Whether it is running, swimming, weight lifting or aerobics, fitness experts say the center of all exercise routines is the core the abdominal, back and muscles around the pelvis which is the seat of stability, strength and power.

Adding in exercise routines to strengthen the core can help the runner go faster, the basketball player jump higher and the everyday exerciser more easily do routine tasks from loading the car to cleaning the tub.

The core is everything except for arms, legs and head, said Daniel Taylor, co-author with Greg Brittenham of the new book Conditioning to the Core.

It is the mainstay of the body, according to Taylor, who is the head strength and conditioning coach at Siena College in upstate New York.

People need to get away from saying Im going to do abs today and take a larger view, said Taylor, whose book contains more than 300 exercises, ranging from planks, squats and lunges to medicine ball and kettlebell throws presented in progressive routines.

A lot of times people get stuck in one or two routines and get good at them, he said. Youve got to make things more challenging to keep progressing.

Taylor said everything is linked to the core.

If you jump its transferred to the core. If you want to be a better recreational running, strengthening the core will help because your anchor is better, he explained.

The bodys girdle is how New York City-based personal trainer JR Allen describes the core.

Celebrity trainee Allen, whose clients include singer Mary J. Blige, said even the breath is involved in core work.

Read more from the original source:
Fitness experts cut to the core to target the center of power

Published August 11, 2014

A woman works out in an outdoor exercise area at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx section of New York City, September 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Whether it is running, swimming, weight lifting or aerobics, fitness experts say the center of all exercise routines is the core - the abdominal, back and muscles around the pelvis - which is the seat of stability, strength and power.

Adding in exercise routines to strengthen the core can help the runner go faster, the basketball player jump higher and the everyday exerciser more easily do routine tasks from loading the car to cleaning the tub.

"The core is everything except for arms, legs and head," said Daniel Taylor, co-author with Greg Brittenham of the new book "Conditioning to the Core."

It is the mainstay of the body, according to Taylor, who is the head strength and conditioning coach at Siena College in upstate New York.

"People need to get away from saying 'I'm going to do abs today' and take a larger view," said Taylor, whose book contains more than 300 exercises, ranging from planks, squats and lunges to medicine ball and kettlebell throws presented in progressive routines.

"A lot of times people get stuck in one or two routines and get good at them," he said. "You've got to make things more challenging to keep progressing."

Taylor said everything is linked to the core.

"If you jump it's transferred to the core. If you want to be a better recreational running, strengthening the core will help because your anchor is better," he explained.

Here is the original post:
Fitness experts focus on the core to target body's center of power

By Kara Eberle

For the Daily Record/Sunday News

Sister Judith Tarozzi crosses railroad tracks on East King Street on the way to the YWCA pool last week. Tarozzi likes to take the alleys, side streets and East King Street nine blocks starting from the 1100 block of East Market Street to avoid traffic and rough sidewalks. (Paul Kuehnel Daily Record/Sunday News)

Sister Judith Tarozzi, right, works out in the YWCA pool in York Monday August 4, 2014. (Paul Kuehnel Daily Record/Sunday News)

Nine blocks stretch between Sister Judi Tarozzi's home and the YWCA in York.

If she drove her car, the nearly mile-long trek would take about three minutes.

But she chooses a different mode of transportation her motorized wheelchair. Its top speed is about 6 mph.

And on Monday or Thursday mornings, she spends about 20 minutes cruising along East Market Street to get to a water aerobics class.

The journey and the class bring the nun of 48 years a lot of joy.

"I've always loved being outside," Tarozzi said. "I really enjoy the 20 minutes of waving to people."

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York nun finds freedom with water aerobics

Sincere Wu (second from left) and Rock Fang (centre) show off some 80s fashion. Photos: Bruce Yan/SCMP Neon clothes, cool music and lots of dancing its about time we revisited the 1980sBy Melanie Leung

Though you may not have been alive during the 1980s, you probably listen to hip hop, go to parties with a DJ and sing along to Sam Hui or Leslie Cheung classics.

The 80s were a golden period for performing arts, says Sheryl Lee, creative producer of Beats of 80s, a music spectacle which celebrates the decade.

All of Hong Kongs most representative artists, movies and music are from that period.

The 80s has never gone out of fashion, and we still see its influence all around us. If you see someone wearing a headband, high-waisted trousers or a pair of Vans, they are sporting some iconic 80s style. Here are four things we still enjoy from the decade.

And one, and two, and remember to breathe

You cant get any more 80s than a group of women working out in neon leotards and leg warmers.

Aerobics, which sort of falls half way between a dance and a gym session, is a great way to stay in shape. Thats why its still popular today.

Participants work out to music as an instructor leads the class. The exercise raises the heart rate and burns off fat.

Aerobics became popular with the introduction of Reeboks step board in the 80s, according to Sincere Wu, from Seasons Fitness.

Read the original here:
Dance the decade away

Published: Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 2:43 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 2:43 p.m.

No monthly parties.

No weekly bingo games.

No daily rounds of cards.

Many of the residents of the park's 180 units leave during the hottest months of the year. But most of those who stay are women, including several widows.

They gather each morning at the Gulf Shore swimming pool that used to be the Gulf Shore shuffleboard court. They meet for exercise and conversation in what has become the beating heart and liveliest part of summer life in the trailer park.

Water aerobics.

OK, calls out Ellen Laurent, the Massachusetts retiree who leads today's class. Russian dance forward.

Three other women bob up and down the shallow pool. They joke and laugh as they dance in place. They wear swimsuits, sunglasses and a variety of hats.

Margie Tonner of New Jersey is the one with the floppy sun hat. Jackie Winter of Indiana wears a mesh visor. Norma McCarthy Laurent's Boston sister-in-law sports a Red Sox cap.

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On Longboat Key, they're the Girls of Summer

Sleep is the new aerobics. Used to be you never heard much about the importance of sleep; you were either one of those people who got enough and never gave it any thought, or you were one of those people who couldnt fall asleep and complained about it all the time. The dividing line seemed, then, to be caffeine consumption.

Now, you cant read anything about healthy living without reading about sleep. Not just how much, but the quality of it. Last week, there came the news that women fighting breast cancer should sleep in a room so totally dark that even little blinking lights on cell phones should be blanketed. Now, theres word out of Australia that says new mothers are so sleep-deprived in their babies first three months that the physical consequences should be considered medically significant.

This explains a lot. When my daughter was new, neither one of us slept much those first four months. She and I rarely strung two hours of sleep together during the night. I went from an energetic, reasonably coherent and cute woman of 40 to a puffy, grouchy wad of flannel. I gained 15 pounds, (something the doctors now say is linked to sleep deprivation), and the gray hairs took over.

At the time, I didnt blame the loss of sleep; I was too exhausted to think clearly enough to make the connection. But I should have figured it out. All my life I was an excellent sleeper, able to fall asleep pretty much anywhere at any time, including during long viewings in college film class and on the streetcar coming home from working the night shift at a radio station. A double shot of espresso at 9:30 p.m. did not delay the arrival of the Sandman. And napping? Epic. No 20-minute bits of shuteye on the sofa for me. Id check out for two hours when I could, in bed, with the covers pulled up.

Now theyre telling me thats too much napping, that I should save the good sleep for the night.

Next thing I know, theyll be coming for my fan.

I cant sleep very well without some white noise. My bedroom is utterly white with noise: an overhead fan whose metal blades are just unbalanced enough to create a nice, silvery sound, and a small table fan humming away. Others call it a loud racket, but its silence that keeps me awake.

Lately, when Ive found myself in a hotel or a guest room, I miss my white noise. I guess thats why they call that sleeping pill Ambien: it works like the ambience of a nice background hum.

After years of hammering us about exercise, the medical community has moved on to a new cause and its in our beds. The state of the science now says we need seven hours of sleep not eight and not six. Doctors want most of that to be REM sleep, which is the deep kind when you dream. They want total darkness, a cool room temperature, and no snoring. Oh, and to prevent wrinkles, sleep on your back.

Pretty soon theyll be saying naps cause wrinkles, too, or worse. I wonder what theyll say about my fans?

Read the rest here:
Sleep: Youre doing it wrong

In an effort to serve the needs of its growing clientele, the Emerald Isle Community Center has added a 1,200-square foot aerobics room.

Complete with wooden floors, mirrored walls and workout equipment, the latest addition to the complex hosted its first aerobics class on June 30.

The new room gives us an opportunity to expand the programs that we can offer, said Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation Director, Alesia Sanderson. Its nearly double the size of our previous aerobics room. Its referred to as a multi-purpose room, but with the floors and mirrors its really catered to aerobics.

Sanderson added that there will also be Zumba, karate, youth fitness and various dance classes held in the room.

The addition also enables expansion of the centers weight room, which will annex the old aerobics room.

The 14,000-square foot community center also has a collegiate-sized gymnasium, weight room, office areas, classroom, kitchen and locker rooms.

The center has 800 fulltime members and serves thousands of visitors throughout the year.

Cost of the addition was approximately $100,000 and was part of the Community Improvement Package, adopted in 2013. Also addressed in the package were completion of the bike path; stormwater improvements on Coast Guard Road; and new playground equipment at Blue Heron Park.

Weve needed the extra space for a while to meet the needs of our members, said Sanderson. Were excited to have it so we can better serve the needs of the public.

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Aerobics room added to center