Category Archives: Fitness

Fitness - Balance Training

Get in Shape for Ski Season: Tips for Off-Season Training

Alright, skiers and snowboarders, listen up. If you want to be ready to rip up the mountain when the snow starts falling again, you need to be putting in some off-season training. And no, I’m not talking about hitting the gym and lifting weights (although that’s definitely a good idea too). I’m talking about specific exercises and drills that are designed to improve your balance, coordination, and overall ski fitness.

One of the best ways to train for skiing in the off-season is by doing balance exercises. These can include things like standing on one leg, or using a balance board or Bosu ball. By improving your balance, you’ll be able to stay more stable on your skis or snowboard, which will help you make smoother, more controlled turns.

Another important aspect of off-season training is coordination. You can practice this by doing drills like cone drills, where you weave in and out of a series of cones, or ladder drills, where you go through a series of short, quick steps. These exercises will help you improve your reaction time and overall body control, which will come in handy on the mountain.

Finally, don’t forget about cardio and strength training. Skiing and snowboarding are physically demanding sports, so it’s important to build up your overall fitness levels. This can include things like running, cycling, or swimming, as well as strength training exercises like squats and lunges.

So don’t just sit around all summer waiting for the snow to come. Get out there and start training! Your body (and your ski buddies) will thank you.

Ski Jumping in Spring

Spring Skiing

Spring skiing is the best, y’all. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Sure, the snow might not be as fresh and powdery as it is in the dead of winter, but there are so many other benefits to hitting the slopes in the springtime.

First of all, the crowds are way thinner. Everyone and their mother is out on the mountain in the winter, but come spring, all the basic skiers and snowboarders have packed up their gear and headed back to the city. This means less waiting in lift lines and more fresh tracks for you and your crew.

But the biggest perk of spring skiing, in my opinion, is the weather. No more freezing your butt off on the chairlift or shivering in the lodge. The days are longer and the sun is shining, which means you can actually feel your fingers and toes again. Plus, there’s nothing quite like taking a break from shredding and soaking up some Vitamin D on a sunny patio with a cold beer.

Now, I know some people might be worried about slushy conditions or icy patches on the mountain, but that’s where a good pair of spring ski boots comes in handy. They’re specifically designed to handle the softer, wetter snow of the spring season, so you can still carve turns with confidence.

So don’t let the end of winter get you down. Embrace the springtime and hit the slopes for some epic skiing and riding. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Flowers in Spring on the mountains

Some Favorite Spots for Spring Skiing

There are tons of great resorts out there that are perfect for spring skiing, but here are a few of my personal favorites:

  1. Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada: This place is known for its massive amount of snowfall and long ski season, so you can usually count on good conditions even in the spring. Plus, the après ski scene in Whistler is top-notch, with tons of great bars and restaurants to hit up after a day on the mountain.
  2. Mammoth Mountain in California: Mammoth has a reputation for having some of the best spring skiing in the U.S., thanks to its high elevation and cold nights that help preserve the snowpack. The resort also has a ton of fun events and activities going on during the spring season, like live music and pond skimming contests.
  3. Tignes in the French Alps: Tignes is known for its legendary spring skiing, with its high-altitude glacier offering some of the best snow in Europe. The resort also has a killer après ski scene, with tons of bars and clubs to keep the party going all night long.
  4. Mount Hood Meadows in Oregon: Mount Hood Meadows may not be as well-known as some of the other resorts on this list, but it’s definitely worth checking out for spring skiing. The resort gets a decent amount of snowfall and has a long ski season, plus it’s only about an hour’s drive from Portland, making it a convenient option for a quick ski trip.

So if you’re looking to get in some spring turns, any of these resorts would be a solid choice. Happy skiing!

Perfect Ski Day

Prepare for a Perfect Day of Skiing

Are you ready for the perfect day of skiing? Well, strap on your skis and let’s hit the slopes!

First things first, you need to make sure you have the right gear. Don’t skimp on the quality of your ski boots or your skis – trust me, you’ll regret it when you’re halfway down the mountain and your feet are in agony. And don’t forget about the little things, like gloves, goggles, and a good ski jacket. You don’t want to be that person shivering at the bottom of the mountain, do you?

Next, it’s all about finding the right mountain. Do some research before you go and find a resort that suits your skill level and interests. And don’t be afraid to branch out and try a new mountain – sometimes the best runs are the ones you least expect.

Once you’re on the mountain, it’s time to start skiing! Take your time and warm up on some easier runs before tackling the black diamonds. And don’t be afraid to take breaks – skiing is all about having fun, so make sure you’re feeling good and energized before you hit the slopes again.

And when it comes to après-ski, you can’t go wrong with a hot cocoa (or a stiff drink, if that’s more your style) and some good company. Share stories from the day’s adventures with your friends and relive those epic runs.

So there you have it – the perfect day of skiing. Just remember to stay safe, have fun, and enjoy all that the mountain has to offer. Happy skiing!

Ski Resort

Some Popular Ski Resorts for This Season

Ski Season is here! There are many popular ski resorts around the world, but some of the most well-known ones include:

  1. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
  2. Aspen Snowmass, Colorado, United States
  3. Vail, Colorado, United States
  4. Courchevel, France
  5. Zermatt, Switzerland
  6. Banff Sunshine, Alberta, Canada
  7. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, United States
  8. Mammoth Mountain, California, United States
  9. Niseko United, Hokkaido, Japan
  10. Mt. Hutt, Canterbury, New Zealand

This is just a small sample, and there are many other fantastic ski resorts to choose from depending on your location and preferences.

Whistler Blackcomb

Hey y’all! So I just spent a weekend at the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia, Canada, and let me tell you – it was absolutely friggin’ amazing.

First of all, the mountain itself is massive. There are over 200 marked trails, so there’s plenty of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The views from the top are also unbeatable. You can see for miles and miles in every direction, and it’s just this incredible, otherworldly landscape.

But the best part? The après ski scene. Holy cow. There are so many amazing restaurants and bars to choose from, and everyone is just so friendly and welcoming. I had some of the best meals of my life at Whistler, and the nightlife was off the hook. I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun we had.

All in all, I would highly recommend the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort to anyone. It’s the complete package – great skiing, stunning scenery, and an amazing après ski scene. I can’t wait to go back!

Aspen Snowmass

I spent a week at the Aspen Snowmass ski resort in Colorado, and let me tell you – the ski conditions were absolutely friggin’ perfect.

The mountain itself is a skier’s paradise. There are over 5,300 acres of skiable terrain, and the snow was just so soft and powdery. I’ve never had such a good time skiing in my life. The runs were also really well-groomed, which made for a smooth and enjoyable experience.

The ski patrol and lift operators were all so friendly and helpful. They were always there to give us a hand or answer any questions we had. It really made a difference and added to the overall enjoyment of the trip.

All in all, I would highly recommend the Aspen Snowmass ski resort to anyone. The ski conditions are top-notch, and the staff really goes above and beyond to make sure you have a great time. I can’t wait to go back!

Yoga at the Beach

Some Ways to Use Yoga for Simple Stress Relief

I’ve been writing about yoga a lot because I’ve used it in so many ways: to lose weight, stay in shape, keep flexible, and more. But the best benefit I’ve found is that yoga is a great way to clear my head and flush out all the accumulated stress from the day.

Keeping a yoga practice may be a terrific method stay in shape, to reduce stress and relax the mind. But when it comes to anxiety relief, not all yoga poses are created equal: Some positions are especially powerful for promoting strain relief, relaxation and restfulness.

Seated postures like child’s pose can cause feelings of calm while empowering positions like standing forward bending and eagle pose can relax the mind while energizing the body, and help set your head in a meditative state.

Stress Relief with Yoga

When pressure creeps into your relationship bank account, manager, beloved, or supposed sources of strength, give this soothing workout a try. Surrender to some yoga and serenity is yours–and you can take that straight to the bank.

Use this sequence to relax your nerves after a stressful day.

Studies show that chronic stress increases the chance of growing mental and physical problems, like high blood pressure, ulcers, immune dysfunction, and melancholy and inhibits your ability to fix.

To break the cycle, it helps to train body responses and your thought processes to slow down. Restorative yoga helps repair well-being with gentle positions that relieve the pressure and exhaustion we accumulate during daily life.

This poses, intended to be performed as a sequence, are made to relieve tension that was muscle that was pent up and stimulate the immune and lymphatic systems. Use the poses to build your own practice depending on the time you have available.

Remain in each pose for a couple of minutes while breathing deeply, and always end in Savasana, the classic yogic posture of deep relaxation in which you’re lying down but still awake. (In fact, just this one stance done three times per week may do wonders.) Taking time to experience calm and the remainder that come from restorative yoga’s healing practice will help reduce your stress levels, improving your general health and well-being.

Namaste: Greeting Your Breath

Begin with your feet firmly planted and arms by your sides. As you inhale, cross your arms upwards and out to the sides (palms facing the ceiling) until the palms fulfill overhead (shown left). Exhale with the hands and slide down them before your face, stopping at your heart (shown left, inset). Maintain your attention on your breath.

Half Wall Hang

With your hands shoulder-width apart, put your palms against a wall or door. Begin slide your hands down until your hands and shoulders and to walk your feet from the wall are at about the height. Keeping knees slightly bent, press your hands lightly into the wall and lean your body away from it (shown right) to stretch the muscles that run along the back, where many people often hold pressure.

Allow your head to drop slightly, and take several deep breaths. Focus on relaxing the area around your jaw, as the muscles there are just some of the strongest in your body and tend to clamp down when you’re under pressure, with each exhale. If you are all set to come out of the pose, walk back toward the wall slowly to prevent any light-headedness.

Shoulder Stretch On The Wall

Stand so one side of the body is facing the wall with a space and your body of about three quarters the amount of your arm. Reach the arm closest to the wall and put your palm.

Keeping the hand in position, gradually rotate your system from the wall (shown left), stretching the shoulder area. Breathe fully and intensely for several breaths. Feel this pose releasing tightness around the shoulder, upper back, neck, and upper chest.

Come out of the pose by inhaling and stretching the fingertips to the ceiling, then letting your arm swing front to back at your side. Turn so your body’s other side faces the wall and repeat.

Child’s Pose

Begin with the knees broader than the hips in your hands and knees, and then sit back onto your heels. Extend your arms out in front (shown right) or drape them, palms upwards, back by the sides of your legs toward your feet. You can even rest your upper body and brow on pillows or stacked blankets if lowering to the floor feels uneasy.

Breathe deeply and feel the breath stretch the muscles around the rib cage. Take several deep breaths and after that walk your hands to the other side. If you are ready, walk your hands toward your knees and return to some seated posture.

Beating Yoga Pain

Dealing with Pain using Yoga

Yoga is great for a lot of things, especially relaxation and flexibility. But it can also be wonderful for managing pain. Here’s how yoga can help with both knee pain and lower back pain.

Yoga and Knee Pain

To what extent does its significance stretch? Although all of us know yoga is important. By performing the different yoga poses, physical, religious and mental wellbeing is reaped by a person. Mentally, yoga leads to relaxation, reduced stress levels, encourages self-awareness and re-energizes the mind. Yoga touches the soul of a person results in a peaceful inner feeling. Yoga works to ensure positive and healthy living by having the physical body and mind in the right shape.

Flexibility is one great advantage you will reap the benefits of yoga poses. Anyone who is into yoga will certainly consent to this fact. Yoga will demand your body goes constantly changing manners and extends. Over a brief time frame, hips, your back and hamstrings will develop great numbers of flexibility. Yoga can revitalize and restore flexibility.

Yoga improves body strength. Over time, people will recognized great improvement of muscle tone; muscles that are powerful and lean will be the merchandise. Also, equilibrium will accompany these advantages.

This really is their crucial part in body freedom and due to the big numbers of weight they support. Exceptionally mobile folks like riders and sportsmen have reached higher risk of knee injury. Research recently revealed that yoga exercises are an improved means of relieving pain’s knee. Below are a few of the most effective yoga poses for knee pain.

The supported warrior pose. It is suggested for instances of degenerative bone illness or knee inflammation. Here is how to do it. After standing in front of a wall, have your hands stretched forwards at the shoulder level in order to touch the wall. Next, move your left foot until you’ve got the toes partly touching the wall. Have your right arm stretched along the right limb, the left arm should be stretched along the lower left limb. From your right foot, take two steps back and have left knee flexed. As of this position, hold your breath for not less than 15 seconds. Stretch the left limb thus as the exercise is redone now on the right lower limb.

Warrior Pose on the Beach

Makrasana. On a mat that is clean, have your body. While keeping this posture, stretch backwards so as your body lies on the ground until the head touches the floor. Stay in this location for some seconds before sitting in the first pose.

Tadasana is another great yoga pose for knee pain. It focuses the essential processes. While standing, let your feet be business on the earth. Discipline yourself to keep slow and steady respiration where you inhale expel the air through the mouth. Remember to keep the back muscles direct in the entire procedure.

Yoga is a gentle and less impact process to keep the body fit. It truly is mild to old bones, it is among the perfect exercises for a successful aging process. Begin yoga today and reap the gains.

Yoga and Lower Back Pain

All over the world, lower back pain is one of most common grievances. The Mayo Clinic states that most people will experience low back pain at some time in their lives. Lower back pain is experienced by sedentary people in addition to highly-trained sportsmen. It is not difficult to see lower back pain is an issue, if you examine an average weekday of an average American who works a nine-to-five job.

Upon awakening one may sit before sitting to drive to work to have coffee or breakfast. The corporate worker will frequently sit at a desk or in meetings until lunch when arriving at work. Lunch includes more sitting, before sitting at the desk to complete the workday. Then obviously there’s another sit-down meal and the commute home. Exhausted from a long day of sitting at the office one may choose to sit on the sofa to watch television. If we look at it from an anatomical perspective we recognize the hamstring muscles and the illiopsoas muscles are shortened in the many hours of sitting and this causes strain on the lower back.

Athletes on the other hand aren’t sedentary, so why the lower back pain? Any weight-bearing sport or exercise that involves rapid dynamic motions, or running, jumping produces tension on the lower back. Overuse injuries may occur when these actions are duplicated over time without releasing and properly extending these muscles that are tight.

For the sedentary nine to five worker exercise is crucial for reducing the threat of diabetes and heart disease in addition to alleviating lower back pain. Nevertheless, I’m assuming you are not in that group. In the event you are, then then add cardiovascular exercises in addition to the stretches proposed below. If you have a slipped disc in sciatica or the lower back, please prevent all deep forward bends can make your condition worse.

When you are coping with low back pain, you actually get a sense of how much you use those muscles through the day, don’t you? From sitting at your computer to doing laundry in the garden, your back takes lots of abuse. A number of us spend sitting in front of a computer screen, and it’s not smooth .

Related Reading: A COLLECTION Exercises for Better Bearing AND STRENGTH

Obviously, if your back pain is severe, it’s wise to speak with your doctor first. Low back pain may be an indicator of serious problems and you’ll desire to seek medical help if that is the case,. Based on what’s going on, your doctor may suggest anything to surgery, and it’s better to get his back exercises that are low that are OK to the mix.

If your back pain is from poor posture, days spent sitting at the desk, or even menstrual cramps, these poses can go a ways in giving you some relief! One chose some beginner poses, in order that no matter what your fitness level you are able to add in these low back stretching and strengthening exercises.

 

Supine Hamstring Stretch

Back pain, low back pain, yoga for back pain, back pain relief, yoga for backLying on your back, bend your right knee into your chest and place a strap or rolled-up towel around the ball. Straighten your leg toward the ceiling. If the lower back feels strained, bend the left knee and place the foot on the earth.

Two-Knee Pull

Low back pain, yoga for back pain, yoga for back pain relief, backLying on your back, bend your knees into your chest and bring your arms out at a T. As you exhale lower your knees to earth on the right. Keep both shoulders pressing down securely. If the left shoulder face lifts, lower your knees farther from the arm that is right. Hold for 1-2 minutes each side

Sphinx

Align your elbows directly under your shoulders. Press hard through the tops of your feet and your palms. Press your pubic bone forward. You may feel your lower back for senses, but breathe through it. You’re enabling blood flow into the lower back.

Sphinx Pose

Pigeon

Back pain, low back pain, yoga for back pain, back pain relief, yoga for backFrom all-fours, bring your right knee behind your right wrist with your lower leg at a diagonal toward your left hip. Square your hips off toward the earth. Bend forward. Widen the elbows and place one hand in addition to the other as a pillow for the forehead. Hold 2-3 minutes and after that change to the left side for 2-3 minutes.

Thread the Needle

Back pain, low back pain, yoga for back pain, back pain relief, yoga for backLying on your back, bend both knees flat on the earth. Flex the right knee with the outer left ankle, like a figure four. Lift the left foot into the air, bringing the left calf parallel to the ground. String your right hand between the legs’ opening and interlace your hands. Hold 2-3 minutes and after that repeat on the opposite side.

Back pain, low back pain, yoga for back pain, back pain relief, yoga for backScoot your buttocks all the way and swing your feet up the wall. This pose is excellent for relaxing the muscles of the lower back and drains stagnant fluid from ankles and the feet. Do this pose after traveling by airplane and consistently after a challenging workout. Hold for 5-10 minutes.

Cat/Cow Poses

Cat/Cow is really a pair of yoga poses, but they go so nicely together, let us simply lump them into one! By cycling between the two positions, you warm up and stretch your back muscles, including the lower back.

To practice these postures, you’ll need to get on your hands and knees with your hands lined up beneath your shoulders and your knees in line with your hips. Take a deep breath in, so when you inhale you want to bend your backbone, so you are pulling on your belly toward the floor, your head leans back, and your bottom lifts toward the sky.

In your exhale, scoop the belly curling your chin toward your chest arching the back up, and tucking your tailbone under under. Repeat these two poses, gently curling in on the and extending through to the inhale exhale, as many times as you like.

Downward Facing Dog

Downward facing dog is very good for improving position, which helps support all of your back muscles and strengthening the lower back.

Start out once again on knees and hands, but walk your hands outside so they are just before your shoulders. Curl your toes under, and push up, straightening your legs and lifting your bottom toward the sky. You want to employ your abs, so your back is straight, and focus on pulling on your shoulderblades. Let your head employ your thigh muscles to further support your back, and hang neutrally.

I’d recommend staying in for at least 10 deep breaths, although you are able to hold this pose for as long as is comfortable.

Chair Pose

Chair pose is amazing for strengthening the lower back muscles. This pose can be a bit strenuous if you are new to it, so listen to your body and take it slowly.

Come to a standing posture with your feet side by side and touching each other and your arms. Inhale, and as you exhale like you are going to sit back into a chair, bend your knees. Now, raise your arms straight out in front of you until your arms are parallel to the floor.

Yoga for Flexibility

 

Taking a Beginner’s Yoga Class

I feel like the absolute last person in the world that has embraced yoga. It’s not that I don’t believe in it–I just haven’t had the time or the desire to commit to a class. But my friend convinced me to attend a few beginner classes last week and I really enjoyed it. I had enough of a good time to think about regularly dropping in on a Wednesday morning class.

This is not me. I wish it was. I don't have that kind of balance. Or that hair.

This is not me. I wish it was. I don’t have that kind of balance. Or that hair.

In the meantime, I’ve been practicing at home with these beginner poses for yoga. They include:

Mountain Pose (super easy)

Tree Pose (a little more challenging)

Downward Facing Dog (sounds weird, but easy to do)

Warrior (sounds tough!)

Cobra (dangerous!)

and my favorite so far…

Corpse Pose (perfect when I’m dead tired at the end of the class).

Figure Skating 2014 Has Finished! Right time to watch Frozen the Movie again!

The Winter Olympics 2014 started on February 6 and ended yesterday, February 22 2014 hosted in Sochi Russia.

Medal Standing

1. Russia with total 5 medals

2. United States with 2 medals

3. Japan with 1 medal

You can get the full result here: http://www.sochi2014.com/en/figure-skating-schedule-and-results

Congratulations to all participants you are all winners.

My favorite is the Figure Skating.

Here’s one of the winners from USA that took the gold medal in Ice Dance.

This was my favorite.

Although it would be nice if the song was “Let It go” from the Frozen the Movie of Disney.
What do you think?

So that inspire me to watch one more time! Frozen.

Ooooh I really love this animated story.

It’s a story of two princess (there’s lot of pricess in Disney) and these two are new comers.

Anna and Elsa used to be close to each other but because of an accident, Elsa had to distance herself to Anna to avoid getting her hurt again and so the palace was closed.

Until the coronation day of Elsa to be the Queen, they open the gates and Anna had the chance to sing the song “For the First Time in Forever”.

Met his prince Hans and wanted to get married! Already!

Which Queen Elsa didn’t allowed, so they fought and Elsa released her power unintentionally.

Because of that she had to run from her kingdom and sing the song “Let it go”.

And when I finished this song, I would want to do a figure state..

Too bad no snow here! YET!

Running Practice Time – Morning or Evening?

It’s always crazy day here in the city, really need to find time to run, walk or go to the gym if you don’t want to gain so much weight!

But when is the best time to run?

Well, I run every morning between 4am to 5am, one to two rounds in the park is just right for me to start my day right and full of energy.

Even if I got late on the evening before, I wanted to run on the morning.

I feel so down and slow when I missed a run.

They say that morning exercise leads to better sleep quality.

So that’s typical in my lifestyle. But now that I want to join in the 21k marathon run.

I am more inspired to prepare my self to it.

I don’t just want run on morning but also run after work.

Sometimes I couldn’t do it, because of the loads of work in the office and my teammates are not runners.

So I got an idea!

I invited all my teammates to join me in getting to healthy life style! I also invited other people in the other department.

Well, most of them are interested to join. I hope it will stay that way…

Hey, Everyone!!! If you’re reading my post now, make sure we finish work early tomorrow ok?

I won’t be waiting for you guys! 😛

I also had a research if it’s ok to run on the afternoon, well I just found out that the optimal time to exercise is when your body is on its highest temperature, which, for most people is the late afternoon, between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Other studies do confirm that exercisers perform better on physical performance tests, including aerobic capacity, endurance, reaction time, and strength between 4 and 7 p.m.

Cool right???!!!

 

 

Sochi Olympics

Having lots of fun watching the early days of the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Checked out some great performances on the women’s slopestyle. Jamie Anderson had an incredible second run to capture her first Olympic gold. It was incredible! Everyone expected her to win, and she really stepped up when she needed to with an intense performance.

Jamie Anderson

Enni Rukajarvi of Finland finished second, and Britain’s Jenny Jones took the bronze medal for third place.