MY HEALTH AT FIRST

Tennis is a hardcore sport that requires many abilities to be in a position to excel and be called a good player. A median tennis player must have good hand and eye coordination, good endurance, good vision, expectancy skills, fast thinking, strong gear and naturally the right tennis apparel. Everything plays a critical role in the anatomy of a tennis player, from the physical abilities to the material aspect a good tennis player must display a good balance in the areas anxious so he can bring his A game each day.
Talking about skills, the physical skills needed in tennis requires constant practice and training. A good regimen of flexibility exercise training, hand and eye coordination training, stamina building and speed training is needed to be able to cope up with the physical requirements of the game.
When it comes to the gear that you wear there also are concerns and factors that you will need to understand about so you can get yourself the right stuff. When it comes to the gear, like the racket and the strings, there are 2 straightforward tips that you can look into when purchasing, first is the weight of the racket 2nd is the style of play that you have. For folk who throw plenty of throws and likes to play way at the rear of the court they need weighty rackets letting them tweak their shots in the tiniest way possible.

Now if you’re the assertive net player you want an a little lighter racket that would let you go from forehand to backhand in a blink of an eye. But there are still private choices when it comes to selecting gear so if you believe a heavier racket suits you better than lightweights then its still you who’s the chief.
Getting the fundamentals naturally, the tennis apparel is another story. There are had been one or two style revolutions and trends the tennis world had seen in the past years that it had been in existence. Folks have been and gone with the brand of tennis apparel that sets them except for all the other players of the game. Some do it because they feel the requirement to be different and some feel the prerequisite to be recalled, and others just do it because they feel a bit like doing it. Whatever the cause for their style or statement one thing remains for sure there are a things that you simply can’t go without. These are a few pointers on the proper tennis apparel:
Mind the tennis shoes. This is similar to the heart and soul of your tennis apparel. Tennis shoes must be strong enough to use on any sort of court surface, it has got to be light and built to have support for your ankles. Get top quality of men’s shorts. If you’re a person then shorts are the way to go. White short have always set the standards for proper tennis apparel, just remember that it shouldn’t prohibit your movements on the court.
Be choosy when it comes to women’s skirts. The counter part of the shorts for men, women’s skirts should also let you play the game without any restriction of movement. Consider comfort when getting collared shirts. For men and women alike, collared shirts is the best way to go. Get the best options for hats. Experts say that hats are one of the most important parts of tennis apparel because these can serve as the ultimate protection against sunlight. Although these could also be optional especially when the games are being held indoors, it would really pay if one gets a good pair.

ennifer Kries’ New Body! Ballet has three workouts on one disc. It is a bit disappointing that the exercises are exactly the same in each program, although the extension and lift of the exerciser’s limbs becomes progressively more challenging. The routine does raise the heart rate, and a user will have to be in fairly good shape not to get out of breath. The next day, muscles you had no idea you possessed will definitely make their presence known. The exercises are done with such fluidity and grace that balance and strength will rapidly improve, and are designed to make the user feel she is actually dancing. Kries provides a good explanation of how the arms should be held during practice.
New York City Ballet the Complete Workout 1 and 2 is now sold as a box set; it is probably the gold standard for a great ballet workout. The only drawback is that little time is spent explaining how to do each individual step correctly. However, a video glossary does explain many of the moves in a separate section of the DVD. The many segments can be played one at a time, so as not to overdo it. Workout 2 also has a “quick fix” routine to save time. All of the barre work is done lying supine on the floor, which is terrific for a beginner. At the end of Workout 2, the exerciser may dance along with the NYC Corps; this is a lot of fun, but the little jumps required may be too hard on the knees for some people.
Denise Austin Body Makeover, Lower Body Section, is heavy on attitudes, releves, and arabesque positions. This DVD is a great place to start, because Denise is as always very motivating; and she does not turn out the feet past a very slight outward angle. The other segments of the DVD are Abs and Arms, with standard exercises. The Abs section does incorporate some Pilates.
Ballet Class for Beginners with David Howard is narrated by the teacher of such stellar performers as Gelsey Kirkland. Although he does explain each step, he gives few tips on how to perform them safely or correctly. This is not really a good workout, because the exercises are often demonstrated on demonstrated on only one side of the body and are done too quickly for the average viewer to understand. By the end center work sequences, the combinations are much too advanced for an amateur to follow. Use this only to supplement a ballet class or to learn the vocabulary of the dance.
Cardio Barre Series comes in Basic and Ultimate Advanced levels, sold separately. A Cardio Barre book stressing nutrition and technique is also available separately. Cardio Barre is designed to proved both aerobic and toning benefits and it is faster paced than most ballet workouts. The Basic level is pretty difficult, and the Ultimate Advanced should be saved until the Basic is mastered.
Jennifer Galardi’s Ballet Body Workout is structured for intermediate or advanced exercisers. It contains both standing and floor exercises, and utilizes both Pilates and barre work done on the floor. This DVD was not personally reviewed by me, but is called “doable, effective, and fun” and rated intermediate/advanced in the Collage Video’s Guide to Exercise Videos catalog.
Sources
Cohan, Robert, The Dance Workshop, Simon & Schuster, 1986.
Collage Video’s Guide to Exercise Videos, p. 15.
Kent, Allegra, The Dancer’s Body Book, Quill New York, William Morrow & Co., 1984.

Adult ballet classes and ballet DVD workouts have gradually entered the exercise mainstream, proving both beneficial and fun. Because ballet technique and muscle control are subject to constant improvement, ballet exercises provide continuous challenge to a practitioner, alleviating boredom and the common temptation to “slack off” a workout schedule.
Barre Exercises and Center Practice
Barre exercises may be done at home or in a class. If performed at home, the exerciser may simply use the back of a sturdy chair for support.
Amateur barre work may be done from first or second position, with the toes rotated outwards from the body. Professional dancers use a turnout of 180 degrees, but the non-professional should only turn out to a comfortable position. Alternatively, the feet may remain in normal position in order to avoid any strain on knees or Achilles tendons.
There is never any reason for an adult exerciser to attempt pointe work (where the dancer balances on the tips of the toes); leave it to the professionals who have trained since they were children. Positions beyond first or second are also usually too difficult for the amateur to master.
When the exercises at the barre are completed, center work repeats them without any hand support. This process will improve balance and gracefulness. Make sure the exercise area is spacious enough to accommodate the movements required.
Plies (bending at the knee) and releves (rising on the balls of the foot) are a good way to begin. More complicated moves should be learned gradually.
Review of Ballet Exercise DVDs
Those individuals new to working out, or with balance, knee, hip, or other physical problems should get a physical and perhaps take a few classes before using a ballet DVD.
Element Ballet Conditioning with Elise Gulan is almost an hour long, but can be practiced in segments. It contains almost all barre work; time is spent on explaining each movement. At the end, there is a considerably aerobic “little jumps” section and some excellent core-strengthening Pilates floor work. Good for intermediate exercisers; beginners should not attempt the entire workout right away.

I know I write a health/fitness blog, but I’m shifting my focus today in honor of J.D. Salinger's passing away yesterday at the age of 91.

It appears that in May of this year, Mr. Salinger suffered a broken hip but maintained a pretty healthy lifestyle despite being JD Salinger and the Catcher in the Rye90 years old. I remember reading that he was quite
the gardener and I’m sure his very meticulously selected diets and belief systems (among which included Zen Buddhism, Kriya yoga, Christian Science, homeopathy, acupuncture, half cooked lamb meat, and macrobiotics). Maybe his ardent attempts to merge his mental and physical lives were vital in assisting him to live such a peaceful and extended life?
This isn't a forum about why I think Catcher is a good/bad book, but I do think the novel's uniquely accessible style and tone help it to retain it's cultural significance almost sixty years after its publication. Like most things popularly celebrated, this novel's success was entirely accidental (and yet it wasn't), and until another work comes along to dethrone it, The Catcher in the Rye will remain the consummate story of what it's like having to grow up despite ourselves

One of our other Moms Get Fit! Giveaway winners, Melissa P., also had amazing success with the program.
Here’s her wrap-up, in her own words:
When I first got the call from the Sentinel that I’d won the Moms Get Fit giveaway, I was (obviously) very excited …  but also really nervous. Almost scared.
The idea of a medical-weight loss program was a little frightening because I was afraid I’d have to

get injections. Picturing myself working out with a trainer watching my every move freaked me out too because I’m so self-conscious.
On the other hand, I was ecstatically looking forward to spending the gift cards at Reebok and Bra Access, and also getting my beauty treatments at Gary Lambert Salon and Spa!
At my first appointment with Medi Weightloss Clinics, Lauren immediately put me at ease about the entire program. I did receive two injections but I got through them and now that I’ve been doing this for 13 weeks, I’m used to them and am not at all fazed by the thought anymore.
Dr. Brown and Lauren have both been extremely helpful in getting me through weeks when I didn’t lose as much as I’d hoped and in cheering me on when I lost a substantial amount. Kayla and Garrett have been welcoming and encouraging, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to help me along this journey of learning to eat better and smarter.
When I first met James at Taylor’s Fitness Club, I was a little hesitant about the theory of working the muscles to the point of failure, doing just one rep until you could anymore.
The workouts only took about 30 minutes (unless we talked too much!) but they got my heart rate up so that I was getting cardio work in too.
By the time I finished my last session with him, I could see clearly defined muscles in every part of my body. My arms are my best feature now.
I’ve learned how to weight train effectively in the least amount of time, and because of James’ encouragement, knowledge and just his great personality, I’ve been able to continue working out on my own, imitating my routine with him as best I can. I do miss him a LOT and I know the other girls do, too!
I have also been using the fitness center in my office to walk during my 30-minute lunch breaks. I’ve been changing up my routines, after I reached my first goal of walking at least two miles in 30 minutes (by jogging in 5 two-minute increments), now I’m doing inclines of 8.5 – 9.0 every other minute at a 4.0 mph pace just to vary the workout.
To date, I have lost 32.5 pounds and am about five pounds away from being on maintenance. I’ve lost 12.7% body fat and 7.5 inches in my waist. I’ve been able to fit into ALL of my pre-pregnancy clothes again!
Not only have I learned how to make better choices when it comes to food, how to fit in exercise and make it a priority, but I’ve also met some of the most amazing people in the world: the people at Medi, James, and most of all Janice and Melissa G.
I’m so grateful for this experience and I now have the tools and knowledge that I need to live a healthier life for my daughter, for myself, and for my entire family.