For nearly five years, New Yorker Amanda Croce has broken a sweat about six times a week at a fitness class. Her preferred instructor is Akin Akman, a former pro tennis player and SoulCycle instructor and now co-founder of AARMY, a boutique fitness program in New York and Los Angeles, launched in 2019. Akman, with his signature deep voice and floppy hair, is among New Yorks top fitness celebrities, a sweat guru who is known as both a trainer and a motivational speaker. As Akin says, there are only good days or great days, Croce said.

But with the coronavirus impacting every aspect of daily life around the world, Croce said goodbye to her regular gym habits as classes shut down and social distancing became the norm for most individuals and businesses attempting to curb the viruss spread and abide by government bans on group gatherings. So on Monday, while socially isolated with her family in Connecticut, Croce opened up her phone to an Instagram Live and started streaming a bootcamp workout led by Akman instead. Its just one of a number of fitness programs and influencers pivoting to remote workouts, and in just under a week, its well on the way to becoming a new normal.

Across the board, virtual workout options have been popping up, from individual trainers offering free classes to studios organizing digital schedules. Check out fitness Instagram or YouTube and youll be bombarded with free content from instructors with avid followings: Rumble Boxings Noah Neiman has a bag-free workout; trainer Jen Selter live-streamed a mat class; Taryn Toomey is offering free at-home version of The Class; Australias super-influencer Kayla Itsines adjusted the routines on her popular program to be home-friendly. Most programs, from Physique 57 to Barrys Bootcamp to Orangetheory, have new free online options from official accounts and popular trainers individually not to mention widely-subscribed preexisting digital programs from Peloton and Nike Training Club.

Croce didnt have any gym equipment, just an old yoga mat thoroughly scratched up by her cat, and a few bricks and bottles of Chardonnay her mom offered her as weights. Still, she came away from the workout buoyant. Everyone was in the same spirit and cheering each other on, even though its through Instagram comments, she said.

Like most other gyms and fitness studios, AARMY closed training centers in New York and Los Angeles over the weekend, prioritizing health and safety in the face of the coronavirus threat, calling it a necessary measure in public statements. But Akman, co-founder and CEO Trey Laird and fellow celebrity trainer Angela Davis decided to take their classes online for the first time, delivering free, live-streamed cycling, bootcamp and specialized workout sessions over social media nearly hourly, starting on Monday, for the foreseeable future.

They are just one group going remote. And theyre reaching bigger audiences: in the first 24 hours, over 18 thousand people had viewed the AARMY classes, according to Laird. (In person, they can host about 60 customers per session; even with each instructor leading five sessions a day, their online reach is exponentially larger.) Recouping the lost incomeclasses start at $38wasnt a consideration at this time, Laird told TIME; they just wanted to get their content out there.

While coronavirus restrictions may be keeping people home, fitness has a role to play in keeping people healthy and happy; its no secret that working out can help manage anxiety. Croce turned to AARMY and other classes to keep her motivated while training for the New York City Marathon, finding the community in particular to be a powerful support. And while thats now out of the question, the online programs are making an effort to fill the gap.

The founders of online fitness site Ob consider what they do almost health work. Katia Pryce of DanceBody calls her classes a daily escape that people are hungry for, even though the ease of an online option doesnt replace the energy vortex of human-to-human connection and the importance of supervision that can be found in her studios in New York, Miami and L.A. (Every instructor said that students should pay close attention to their own bodies and limits while practicing remotely.)

Still, the move to online-only fitness is a shift thats happening very fast. How do you prepare for this? Akman asked, calling TIME from the AARMY facility in Manhattan, to which he was still commuting for filming. Luckily for the gym, AARMY had been planning on launching a digital component this spring. Theyve just expedited the process, and skipped building out a platform to go straight to viewers with the free content. It feels like a time in the world when you just need to put things out to be helpful and positive and inspiring, he said. Clearly, thats hit a nerve: theyve had viewers from countries as far as Spain and Tunisia. Its a nice surprise to see the world connected in a time thats so difficult, Akman added. The experience of the classes is pretty raw, just the instructor in an empty studio shouting encouragement at the screen, and sometimes responding directly to commenters, many of whom hes coached for years.

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I started the class grumpy and alone, not wanting to do it, and not feeling accountable. But then it really felt like I was being held accountable, Croce said. The energy coming from the coaches was huge. The message of resilience and getting through tough times and getting through a challenge: thats something we all can use.

While AARMY has had to jump quickly into a new paradigm, some platforms were built for this from the beginning. Entertainment publicity pros Mark Mullett and Ashley Mills launched Ob, an online-only fitness streaming platform, in 2018. It has classes across four categories taught by celebrity instructors, all filmed in their New York studio and capped at 28 minutes. Inspired by the Jane-Fonda-style workouts of eras past, their goal has been to replicate the joy of early exercise videos; the contemporary twist is lighting reminiscent of the works of James Turrell. It had already struck a chord with millennials seeking a sleekly designed remote fitness experience, but amid the coronavirus their services are well-adapted for the moment.

Were very agile from a production and content perspective, Mills told TIME. When she was stuck at home over the weekend with her infant and a five-year-old, she realized they needed to put together kids programming. Within days, they had licensed music from Kidz Bop and released child-friendly exercise videos. And noticing a senior relative also struggling to find fitness options, they mobilized to put out senior workouts by the end of the week, with gentle activities that can be done while seated or with limited range of motion.

Movement right now is not only going to keep us sane, its going to keep our bodies healthy and help with our immunity, Mills said. We feel empowered, we feel of service. Its a terrible situation were all in, but we feel very equipped to serve people in the way that they need it. People are responding: Mullett said they were getting thousands of new viewers daily. Trust us, we wish we were on the phone with you under different circumstances, he said. But if youre looking for silver linings, the fact that people are trying something new and looking inward is pretty interesting.

Keep up to date with our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking here.

Still, adapting to this new reality can be exhausting. Professional dancer Katia Pryce founded DanceBody in 2013 and has been a star instructor ever since, with an Instagram following over 35,000. Students turn to her and DanceBody for cardio that mixes fun choreography with a serious workout. (And hit music: she licenses top songs for her dances.)

As her responsibilities as an executive have grown in the past few years, Pryce whittled down her active dancing hours to just a few per day. But now shes broadcasting six to seven live hour-long classes per day, after shutting down her studios for quarantine. Were gonna get really ripped this month! she told TIME. Pryce had freshened up her livestream service with a new app in January, so this timing was actually kind of perfect, she said. Still, its not exactly a dollar for dollar exchange; everyone understands that. Theres a million things online. She called this moment an anxiety diet for small business owners like her working to stay afloat. While the conditions of her salaried employees havent changed, she isnt able to pay contract workers for hours theyre not logging.

To tide her company over, shes trying to fill a niche with specialized dance classes and private virtual sessions. The upside for her business? New dancers who wouldnt normally commit to attending an in-person class are tuning in, including older viewers and men; she estimated online viewership had gone up 30 or 40% in the first three days. Were seeing more guys getting wrangled into it, because now whoever is quarantined in your home is forced to do your workout with you, she said. Standing in front of a mirror in a bright mirror [in the studio] can be kind of intimidating. Now people are really taking the jump. Its not clear how things will shake out when things go back to normal, but for Pryce, its an opportunity to play an important role. Someone recently said to me, This is basically your Super Bowl. Were working harder than we ever have been.

Shes not alone. Akin said today in the middle of the practice, Sometimes challenges make you focus on what you should be doing,' Laird told TIME. It brings clarity, Akman said. For fitness stars and their programs, its a chance to reach new audiences and convince a quarantined and inevitably bored population to commit to new habits. Nothing will replace the community of in-person sessions, Pryce insisted. But even Croce, a class devotee, recognized the benefits of virtual workouts, even after isolation ends; she can imagine tuning in when her schedule doesnt line up with the studio. As for the instructors? We are surviving, Pryce said. But we are hopefully really close to really thriving.

Please send any tips, leads, and stories to virus@time.com.

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Fitness Instructors Are Adapting a New Home Workout Now - TIME

With gyms closed and access to equipment limited, its hard to get a workout in these days. Luckily, there are plenty of simple exercises you can do from home that can have a positive impact on both your health and your golf game.

TPI Certified performance coach Mike Carroll shared his five favorite at-home exercises that are suitable for golfers of all ages and fitness levels. Even better, none of these moves require special equipment.

This is a lower-body exercise that works on mobility, stability and strength. The narrow stance will reduce your base of support and challenge your stability. In this exercise, youre primarily working your front leg, so keep the majority of your weight centered over the middle of your front foot.

Deadbugs are a great exercise for strengthening your core. You need strength in your midsection to be able to effectively transfer power from your lower body to your upper body in the golf swing. During this exercise, its incredibly important to keep your lower-back flat against the ground to ensure youre working your abs.

Theres a reason push-ups are among Joel Dahmens go-to exercises. When performed correctly, push-ups can be extremely beneficial to your overall strength and to the golf swing. To set up correctly for a push-up, place your hands beneath your shoulders and your feet shoulder-width apart. Then squeeze your core and go to the top of a plank.

Be sure to maintain a neutral spine, as demonstrated by the dowel rod on my back in the below video. Your body should move as one piece with a controlled tempo to ensure you are working the right muscles. Essentially, the push-up is a moving plank. To ensure your push-ups are using your full range of motion, your chest and hips should touch the floor on the way down.If doing push-ups is too difficult, elevate your hands onto the side of a sofa, table or counter top. The higher your hands are, the easier the push-up will be.

When you watch the pros, one of the biggest differences youll notice is how well they can separate their hips from their upper body at the start of the downswing. This separation stretches the torso muscles, loading them with power and helping your swing sequence.

During this exercise, make sure you rotate your hips while keeping your upper body still. This is a great way to improve your mobility, which is required to create that all-important separation. You should feel a big stretch in your obliques, the muscles on the sides of your midsection.

This is an excellent exercise to improve your rotation in the backswing and the flexibility of your trail shoulder. Using a golf club will assist your turn and help you go further than you would otherwise. You should feel a big stretch around the ribcage, mid-back and shoulders during this exercise. This is also a great exercise to do before you play a round or hit the range.

Perform three rounds of 5-10 reps per exercise. For the exercises where you work one side at a time, be sure to perform the exercise on both sides.

For more at-home workouts and golf-specific fitness tips, check out the Fit for Golf website and Twitter account.

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Here are five at-home exercises to improve your golf game - Golf.com

Posted: Mar 21, 2020 / 07:43 AM CDT / Current: Mar 21, 2020 / 07:43 AM CDT

WAVY

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) With thousands of enlisted and civilian military staff on and off area bases every working day, the commander of U.S. Navy Region Mid-Atlantic explained the coronavirus pandemic is a single of the largest challenges theyve at any time confronted.

Drastic variations have been made at all 14 bases, such as the 6 in Hampton Roads, according to Rear Adm. Charles Rock.

Till even more notice, visiting excursions are suspended and only mission-vital personnel must be going on foundation.

We have instituted a no-touching plan, Rock reported in a cellphone meeting connect with Friday. Government IDs should be scanned and not handed to staff to stay clear of speak to.

When capable, personnel is inspired to telework to limit the range of personnel bodily current at perform. When at function, management is asking that the Navy actively participate in social distancing.

And clearly it is very complicated for these on a shipboard natural environment to follow social distancing, Rock mentioned.

In get to test to slow the unfold of COVID-19 at sea, Rock said clinical staff is screening all sailors as they occur aboard.

Any individual who has traveled to a region where the outbreak is much more prevalent, any person who has experienced get hold of with a man or woman who contracted COVID-19 and any one who shows signs will promptly be ordered to limit their motion.

If they dwell off-foundation, they will be demanded to self-quarantine for at the very least 14-times.

Those (on-base) sailors, we have arranged or them to go into Navy lodging facilities that meets the CDC tips for isolation, Rock mentioned. includes their have space with no shared frequent parts this sort of as a tub a kitchen area or a laundry.

A 60-day maintain sample for non-mission-crucial vacation, which contains long lasting improve of station orders, short-term and instruction responsibility.

Our priority is the security of our persons and alongside one another I know we will get by way of this really hard time, Rock reported.

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Naval commander says health and fitness of personnel and army readiness continue being equally as vital in the course of pandemic - Mash Viral

Gerren Liles returned from a trip to Italy days before the country went into coronavirus lockdown earlier this month. The New York-based Equinox trainer was set to return to work after a 14-day self-quarantine on Monday.

That was the plan, at least.

Thats the day the gyms were closed, Liles told Mens Health. My expectation was that I was going to go back to work. Now, its basically like Im back on vacation.

Liles is among the more fortunate trainers, with a substantial 32.8k Instagram follower count and a solid base in the at-home fitness space as a founding trainer at Mirror, a $1,495 interactive home gym system that streams a variety of different workouts to peoples homes. But thousands of other trainers have had to pivot from one-on-one client work to video chat services like FaceTime and fitness apps to stay connected with their chargesand to keep some income coming in during this pandemic.

Our industry is one that is all about social interaction and a lot of trainers depend on their studios and gyms to train people, Liles said. A lot of trainers will want to keep their clients in the loop and this could inspire trainers to start their own digital or virtual training business, but the hustle is hard for those doing this for the first time.

At least 15 states have closed all gyms in response to the coronavirus, according to International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). Some counties and municipalities have also moved to close all fitness facilities. Other states like Virginia and Wisconsin have limited gatherings of 10 or more people, which allows gyms to remain open for personal training only.

"The gym industry is being destroyed by this crisis."

In some unfortunate cases, those closures have already amounted to more than a temporary pause in service. There have been real ramifications already for gym employees, in the form of layoffs. IHRSA sent a letter to Congress this week requesting that the fitness industry be included in a future stimulus package to support the more than 425,000 people employed by clubs and studios.

The gym industry is being destroyed by this crisis, IHRSA spokesperson Meredith Poppler said.

Poppler was unable to provide an accurate number for how many fitness professionals are recently out of work, although gyms have quietly or publicly been laying off trainers and instructors in recent days. Anne M. Mahlum, owner and CEO of D.C.-based Solidcore, announced in an email Thursday that her chain of 72 U.S. studios will lay off 98 percent of employees, which includes 137 full-time employees, 97 part-time employees and 397 coaches. The laid off employees will be paid through the end of March.

This is a very fluid situation, added Adam Zeitsiff, president and CEO of Golds Gym, in a statement to Mens Health. Our team members are very important to us and we are doing our best to manage all aspects of our business so we can ensure our gyms are able to reopen as soon as it is safe for our community. This includes our company-owned gyms as well as our locally-owned franchise locations.

Stanley Berry is among the trainers who have gone to Twitter and Instagram to seek to build up a client base that basically disappeared when his Washington, D.C. gym shuttered for at least two weeks. (Berry asked Mens Health not to identify the gym hes worked at for the last three years.)

"I know Im not going to bring as much money because I cant charge normal rates."

A lot of people have been reaching out, Berry said. Im still kind of early, so Im not getting discouraged yet. Ive used FaceTime to introduce myself and train some people. There are lots of folks doing it already. I know Im not going to bring as much money because I cant charge normal rates.

Like many trainers who work for major gym chains, Berry is learning his existing client base is a tough sell.

Theyve already paid for their training at the gym, Berry said. They dont want to have to pay twice.

Another roadblock: gyms typically have policies that bar trainers from training their existing client base outside their workplace. A spokesperson for Life Time, which is paying its trainers at least through March 29, said that trainersother than salaried managersarent allowed to lead clients on their own for legal and liability reasons.

Displaced trainers and instructors have been quick to explore their virtual options in recent days, as have major gym chains. Planet Fitness, for example, has started to stream workouts to members, while Golds Gym has made its GOLDS AMP app free to anyone through May 31.

"I want people to keep working with their trainers or find another way to support them."

Trainerize, developer of an iOS and Android app by the same name used by gyms and trainers to set up workouts for clients, is close to agreeing on a deal that would create 1 million accounts for a major chain, the Vancouver-based companys CEO and co-founder Sharad Mohan told Mens Health. Mohan declined to specify the chain since the deal was not complete.

While nobody expected this kind of shutdown, its no surprise that gyms are seeking to shift clients to at-home workouts, Mohan said. Its natural that online training is taking off. Its always been a nice to have product for gyms to provide to clients. Its now become a must have.

Trainerize has seen steady growth over the years, but new subscriptions are currently triple the daily levels seen before March 10, according to Mohan.

As bleak as the outlook looks currently, one of the biggest names in the business offered struggling trainers some hope.

When there is something big like a Katrina or an earthquake, the gym stopped being part of the routine for some die-hard clients, Beverly Hills-based personal trainer Gunnar Peterson told Mens Health. This is a natural time to shift and make changes. If you, as a trainer, stay alert and aware, you will find that some people who werent training before will use this shutdown as a way to get their health together.

I always try to stay positive. Thats just who I am as a human being. If you lose a couple people, dont panic because youre going to get some new people. Or maybe those who stayed with you are going to bring new people.

Peterson, the director of strength and endurance for the Los Angeles Lakers, added that this is the time for trainers to be frugal and to study up.

Use this time to get better, Peterson said. Maybe you can use this time to not only create an online presence that will not just keep your income coming in but surpass what you were already making. It can open doors.

"Trainers are streaming workouts for free on Instagram and Facebook Live. Send them some money."

As many trainers take that advice and adjust to this pandemic-forced shift in their careers, Liles said hes trying to spread the word to get people to support fitness professionals, including by using crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe or via direct payments through Venmo and PayPal to offer financial assistance.

I dont want people to take what we do for granted because what we do really benefits peoples lives, Liles added. I want people to keep working with their trainers or find another way to support them. A lot of trainers are streaming workouts for free on Instagram and Facebook Live. Send them some money.

Do you want to help? Listen to Liles, and contact your favorite trainer about how you might be able to support them or others in their network who are struggling during this period. Men's Health will look to highlight as many fitness professionals as possible to support the larger fitness community as we make our way through this crisis together.

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Fitness Trainers Need to Get Paid During the Pandemic, Too - Men's Health

Tea is a beverage appreciated around the world, but Japan is country that really has that appreciation down to an art. Their famed tea ceremonies, influenced by Zen Buddhism, are a traditional activity which turns every step of the preparation and serving of tea into an occasion.

Those who are interested in Japanese tea ceremony, but dont have several hours to put aside for it (yes, they can last that long... more formal tea gatherings can even last up to four hours!), can experience a mini version of the cultural activity at Tokyos Cafe & Dining ZelkovA.

This limited time only tea set may not be as momentous as an actual tea ceremony, but its certainly a casual way to get a little taste of it.

Customers can pour their own hot water out of a Nanbu Tekki cast iron teapot, then use a chasen bamboo whisk to mix their matcha powder into a thick and frothy perfection. The tea provided is Uji matcha and Uji is a famous area in Kyoto known for their high quality tea leaves.

That same fragrant Uji matcha can be found in the accompanying matcha tiramisu. The set also comes with an assortment of seasonal fruit, shiratama, adzuki beans and Okinawan brown sugar syrup.

Cafe & Dining ZelkovA can be found on the first floor of The Strings Omotesando, and the Japanese Tea Set (2,600 yen) can be ordered until July 2.

Source: PR Times

Read more stories from grape Japan.

-- Japanese designer creates incredibly realistic cuddling cat dolls with flesh and bone structure

-- Japanese Elementary School Students Gather For Minecraft Graduation Ceremony After School Shut Down

-- Mothers Day Studio Ghibli Flowers and Card Delivery Set Perfect Gift for Anime-Loving Mums

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Mini Japanese tea ceremony experience coming to Tokyo cafe - Japan Today

Richard Tiffany Gere, popularly known as Richard Gere is a famous American actor and producer. Richard Gere began his movie career in the 1970s with roles in movies like Looking for Mr. Goodbar and Days of Heaven. Richard Gere rose to fame after his role in the 1980 hit film American Gigolo. The role established Richard Gere as a leading man of Hollywood and a global sex symbol. He played notable roles in movies like Primal Fear, Pretty Woman and Chicago, even winning the Golden Globe as a part of the cast of Chicago. As of 2020, Richard Geres net worth is $120 million.

Richard Geres net worth as of 2020 is around $120 million.

Richard Gere has made most of his money through his long and successful career as an American actor. Aside from his career as an actor, Richard Gere has also earned a significant amount of money through his endorsement deals and other lucrative arrangements. Till date, he has promoted and endorsed Marigold Hotel, Hallmark movie, Norman, Fiat, Meals on Wheels, DirectTV and many more.

Reportedly, more than half of Richard Geres net worth is a result of his personal investments. Although he has invested in many profit-making companies, he has not revealed his million dollars investments details.

An anonymous source reported that he earns approximately $85.3 million profit from his investments and savings.

Gere is popular for his roles in movies and TV series including Pretty Woman, an Office and a Gentleman. He debuted in the entertainment industry in 1973 through the movie Chelsea D.H.O.

After that, he appeared in almost 60 movies and TV series including Chicago, Hachi: A Dogs Tale, Pretty Woman, American Gigolo, Shall We Dance, The Jackal, Unfaithful and many more.

As of his recent projects, he has been involved in movies and TV series including MotherFatherSon, and Three Christs.

For his outstanding performances and skills, he has been awarded prestigious awards like Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, Career Achievement Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and many more. SO far in his career, he has been nominated for 27 different awards and has won 24.

Furthermore, he was selected as the 2006 Man of the Year and Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine in 1999.

He was interested in Buddhism since the 20s. He learned Zen Buddhism for five to six years under Kyozan Joshu Sasaki. As the Buddhist quote goes, Live simply, give much. Do as you would be done by. Richard Gere is actively involved in several charities as well.

He supported various charitable companies including Dalai Lama Foundation, American Foundation for AIDS Research, Gere Foundation, Robert F Kennedy Memorial, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Meals On Wheels and many more.

Moreover, he endorsed Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign and donated for it.

Currently, Richard Gere resides in a $2 million mansion in the Hamptons. He stayed in a much bigger house before but sold it for $36.5 million.

Actually, the mansion was initially listed for sale at $65 million which was later lowered to $56 million. It ended up selling for $36.5 million. Richard Gere had nicknamed his house Strongheart Manor.

Moreover, a source reported that he owns real estate property of around $12.8 million based on current market rates.

Richard Gere has a wonderful collection of luxury cars from manufacturers such as Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar and Ford. His car collection is valued at $3.2 million.

Well, there is no information about his tax payments but he surely needs to pay bulk as his in income taxes, property taxes and other taxes due to his high earnings. He may have a million dollars insurance plans but the details are not out.

Richard Tiffany Gere was born on 31 August 1949 under the sun sign Virgo.

Gere was raised alongside his siblings; brothers David Gere, Henry Januszewski, and sisters Joanne Gere, Laura Gere, and Susan Gere.

Coming to his personal life, Richard Gere is a married man. Gere married Alejandra SIlva in April 2018. So far, the couple has had a smooth married life.

The couple have a son together. His name is Alexander.

Prior to his current wife, Richard Gere was married to Carey Lowell for 14 years. Gere and Lowell dated for a year before marrying in 2002.

Due to some internal conflict, the estranged couple divorced on 18 October 2016. They have a child together named Homer James Jigme Gere.

Richard Gere was married to famous supermodel Cindy Crawford from December 12th, 1991 to December 1st, 1995.

Im voting for Gore because the other is unthinkable. Which most of us will probably do. I hope all of us. Ive always liked Ralph Nader and would like to see a real third party, but the thought of George Bush as president is unthinkable.

My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.

The Dalai Lama said that he thinks mothers love is the best symbol for love and compassion, because it is totally disinterested.

When His Holiness won the Nobel Peace Prize, there was a quantum leap. He is not seen as solely a Tibetan anymore; he belongs to the world.

From a Buddhist point of view, emotions are not real. As an actor, I manufacture emotions. Theyre a sense of play. But real life is the same. Were just not aware of it.

Well I think on a simple ecological level that the diversity of this planet is important for our survival, that all of our different cultures, people are important to the health of the whole the same way that a species of animal should be saved and at a simple ecology level.

Its nice to have money, but the first thing I did with money was buy my father a snow-blower, because my job was to shovel snow, and I wasnt there to do it any more, so I was able to buy him a blower.

I think most of our religious institutions are pretty corrupt, so theyre not reliable. I think the Christian religion that I was brought up with has very little to do with Christ, really, and more with the institutions that have built up around the church.

I meet human beings who are flawed, who are mentally ill and have enormous problems, but I dont think Ive ever met someone who was a totally dark energy that had no humanity or sense of love or affection for anything in their life. Thats very rare.

I would say that the West is very young, its very corrupt. Were not very wise. And I think were hopeful that there is a place that is ancient and wise and open and filled with light.

Its not enough to say that the Olympics is an athletic contest outside of politics, because its not. The Chinese clearly are using the Olympics to recreate how they are viewed in the world and how they view themselves.

Well I think on a simple ecological level that the diversity of this planet is important for our survival, that all of our different cultures, people are important to the health of the whole the same way that a species of animal should be saved and at a simple ecology level.

Richard Gere is a very famous Hollywood actor who made his mark on the industry with roles in movies like American Gigolo, Pretty Woman, Primal Fear, and Chicago. He is also a famous follower of Zen Buddhism and spends a lot of time and effort on charities. As of 2020, Richard Geres net worth is $120 million.

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Richard Gere: Net Worth, Life and Career of the Famous Actor - Daily Hawker

KANSAS CITY, MO DECEMBER 29: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers ran off the field following the 31-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. For the first time in his long, decorated career, Philip Rivers considered life after the NFL.

In February, he and the Los Angeles Chargers agreed to mutually part ways after 16 seasons that featured so many highlights: 128 victories, including six trips to the postseason; 59,271 yards and 397 TD passes, each 6th-most in league history; eight Pro Bowl selections.

Seek out another QB-needy team? Or kick back and settle into life after football?

Rivers huddled with wife Tiffany, along with older daughters Halle and Caroline, and Gunner, his 12-year old son. Soon, he plans on coaching Gunner and 8-year old Peter in high school, following his own football-career arc. At Athens (Ga.) H.S., he played for his father, Steve.

I want to coach my boys and coach young boys down the road, Rivers said Saturday during a conference call. I know whats next when my playing times over.

Back and forth the discussion went.

Then the Indianapolis Colts dialed up his agent, Jimmy Sexton.

Then it hit Rivers, who would sign a one-year, $25 million contract.

I can still do this. I still want to do this.

Really where we settled in was I still love to play, Rivers said. Certainly not coming off my best year, but a year where I still know I can play at a high level. I did it in spurts, just didnt do it consistent enough.

I loved it.

Lets not misconstrue whats going on here. Rivers and the Colts arent embarking on a long-term relationship. He should be viewed as a 38-year, short-term bridge to the franchises QB of the future.

The length of that relationship is to be determined. Again, its a one-year deal, but Rivers anticipates something longer.

I take it one year at a time, he said. Thats the best way to do it at 38. I do feel good. I feel great. If I feel like I feel right now next year, then Ill be excited to keep playing.

He reiterated his intention to coach his sons in high school.

That gives you a little idea, he said. Im not going to get carried away.

I dont think youll see me in the Tom Brady range.

The Colts were a logical destination considering his history in San Diego with coach Frank Reich (2013-15), offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni (2013-17) and tight ends coach Jason Michael (2011-13).

Throughout the process of determining what was next, Rivers always had one team in mind.

Truthfully was hoping it was going to be the Indianapolis Colts, he said, from the standpoint of the locker room, the team and shoot, I failed to mention that offensive line. Thats a heckuva group.

It just all worked out. To be a part of this group and try to help get to the top of the mountain is an exciting new challenge for me.

No one should underestimate the importance of familiarity when it comes to relocating in the NFL. Rivers understands Reich and Sirianni have tweaked and changed some terminology in the offensive system they shared with the Chargers, but the transition should be seamless nonetheless.

I have been in meeting rooms with Frank, Nick and Jason Michael, Rivers said. We communicate the same way. I know what those guys are trying to get out of a play and why they are calling this. They understand what I think and how I look for things.

There is a good dynamic there from the way we communicate. I think there was a trust factor that was built in our team here in San Diego.

Familiarity aside, the Colts did their due diligence before investing their immediate future and $25 million in a 38-year old QB whos coming off one of his more careless seasons. Rivers passed for 4,615 yards and 23 TDs, but also suffered 20 interceptions, 3rd-most in the league.

According to a source with knowledge of the teams evaluation of Rivers, the coaching staff analyzed each of Rivers games and throws. They determined he hadnt lost any of his arm strength.

Theres no question among the Colts Rivers still has the physical tools to play at a high level. Before struggling last season the Chargers followed his lead, finishing 5-11 he passed for 4,308 yards with 32 TDs and just 12 interceptions in 2018.

Philip is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in the NFL and we are fortunate to add an experienced player of his caliber to our organization, Chris Ballard said in a team release. Philip is a fierce competitor and his veteran leadership will be crucial in the continued development of our young roster.

The national and global uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic will delay Rivers arrival in Indy. He and his family are at their offseason home in Florida. When allowed by the NFL, look for the Colts to disseminate foundational and schematic information to the players.

Under normal circumstances, players would have reported to the Farm Bureau Football Center in mid-April. That reporting date has been pushed back indefinitely.

Initially, Rivers addressed the trying time for the country and world. Its a time, he insisted, for family and for praying for nurses, doctors, first responders and those infected and impacted by COVID-19.

Rivers said he and his wife have been brainstorming of the best way to support the area we are in right now. We are looking for opportunities in Indianapolis, even back in San Diego and places weve been to help in any way we can because so many people are affected.

In terms of gearing up for 2020, Rivers plans on doing whatever he can, whenever hes allowed. Hes already reached out to a few of his new teammates.

I want to step in there when I get in there day 1 and the guys in the huddle feel like I have been there more, Rivers said. I hope they dont feel like its my first day. I dont want to slow us down any and I will make sure that doesnt happen.

But communicate and just again, build a friendship, build a relationship. I think that camaraderie is huge. My favorite part of this game is being a teammate.. . . I love being a teammate. I want to be one of the guys.

As his first season with the Colts unfolds, Rivers realizes there will be skeptics. Theyll harp on those 20 interceptions last season and how they indicate his career arc is definitely headed in the wrong direction.

I have to be honest, I have never been driven by what everybody thinks on the outside, Rivers said. I always first want to be a great teammate. Ive never been driven by, Oh, what do people think I can do?

Im really not out to prove anything this season. I want to come in there, earn my teammates trust and respect. I do feel like over 16 seasons you earn some of that league-wide based on your play and your longevity.

But theres work to be done.

Shoot, youve got to start and build that with your new teammates, he said. So its not so much prove it (to outsiders) as it is I want to prove it to now our locker room, to be a guy that they believe in and just again, be a part of something special.

You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.

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For Philip Rivers, coaching will have to wait; I still love to play - Fox 59

OLD SAYBROOK, CT Growing up in the sticks of Westminster, as she called her childhood home, Jody (Normandin) Lech had about the most primitive front yard basketball court any future roundball star could imagine.

For my first hoop, my uncle Donald Leger cut a piece of really thick telephone cable and nailed it to a piece of plywood, she recalled with a laugh. That was my first basketball hoop and I would play amongst the pine trees and roots and rocks in my driveway.

Then he and I used to play the guys down at the Westminster outdoor courts, and hustle them so many years ago, she added.

Out of those very humble beginning grew the legend of one of the finest girls basketball players to ever grace the local hardwood.

The three-sport star and Oakmont Hall of Famer helped to lead Spartan teams of the mid-1980s to appearances in four district final games, winning three championships and appearing in two state title games.

Im so grateful. We had such an amazing education (at Oakmont), she said, noting that the success came from the instruction she received on the courts and fields. It was the fundamentals and the coaching. We had such great coaches.

In the fall, when she was a high-scoring forward on the field hockey team, it was under the direction of head coach Bob McGowan. During the winter, she was the sharp-shooting point guard on the basketball team led by coach Ron Therrien.

Our field hockey team had an awesome coach in Mr. McGowan, and then Id have to say that Ron Therrien was the best coach I had in my whole life, she continued. He taught me everything. Even today, when Im working with my son, I will teach him those same drills. He was such a stickler.

Great coaching and talented players equaled a tremendous run of success during her junior and senior seasons with the Spartans.

We had great camaraderie, she said, with such teammates as Robin Paris, Marnie MacLean, Tonya and Missy Urban, Karla Swedberg, Karen Bourgeois, Kim LeBlanc, Maureen Casey and her older sister Jill comprising many of the teams.

Those coaches taught us such life lessons and we were so successful because you respected them and they were also very positive, she continued. Their preparation was spot on so that they would have already scouted the teams, they had a plan to what we were doing. I think we all bought into that and it made it easier to play and be successful.

The run of success began during her junior field hockey season in the fall of 1984 when the Spartans captured their first-ever district championship with a 2-1 win over Southbridge. From there, they advanced to the state championship game, losing to Rockport, 2-0.

Four months later, she was on another team that vied for a state championship after the Spartans beat Southbridge for the district title, 47-42. Oakmont then went on to beat Athol 45-42 in state semis, with Normandin leading the way with a game-high 18 points.

Playing on the biggest Central Mass. stage the Worcester Centrum Oakmont met up with a Westwood team that had won twelve-straight Tri-Valley basketball championships. The Spartans fell in the state title game, 65-54.

It was such a great team and we just kinda clicked, said Lech, looking back. We made it to the state finals and we had most of our team coming back, so we were really looking ahead to the next season.

In the spring, she was a member of the 1985 Oakmont softball team that advanced to another district final losing in the title game to Wachusett League rival Quabbin, 6-5. That fall, the Spartan field hockey team suffered an early exit to Murdock in a game decided by strokes.

Murdock would go on to take part in the state field hockey finals.

The winter of 1985-86 brought the Spartans yet another district title as Normandin, with 18 points and six assists, led the team to a 74-46 championship win over Leicester. However, the Spartan express was derailed in the state semifinals to powerful Monument Mountain, 55-53.

While high school basketball drew to an end, there was much more basketball ahead in the career of Jody Normandin first at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and later with a semi-pro hoop team in Connecticut.

At WPI she became the all-time leading scorer in womens basketball history with 1,716 points, a mark that stands to date. She averaged an amazing 16.3 points per game and scored in double figures in 84 games. In addition, she was the career leader in field goal attempts (1,579), three-point field goals made (147) and attempted (349), free throws made (325) and free throw percentage (.765).

She also ranked in the top five all-time in steals, assists, free throws attempted, field goals made, scoring average and games played. Twice named to the New England All-Star Second Team by the Eastern College Athletic Conference, she was later inducted into the WPI Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

After graduating WPI with a B.S. in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, she spent ten years at General Electric working in project engineering, product management and sales engineering. Upon moving to Connecticut, she continued playing semi-pro basketball for the Noreastern Storm.

On that semipro team wed play something like 25 games in 30 days, she recalled. We were the warn-up game for womens college teams, so everyone was trying to get us in before November and it was really too much.

One of her teammates on the Storm was former Gardner High standout Dina Sawicki.

Lech suffered a partial tear of her patella tendon while still playing at the age of 36, and decided it was time to call it a career.

The timing was right as she and her husband. Mark Lech, learned they were expecting their son Josh. Today, Josh is a 15-year old freshman basketball player at the all-boys Catholic school Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut.

Hes not a bad player, said the proud mom. I guess its in the blood.

Currently, she, her husband and son live in Old Saybrook, Connecticut where she works for Boston Scientific Pelvic Health Division, as the Territory Manager for Connecticut.

I help to train physicians on our products and work with them in the operating room, observing them implanting our product, she said. Its a fun job, like getting on the court and preparing for a game.

She noted that through her work, she has developed a stronger bond with her Catholic faith, instructing Confirmation classes as well as being a CCD Teacher for more than 20 years.

Looking back on her playing days, she expressed her gratitude to her parents Pete and Sandy, for all the support over the years and attending an unending number of games.

Her older sister Jill was her Oakmont teammate for several seasons, while younger sister Hollybeth was a member of the 1990 Spartan basketball team that played in the state finals. In addition, she has two brothers, John and Peter the latter who was a 1,000-point scorer for the Oakmont boys team and later played college basketball at Clark University.

Sports continue to be a big part of her life.

I still play a little bit of basketball here and there, when the knees hold out, she said. I still work out a lot; do a lot of cycling, boating, lifting and play some tennis.

Do you have a suggestion for a future Where are they Now segment? Please contact Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Rd. Sandwich, MA 02563.

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Oakmonts Jody (Normandin) Lech became one of the schools best athletes of all time - The Gardner News

ANDERSON Longtime Anderson High School basketball coach Norm Held, who led the Indians to four state finals, has died at the age of 85.

Held passed away Thursday morning in Florida, officials at Loose Funeral Home in Anderson confirmed.

Held coached the Indians from 1975 to 1993, compiling a record of 343-114. His teams won five semistate championships, nine regional titles, 10 sectionals and five North Central Conference crowns.

He coached the 1984 Indiana All-Stars and two Mr. Basketballs at Anderson, Troy Lewis in 1984 and Maurice Kojak Fuller in 1993. Held won more than 500 games overall, just over 70% of the games his teams played, in his 31-year career.

Held also was a coach in the 1990 McDonalds All-American game, which featured players such as Rodney Rogers, Ed OBannon, Eric Montross, Grant Hill and Damon Bailey.

In 2010, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

Beyond the the victories and championships on the court, Held was remembered Thursday as a man who made a difference in the lives of the people around him.

Former Anderson basketball assistant Terry Turner, now the Daleville baseball coach, recalled a time when Held discovered two players were living in the gym.

We had a couple kids who ... were always in the gym when I came in in the morning and turned the lights on, Turner said. I came to find out ... they were literally homeless and they were on the basketball team. Norm found them a place to live and people to take care of them.

Lewis, who went on to star at Purdue University and is now coaching in the Dayton, Ohio, area, says a boost of confidence from Held helped pave the way for his future success.

As a sophomore, Lewis was expecting to play in the junior varsity game at Fort Wayne Wayne. Despite playing sparingly on the varsity up to that point, Lewis was installed in the starting lineup just before game time.

We were in the locker room getting dressed, and he was giving his pregame speech, Lewis recounted. He said, Hey, were going to make a change to the starting lineup. Troy, youre going to start. It just blew me away.

But, in my mind, I knew I was ready. To this day, I dont know what he saw. That was the turning point in my life, because without that confidence he had in me at that moment, I dont know where my career would have been.

Lewis said he has borrowed many of Helds teachings for his own coaching career. Likewise, Turner said he learned much from his time at Anderson that translates onto the baseball diamond, where he has won a pair of state titles with the Broncos.

Its easy in your coaching career to pick out all the mistakes kids make because you want to correct those, he explained. But one of the things Norm taught me was that youve got to see the positives and build on those positive things that kids do. Thats one of things I took from him and just keeping an even keel when the chips are down.

Art Pepelea, a 1968 Anderson graduate and former city councilman, says Helds standing in the community grew from his love of the city.

He was incredible, he was always so active in everything, Pepelea said. Anytime he could help anybody, be it at functions for baseball, basketball, football or whatever, he was there. He loved Anderson, Indiana dearly, he really did.

While many basketball fans might remember Held for his flamboyant style on the sideline, Pepelea, Lewis and Turner knew a man who truly cared about his players.

He will always be that person in my life who I have to give credit for where I am today, Lewis said. Its a tremendous loss.

According to Pepelea, a public celebration of Helds life will be conducted in Edgewood in 30-60 days, after the coronavirus crisis has passed.

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Norm Held, who died Thursday, made his mark as coach of the Indians - The Herald Bulletin

Orpheum Vaudeville

The new Orpheum Theatre opened Dec. 19, 1927. The theatre included vaudeville acts, such as a comedy acrobatic act and singer Frank Richardson. Ticket prices in 1927 were 50 cents for adults in the main floor seating and 35 cents for balcony seats. Children were charged 15 cents.

The RKO New Orpheum Theater, as it was later known, was only four stories tall when it was originally erected in 1927. Four more floors were added in 1948. The theater closed in 1992.

Playbill from the Orpheum Theatre's production of "Life with Father," which graced the stage Feb. 23, 1942, starring Lillian Gish and Louis Clahern.

Dubinsky Bros. Theatres of Lincoln, Neb., remodeled and opened the Orpheum as a movie theater. A suspended ceiling was installed and concealed the chandeliers and dome of the auditorium.

The Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City is shown in April 1985. A local group was given grant money in 1988 to study whether the Orpheum should be renovated to its original glory.

The ceiling of the Orpheum was uncovered in April 1999, exposing several original crystal chandeliers.

The Sioux City Symphony performs along with the Siouxland Master Chorale, the Morningside College Chorale and the Briar Cliff University Singers during the grand opening of the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 15, 2001.

In this 2001 file photo, the new Orpheum Theatre sign awaits elevation above the marquee on the front of the building.

The Yanney family donated this chandelier for the Orpheum restoration in 2001.

People mingle in the lobby of the Orpheum Theatre at its grand opening in 2001.

The Orpheum Theatre fills with people during the grand opening ceremonies on Sept. 15, 2001.

Master of Ceremonies Jim Wharton welcomes people to the grand opening of the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 15, 2001.

Gene Hancer, Sioux City, wears period type attire while attending the grand opening of the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 15, 2001.

Bob Ralston plays the Wurlitzer organ at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City in November 2004.

Larry Wentz and Amanda Krenz introduce the speakers at the Iowa Governors Debate at the Orpheum Theatre in 2010.

The Orpheum Theatre is shown in January 2011.

People dine during the Mardi Gras Gala outside the Orpheum Theatre on June 30, 2011.

Guy Fieri warms up the crowd at the beginning of his cooking show at the Orpheum Theatre on May 27, 2011.

Workers prepare the stage at the Orpheum Theatre in September 2010 while setting up for the Iowa gubernatorial debate.

Usher Trudy Gordon grabs a pair of ear plugs while preparing for the Bret Michaels concert at the Orpheum Theatre Saturday, December 21, 2013. (Jim Lee, Sioux City Journal)

Irving Jensen, Jr., poses for a photo at Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City on Sept. 14, 2016.

A cartoon of Irving Jensen, Jr., drawn by famed Disney director Ron Clements is seen at the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 14, 2016.

The Orpheum Theatre is pictured in 2016, 15 years after its "rebirth."

A board outside the Orpheum Theatre displays coming attractions in fall 2016.

"Fluffy" (aka stand-up comic Gabriel Iglesias) actually was there. Theater technician Joe Mahaney II talks in 2016 about some of the celebrities who have signed the backstage wall at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City.

The 1-ton grand chandelier is a centerpiece of the Orphuem Theatre.

Willie Nelson's autograph is shown in 2016 on the backstage wall at the Orphuem Theatre.

The seven-story structure, at 528 Pierce St., was built for $1.27 million in 1927 as a vaudeville and movie palace. After years of neglect, this architectural treasure was brought back to life in 2001 and is now a performing arts center and home to the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.

Theater technician Joe Mahaney II stands on a catwalk surrounding the dome above the the ceiling in the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City.

Theater technician Joe Mahaney II stands on a catwalk surrounding the dome above the the ceiling in the Orphuem Theatre in Sioux City.

The Righteous Brothers' autographs are shown on the backstage wall at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City.

Theater technician Joe Mahaney II flies a movie screen down across the stage at the Orphuem Theatre in Sioux City.

Director John Luebke of the Sioux City Rockestra is pictured ahead of the group's final concert at the Orpheum Theatre.

An audience assembles for a panel discussion held in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the United Airlines flight 232 crash in Sioux City, at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa on Friday, July 18, 2014. (Dawn J. Sagert, Sioux City Journal)

Iowa gubernatorial candidates Gov. Terry Branstad and Jack Hatch debate at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City on October 14, 2014

People watch on a monitor as Victor Cayres, from Brazil, competes during the solo recital round of the Iowa Piano Competition at theOrpheum Theatrein Sioux City on March 19, 2015.

Members of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra rehearse at the Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 15, 2015.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event at Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa on Tuesday, Jan., 5, 2016.

Donald Trump speaks with Jerry Falwell, Jr., at the Orpheum Theatre on January 31, 2016.

Kansas performs at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City on October 7, 2017.

The Orpheum Theatre's seats are shown from the stage in 2017.

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Looking for a Final Four: Bruce Miller's top 32 basketball films, just waiting to be ranked - Sioux City Journal