Healthy » Elite

Why is Zumba so popular?

Health Guru — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:36:29 +0000

What makes this new trend of fitness so popular among health enthusiasts? How effective is this exercise in keeping your body in shape and healthy? Zumba turns the usual exercise routine into an exciting and dynamic fitness program with the fusion of dancing in the tunes of international and Latin rhythms. The steps are very easy to learn that even non-dancers will effortlessly sway into the music and routine. It is one of the easiest ways to tone your body and sustain that perfect shape. That is why Zumba DVDs and programs are very popular in the fitness business nowadays.

An hour of calorie burning and heart pumping moves provide followers of this workout long-term health benefits that will keep you hooked and coming back for more. The entire body is toned with the use of interval and resistance training. The abs, arms, gluts, legs and heart are the areas to which this exercise is focused on. Aside from its physical effects, it is also a new way of relaxing the mind and soul.

Zumba fitness is an exercise routine that suits all ages. Kids, adults and senior citizens alike will surely find it an exhilarating way to be healthy and stay healthy. People are often afraid to try Zumba because of the thought that it is a fast paced exercise. But there are different levels of Zumba that will be tailor fitted to go with your needs. For starters, you can take it slow with Zumba gold. For the moderate level is the Zumba Basic while an intense workout is classified to the Zumba toning.

The dance steps introduced to Zumba followers vary from instructor to instructor. But basically, simple steps from Latin dances of cha-cha, meringue, flamenco, mambo and salsa accompanied by International dance moves of belly dancing and hip-hop comprise every routine of this work-out. Once you start doing the Zumba fitness program, you’ll not notice how much you have moved and exercised your body since you’ll get hooked on the fun and enjoyment you feel while exercising and learning how to dance.

Try out Zumba fitness at your local gym or DVDs and zoom your way to health and happiness!

Kayaking

JBric — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 01:27:19 +0000

With record rain falls across Australia this year, and other parts of the southern hemisphere, it’s fair to say our rivers and lakes are looking a lot better than they have in the past.

Many stretches of water now have levels back up the point needed to facilitate some great white water rafting, and of course kayaking.

For those of you who have never tried the sport before, I highly recommend you give it a try at least once.

As well as being great for your health and fitness, it’s also a great adrenaline sport, and the type of thing that is perfect to get your mind of the stresses of every day life.

The sport of kayaking itself involves a small, oblong shaped floating vessel, in which you sit in, with your legs inside it.

Equipped with a paddle, you can steer, accelerate and brake the kayak whenever need be.

On flat water you are in total control of the vessel, however, once a rapid begins and there is momentum and white water, you are in the hands of god.

While you have control over which direction you go, and what path you paddle down, you will find it hard paddling upstream against the current.

The best part about the sport is that it gives you a full upper body workout.

Paddling constantly in all directions, your arms and shoulders will benefit greatly, and not to mention your cardiovascular ability.

To top it all off, you are doing so in the water, so the added level of excitement is there also.

The only issue with the sport is that it can be dangerous, and it is strongly advised everyone who tries kayaking or white water rafting wear a life jacket.

Diving

JBric — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:59:57 +0000

The sport of Diving has existed for hundreds of years, dating back to early civilization where individuals used to jump off rock faces instead of diving boards.

While it is a sport, it has also been known to be an artistic activity, and a pastime people would take part in, in a non-competitive manner.

Sport wise however, it is a globally recognized discipline and one that has reached Olympic Games status and one of the most popular sports with the viewers.

For those who still have no idea about what it is, diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics.

Those who compete in diving generally have many of the same characteristics as gymnasts and dancers, including strength, flexibility, kinesthetic judgment and air awareness.

China has been the global leader in the sport and for years has dominated international events like the world championships and Olympic Games.

However, Australia has also been a great nation in competing, claiming regular gold medals at big meets and proving their worth on the world scale.

Other countries that excel in diving are America, Italy and Canada.

Most diving competitions consist of three disciplines, the 1m and 3m springboards, as well as the platform.

Athletes are divided by gender and sometimes by age group and are judged by a panel on the fluency and accurate delivery of their dive.

Each dive has a different degree of difficulty, which is factored into the scoring of each competitor.

Divers are judged on whether and how well they completed all aspects of the dive, the conformance of their body to the requirements of the dive, and the amount of splash created by their entry to the water.

A possible score is out of ten.

Badminton

JBric — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 04:49:10 +0000

With the Commonwealth Games now upon us, and all eyes on the Delhi event watching some of the worlds best sportspeople doing their things, it’s fair to say there would be a few viewers asking questions about some of the lesser known sports, and what they are all about.

One of those sports is badminton.

Unlike other racquet sports like Tennis and squash, badminton doesn’t get the publicity or recognition it deserves or probably warrants.

As a result it’s one of those sports that only really get a mention once every four years at events like these.

It’s the kind of sport that you could dominate all throughout the year, but if you do not win at the Games when all eyes are on you, it’s easy to remain a ‘nobody’ in sporting circles.

So, for those of you who have no idea how badminton works, I’ll do my best to give you an overview.

As is the case with other racquet sports, a game is played on a rectangle court with a net dividing two opposing sides where opponents stand.

One hit each at a time, you are required to hit a shuttlecock (the equivalent of a tennis ball, but with a unique shape) over the net and into the restricted area.

If the shuttlecock hits the great inside the court, you lose the point.

The interesting and unique part of the game is that the shuttlecock travels in a strange way. You can hit it very hard and it will still pull up very quickly, as it has a lot of air drag.

Asian countries like China and India are the ones that generally do well at the sport and embrace the sport a lot more than western countries do.

Badminton

JBric — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 04:41:29 +0000

One of those sports is badminton

Unlike other racquet sports like Tennis and squash, badminton doesn’t get the publicity or recognition it deserves or probably warrants.

As a result it’s one of those sports that only really get a mention once every four years at events like these.

Tennis

JBric — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:20:00 +0000

With the US Open well into the swing of things, there are plenty of people around the world keen to dust off their racquets and find the nearest tennis court for a hit.

The sport of tennis has been around for centuries, and while it can logistically be a nightmare to play, it seems that it has a rich history, dating back well before the 19th century.

Originally classed as a white collar sport, or private school sport, which was mostly only played by rich individuals and upper class society, the sport has seen a rapid transformation in recent decades.

Now, tennis is played by all walks of life, and the social divide that once existed is slowly fading away forever.

For those of who who might somehow have no idea about what the sport is, here is a brief description.

Tennis is a ball sport played between two or four individuals.

Each player has a racquet and stands on opposite sides of a court that is divided by a net.

The aim is to hit the ball over the net on the full, into your opponents half, but within the boundaries indicated by a white line.

Each point you win counts to a game score, which then adds to a set tally.

The person who wins the most sets is called the winner.

The good thing about tennis is that it requires good athletic ability without putting too much strain on your body.

Anyone, any age is able to play, and being non contact, it is sure not to leave you with too many injuries.

The only downside to the sport is the fact that it can be quite challenging at the beginning, as trying to serve and get use to the racquet may be tough.

However, with a bit of practice you should find it to be a great and enjoyable sport.

Kayaking

JBric — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:16:43 +0000

If you are a water lover who cannot swim, but loves the idea of adrenaline filled sports while getting wet, then maybe kayaking is the sport for you.

Kayaking is a water-based sport in which you sit inside a tight oblong shaped floating device, which floats on top of water.

With a double-sided paddle in your hands you are able to steep, generate speed and navigate your way down a river, or along a lake.

Depending on what water body you choose to tackle there will be many possible obstacles that will make the sport and moment exciting and fun.

In rivers, every now and then you will experience rapids: stretches of water where mini waves are formed and water surges through a rocky surface.

In short, rapids will challenge and test you as a kayaker and require more skill and strength the harder the rapid.

The more you take part in the sport, the more you will develop inner strength and balance. Your shoulders and back will become bigger and stronger, and your general cardiovascular fitness will improve.

Constant paddling will also improve your core strength and give you better endurance.

In addition to the recreational side of kayaking, there are also professional avenues people can take.

As well as white water kayaking on the world stage, there is also speed kayaking on flat water, where you race other opponents, in straight lines on flat water.

The event is so global that it is a recognized sport at the Summer Olympics, and has been known to have produced some of the worlds greatest athletes.

Lacrosse

JBric — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:10:02 +0000

Lacrosse is one of those sports that if you walked into a room and mentioned you played, the room would either as you what on earth you just said, or buy you a drink for being one of the few who knows about the game.

In Australia lacrosse is virtually an unknown sport. However, overseas in places like France and Serbia, it is almost a national sport and followed with great passion and skill.

Much like Rugby Union is notoriously played in a few countries, lacrosse is a specific flavour in a handful of countries, mostly European.

So, what is the sport all about?

Well, in basic terms lacrosse is a lot like Hockey, in that the aim is to get the ball, or puck into a small net at either end of a rectangle court, while protecting your own goals.

But what makes the game so unique is the fact that you do so with a stick that has the ability to catch, thrown and pick up the ball ff the ground and in the air.

In short, you can pass the ball from player to player, scoop it up of the ground, and carry it the whole length of the field to score a goal.

While there is no talking, the defensive strategy is to defend them into a situation where they are forced to make an error.

The sport can be quite physical, with big bumps and hits allowed, as well as the odd stick whack allowed to go unnoticed by the referees.

The good thing for the players is that you do wear protective gear, such as helmets and padding across your body, so f you do get hit, it will to have too serious impact.

Smaller lacrosse leagues do exist in nations across the world, even if they do not have national side, and for more information head to www.lacrosse.com

Cycling

JBric — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:52:20 +0000

The Tour de France may have come and gone for 2010, but there is no doubt thousands of people were inspired during the three week event and dusted off their road bikes for a bit of exercise.

Le Tour has been known for it’s ability to rekindle people’s love for road cycling, and this year was no different.

The sport itself is one of the best exercises possible for the human body, combining all types of endurance, strength and willpower, while at the same time taking the stress of the body, as it is low impact.

The good thing about cycling is that there are many natural varying conditions, so it really does target and focus on different muscle groups during a standard ride.

For example, if there is a hill climb, certain parts of your legs are engaged, so too your arms that are used to pull yourself up the mountain, while if it is a flat ride, different muscles are focused on.

While most of the workout does concentrate on your leg muscles, it does not mean they are the only ones getting a workout.

Your arms are a vital part of road cycling as they help pull you up hills and balance the ride so too your cores strength, which is virtually engaged the whole ride.

As mentioned before, the low impact takes all stress of your body’s joints and gives you a real workout minus the side effects.

The sport is great for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping you fit and focused on life.

And, in addition it’s also a great mode of transport!

American Football

JBric — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:05:52 +0000

The sport called American Football is very well known all around the globe, thanks largely to the biggest annual sporting event in the world, called the Superbowl.

The Superbowl, the grand final of the American NFL, attracts hundreds of millions of viewers from across the globe, many of which have little to no idea about how the game is played.

Here in Australia, it is a sport that people are still struggling to grasp.

The sport itself is very unique, and is one of the only football codes where players wear protective gear on their head, their thighs, their shoulders and chest, their groin region, and their ribs.

In fact, there are very few spots on an American footballer player that is not protected during a game.

When watching a game, it visually looks a bit like a rugby game, where two opposing sides face off on a rectangle oval and attack form one side of the field to another.

The thing that makes it so unique, however is that the game is constantly top start, with plays usually not lasting any longer than ten seconds at a time.

After every attempt to move the ball forward and score a touchdown, the team gathers for a discussion about what play to perform next.

In a basic set up, the team is dependant on the quarterback, who is regarded as the playmaker and has the call to pass, throw, run or kick the ball in attack.

In defence, there is a whole new team set up and they usually consist of bigger bodies at the front to stop the run, and more agile bodies in the rear to chase down runners.

While the sport is often criticized for it’s big hits and impact on health, it is one of the most protected sports in the world and really caters for people of all shapes and sizes.