Schuetz

Today, millions of older Americans are experiencing a higher quality of life by taking an active and positive approach to their personal wellness. They are enjoying improved health and successful living by becoming self-educated, personally responsible and proactive. The most successful are those who adopt a whole-person wellness model, addressing the needs of the body, mind, and spirit.

Most people know about the research that shows that regular exercise provides a wide range of health benefits and, perhaps most importantly, can preserve function and independence. Fewer realize that their choice of exercise activity can produce another host of unexpected benefits. By choosing mind/body exercises, such as yoga or soft martial arts (like Chi Gung and Tai Chi), older adults can unleash even greater health and vitality.

Yoga and Chi Gung (as well as all other soft arts) are ideal choices for older adults because they positively affect the whole person: body, intellect, emotions, and spirit. They increase vital energy while strengthening and soothing the body, focusing the mind, and nurturing the spirit.

The ten best reasons older adults need a mind/body practice are:

Body Caring for the body improves health, preserves your ability to function and preserves independence. Yoga and Chi Gung offer powerful protection from falls a major threat to older adults!

1. Strengthen Muscles and Bones Yoga especially builds muscle strength and bone mass. The vital weight-bearing postures of yoga stimulate the bones to retain calcium. In yoga, both the upper and lower body receive the benefits of bearing weight, unlike walking or running.

2. Improved Heart and Respiratory Health Chi Gung and the soft martial arts have been shown in studies to improve circulation, heart health, and respiratory function. Yoga breathing exercises are very powerful tools to increase respiratory function, breath capacity and physical energy. Both increase vitality and sense of well-being.

3. Increased Flexibility Yoga and Chi Gung both increase overall flexibility, contributing to improved everyday functioning and mobility, and protection from falls. Despite popular notions, you do not need to be flexible to practice yoga. The idea is to practice at your current level with patience and compassion, gently becoming more pliable.

4. Better Posture Good posture calls upon our new strength and flexibility to keep our spine healthy and strong. Healthy body posture supports digestive and respiratory functions as well. Poor posture in combination with osteoporosis leads to stress fractures.

5. Improved Balance Balance gives older adults the confidence to move freely and to engage in physical activities. One of the most important parts of a senior fitness program is balance training. Seniors who exercise and practice balance activities, like those found in yoga and Chi Gung, can avert the devastating effects of a fall the second leading cause of accidental death for seniors. Balance is an intangible force that many people take for granted.

6. Increased Energy Yoga and Chi Gung are, in essence, ancient renewal and balancing systems for our vital energy. More than the sum of their parts, these practices gently revitalize the body. The term Chi itself means energy, and Chi Gung literally means energy work.

Mind - Challenging the mind is crucial to staving off diseases like Alzheimers. Be sure to stimulate your intellectual dimension through learning new information and exploring topics that require judgment and decision-making. The physical aspects of a mind-body practice lead directly to a mental sense of rootedness, stability and balance.

7. Intellectual Stimulation Learning a mind-body exercise is like learning a new language with its own vocabulary and rules. It takes focused attention. It is a practicea journey of exploration. Yoga and the soft martial arts also invite us to explore a way of thinking that may be very unfamiliar to us.

8. Emotional Support The philosophies infusing yoga and Chi Gung encourage us to be mindful of the present moment, to be aware and grateful of all around us, and to let go of our attachments of how we think things should be. This positive outlook leads to a sense of calm and well-being.

Spirit - A new study shows that once people retire, they adopt a new sense of time and their place in the world as their values and beliefs begin to change. Adding a spiritual dimension to your exercise activities offers additional wellness benefits. In addition to yoga and Chi Gung, consider nature walks and mindful strength training and meditation in all forms.

9. Connecting with the Big Picture A mindfulness practice is a direct way to practice connecting with a truth larger than ourselves. Practicing becoming quiet and receptive allows our inner wisdom to be heard. Older adults have indicated a desire to search for the meaning of life. Practitioners of yoga and the soft arts create a deep sense of richness and unity in their lives.

10. Inner Exploration Central to the spiritual dimensions of the older adult is the desire to explore the inner self. Beyond the physical exercises of yoga and Chi Gung, they challenge us to look deeply at ourselves, to be with ourselves. We learn to celebrate our strengths and forgive our weaknesses while practicing patience and focused concentration.

Copyright 2005 Karen B. Cohen All Rights Reserved.

As the world becomes more and more complex, the sane seek more sanity in simplification. It seems pure shopping pleasure just isnt there anymore. Is it just because we have no time? Are the choices just too overwhelming? Or do we just detest fitting rooms? While many of us can answer yes to at least one of these, the question remains, what do we do about it? We have to wear clothes in most societies and most people have a desire to be attractive in public, polished and well groomed in the office, and comfortable enough not to be thinking about their appearance all day. Lets face it, spending Saturday at the mall begins to lose its appeal sometime after our 25th birthday.

Little has the power to make a person feel more uncomfortable than an ill fitting ensemble. No matter how fabulous it looks on the hanger, if it drapes poorly on your body, it is a mistake. But dont despair! Just because a particular cut fails to flatter your body, it certainly doesnt mean you have to abandon the idea all together. A custom clothing professional can re-create something more suitable to your frame in keeping with the style you desire.

Here are a few points to take under consideration as you revamp your wardrobe for the coming season:

1.When you buy career wear, evening wear, or even a good jean off the rack, the chances of a perfect fit are rare. If it flatters your body, you feel good in it and it requires simple alterations, it is money well spent to spring for the little added expense of having a trained professional alter the garment to fit your body.

2.Time is money! How many times have you spent an entire day shopping only to come home empty handed or with disappointments? A better use of your time and hard-earned income is to find a professional in your area to make a custom creation for you. It may seem an impressive expense. Certainly, custom clothing is an investment, but done in the finest fabric you can afford and created especially to fit your body, it is a contribution worth making.

3.If a custom clothier is out of your reach, consider employing your local seamstress. Every style imaginable is at your fingertips in the form of a ready-to-sew pattern available at any fabric store. Before choosing your material and haberdashery, enlist the aid of a professional to find the highest quality textiles to suit your budget and flatter the style of the pattern you have chosen. Be sure to have your measurements honestly recorded by a friend or your dressmaker to be sure to obtain a perfect fit.

4.Whether engaging a custom clothier or a seamstress to create a garment for you; dont hesitate to ask for reference or to see some examples of their work. A qualified professional should welcome the request.

5.When investing in custom clothing, be sure to insist on generous seam allowances. None of us like to imagine the possibility of finding the need to accommodate a few extra pounds, but the expense of a slight alteration will be considerably more welcome than the price of remaking the garment.

If you still arent convinced custom clothing are for you due to the rapidly changing world of fashion trends, consider basing your wardrobe on well fitting essentials. The simple little black dress, made to perfectly flatter your frame, will rescue you from many last minute emergencies for years to come. A basic, impeccably tailored pencil skirt or pant in your choice of neutral color will serve as a companion to the trendy new tops you find off the rack. A good, classic overcoat will be your best friend for years to come. You dont have to be wealthy to invest in good custom pieces. Think of them as a business investment since, lets face it, image counts for a lot. With well fitting garments, you can look great regardless of your shape or size.

The wrong accessories will spoil your perfectly groomed image. Be sure to choose good quality shoes and handbags which reflect your personal good taste and style. A tattered handbag will spoil any outfit, no matter how beautiful your ensemble, it is the first thing people will notice. After seeing an inappropriate bag, their eyes will drop instinctively to your shoes and your custom clothing expense will be an unnoticed effort.

Consider investing in one good custom piece to add to your wardrobe this season. Try it, and I estimate by next season you will be adding as many pieces as you can afford. You will surely wonder how you ever managed without your custom wardrobe!

One of the most stressful parts of organizing a wedding is to try and coordinate the choice of the mother of the bride dresses with the rest of the outfits being worn. There is nothing worse than having mother of the bride dresses that outshine the bride or clash with others who will be in the official photos.

If you are the groom-to-be then you may be extremely worried about the type of mother of the bride dresses that your future mother-in-law may turn up in on your big day. Unfortunately it usually falls to the bride-to-be to call on all her diplomatic skills and discuss the issue with her mother.

The issue of how to decide on the perfect color and style that the mother of the bride dresses in can be a complex one. Obviously she wants to look her best too but she should not wear an outfit that takes all the attention away from the special couple. I know this has happened to a number of my friends.

If the color that the mother of the bride dresses in has the potential to grab too much attention then she needs to be persuaded to make another choice. Remember too that the bridesmaids are going to have their own color theme and this also needs to be taken into consideration.

By far the best types of mother of the bride dresses are those that have simple lines to them and not too many frills or accessories. The color should blend in and, if the bride is not getting married in white, compliment her daughters choice of wedding dress.

Another extremely important point about how the mother of the bride dresses is to take into account is the color of the outfit that the mother of the groom will be wearing. Many a wedding group photo has been marred by clashing colors.

Finally, the choice of outfit that the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride dresses in should be different.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of couples who have not found out that the mother of the groom and mother of the bride dresses are the same before the big day!

Introduction

The alarming increase in the population because of the stationary birth rates and the ever lowering death rates of the countries brought about by the economical an social development has imposed a need to lower the birth rates. There are also certain social stigmas which are to be overcome to reduce the birth rates for e.g. till recently in certain parts of the world the birth control pills were not socially accepted. But since their introduction they have placed themselves into a commanding position into ones family life.

History of birth control pills

The term birth control pill is usually referred to the group of drugs used by females to avoid pregnancy. In 1955 a couple of scientists, introduced the concept of birth control pills when they used progestins for birth control. Before that people used to try things like condoms, diaphragms, sponges and even avoiding sexual intercourse at the time of the fertile period. The latter had its disadvantages with its efficiency being very low as compared with the former ones. Later it was also found that adding estrogens made them more efficient.

Types of birth control pills

Because of the great success and the increased demand of the birth control pills there has been extensive research in this field and hence there are different types of the pills available to cater different population. Broadly there are 4 types of birth control pills and besides these are certain injections used for long-term birth control. The 4 types are:

1) Combined pills

This type consists of both estrogen and progestin. This is the most common type of pills used today. This is a set of 28 pills to be taken daily.

2) Phased regimen pills

Now been used rarely and only for those greater than 35 years of age.

3) Minipill

Females who cannot take estrogen for some reason or the other can take this type of pill wherein there is no estrogen.

4) Postcoital or emergency pills

This is used to avoid pregnancy in those cases in which the females can become pregnant because of unprotected sexual intercourse. This is to be taken within 3 days of the sexual intercourse.

Effectiveness and other advantages

Because of their main action on hormonal changes these pills are much more effective, some studies lay the figures of 10 times, than the traditional methods. There is also more patient compliance as they are not to be used only at the time of the sexual intercourse. Moreover they can be used in crowded home situations.

Side effects

They may cause certain side effects such as nausea, weight changes, breakthrough bleeding, blood glucose disturbance, mood swings, hypertension, clot formation in leg and lung veins and some genital carcinomas but the incidence is very less. So a specialist should thoroughly examine the case before being prescribed.

Contraindications

They should not be prescribed in subjects having some liver disease, suspected certain gynecological cancers, clotting disease, etc.

Male birth control pills

There are also certain male birth control pills available in the market such as gossypol as well as in research stage but both because of the patient non-compliance and because of their less effectiveness and various side effects, they are not as popular as the female birth control pills.

When Kurt Angle joined the world of professional wrestling he used the catchphrase: "Intensity, Integrity and Intelligence), the three I's. But it isn't the three I's that define Kurt Angle, rather it is one word: DEDICATION. The man just will not quit

From his earliest days in sports, Kurt Angle has always shown a drive to win and to be the best at whatever he was competing in. It's not just a Sports Entertainment boast, he really did win his gold medal with a "broken freaking neck!"

THE EARLY YEARS

Born Kurt Steven Angle on December 9th 1968 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Angle always excelled in sports. He was a football and wrestling star in his hometown and rapidly rose to be one of the top amateur wrestlers in the United States winning 2 NCAA titles in the heavyweight division (1990 and 1992). He went on to international success when he won a gold medal at the World Championship in 1995.

In 1996 though Angle took his success to a whole other level when he won a Gold Medal in the Atlanta Olympic Games for the 220 pound freestyle wrestling class. His instant fame was such that he was given a tryout for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

ENTERING PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING

Angle began to flirt with Pro-Wrestling very soon after his Olympic win. In fact he appeared briefly at an ECW show just months later. He didn't wrestle at the show, but was a guest commentator for a match featuring Taz. There had been plans to have him more actively involved with the promotion, however he was offended by another angle that ECW ran (the Sandman crucifixion) and is reported to have stormed out of the arena.

Kurt signed with the then WWF in 1998 and after a short while at their developmental territory of the time (Power Pro Wrestling in Memphis) he made his TV debut on November 14th 1999 playing a moralizing and self-satisfied character and referencing the three I's of intensity, integrity and intelligence.

The WWF had high hopes for Angle and pushed him heavily with title wins and victories over many established WWF names. During the course of his first year Angle won the King of the Ring tournament, the European Title and the Intercontinental Title. The push finally resulted in winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in a match against The Rock on October 22nd 2000.

Kurt Angle continued to wrestle at the top of the WWE's roster for the next several years, accumulating several more title wins. Unfortunately from 2003 onwards the damage he had previously done to his neck became a greater problem and he required time off to heal on several occasions. Angle actually considered taking time off to train and compete in the 2004 Olympics, but gave up that plan when he discovered just how bad the damage to his neck was. Instead after a brief absence of 3 months for neck surgery, Angle regained the title in June of 2003 and continued to wrestle for WWE week in and week out.

Over the next 3 years Angle continued wrestling, holding the championship again and always involved in a top level feud either on RAW, or Smackdown. Despite several absences to recuperate from his injuries, Angle always came back to give 100% in the ring and present the fans with some of the best matches that WWE had to offer.

When the WWE decided to revive the ECW promotion, they picked Angle to be the star and new face to sell this promotion to the WWE audience, but finally the damage his body had taken after years of wrestling proved too much.

INJURIES

Over the course of his career, Kurt Angle has sustained many injuries that would normally end a sportsman's career. Yet in each case through sheer stubborn will power he has gone on to continued success.

The most famous of those injuries was his broken neck. In the 1996 Olympic Trials, he cracked 2 vertebrae, herniated 2 discs and pulled 4 muscles. Easily enough to sideline them. However he managed to win the trials and then through a combination of rehab and pain killing shots he was able to win the Gold Medal.

The next famous injury incident also involves Angle's neck. In 2003, Angle was scheduled to wrestle then champion Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania. As usual, Angle toughed it out and went ahead with the match (a match which ironically featured Lesnar coming dangerously close to breaking his own neck). In April, only weeks after competing, Angle went in for neck surgery. Taking only 14 weeks off to recuperate, he was back wrestling (and winning the title) in June of the same year.

By March of 2004, Angle's neck problems were as bad as ever, but he refused to take the surgery that might end his career and after a brief respite where he played the Smackdown General Manager on TV, he returned to wrestling again.

Finally the accumulated injuries proved too much for Angle. WWE gave him a 30 day rest in June of this year (shortly after he moved to ECW), however on returning from his break, he immediately re-injured himself.

On August 25th, 2006 Kurt Angle was granted an early release from his WWE contract due to personal issues.

Is this the last we will see of Angle in the wrestling ring? Somehow I think that very unlikely.

Ring Name: Kurt Angle Height: 5 feet 11 inches Weight: 220 lbs Trained by: Dory Funk, Jr.and Tom Pritchard Signature Moves: The Angle Slam and the Ankle Lock

AMATEUR WRESTLING ACHIEVEMENTS

-1987 Pennsylvania State Wrestling Champion

-1990 Canadian Cup Championship Winner

-1990 NCAA Champion

-1992 NCAA Champion

-1995 World Championship Winner

-1996 Olympic Gold Medal Winner

PRO-WRESTLING ACHIEVEMENTS

-King of the Ring 2000

-1 time WWE European Champion

-1 Time WWF Hardcore Champion

-1 time WWE Intercontinental Champion

-1 time WCW United States Champion

-1 time WWE Tag Team Champion

-1 Time WCW World Heavyweight Champion

-1 time World Heavyweight Champion

-4 time WWE World Heavyweight Champion

Eoghann Irving runs the Professional Wrestling News site Pro-Wrestling News Direct. A wrestling fanatic he posts reviews of all the national pro-wrestling tv shows each week in addition to daily news and rumor updates. Eoghann can be contacted at webmaster@sflare.com Pro-Wrestling News Direct Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eoghann_Irving

Do you know the origin of basketball?

The origins of the game of basketball can be traced back to a gentleman by the name of Dr. James Naismith. In 1861, Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada. During his early school days, Naismith would play a game called duck on a rock whereby the child would endeavor to knock the duck off the top of the rock with a toss of another rock.

Later on, Naismith would go on to McGill University in Montreal and would later become McGill University's Athletic Director. He would subsequently move on to YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts and in 1891, the game of basketball began.

Given the cold Massachusetts winters, Naismith needed to find a recreational activity that could be played indoors and he preferred a sport that would develop skill and one that was not exclusively relying on strength. The first game was played with two peach baskets for goals and a soccer ball.

Further to his credit, Naismith became a medical doctor specializing in sports physiology and a Presbyterian minister. Naismith was able to see his beloved sport of basketball, gain acceptance in numerous countries through the YMCA since 1893. As well, the sport of basketball was brought forth at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. As we speak, the game of basketball has become a very popular professional sport.