribles sidearm. And for those experienced in Historical European Martial Arts, it was a chance to practice, exercise and hang out with others who know their way around a sword.

Whatever it is, its not whats seen in films, said sword camp instructor Jeremiah Backhaus.

Its faster than what you see in movies. In Robin Hood movies, theyre talking when theyre fighting. Theres actually no time for that. Its extremely sophisticated, Backhaus said.

Looking for an unusual way to spend the morning, Menachem Graupe signed up his four kids ranging in age from 7 to 12.

I thought itd be a fun thing to do on vacation. Theyve never done anything like this before. Its a little bit of action and a little bit of learning, said Graupe, of Mequon, Wis., as he snapped photos of his 7-year-old daughter Maya practicing with a white plastic sword at The Target Range in Jackson, Wis.

Historical European Martial Arts is the martial system developed in Europe centuries ago, when men would brandish long swords.

Lets be honest. The world back then was conquer or be conquered. You had to be able to defend yourself as efficiently as possible, said Backhaus. As metallurgy developed, they came up with swords to more efficiently defend themselves.

Some Historical European Martial Arts enthusiasts are attracted by the history while others like to do it for exercise or because they enjoy learning martial arts, Backhaus said. He trains with a police officer whose historical fencing expertise saved his life when someone lunged at him with a knife while he was on duty.

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Sword camp gives participants chance to learn, practice, exercise

Anne Bird, 60, raked in 21,000 by claiming she was entitled to the highest category of benefits after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis

A benefits cheat who claimed she was so frail she needed help getting dressed was caught taking part in fitness classes.

Anne Bird, 60, raked in 21,000 by claiming she was entitled to the highest category of benefits after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

She told officials from the Department for Work and Pensions that she struggled to get out of bed and could not dress herself.

But following a tip-off undercover investigators filmed her making regular trips to fitness classes at her local leisure centre.

Former Royal Mail postwoman Bird, from Bloxwich, West Mids, was secretly recorded taking part in pilates, spinning and aerobics classes.

Footage showed her performing dozens of sit-ups while balancing on a fitness ball and also doing repeated arm and leg stretches.

Despite being entitled to some benefits, between October 2008 and August 2012 she was overpaid 21,109 in state hand-outs.

Bird admitted making a false declaration on claim forms to obtain disability allowance when she appeared before magistrates in Walsall on Wednesday.

The court heard Bird was laid off in 2008 due to a degenerative condition - confirmed by a doctor to be osteoarthritis.

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Benefits cheat caught doing spinning and aerobics classes

In one clip Bird, who claimed she could barely walk, was filmed doing rigorous sit-ups while balancing on a fitness ball while in another she did repeated arm and leg stretches.

She admitted making a false declaration on claim forms to obtain disability allowance when she appeared at Walsall Magistrates' Court.

JPs heard Bird, a former postwoman with Royal Mail, was laid off in 2008 due to a degenerative condition.

Prosecutor Maggie Meakin told the court she was overpaid 21,109 after making false declaration on claim forms to obtain disability allowance.

She said: "It was confirmed by a doctor that she has osteoarthritis and that she needs help to bathe and dress, and needed help to walk.

"She then applied for the higher rate of disability living allowance claiming at this point that she needed help as she had problems with her knees and hips.

"The department was made aware that from October 2006 to August 2012 she was attending Bloxwich Leisure Centre and was participating in group exercise including pilates and circuit training.

"She then upgraded her membership to sessions which included aerobics.

"In witness statements the staff said they were aware she had problems with her knee, but she took part in spinning bike classes."

Bird, of Pleck, near Walsall, West Mids., suffers from osteoarthritis in her legs and rheumatoid arthritis in her hands.

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Benefit cheat so disabled she 'could not dress or bathe herself' caught on camera at fitness class