Fitness

Great slide show on "Least Effective Exercises Pictures Slideshow: 9 Exercises to Lose" http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/ss/slideshow-9-least-effective-exercises?ecd=wnl_men_122011 http://www.DanceAtlanta.com

Quotable Quotes

“I do not try to dance better than anyone else, I only try to dance better than myself” 

~Mikhail Baryshnikov

Lifestyles

Here is some good advice for something that affects all of us ... Read Here

Core Training

Here's a good way to circumvent the problem of engaging the hip-flexors when doing situps/crunches. It's called the Janda Situp.

How it's done:
Lie on the floor on your back with knees bent at 90 degrees as in a normal situp starting position.  Have a training partner hold your legs just above the ankles in a pulling motion.  If you don't have a partner, you can achieve the same result by attaching a band to a fixed object and wrapping it around the ankle.  Maintain your feet firmly on the floor.  Perform your situps/crunches as normal while engaging your hamstrings in a pulling motion. 


Why it works:
By engaging the hamstrings, you disable the hip flexors thereby putting all the pressure of the situp on the abdominal wall.  Six Pack here we come :-)

Alternates:
This exercise can also be performed for the obliques by pulling with only one leg and extending the other.  Crunch the pulling side for your set then switch legs.

Try this and let me know how it works for you.

Core Training

Today's core super set:

25x4: Seated Cable crunch Front, oblique right, oblique left, front.
25x4: Captain's chair individual reverse crunch. right, left, right, left.
25x2: incline bench inverted twists, right left.
25x2: incline bench reverse crunch.
25x4: standing cable crunch front, right, left, front
25x4: lateral cable crunch, right, left, right, left
25x4: lateral crunch bench, right, left, right, left

25x24=600, Total time: about 50 minutes

Balance - the Byproduct of Posture and Energy

Do you remember your first attempt at riding a bicycle? If you are like most people, you made a feeble effort to get the cycle moving, desperately trying to pedal. After numerous unsuccessful attempts, eventually you improved, hopping onto the bicycle, giving it a good roll and then casually beginning to pedal.

Technically, Newtonian physics defines balance as the zero sum totals of forces acting upon an object. But, what does that mean for a dancer?

(Read on ...)

Ballroom Dancing Primer

Like any other physical activity, dance is best learned by "doing," and the more opportunities that you find to practice and develop your skills, the more chances you have to become a potentially great dancer.  But, how do you get started?

 Discover a few hints to help you get your feet moving (Read on ...)