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The Delhi police underlined the greater public interest and urged the anti-citizenship law protesters in Shaheen Bagh to cooperate and help dismantle 13A, a 2.5 km link between Delhi and Noida December is closed.

We appeal to the agitators at No. 13 A Shaheen Bagh to understand the suffering that the complete highway blockage will bring for Delhi and New York residents, seniors, emergency patients and school children. The matter was also raised in the Honble High Court, the Delhi police tweeted.

The demonstrators blocking of this particular road has gotten out of hand in the south and downtown Delhi. What has further exacerbated the traffic growl is that parts of Mathura Road near the Ashram intersection have been blocked from construction by the Public Works Department for an underpass.

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Traffic police estimate that the Ashram intersection, which was hit hardest by the 13A roadblock, carried nearly 3.5 lakh vehicles in the morning and evening rush hours. However, an additional charge of one lakh per day was added last month.

Despite the withdrawal of some organizers on January 2nd, the protests in Shaheen Bagh continued. From a replica of the India Gate with the names of those who died during the anti-CAA protests, through a model detention center to raise awareness, to graffiti and posters, the demonstrators used unique methods to express their rejection.

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To the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh, an appeal by the Delhi Police (India) - Daily Gaming Worlld

Data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) suggests that crime against women has increased in Haryana this year in comparison to previous two years, triggering concern.

Opposition parties, including Congress and Indian National Lok Dal have slammed the State Government over increasing crimes against women in the State. Referring to NCRB reports, the opposition leaders said that the Haryana has stood at third ranks in crime against women across the country.

The NCRB data shows that year by year, crimes against women in Haryana are increasing rapidly. Citing NCRB data, a Congress leader said that 9511 cases of crime against women were registered. This means about 26 cases of crimes were committed daily. This increased to 9839 in the year 2016 while 11,370 in 2017. However, the recently released figures of the year 2018 by NCRB reveal that in the year 2018, crimes against women have increased by 26 percent as compared to the year 2017.

In 2018, there were 14,326 crimes against women which is an average of 39 crimes against women were committed each day. If we talk about rape cases, according to the NCRB data, 1099 rape cases were reported in the year 2017. While the number of rape cases increased by more than 17 percent in the year 2018 compared to the year 2017. The rape cases increased to 1296 in the year 2018, they added.

Understanding the gravity of the latest data and to know and evaluate the actual status of the execution of centre and State Government sponsored schemes being operated for the safety, security and welfare of the women and children, the Haryana State Commission for Women has decided to conduct 10-day- long inspection drive from January 20 at Working Women Centres (WWCs), One Stop Centres (OSCs), Mahila Ashram, Safe Houses, Women Police Stations (WPSs) and other centres set up for Women across the State.

As per reports received from the Haryana State Commission for Women, the Commission received seven complaints of gang rape from various parts of the State. Seven complaints of gang rape include one such report received from Gurugram while two from Ambala; two from Kurukshetra; one from Bhiwani and one from Hissar.

As many as 99 rape cases from April 15 to December 15 which include 10 in Hisar, 13 in Panipat, nine in Mewat, seven in Bhiwani, six in Sirsa, seven in Karnal, five each in Sonipat, Yamuna Nagar and Mahendragarh. Seven complaints of gang rape have been reported which include two each in Ambala and Kurukshetra and one each in Gurugram, Bhiwani and Hisar. Moreover, the Commission had received around 150 complaints of sexual harassment of Women at work place from various parts of the State over the last six months.

Commission chairperson Pratibha Suman said that to provide fool-proof security and welfare for women, the central and state government have set up above centres in the State.

The State government has set up around 15 Women Working Centres and 15 Mahila Ashram to facilitate the women of the State. One Stop Centres which is also known as Sakhi is an ambitious project of the Union government under the Nirbhaya Fund for providing police, medical and legal help to women victims.

"OSCs have been opened in almost all the districts of the State. This centre resolves any issue related to distress and violence against women. It also provides integrated services and facilities at a single point, saving the victims from unnecessary harassment and delay caused by hassles involved", she said, adding this centre specifically deals with issues involving crime against women and minors, including rape, molestation, domestic violence, child marriage, child abuse, sexual assault, kidnapping and dowry complaints. These centres have own staff and infrastructure.

The Commission Chairperson said that women affected by violence are provided services like police assistance, medical aid, psycho-socio counseling, legal aid and temporary stay for five days under one roof in one stop centres set up across the State. These centres not only provide legal and medical aid, but also counsel the victim till woman recovers fully and fit for rehabilitation. It has board, lodging and food facility with adequate security. The victim has no need to go anywhere, even the police station, for resolution.She further said that the Women Police Stations have been formed in each district of the State to ensure safety of women and instill among them a sense of security and confidence.

Sources in the Commission, however, said that States one-stop centre for women Sakhi is facing shortage of staff, basic infrastructure, causing problems to victims of sexual assault, dowry and domestic violence. At many Women Police Stations, the number of women staff has not been deployed. At some place male police officers has been made in-charge of Women Police Station while at few places, SI or inspector has been given additional charge.

Under such circumstances, they could not focus on dealing the cases related women effectively.

The Commission Chairperson said that to know the actual state of these centres, team members led by Commission member would conduct surprise inspections during ten days of inspection drive across the State. After inspection, reports will be sent to the State Government for further action, she said, adding the team has been formed at Commission level and this exercise would be completed within ten days.

According to her, along with district level service authority member, she led a team conduct inspection of above centres in Rohtak while Vice-Chairperson of the Commission Preeti Bhardwaj in Gurugram.

The chairperson and vice chairperson of the Commission can inspect any centres of all the districts, she added.

More:

Crime against women increases in Haryana - Daily Pioneer

He (and his team) would carry a typewriter around on their village visits. At every hamlet, he would instantly issue an on-spot official decree to set up a government school & appoint teachers from among the educated in the village.

The year was 1942. The country was reeling under an extreme socio-economic crisis as a repercussion of the ongoing World War, and Mahatma Gandhi had just called for the Quit India movement.

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Around this time, a 21-year-old young man from Namakkal (erstwhile Salem) in Tamil Nadu was heading a student revolution at Madras, against the British authorities of Loyola College.

That man was TM Kaliannan. He would go on to become one of the signatories of the Constitution and is the only surviving member of the Constituent Assemly, today.

A powerful orator and an extremely passionate writer in English, Kaliannan had sowed the seed of nationalism and mobilised over 400 students to form the Tamil Zilla Students Association. Following this, the association hoisted the National Flag for the first time on the premises of Loyola College.

When the principal of the college refused to comply with the nationalistic demands of the protesting students, Kaliannan led an 8-member delegation to Sabarmati Ashram to meet with Gandhi, for advice on how to proceed.

Stay with me for ten days and follow my lifestyle, the Mahatma calmly advised the agitated man. After a peaceful 10-day stay at Sabarmati, Kaliannan felt he was already a changed personcalmer, respectful and more insightful than ever.

Gandhi instructed him to return to Tamil Nadu and complete his education before diving into mainstream politics. He agreed. Later, he would admit that the meeting with the Mahatma was a turning point in his life, driving the trajectory of his illustrious later years.

As Kaliannan stepped into his hundredth year on 10th January 2020, The Better India got in touch with his family to share his inspiring story.

His grandson Senthil took us on a walk down the memory lane, sharing unsung tales of his Ayyas patriotism, leadership and humanity.

Kaliannan was born on 10 January 1921 in the village of Akkaraipatti. He was later adopted by the Kumaramangalam Zamindar family and crowned as the legal heir of the enormous estate of Kasturipatti, spanning at least a few thousand acres.

He pursued his schooling from Tiruchengode and later joined Loyola College in Madras to pursue a degree in English literature. This is where he began to actively rebel against the British Raj.

His actions, especially the protest mentioned above, fetched him a prompt eviction notice from college authorities.

However, such was his transformation after meeting Gandhiji in the Sabarmati Ashram that the acting principal softened his stance and helped Kaliannan secure admission for a BCom degree at Pachaiyappas College.

After completing his college education, Kaliannan joined the Gandhi Ashram at Tiruchengode and played a crucial role in upholding Gandhian ideals among the people of Tamil Nadu.

He had joined the Indian National Congress in 1943. and when Dr Subramaniams seat in the Constituent Assembly of Independent India fell vacant after his appointment as a foreign ambassador, K Kamaraj proposed Kaliannans name.

He was soon unanimously elected as the youngest member of the Constituent Assembly, at the age of 27.

Ayya worked in close coordination with Dr Ambedkar, Kamaraj and Rajaji while drafting the prestigious Constitution of India. He was one of the signatories of the Constitution and now happens to be the only surviving member of the Constituent Assembly, informs Senthil.

Reminiscing about those days, Kaliannan often remarks, Those were better times. As politicians, all of us were honest and truly dedicated to our people. The curse of corruption did not tarnish our lives and work.

On 26th January 1950, the Constitution was officially adopted by the newly instated government, thereby turning India into a Republic. In the first Parliament of the Republic of India, Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister, and Dr Rajendra Prasad was appointed as the President. Kaliannan was also sworn in as an integral Member of Parliament.

The first general elections in India were held in 1952, and an air of festivity prevailed over the country.

Kaliannan fought for the MLA seat from Rasipuram constituency and won a sweeping victory. Over the next two decades, he also contested from Tiruchengode twice and emerged triumphant every time.

In 1952, when the Zamindari Abolition Act was passed, Kaliannan wholeheartedly welcomed the law and sacrificed around a 1000-acre portion of his inherited estate to help the poor and needy, reveals Senthil.

In 1954, Kaliannan was selected as the Zilla Board President of Salem, which comprised of the present districts of Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Namakkal.

When he assumed charge, Salem was plagued by illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and high crime rates. Children as young as five or six would be sent to earn their livelihood through goat-herding and cattle-rearing. A public school was a rarity.

Kaliannan Ayya knew that only education could uplift the state of his people. So, literacy remained at the top of his development agendas, says Senthil.

Between 1954 and 1957, he extensively toured the nooks and corners of Salem, setting up one school in every village he stepped in.

He and his team of officials would carry a typewriter around throughout their village visits. At every hamlet, he would instantly issue an on-spot official decree to set up a government schoolat a community area or simply in the open. He would also interact with the villagers, learn about their educational qualifications and spontaneously appoint around three to four teachers from among the school pass-outs in the village.

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This way, he managed to establish over 2000 successfully running schools in just three years, which in turn educated over one crore children. His mega educational revolution in the district even birthed eminent personalities like politicians, lawmakers and educationists from the district.

K Megraj, the present District Magistrate of Namakkal, idolises Kaliannan and visits him often to pay his respects. His efforts in the education sector are immensely laudable. His smart strategies and policymaking remain relevant to this date, he mentions

Tiruchengode, the native home of Kaliannan, is famous for the Ardhanareeswarar temple. The essence of the half female-half male deity inspired Kaliannan to aspire for gender equality in his state, and there are several examples to illustrate this.

At a time when a woman stepping out of the house was frowned upon in the society, he set up the Avvaiyar Kalvi Nilayam school for girls and donated land for free from his estate for its construction. The school remains a symbol of pride among the residents of Tiruchengode.

Alongside, Kaliannan also promoted higher education for women and set up many women colleges across Salem, including the esteemed institutionSri Sarada College for Women. He also donated the land for the same. He also opened over 200 public libraries in Salem and introduced the concept of mobile libraries in Tamil Nadu.

He was the one to build a 40-km long connecting road from Kolli Malai hills to the plainlands. Before that, the indigenous communities of Kolli hills had no access to education, health and other facilities. He was responsible for improving the connectivity in the area, says Megraj.

Elaborating on this context, Senthil shares how Kaliannans work on road-building went on to facilitate commerce and industrialisation.

The Kolli Hills road benefitted several lakhs of indigenous people. The mountain road, traversing through 70 hairpin bends, lasted for six decades without any need for repair.

Senthil continues, It was Ayya who linked the small textile-town of Pallipalayam to the growing city of Erode through the Pallipalayam bridge over Cauvery river. Today, Erode has flourished as a textile district, thanks to this one connecting bridge.

It was him who introduced the Village Mandis, a thriving symbol of Tamil Nadus rural economy, even today. The famous Salem Co-Operative Sugar Mills, India Cements factory at Sankari and the Paper Mills of Pallipalayam were all creations of Kaliannan, which employed over 10,000 people at that time.

The peoples leader also left his mark in the sectors of water and housing as well. Earlier, only the farmers from the Cauvery delta districts had legal permission to use Cauvery water for agriculture and drinking purposes.

Kaliannans persistent petitions resulted in a big victory for farmers in all riverine districts across the state when they were allowed to use Cauvery water. The construction of the East Bank Canal and West Bank Canal helped in irrigating over 45,000 acres of fertile land, leading a mini green revolution in the region.

Under Kaliannans tenure, Tiruchengode experienced one of the most excellent examples of town planning. He donated major portions of his estate to build over 300 houses for the homeless.

To boost the economy, hundreds of branches of regional rural banks were set up in residential areas, during his regime. He was later appointed as the Director of Indian Bank, following his retirement from politics.

After the sudden demise of his second son, Kaliannan gradually distanced himself from mainstream politics and focused more on humanitarian efforts, which he continues to date.

He donated large portions of his ancestral estate to uplift the underprivileged with homes, free health clinics and community marriage halls. He also showed an inclination towards spirituality and built many temples in the area.

Today, Kaliannan leads a reclusive life away from the cacophony of the city, surrounded by his loving family members. But, reading the newspaper out and out is an unmissable activity for the centenarian. Though he has long left behind his days of progressive politics, leaders from all parties and government officials still approach him for advice and guidance.

He never sends anyone away. He talks and listens to them even while eating, Senthil shares.

Like many, the veteran politician is upset about present political scenario of the country, which is shrouded by corruption and unrest. However, he believes that there is hope for things to change for the better.

The development of India since Independence has been quite commendable. However, the way dishonesty had seeped into the political fabric is adversely affecting our democracy. However, I am sure that people will learn through their mistakes, sooner or later. But, the price for that might be heavy on humanity, concludes the centenarian.

Also Read: Issurus Fight For Freedom: When a Small Karnataka Village Dared to Take on the British Empire

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Last Living Member of First Lok Sabha, 100-YO Helped Draft Constitution - The Better India

Ma Anand Sheela, Be brave. What you have to do, you must, easy or difficult.

Ma Anand Sheela or Sheela Biernstiel, who lives in Switzerland, visited India last year, after 34 years. And one has to be living under a rock to not know who this very popular millennial icon is. The Vadodara-born was spiritual guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh or Oshos personal secretary and the brain behind the ambitious Rajneeshpuram, a commune established in the 1980s in Oregon, USA, by and for his followers. A part of her controversial life of the 80s was captured in the Netflix series Wild, Wild Country. In the series, she comes across as a redoubtable stateswoman who hit international headlines with her grit, gumption and a sharp tongue

When I met her, I was greeted by a warm and soft-spoken person whose calmness was contagious. Was she indeed the skilful minence grise who kicked up a storm with her witty comebacks and provocative one- liners (remember: tough titties)? Whats left people in her owe is the fact that even back then, the 70-year-old had the guts to live life as she wanted to and totally own her story with all its vagaries, including prison time and controversies.

Read more: Ma Anand Sheela hasnt given Priyanka Chopra permission for biopic, says Alia Bhatt has the necessary spunk to play her

You all have to create your story and you have many ways to create it, says Sheela, who was in India for Sipping Thoughts and the NGO Humans for Humanity.

But living life on ones own terms is not easy, is it? Not easy is not a good excuse either... To not live life on your own way is a very coward way to live. I know millennials are not cowards, says the 70-year-old with conviction, adding, Life is tough, baby. Lifes not easy. You have to go through your crisis, dont look for easy, dont make it easy for yourself. Easy is for cowards. Be brave. What you have to do, you must, easy or difficult. Whatever difficulty comes, say, Ah! I can do it. The resolute voice is back.

Ma Anand Sheela, Create a little paradise around yourself and beautify this lovely country that you are living in. Everyday take a few minutes off your social media, and clean up the city you are living in. Dont forget to go out and pick garbage from the streets.

She says, Stop looking for life to be easy. Be in the moment... just remain with yourself. Start living life... In the beginning, you go through a trial-and-error period. You look within yourself, what you want, and what you dont like what you dont want... Recognise your qualities and your flaws or weaknesses. Move towards qualities. If you are confused, just say yes to every opportunity and be positive. The choice is always yours. It happens that sometimes you choose the wrong, then accept the consequences.

But how does one stay calm in the midst of a storm, how did she manage it? I dont blame my crisis and catastrophes onto others. I take responsibility of my crisis, I try to analyse it understand it and I dont put my burden on others, she says. And if given a choice, would she change anything about her life? No she says, I can tell you I love my life.

Oh! We have to ask her, why is she not on Twitter? After the series, everyone tried to connect with her, and look her up on social media. I belong to the old generation, I dont understand this social media, I dont understand computer even today. For the work I am supposed to do, I have written down a few steps, and I go through those whenever I need to , she adds, I want to be myself. Social media is probably okay for you guys to occupy in free time and catch up with boredom, but for me, it is a really good time wasted.

Sheela, who runs nursing homes in Switzerland, Mauritius and Vietnam, has three sisters and two brothers.

Interact with author @ MedhaShri/Twitter

See more here:
Ma Anand Sheela: Lifes tough, baby; easy is for cowards - Hindustan Times

Zen out.

Two voices in this world might save me: those of Andy Puddicombe (co-founder of Headspace) and Coach Bennett (Nikes Global Coach). The pair have been trickling mindful thoughts and meditations into my ears thanks to the Nike Run Club app.

I was once a staunch anti-runner living in fear of the pavement pound. As cheesy as it sounds, with friendly and encouraging voices behind me, I have overcome this. Thanks to their collective musings, Ive become a weekly treadmill jogger. Even more, Ive learnt a thing or two about meditation. Yes, Ive started *meditating* while running.

The concept seems counterintuitive when you consider the loss of breath and stress of muscles that running induces.How could a painful activity encourage mindfulness and meditation?I hear you ask, and its a great question.

Supposedly, active meditation is the genius of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (yes, that Rajneesh of Wild Wild Country). Dont let his controversial past put you off; his ideas are aligned with modern-day propriety.

In a nutshell, active meditation endeavours to bring oneself into the body as opposed to into the mind, which occurs in regular meditation. Over-thinkers with an active imagination and full to-do lists, rejoice! By focusing on the body and its senses, the mind is less prone to wandering and related distress.We are no longer side-lined by self-care gurus spruiking daily 15-minute meditations; our gateway to ~chill~ is here.

Truthfully, the practice doesnt have to be complicated or even that intentional. It can easily be integrated into daily life through everyday tasks. Take the morning commute, for example. While the public are staring cross-eyed at their screens, allow yourself to simply stand up, feel the bumpy ride beneath your feet and slow down. Tap into the swaying movement of the carriage, your breathing, or the muffled sounds around you. Pay attention to the moment and come back to the five senses every time your mind starts to wander.

The same principle can be applied in almost every activity: washing the dishes, brushing your teeth, showering, crafting.

For me, exercise is my go-to the distraction of a pounding body and exhaustion prompt mindfulness Ive never previously experienced. I feel a little bit freer; I can breathe a little easier (once the pain has subsided).

Journalist/author/amateur-runner, Bella Mackie, is in the same boat. She delved into the mind-altering effects of running following the breakdown of her marriage, having refused the exercise prior.

When I ran I didnt feel quite so sad, she says of her anxious thoughts. My mind would quieten down; some part of my brain seemed to switch off, or at least cede control for a few minutes.

When practising active meditation, exercise becomes not only a form of fitness but a mental break. By using our bodies and concentrating on the senses the swing of the arms, thumping feet, gasping draws us away from our inner turmoil. Our minds are allowed to rest.

When you run, your body takes your brain along for the ride. Your mind is no longer in the driving seat, Bella writes.

If running isnt your jam, but an active outlet sounds appealing, I recommend swimming.

My research led me to realise that, technically, Ive been practising active meditation for years. My weekend lap swim has been driven by counting, counting, counting the many strokes and shutting off the mind.

There are Sundays when my body is sore, but I know a trip to the pool is necessary to calm me down. Immersing myself in water is utterly life changing. Its almost magical to hear the bubbles of your breath popping and feel the cool of the water against your skin. Once Ive zoned out and released, Im more than ready to tackle the issues waiting for me on the outside.

We dont have to find a quiet place and dig into the trenches of the mind; all it takes is an injection of intentional mindfulness in the everyday.

Even washing the dishes is looking far more appealing now.

More here:
Will active meditation save me from myself? - Fashion Journal

Willoughby Public Library did its part to start patrons off on the right path in 2020.

The library hosted its first New Year, New You Health and Wellness Fair Jan. 18.

Presenting high-quality, relevant and free programming to the public is a high priority for the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library system, said Assistant Library Manager Travis Fortney. And to that end, each of our four locations have chosen topics that we believe will be of sufficient interest to devote an entire day of programming for our signature programs.

These programs started in December with Eastlake Library's Holiday DIY Day and will continue this year with a Fantasy, Folkore and Fiction Festival at Willowick Library on May 16 and All About Herbs day at the Willoughby Hills branch in the fall.

With the new year, so many of us seek to start or restart better habits for our physical or emotional selves, Fortney said. Our full day of programming includes topics such as goal-setting, decluttering, healthy eating and fitness.

There was a waiting list for an opportunity to hear Dr. Oz show contributor and four-time New York Times bestselling author Dr. Michael Roizen, an internist at Cleveland Clinic, where he is chief wellness officer.

Another popular session was a hands-on class on cardio drumming. It involves a bucket, an exercise ball, drumsticks, lots of movement and, of course, music with a good beat.

A cardio-drumming class was held at Willoughby Library during a health and wellness fair Jan. 18.

It's a very fun, colorful activity that is fast-paced and varied, but accessible to all fitness levels, Fortney said. He noted that the class, presented by Willowick-based Will-Power Nutrition, will return to the library Jan. 21, Feb. 18 and April 21.

The business offers Herbalife Nutrition, fitness classes and a fit camp on Monday nights.

One of the owners, Melissa Dawson, got hooked on cardio drumming after taking part in a class offered by Empower Nutrition of Mentor.

Melissa Dawson leads a cardio-drumming workout at WIlloughby Library.

Dawson said it combines her love of music and movement.

Weve created routines; we only do about four or five moves per song, so its easier to catch onto, she said. Once youve learned it, you push yourself to do exaggerated moves. There are modifications for every level.

I dont like the gym, added fellow class leader Melissa Davidson. So going into a club setting where you can be positive and work out, and not feel self-conscious is a good feeling. Its a good feeling to be around like-minded people.

They insist no drumming background or even rhythm is required to take part.

Helen Drake of Willoughby has some experience playing a hand drum, but shed never heard of cardio drumming before.

Helen Drake enjoys a cardio-drumming workout at Willoughby Library.

This really got my attention because I like drumming and its an interesting way to do cardio, she said.

Dawson said the classes are growing and they are looking for new spaces to hold them.

They have held workouts for various groups in the community, including staff at Wickliffe Schools and football players at North High School.

Were willing to come to you if you want to try it out, she said.

Willoughby Library offered a health and wellness event Jan. 18.

The first class is free, then $5 per person or four classes for $15.

For more information about cardio drumming, visit Will-Power Nutritions Facebook page. For more on Willoughby-Eastlake libraries programming, visit WE247.org or call 440-942-3200.

The rest is here:
Health, wellness tips, fitness classes offered at Willoughby Library's first 'New Year, New You' event - News-Herald.com

Smartwatches are not all carved from the same stone -- there are different definitions of what 'smart' means, for example. Android users have more options to choose from than Apple users, but the basics must be covered well. The features Honor headlines for its MagicWatch 2 are long battery life, personalised watch faces and fitness modes.

There are two versions of the Honor MagicWatch 2, designed for different wrist sizes. I was sent the larger 46mm version, which is the only one available in the UK at the time of writing. It's available from Amazon at 159.99 (inc. VAT). Pricing and availability of the smaller 42mm model is yet to be confirmed.

The 46mm version is bulky, especially on a small wrist.

The larger watch has a 46mm face, and is quite thick at 10mm including the protuberance on the back that houses the heart rate monitor and a pair of connectors for the circular, magnetic charger. It's quite a beast to wear, and oversized for my wrist.

Still, there is an upside to the size, and that is a large display. The 1.39-inch diameter, 454-by-454 pixel, 326ppi AMOLED touch screen can display a lot of detail. This matters, as you'll be prodding at the screen and reading the face a lot if you're going to make the most of this smartwatch.

Complementing the touch screen are a couple of large buttons on the right rim. The upper button takes you to all the features of the MagicWatch 2, including apps and settings. The bottom button can be set to launch any of the built-in apps or jump to workouts.

There is a lot of 'stuff' on board in the way of applets. These include flashlight, alarm, timer, weather data, notifications, compass, air pressure readout, music player, contacts, call log -- even breathing exercises. The watch face itself can be swept left and right to get to more screens of information; a sweep upwards reveals notifications, while a downward sweep provides shortcuts to various settings such as the alarm, 'find my phone' and 'do not disturb' features, as well as reporting battery life.

The MagicWatch 2's strengths are health and fitness.

For all its ability to display information, play music, show the weather and so on, it's the health and fitness features that the MagicWatch 2 majors on. It can handle metrics for running (indoor and outdoor), cycling (indoor and outdoor), swimming (pool and open water), walking (indoor and outdoor), climbing, hiking, trail runs, triathlon, elliptical trainers and rowing. The GPS tracking maps where you've been, and I found this to be pretty accurate during testing.

The fitness features don't stop at hard physical workouts. A sleep monitor picked up my patterns of light, deep and REM sleep, matching these closely enough to my Fitbit's data to allay any concern over accuracy; the step counter seems accurate both on number of steps and distance, and its heart rate measurements were close to my Fitbit's too. On heart rate, incidentally, the MagicWatch 2 has an on-screen daily report, with longer-term data stored in the smartphone-based Health app.

If you want to use the MagicWatch 2 to initiate calls via Bluetooth, you'll need the 46mm version -- according to the product information, the 42mm model doesn't support that feature. Neither version of the watch has NFC built in, which means there's no support for mobile payments.

It's impossible to add any third-party apps to the Honor MagicWatch 2, so you're going to have to stick with what's on board. To take just one example, I've already noted that there's a music player, and this will cope with tunes transferred across via the Health app (there is 4GB of storage in total, and 2GB available for music). But if you are into streaming services, you can't install applets for these.

If you do need to install third-party apps, then look for a smartwatch running Google's Wear OS rather than the custom LiteOS that's used here, which is dependent on firmware updates from Honor.

SEE: Sensor'd enterprise: IoT, ML, and big data (ZDNet special report) | Download the report as a PDF (TechRepublic)

Battery life is quoted at 14 days for the 46mm version I tested. The charger is a circular plate which holds the MagicWatch 2 in place with a strong magnet. Leaving the battery to run down from full left me needing to charge after seven days. A more sensible regime of applying top-up charging as part of the same morning routine I use to charge my smartphone meant it barely had to be off my wrist for charging.

Battery life experience will depend on how you use the MagicWatch 2. For example, you can have a watch face (either analogue or digital) on standby, but as you set this up the device warns that doing so will halve the battery life.

Watch faces are available onboard, and you can import more via the smartphone-based Health app.

There are plenty of watch faces to select between. A long press on the face calls up others on board, making it easy to switch if you fancy a change. There are more faces in the Health app, and they're easily transferred into the MagicWatch 2.

As well as being the place where cumulative health and activity data is stored and displayed, the Health app handles data sharing with other apps. At the moment this is restricted to just Google Fit and MyFitnessPal. It's not possible to export GPX files (which contain GPS metrics), or to share data with other popular platforms such as Fitbit or Strava. Honor needs to give this aspect more thought.

Honor's MagicWatch 2 has some compelling features. The basics of health and fitness monitoring are covered, and the companion Health app does a fair job of displaying aggregated information that collects over time, and of interacting with the watch's internal storage.

But Honor needs to work harder on its smartwatch offer. Software updates need to add support for more platforms for its health data and allow the export of GPX files. Harder to fix is the absence of NFC, which is necessary for mobile payments but requires a hardware revision. The lack of support for third-party apps is also a concern.

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ST. MARYS The staff at the newly-opened Anytime Fitness facility on South St. Marys Street focuses on helping members reach their health and fitness goals, said General Manager Erica Kruse.

Kruse, a Ridgway native who studied sports management and exercise science, said the facility opened Sept. 17, 2019.

Memberships were sold from June through September. The entire facility was gutted, Kruse said, after it sat empty for 15 years.

There are 4,800 Anytime Fitness locations worldwide, Kruse said, with the franchise based in Ohio, which has 22 locations. Locations were also just opened in Bradford and Warren, Pennsylvania.

Our mission is to go into rural areas and impact lives through health and wellness, she said.

The St. Marys location was very much a need in the area, Kruse said, since there are few fitness facilities nearby. It has attracted members from just about everywhere in Elk County, including Ridgway, Johnsonburg, Kane, Wilcox and Weedville, she said.

Since Anytime Fitness is a 24-hour facility, it benefits people from all walks of life, including factory workers who might work later shifts, Kruse adds.

Anytime Fitness personal training manager is Cody Anderson, and its two personal trainers are Jerod Miller and Stanley Titanski. Connie Herbstritt is the member experience manager.

Herbstritt makes sure members know how the equipment works and how to prevent injury, Kruse said. She also helps with providing monthly grocery lists and meal plans. Anderson does fitness consultations, learning about a members medical history, injuries and more, then creating a personalized workout based on that information.

St. Marys has been very accepting of Anytime Fitness, Kruse said, and it has been steadily busy since the opening.

It also has a Member of the Month program under which a client is recognized for his or her hard work.

Kruse says it is important to Anytime Fitness to stay involved in the community, attending events like Yoga in the Wilds in Ridgway and a Womens Wellness Expo in St. Marys. It is also a drop-off location for the Guardian Angel Center in Kersey, and will be collecting canned foods and toys for CAPSEA (Citzens Against Physical, Sexual and Emotional Abuse).

For more information, visit Anytime Fitness St. Marys Pennsylvania on Facebook, call 814-512-4119 or stop in at 863 S. St. Marys. St.

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Anytime Fitness offers health and wellness facility, guidance - The Courier-Express

Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin since it is made in the skin after exposure to sun. The same UVB rays that cause a sunburn also make vitamin D. Sunscreen, darker skin pigmentation, clothing and reduced daylight in winter diminish the skins ability to make vitamin D. The people who experience the biggest seasonal swings in vitamin D levels are fair-skinned individuals living in the northern regions of the U.S. and at higher latitudes around the globe where there is very little daylight in winter.

But those most at risk for low vitamin D levels are people of color and people living at higher latitudes. Dark-skinned individuals are more likely than fair-skinned individuals to be low for vitamin D year-round because the darker skin blocks the UVB rays from producing vitamin D. However, even in dark skinned individuals, vitamin D is lowest in the winter.

In the winter, in addition to high vitamin D food, adults should take additional vitamin D from foods and/or supplements to get at least 600 IU per day of vitamin D. People who have dark skin or avoid sunshine should eat more vitamin D year-round.

Food rich in vitamin D. photka/Shutterstock.com

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Why you need more Vitamin D in the winter - Quad City Times

Fitness

Exciting new class offerings, fancy state-of-the-art expansions, and new studios will all grace the Hub.

Boundary-pushing fitness pros clad in their Lululemon leggings and cut-offs are at it again. In a city that prides itself on technology and innovation, every industry seems to profit, and the wellness world is no exception. Below, youll find a few of the coolest gym updates, new class offerings, and state-of-the-art expansions coming soon to the Boston fitness scene.

Two themes at the forefront of these updates and changes are strength training and increased access to personal training, which are incredibly refreshing to see. In particular, more places are getting on board with semi-private (or small group) personal training. Meaning, if you cant afford the luxury of one-on-one personal training, which in some places can put you back $240/session, you can instead join up with a group of 3-5 people and benefit from a coachs undivided attention, and also the camaraderie of others to hold you accountable. Were also seeing an increase in strength training options exclusively for women, which is totally rad, given the space has traditionally been dominated by men. The uptick in offerings encourages women to partake, once they see classes specifically designed for them.

Break out your gym bag, grab your lifting buddy, and check out these new places and offerings for yourself.

Tony Gentilcore coaching a squat at CORE / Photo provided

CORE is getting bigger and better, and becoming CORE Collective in Brookline

If you want to get super strong, just leave it to Tony Gentilcore. The strength training specialist and co-founder of Cressey Sports Performance in Hudson is taking his pocket-size studio in Brookline and upping its square-footage and offerings by moving into a nearly five times larger space in the neighborhood (fingers crossed, by early May). Under the name CORE Collective, Gentilcore tells me hell not only be able to take on more semi-private coaching clients, but also allow the other coaches who rent space from him the opportunity to grow their businesses as wellhence, a collective of coaches.

CORE will also be able to feature physical therapy and a chiropractic office. In addition, Lisa Lewis, a strength-based, solution-focused psychologist (and Gentilcores wife), will see clients and offer consultations from CORE. If youre not convinced, maybe Gentilcores love for 90s hip-hop, anything superhero-related, and his ability to coach you into what he would call a diesel deadlift may just get you through the doorbecause working out under those stipulations is anything but boring. tonygentilcore.com.

Ethos Fitness + Performance is moving to a new location in the South End

With a vision to educate and empower the community to be independent in their health and fitness, Ethos Fitness in the South End is moving into a bigger and better gym this weekend. Currently, the strength training-focused spot on Harrison Avenue serves the residents of the South End with group training, personal training, and semi-private coaching. Co-owner and head coach Jay Weedall says theyve been looking for a new space for some time, and have been at full capacity for two years now, so the move down the block to Wareham Street is a welcome one.

The new digs will cap out at 3,200-square-feet with a 900-square-foot outdoor space. Weedall says the idea is to offer more semi-private coaching and scale down on the one-on-one personal training. With the added space, theyll be able to do just that. Plus, when it gets warm outside theyll be able to utilize the outdoor area for large fundraising workouts to benefit the community. And as everything moves to more of a one-stop-shop, Ethos will be no different, offering a dedicated space to physical therapy and massages. ethosfit.com.

Photo provided BKBX

BKBX is rolling out a host of new class offerings

At the beginning of this month, BKBXs weekly schedule expanded from just 20 classes to over 40. An offshoot of Brooklyn Boulders, BKBX focuses on helping you prepare for your greatest outdoor adventures with group fitness classes geared towards developing skills like climbing, running, jumping, and reaction time. Theres even a massive bouldering wall for a class called CrossClimb that focuses on climbing as a complement to your training. Also new this year will be weekly vinyasa flow and Obstacle Course Race classesif youre preparing for an obstacle course race, like the Spartan or a Tough Mudder, this would be the ideal class to drop into to practice your rope climbs, ring swings, and more.bkbx.fit.

Revd is finally coming to Copley Place

Okay, so maybe we just lost the first Boston cycling studio, Recycle, and weve been questioning whether or not spin will outlast new trends like indoor rowingbut Meaghan St. Marc, owner and founder of Revd, is nothing but optimistic about bringing her rendition to the city. When Copley Place put a feeler out for a fitness component inside the shopping mall destination, she was first to answer the call. Plus, as a Northeastern grad, she says shes happy to be coming home. Revd has locations in Dedham, Foxboro, Burlington, Providence, and Hingham, and St. Marc says theyve really mastered the suburbsusually, studios start in the city and expand to the burbs.

We asked our riders where they work and where they like to ride, and realized coming to the city would make it better for people, St. Marc says. The new Copley Place studio, located right inside the shopping mall plaza next to the new Caff Nero, will feature the biggest studio room yet, with 50 bikes, and a full floor dedicated to mens and womens locker rooms (St. Marc tells me they will have a spa-like feel). Look for grand opening parties, rides, and deals when the doors swing open at the end of January/early February. revdindoorcycling.com.

Photo provided Lynx Fitness Club

Lynx Fitness Club is adding a new studio space, more offerings, and a ladies lifting club

Coming up on its two year anniversary, Lynx Fitness Club (located in the basement of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel) is celebrating in a big waywith a 1,300-square-foot expansion, set to be completed in February. The expansion gives way to a new studio room called Balance, where Jenna Geissler, director of marketing for the gym, tells me all yoga, pilates, and barre classes will move. She says the space will focus on promoting a more holistic regimen for Lynx clients and will offer meditation and mindfulness classes as well (are you seeing a trend?).

As with Ethos and CORE, Lynx will also adopt more semi-private personal training programming to provide the service to a broader range of people. These sessions will take place in the current yoga/barre/pilates studios, which will be getting an additional facelift as well. Along with those classes, Lynx is launching a womens strength training club, where women will learn how to properly lift heavy alongside other women, from women instructors.

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The Boston Fitness Scene Is about to Get Way Cooler - bostonmagazine.com