“Jane Fonda is still going strong on fitness - USA Today” plus 3 more |
- Jane Fonda is still going strong on fitness - USA Today
- Fitness can be fun, too - Vancouver Sun
- Wii-style workouts - Twin Falls Times-News
- In Sickness & In Health : Heart Health Month - KHON2
| Jane Fonda is still going strong on fitness - USA Today Posted: 26 Apr 2010 06:33 AM PDT
She's putting on her workout clothes and getting ready to exercise, and she'd like you to join her. The actress, who was the queen of the aerobics movement in the '80s and '90s, is hosting World Fitness Day, an exercise event Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. And she just finished two new workout DVDs for Baby Boomers and seniors, scheduled for release in December. They're her first since the mid-'90s.
"I got a new knee and a new hip, but I want to show that, even at 72, with new body parts, you can be fit and healthy," she says. At the fitness event, Fonda will do the warm-up exercises, followed by workouts led by high-energy fitness celebrities Denise Austin, Debbie Allen, Billy Blanks and Richard Simmons. There also will be performances by Ludacris and the Pointer Sisters. About 3,000 people are expected. It will stream live on UStream.tv and Facebook.com/JaneFonda. Fonda has two goals: • To raise money for the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, which she founded in 1995. • To bring people together to have a good time while getting fit. "For this country to be as unfit as we are is unconscionable," she says. "We need to turn things around. I want to play a role in that." Still keeping in shape She certainly has played a big role. She is widely recognized as one of the leading stars of the aerobics movement in the 1980s. Her toned and sculpted body inspired millions to start exercising. She created 23 workout videos. Fonda is still physically active, but not in the same way she used to be. "I try to work out four or five times a week, and usually there's an aerobic component," she says. "It's either walking outside or hiking in the hills or doing the elliptical or biking. "I do a lot of walking. It's brisk but doable. I look for hills. Hills are good because they force my heart rate to go up." She walks a mile in 18 minutes. "I used to run, used to ski. I don't do those anymore. I ride bikes. I swim in the summer. "I use weights but not as heavy as I used to. Weight training helps you maintain bones and muscle as you age." She has osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. The latter, which led to her knee and hip replacements, is genetic, she says. Her father, Henry Fonda, and her brother, Peter Fonda, had it. A book about aging Fonda says she's happy to be teaching again on the two upcoming exercise DVDs. One emphasizes balance and strengthening exercises using hand weights. The other offers two walking workouts. "They are very gentle. The workouts are appropriate for people who have never been fit or who want to be fit again." She's also writing a book about aging. "It talks about the ingredients for successful aging." So what are the secrets? "It's a combination of things," she says. "About a third of it is genetic, and we can't do anything about it. But that means two-thirds we can do something about, and a major part of the can-do portion is staying active. It can be as simple as walking, swimming, moving, using light weights." Plus, you need to eat fresh, healthful foods and not fast food, she says. "It's treating our bodies with respect," she adds, "staying curious, maintaining personal relationships, maintaining a social network, keeping our brains active. We need brain workouts. It's trying to maintain a positive attitude and combating stress." Fonda says living a full life as you get older involves understanding what shaped you. "As you approach your third act in life, you need to go back over your life in a profound and forgiving way. The more you can understand about who you have been and why, the better able you are to go into your third act armed with what you need." She learned a lot about herself, she says, when writing her 2005 autobiography, My Life So Far. Centered on her faith Fonda says she has been surprised that "at 72, I'm at the most interesting time of my life." How so? "I'm active. I'm involved. I am working. I'm earning money still. I'm in love (with music producer Richard Perry). I have two grandchildren. My kids are OK. You know the saying: 'You are only as happy as your least-happy child.'" Plus, Fonda says, her faith keeps her centered. She was raised an atheist but became a Christian when she was in her late 50s. Faith helps keep stress levels down and "helps you not make mountains out of molehills and enables you to turn lemons into lemonade," she says. It makes you realize that "there is something more important than me. There is a higher power. I have a belief that I am being guided as long as I listen to that voice." Her faith has freed her from her lifelong search for perfection and made her whole, she says. "I'm sitting in a kitchen in Los Angeles. I look out the window onto this valley. I see the trees, the birds, and I see God." Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fitness can be fun, too - Vancouver Sun Posted: 26 Apr 2010 02:01 AM PDT The dark, dirty secret is finally out -- fitness for the sake of fitness is boring. So, this winter, play your way to physical fitness. Offerings at front-running fitness and recreation centres will include all kinds of fun and games. Watch for cardio machines with on-screen "brain-fitness" games, Wii-hab rather than tedious rehab, outdoor fitness, "boomerized" sports and themed walks to take your mind off the work. "We have pumped billions of dollars into (the fitness for fitness's sake) message for the last 20 odd years and we really haven't increased the number of participants a great deal," Colin Milner of the International Council on Active Aging said in an interview. Most consumers are no longer motivated by vanity, but by fun, relaxation and energy-boosting life-management, said Milner, keynote speaker at the most recent 2009 B.C. Recreation and Parks Association conference in Vancouver. Here's what to look (or ask) for at your local fitness or recreation provider this winter: CARDIO/BRAIN-FIT BIKES Why bore yourself on a regular treadmill, exercise bike or elliptical machine when you could be playing an absorbing touch-screen game of mah jong, while you're at it? Technogym is releasing its cardio/games product this winter, while NeuroActive's recumbent bike will work your math, memory and hand-eye co-ordination. STRETCHING MACHINE Stretching machines with a gauge and timer allow you to measure progress. Their supported stretches ensure correct form and you don't have to get down to the ground to stretch -- an altogether pleasant experience. GROUP WALKS WITH A TWIST Boring? Not at all. Look for group walks that integrate exercise, technology, socialization and brain work. Milner's seen GPS walks in an arboretum. Why not learn the history and biology of trees, while getting exercise? Ask your local recreation centre to set up scavenger hunts. ZEN WEIGHT ROOMS Never mind huge stacks of clanking metal. Baby boomers are seeking the mind-body connection, so watch for workout rooms with hidden weight stacks and a tranquil, soothing atmosphere, said Eric Kristiansen of Advanced Athletics Inc. in Vancouver. The machines are a little hard to explain. Imagine doing Tai Chi-like movements while holding onto a pulley system that smoothly moves with you, providing constant resistance regardless of where you move your arms or body. WII ROOMS Instead of aerobics rooms, expect Wii rooms for rehab, fitness and sports especially in seniors centres and retirement communities, Milner said. "It's so huge it's unreal. Literally over 60 per cent of our members with facilities to serve this market said in the next two years they will be putting Nintendo Wiis into their site," Milner said. "In 27 years I have never seen a product catch on that quick. What has made it catch on so quick? Anyone can do it, it's social and it's fun." Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wii-style workouts - Twin Falls Times-News Posted: 26 Apr 2010 12:13 AM PDT Running a half marathon in the living room or ski jumping next to the coffee table isn't outlandish at all. The Nintendo Wii — that funky Japanese-made console that burst onto the gaming scene in 2006 — has not only changed the way south-central Idahoans play video games, but also how they work out. The Wii is different than other video game systems in that uses motion-detecting hardware instead of controllers attached to the console by cords. Even games not centered around fitness require the player to move. Starting with its first release, Wii Sports, a multitude of fitness-related games filled the market. When I first set out on this assignment, I thought I would find people who use Wii to supplement, or replace, traditional workouts. And while I did, I also found occupational therapists using it for patients, after-school programs using it for children, even senior centers who use it for socializing. Senior Connection of Blaine County hosts Wii Bowling for its patrons on Tuesday afternoons. Burley Public Library has Wii-based activities run by a teenage volunteer. The two TwinFalls YMCA locations have Wii consoles for children to play with while their parents work out. And all of them are on the right track, said University of Idaho Extension educator Rhea Lanting, who specializes in nutrition and fitness. She was especially excited to hear about after-school programs that use the Wii. "I just can't stress enough the fact how important it is for the kids just to be active. Just be active," she said.Parents can get in on the fun, too, as many Wii fitness games have multi-player options. Lanting plays with her grandchildren who live in Cambridge, and although she was skeptical about the benefits at first, the games won her over after she saw her family moving and jumping. I went on three Wii-outings to meet people who use the fitness games to get moving. Here's what I saw. Melissa Davlin may be reached at 735-3234 or melissa.davlin@lee.net.
After-school program, University of Idaho Cassia County, Burley Grace Willton, University of Idaho Extension educator in Burley, led children at Burley's White Pine after-school program in Wii-centered activities for research on physical activity. Over seven weeks, Willton and other Extension educators led children in three Wii activities — Wii Sports' boxing and tennis, plus Dance Dance Revolution — plus two traditional schoolyard activities, kickball and capture the flag. The children wore pedometers to measure their steps for each of the 20-minute activities, and rated how much they liked the games and their perceived exertion. The pedometers showed students took an average of 802 steps with Dance Dance Revolution, 746 with Wii boxing and tennis, 1,171 during capture the flag and 789 during kickball. They enjoyed Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution much more than kickball, and almost as much as capture the flag. The research is over, but the kids still play Wii. And they invited me to join. The games The children have an array of games, and on the Thursday I visited they played Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Fit. DDR is a coordination game, based on the arcade version of the same name. Users step their feet in time with the music and visual cues on the screen, and a mat makes sure they are stepping in the right place at the right time. It has several speed settings, and most of the Burley children favored the beginner level. Because there are so many children in the program — about 20 on the day I was there — and only a couple of controllers and dance mats, the children take turns while the rest mimic the moves on mats. At first, Willton said, no one wanted to be the "leader," or the child with the controller, but now they fight over who gets to take a turn. The view from the sidelines The kids warmed up by running in place with another game and were ready to dance. They chose the beginning level so everyone could keep up. They all stared intently at the screen while moving their feet, and all were thrilled with the game. As the songs went on, they moved closer and closer to the screen, crowding around the leader to form a big dance-dance party before being told to return to their mats. No one tried to get out of the activity. Adrianna Rodriguez, 11, is a huge DDR fan. "It actually feels pretty good," she said. "It works your body out." Miguel Cordoba likes the games because the kids can be wild and not get yelled at, he said. DDR isn't his favorite, though. He prefers playing tennis on Wii Sports. "I always get the ball right," he said. My Wii-sperience I had played the arcade version of DDR in high school when it debuted in Boise arcades, but never the Wii version. Because there were so few controllers and so many kids, I didn't raise my hand to become the leader and instead followed along off to the side. The beginning level lives up to its name. It would be great for folks who aren't used to moving and want an alternative to sedentary video games, but for someone who works out regularly, the level probably won't cut it. Hoping for a better workout while dancing with the kids, I bent my knees and squeezed my thigh and glute muscles while dancing. As easy as the beginning level was, it was better than sitting still on a couch and playing Zelda. And I'm sure the advanced would have kicked my butt. Rhea's reaction Rhea Lanting, University of Idaho Extension educator, loved that the DDR game got the kids dancing. Not only are they up and moving, but they're having fun doing it and might not even realize they're exercising, she said. It helps coordination and strengthens legs, but the kids just think they're rocking out to music. And starting out at a beginning level isn't a bad idea, she pointed out, even if you think you can bust a move with the best of them. You can always increase the intensity, but if you start out too fast, you might get injured. I'm convinced. I'll surely try this game again if I get the chance.
EA Sports Active Pam Hanko, Twin Falls Pam Hanko supplements her Twin Falls YMCA workouts with Wii games, and when she plays the Wii regularly, she sees a boost in her performance at the gym, she said. Hanko's husband, Shawn, said he also benefits from his wife's workouts. "When she was doing it nightly, I noticed a difference," he said, tracing body curves in the air with his hands. (He isn't as huge of a fan when she works out in the middle of the night, though.) Hanko has a huge selection of Wii workout games, including Outdoor Adventure and Your Shape featuring Jenny McCarthy. On a Wednesday evening in late March, she showed me EA Sports Active, one of her favorites. The game EA Sports Active features individual workouts or, for the dedicated, a six-week training program. Users can choose their intensity level, customize their avatar's appearance and add their body weight and height. The game senses users' movements from the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. A leg strap holds the Nunchuk in place for some cardio and toning exercises. Other exercises require holding the Nunchuk in one hand and the Remote in the other. The game also requires a resistance band, which comes with the game, and a balance board, purchased separately. The view from the sidelines Although the game took a while to set up and configure, Hanko expertly maneuvered through most of the moves. As she used the band for alternating bicep curls, she told me how she feels the burn most in her legs and arms. She noted that because the Wii only reads the motion of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, it's easy to cheat. You could "jog" by sitting on the couch and shaking the controllers. But what's the point in that, she said, when you can really do the activities and get in shape? My Wii-sperience I did half of a 20-minute workout on the easiest intensity — it sounds wimpy, but I was feeling under the weather. Of the fitness games I've played, this was the closest to a traditional workout, even on the light setting. The squats and lunges — always a weakness for me — felt intense, but I didn't work up much of a sweat from the cardio. My favorite exercises involved the resistance band. Like Hanko, I also had issues getting the program to read some of my moves, especially when the leg strap was involved. Another problem: The strap kept slipping off my thigh, though I attached it tightly. At some points, I focused more on getting the controllers to cooperate than on my form, and noticed I was dipping way too low on some squats just to get a reading. Overall, I really liked the game, and despite its flaws, this is the one I would be most likely to play regularly. Rhea's reaction Starting out slow on an intense workout is the way to go, said Rhea Lanting. Like me, Lanting was concerned about the posture problem. Don't worry about the game reading the motions, she advised. It's more important to avoid compromising correct form. You might get frustrated if the game doesn't understand what you're doing, but you'll be more frustrated if you injure yourself by lunging too deep or twisting too hard.
Wii Fit and Rehabilitation Center
Twin Falls Care and Rehabilitation Center leaders have had their eyes on a Wii for a while, said licensed practical nurse Alyssa Elexpuru. They had seen research that the console helps with occupational therapy, had noticed their residents enjoyed another active game system called XaviX and wanted to see how the two compared. They finally got their Wii, along with a Wii Fit, on Thursday afternoon, but right away they were impressed. Physical therapy assistant Tim Clark said the graphics are better, the system is more responsive and the Wii Fit is more entertaining than XaviX's offerings. The system won't replace physical therapy but rather act as a supplement, he said. Also impressed: Mildred Jonas, 85. The first resident to test the facility's new Wii said it added a fun element to her occupational therapy. Not that she needs motivation. When Jonas first arrived at the care center in late February, she couldn't stand up straight, bending at a 90-degree angle and leaning heavily on her walker to get around. In two months, occupational therapy has helped her regain some of her balance and strength. She can now stand up straight and even stand up on her own. "You have to work hard if you want to get better," she said. But why not add some fun to the therapy? The game Wii Fit combines cardiovascular, strengthening and balance exercises with cute, cartoony graphics. The game also uses the Wii Balance Board, an accessory that measures weight and balance using pressure points on the board. The many activities within Wii Fit are separated into four categories: yoga, strengthening, aerobics and balancing. Within those categories are a dozen or so games that hone those skills. The view from the sidelines With the aid of a walker and Clark's steadying hand, Jonas climbed on the Wii Balance Board and started the Penguin Slide. The game is simple enough; the user leans from side to side to help a penguin avatar glide back and forth on an iceberg to catch fish. Lean too far and the penguin falls in the water. Play it safe and the bird won't catch any fish. Jonas had no problem figuring out the game. The game lasted about two minutes, but it was enough to get her hooked. "You have fun along with working," she said. Rhea's response Working on balance is important for everyone, but fall-prone seniors especially need help, Rhea Lanting said. So if you have to work on balance, what better way than with a game? Balance isn't the only benefit. Strengthening activities in Wii Fit, like push-ups and lunges, will not only tone but will help with depression and sleep problems, no matter how old you are, Lanting said. Other activities, like hula hooping and step aerobics, are also beneficial even if they won't make you break into a sweat. "I always think it helps in that range of motion and balance," she said. — Melissa Davlin
Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| In Sickness & In Health : Heart Health Month - KHON2 Posted: 21 Apr 2010 11:28 PM PDT February is heart month. That's important for all of us, but perhaps more important for those who have faced health challenges. Tom Frigge had heart surgery six years ago. Since then he has been an active participant in Castle Medical Center's physical therapy program - something therapist Glynis Hooker firmly believes in. "So it's very important to maintain your heart healthy by doing exercise which can improve the cardiovascular system," says Glyn Hooker, Castle Physical therapist. As a former heart patient, Tom has taken it on himself to work out almost every day. But Glynis says, that should be the norm for every one who wants to maintain a healthy heart. "Five times a week, thirty minutes a day moderate intensity which includes brisk walking. If you do high intensity exercising which includes running, jogging, you can exercise three times a week for a minimum of twenty minutes," said Hooker. Tom is still young but his physical therapist says exercise is important for everyone whatever their age. Physical therapy includes strength training, aerobics, flexibility and balance that can help seniors prevent falls. "So falls can put you at a higher risk for osteoporosis. Then again exercise also helps with that because you help build bone density," said Hooker. Heart patients may have some fears as they begin post-operative exercise. "Absolutely. I started out slow. I now do over an hour on the elliptical on alternate days. Do weights on the other days so it's a combination of cardio and weight building," said Tom Frigge, former heart patient. All patients who come to the Castle Physical Therapy Center have a thorough exam. "We'll assess their abilities in terms of functional deficits, range of motion strength, balance and see how that impedes on their normal daily function and from there we can help them with a medically supervised program in order to monitor their heart rate." And how is the program working for Tom? "Just over six years. So I think it took," said Frigge. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| You are subscribed to email updates from Add Images to any RSS Feed To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment