The U.S. Army has implemented a new physical fitness test aimed at better preparing recruits for the challenges of military life.

The Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) went into effect Jan. 3 and focuses on aerobics and lower- and upper-body strength, Army spokesperson Jennifer Johnson told Club Industry. It will also allow recruiters to more accurately evaluate applicants overall fitness levels prior to initial training.

We anticipate that the OPAT will lower attrition, which can lead to money saved, fewer injuries, fewer lost training seats, and other positive impacts that will contribute to overall Army readiness, Johnson said.

OPAT includes four, gender-neutral tests, according to Military.com:

OPAT standards vary based on a participants designated military occupational specialty (MOS). The Black category is hardest and only administered to those with heavy physical demands, while Gray is for significant demands and Gold is for moderate.

The test will be administered to 80,000 recruits and thousands of cadets this year alone, according to Military.com. Recruits may request to retake the OPAT if they fail. Multiple unsuccessful attempts may result in a MOS renegotiationand subsequent category downgrade, such as Gray to Gold.

The OPAT was created to better match prospective soldiers to careers in the Army where they are most likely to succeed and meet the Army's needs, Johnson said.

Several groups, including PHIT America, have warned about the danger to the country due to the unfit state of 70 percent of youth to serve in the military, according to the Mission: Readiness report put together in 2015 by 600 military leaders.

See the rest here:

Army Emphasizes Strength, Aerobics in New Physical Assessment Test - Club Industry

Indore: Enriching mind, body and soul through fitness routine and good mood sessions, Aerobics club Meghdoots 7-day free summer camp is gaining attention from different age groups.

Following the rigorous fun workouts, trainer Jitesh Manwani addressed the gathering in the good mood programme.

Pressing on three ways to keep a good mood, Manwani said, There are three aspects Physiology, Focus and Language that must be taken care of. He explained that body and mind are totally interdependent, hence correct posture is must.

Alert posture leads to alert mind, hence, maintain correct body posture while standing, walking, sitting, driving and riding, he said.

While discussing focus, Manwani talked about focusing on activity. Focus on efforts not results, on playing not winning, on purpose not success, on relations not duties, he said.

Discussing language, he quoted on use of positive words. Replace words like: Problem with Challenge Angry with Uncomfortable I hate with I prefer, he said.

Further, during the camp zumba trainers Amit Chauhan and Rekha Chauhan trained fitness freaks on Rock music of Hollywood. This was the first experience of our Aerobics Club Members that they learn Zumba with Hollywood music. Exercise on musical theme forces a person to concentrate, hence building focus, Chauhan said.

Previous Article Indore: Action against hotels using domestic LPG cylinders

Next Article Indore: Thieves strike at tea wholesalers shop; steal goods and cash

See the article here:

Indore: Aerobics free summer camp attracts all age group - Free Press Journal

Alley Cat Books, located in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, is ordinarily a quiet space for book lovers to peruse multicolored shelves for their next literary adventure. But on Sunday, the small bookstore buzzed with energy as a group of leggings-clad Bay Area residents protested Donald Trump's presidency in the form of a sweaty cardio workout.

"We are here because in this era, in this nation, we need to use our full bodies to resist fascism!" cried Margaret McCarthy, one of two organizers of the event.

"This is a wonderful example of bringing levity and community to the resistance."

The group was assembled for a rigorous hour of Anti-Trump Aerobicsthe final event in an artist- and activist-organized series called 100 Days Action. The calendar of events, which kicked off on January 20 with an Inaugural Ball, responded tit-for-tat to the Trump administration's activities in its first 100 days. Events included Hats for Science, where participants knitted caps for the Science March, and Black Lives Matter at ATA, a film night about racial justice in honor of Black History Month. The night before the aerobics event, the collective also threw a 100 Days No Ban Dance Party, featuring music from the seven countries targeted in Trump's blocked travel ban.

"This is a wonderful example of bringing levity and community to the resistance," said Vanessa Schneider, an aerobics participant, before the session. "I really hope it includes some of Trump's specific movements, so I can expand my repertoire of gestures."

"Who doesn't want to sweat a little bit while you laugh?" another participant, Rachel Fairbanks, added.

McCarthy, a performance artist, and Liat Berdugo, an artist, writer, and assistant professor at the University of San Francisco, led the attendees in an uproarious routine involving Democratic-blue sweatbands, Trumpian red ties, and rhythmic slogans.

"Don't buy Ivanka's shoes!" McCarthy called out, marching to the beat. "Don't buy Ivanka's shoes!" the participants echoed.

"Fuck Mar-a-Lago!" she continued, swinging a tie like a golf club. "Fuck Mar-a-Lago!" they mimicked.

"Don't read his tweets," Berdugo said in hushed voice, using the tie to shield her eyes.

Each new slogan ended with cheers and whoops.

"The session did a great job of highlighting Trump's weird affectations, both physical and verbal," Schneider said at the end of the workout.

As the session wound down, McCarthy and Berdugo asked each participant to knot their red ties together to form a large circle.

"Art can provide oxygen in a situation where it feels like there is no oxygen," said Ingrid Rojas Contreras, a 100 Days Action organizer, as the attendees picked up their bags and headed back, rejuvenated, into their Sunday afternoons.

More here:

Exercise Your Freedom of Speech With Anti-Trump Aerobics ... - Mother Jones

Blue sweatbands, red leg warmers, 80s Madonna workout music and the collective chant of dont build a wall were all part of a free anti-Trump aerobics class hosted at Alley Cat Book store in the Mission District Sunday afternoon.

The 50-minute class, led by SF State theatre and English literature alumna Margaret McCarthy and University of San Francisco art professor and artist Liat Burdugo, is part of 100 Days Action, a call to thinkers, artists, and writers to propose gestures that can be carried out either at home or in the world, according to the website.

Ingrid Rojas-Contreras, one of the organizations co-founders, said the actions are a creative way to express emotion and opposition against Trump during his first 100 days in office.

Burdugo and McCarthy were approached by organizers and asked to participate. Their unique response to the call was an aerobics class, according to Rojas-Contreras.

We wanted to create a platform that responded to Trumps first 100 days and creating artistic actions like this one, Rojas-Contreras said. The air is so tense right now, whenever we have a way that art can respond in a fun way, I really enjoy seeing the after effects of that.

Burdugo, who has experience creating and leading conceptual aerobic classes, decided that a creative outlet that encourages an embodied protest would be a good contribution to 100 Days Action events.

The anti-Trump aerobics session was the finale of 100 Days of Action, and guided participants through a series of dance moves and stretches allowing them to experience physical protest and exercise suppressed negative endorphins built up as a result of Trumps presidency, according to McCarthy and Burdugo.

The space that this aerobics fills is very light-hearted, McCarthy said.

It allows us to still be engaged with the things that are happening in our country right now, but also for allowing endorphins to flow from our body and make our body feel good and to approach these issues with a spirit of joy and laughing at the power, rather than getting to bogged down by it.

Burdugo emphasized that the event was also designed to help participants maintain mental endurance that can be worn

Anti Trump Aerobic class participants making an X with ties symbolizing blocking President Donald Stump at Alley Cat Bookstore in SF on April.30, 2017

down with tiresome and stressful emotions that can come from actively protesting and leading a resistance.

We believe that resistance takes endurance; it is not something that happens in a single moment, that you do one day and stop doing the next day, Burdugo said. One thing that aerobics does historically, is that it builds your physical endurance and for people participating in aerobics, were kind of building this metaphor that resistance takes endurance.

The class was held in the skylighted gallery room of the bookstore and kicked off with the Bee Gees Stayin Alive. Burdugo and McCarthy began the class with hamstring stretches and handed out an aerobic class prop a red Trump-like tie, to all of the participants, which was used throughout the class.

Burdugo and McCarthy both wore coordinated black leotards, leggings and red sweatbands and leg warmers, which McCarthy described workout attire inspired by vintage, Jane Fonda meets Donald Trump.

The instructors led approximately 30 yoga pant-wearing, sweat-dripping participants in unique stretches like holding both ends of the tie tightly, bending down to the toes and making a swinging motion to mimic the stroke of a golf club. Participants chanted fuck Mar-a-Lago during exercises to poke fun at the president and his lavish vacation home and golf course.

Another move had attendees partner up and make an X with their ties, pivoting back and forth chanting dont build a wall.

Rachel Fairbanks, a San Francisco resident, wanted to attend the aerobics class to have some fun and share a space with people who were also trying to cope with current events and the presidency.

After the election I tried to figure out ways that I could make myself not go crazy, so this idea is actually coupling a lot of things that I really enjoy, which is making fun of Donald Trump and exercise, Fairbanks said. I know there is going to be like-minded people here, so what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

Fairbanks said she is worried about everything on Trumps agenda, especially womens rights and immigration.

Im worried about health care, Im worried about everything, Fairbanks said. I had to take two days off from work after the election because I was so upset. So I just want to have fun and I feel like marches and protests can get very emotional and (aerobics) is just people coming to have fun and relax.

SF State graduate student Lea Troeh was drawn to the class looking for creative ways to resisting andexercise her brain.

(The aerobics class) is not just a thing for hippies or for liberals, but is just something fun everyone can relate to and is a relatable way to express disagreement, Troeh said.

McCarthy and Burdugo wanted the class to be a refreshing, cathartic and hopeful experience for those who moved along side them, red ties and all.

One of my hopes for this event is that we can have a bit of catharsis and much more like the feeling of getting out of the pool after a really refreshing swim and you go, ah I feel great, refreshed and I am ready for the next thing, McCarthy said.

Continue reading here:

Anti-Trump aerobics: a new way to protest Golden Gate Xpress - Golden Gate Xpress

+1

Get your sweat on! Aerobics and Zumba instructor Angela Watson will get your heart pumping and your feet moving to the beat. Classes are held in Kingstree and Hemingway and can be tailored to fit any age and athletic ability. Photo by Michaele Duke

She may be petite and she may be soft spoken but get her up on that stage and youll be steppin your way to a healthier physique. Angela Myers Watson has been teaching aerobics for 15 years and her following continues to expand. On the evenings she teaches, Watson is moving 20-plus ladies, men and kids who enjoy an hardy hour-long workout; and the do it without killing themselves.

Aerobics strengthens your heart and lungs and can also help lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, improve your immune function, and lower your blood pressure. Watson began her career in fitness by accident. I was asked to give a class and thats how it started, said Watson. She teaches aerobics and Zumba, both of which she is certified. She teaches the classes at the Williamsburg Recreation Center on Monday to Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. On Monday and Tuesday she leaves Kingstree and heads to the Chavis One Stop in Hemingway, where she takes up her craft for another hour.

Bertha Myers has been taking the senior class for five years and she doesnt plan on quitting anytime soon. Before I started the class my breath would be like shorter, said Myers who happens to be Watsons mother. Now I have plenty of energy.

Bertha Myers has been taking aerobics instructor Angela Watsons senior citizens classes for five years and she doesnt plan on quitting anytime soon. She says the health benefits are what keeps her coming back; that and Bingo on Mondays.

Photo by Michaele Duke

I just enjoy coming out and we have Bingo after class on Mondays.

Senior citizens classes (age 50 and up) are held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday with Wednesday class devoted to stretching. The seniors not only enjoy a good workout, theyre treated special.

Sometimes we have movie night, sometimes we take them to the mall, said Watson. But thats not all.

Once a year they get together and go on a bus tour or a cruise. Weve been to Jamaica, weve been to Mexico. We went to Pennsylvania to the Sight and Sound Theater. Theyve been all over.

Watson said she wants to expand her instruction. I want to do yoga but I want to spice it up because we do things in the morning, she said. We call it yoga flavor because I stretch them and I make them move. I like to add my own little touches. Whats even sweeter, all the classes are free.

Read the original post:

A is for Aerobics - Kingstree News

Aerobics and Zumba, both are popular choices among people who want to stay fit and lose weight.

Even though both can be dubbed as high intensity work outs, there has been a debate over which exercise form helps in losing weight and shedding calories faster.

While some feel aerobics involves lot of movements and helps in getting rid of the stubborn fat, many people vouch for zumba as it also strengthens the core.

Traditional workouts can get a bit mundane and repetitive, and there hasn't really been an alternative that is both fun as well as a big calorie-burner. That's where zumba comes in. The Latin-dance inspired group workout has been embraced by 12 million people in 125 countries and has been taken very well by Indians. It keeps you active and burns calories quite effectively as compared to other forms of workouts, said Gurgaon-based fitness expert Shalini Gulati.

However, fitness experts say aerobics gives more strength and has lots of cardio involved. The music is more of a fast beats which does not involve a high low beat its steady fast beat.

Read more from the original source:

Aerobics Vs Zumba! This workout will burn more calories - Businessinsider India

Members of the community during an aerobics session at Sam Hlalele Community Hall.

Professional dancer and fitness instructor Tebogo Malunga offers aerobics classes for youth, adults and veterans at Sam Hlalele Community Hall next to Tembisa Plaza from Monday to Thursday.

The classes are held from 5pm to 6pm.

Malunga, the founder of Bodycom Fitness Club, started the aerobics classes in an effort to help locals keep fit and lose weight.

He said his club strives to encourage members of the community, churches and schools to live a healthy lifestyle through exercising and eating healthy.

Malunga said he started the club in 2014, hoping to change lives in the community by fighting drugs, alcohol and chronic diseases.

I enjoy giving lessons to the community and most people who come and join us push themselves hard to get used to the idea of exercising. Eventually they make it a point not to miss a session. I am proud of them because they give me courage and they are eager to try new routines, said Malunga.

Malunga is encouraging locals to join the class, as he says staying active is vital.

Regular exercise helps seniors with blood circulation, mental health and physical strength, especially as they are more prone to get diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as obesity. Keeping fit should be part of everyones daily routine. I encourage people to eat healthy as this also plays a major role in physical health, added Mr Malunga.

Bodycom Fitness Club is targeting young people from 18 to 35 years, adults and elderly people.

Read more from the original source:

Aerobics to keep fit - Tembisan

A combination of both aerobics and resistance exercise can significantly boost brain power in people aged over 50, claims a new review.

Carried out by researchers from the University of Canberra, Australia, the new research is the most comprehensive review of the available evidence to date, with the team looking at 39 studies published up to the end of 2016.

The team analysed the effect of various types, intensities, and durations of exercise on the brain health of the over 50s, including aerobic exercise, resistance training such as weights, multi-component exercise that combines both aerobic and resistance training, tai chi, and yoga.

Cognitive abilities assessed in the review included overall brain capacity, attention, executive function (mental process which help achieve goals), memory, and working memory (processing information in the short-term).

The results showed that aerobic exercise significantly improved cognitive abilities, with resistance training having a significant effect on executive function, memory, and working memory.

For those wondering how much they need to do, the team found that a session lasting between 45 and 60 minutes, of moderate to vigorous intensity, and of any frequency, had a positive effect on cognitive function.

In addition, these positive effects were seen no matter what the current state of the participants brain health.

The team also found that tai chi helped improved cognitive abilities, supporting previous findings. The team did point out however that the analysis was based on just a few studies and the findings would need to be confirmed in a larger study, although the results do suggest that exercises such as tai chi could provide benefits for those who are unable to do more intense forms of physical activity.

The team now believe that the evidence from their review is strong enough to recommend prescribing both aerobic and resistance exercises to improve brain health in the over 50s.

The findings can be found published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more

Here is the original post:

Aerobics, resistance training and tai chi can boost brain health in the elderly - Hindustan Times

A raunchy new holiday destination has opened up for adventurous couples and curious singles in the south of France

ADVENTUROUS swingers with Continental tastes have a new hot spot in the South of France.

Nestled in the Dordogne countryside,Le Diamant Noir campsite has opened its doors to swinging couples and curious singles in a bid to make raunchy holidays more affordable.

Getty Images

Established byBruno Mazaferroand his wife Sandra, the site is jam-packed full of erotic activities, with overnight stays starting from just25 (21).

Some of the main attractions of the new campsite include muscle awareness water aerobics, underwear-optional parties and a host of naughty games.

Le Diamant Noir

The bar hosts themed soires including Eyes Wide Shut and Leather and Latex.

Not only limited to couples, curious singles are permitted to enter for a price,with single women charged12 and men asked to fork out 45.

As far as rules go, visitors must respect each other, be at least 21 years old to enter, and all campers must wear a coloured wristband to identify their relationship status.

Le Diamant Noir

Visitors can bring their own tents or rent one of the many mobile homes available on the site.

Facilities include swimming pools, sauna, hot tubs and even designated cuddle corners so that campers can get up-close and personal.

For those wishing to take a break from the debauchery, the site also has basketball and volleyball courts, and offers mountain bike rentals to keep you entertained.

According toMazaferro, business is pumping, having been fully booked over the Easter weekend.

The majority of clients so far have been French nationals mixed with several groups from neighbouring European countries. However, a Brit is yet to explore the depths ofLe Diamant Noir.

Le Diamant Noir

Read more here:

Swinger campsite unzips its doors in France complete with sexy ... - The Sun

We start this week's look back in time with some high energy routines.

The Reformer reported that there was an aerobics craze sweeping Burnhill in April 1993.

The sports centre hosted many youngsters who were eager to try step aerobics, and the event proved so popular that the classes were set to be held on a regular basis.

The day featured youngsters trying out pom-pom classes as well, aided by a techno music soundtrack.

Music of a different sort had featured at Stonelaw High 10 years previously.

A group of pupils there had been hitting the right notes in April 1983.

For three senior girls, Jane Brotherston (17), Wilma Henderson (16) and Helen Stewart (17) all from fifth year, sang Mozarts aria Say Ye Who Borrow, and attained extremely high marks at the Cambuslang Music Festival.

Wilma was first, Helen second and Jane third.

Second year Gillian Henry was first in the junior section of the singing contest.

Pictured are (from left) Wilma, Helen, Gillian and Jane

Lastly, we stay with 1983, where a group of local women had been in top flight.

The Bower Bar in Rutherglen had held a darts competition over the Christmas period.

Coming out on top was Kate Monahan (right), who won a trophy for her efforts.

Runner-up was Martha Friars (left), while pictured in the centre is Nan Brannigan, the manageress of the Bower bar.

Read the original:

Rutherglen's Throwback Thursday: Aerobics in Burnhill, music prizes at Stonelaw and a night at the darts... - Scottish Daily Record