JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/ Fairfax NZ

HOT WORKOUT: Kate Burford takes a Bikram yoga class.

BIKRAM YOGA: Kate Burford's classes can be up to 40 degrees Celsius.

Giggles, acrobatics and tropical temperatures are now part and parcel of the yoga package in Canterbury.

Regular old yoga just isn't enough for the latest wave of yoga enthusiasts.

Laughter yoga, bikram yoga, hot yoga and even acroyoga are taking off, and each has its unique appeal.

Hannah Airey runs the St Albans Laughter Club where a good old belly laugh is just the ticket.

Airey got into laughter as a stress therapy about eight years ago and since then has seen it provide huge relief for Cantabrians under pressure.

''When you laugh, you can't think of anything else,'' she said. ''It's about choosing to laugh instead of waiting for it to happen.''

Laughter yoga involves going to a workshop where laughter is simulated through exercises and deep diaphragm breathing.

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Yoga now a serious business

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Its the New Year and if youve pledged yourself to a resolution of getting fit and healthy then there are plenty of options out there for you. Weve taken a look at two of the more popular choices, Yoga and Pilates, to find out what theyre about and what theyll help you achieve.

Yoga is an ancient practice that has been around for thousands of years. Although its been adapted and there are many different types to choose from, the aim remains the same. Yoga is all about your mind and how you feel.

Its a rather spiritual practice which developed from meditation and uses stretching movements to both make your body supple and help energy pass through it releasing tension as it does.

If youre looking for a way to tone up and increase your fitness then Pilates could be perfect. This exercise method was created in the early 20th Century to help build up strength and focuses on your core muscles.

Amongst other things it is said to improve posture, balance, and coordination as well as providing toned muscles and relief from aches and pains such as lower back problems.

Both are a great way to improve your fitness and work exercise into your lifestyle if you were previously sedentary as they require no particular level of fitness and can even be tailored to any limitations you may have.

If youre considering trying either of these, there are plenty of classes in Stoke-on-Trent taking place throughout the week. Below is a list of some to help you get active.

Classes in Stoke-on-Trent

Yoga Mixed classes at Penkhull Village Hall, ST4 5JB, taught by Adam Boughey - 07793 019621

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Yoga and Pilates in Stoke-on-Trent

Fitness trends have come and gone. In the 1970s, everyone jogged. Then came aerobics, promoted by Jane Fonda, then machine-resistance exercises like Nautilus, then programs like Pilates and Zumba and finally, recent entries such as Bootcamp, P90X and Body Combat. But nothing compares to CrossFit, which truly excels in physically and mentally transforming the average person. Benefits include fat reduction, increased muscle mass and, especially, a psyched-up enthusiasm for the workouts.

Coach Greg Glassman established the CrossFit strength and conditioning program in 2000, and it has exploded in the last few years. CrossFit usually consists of a warm up, a skill development session and a workout of the day (WOD) and also blends in a diet philosophy and a positive-attitude culture. Exercises might include Olympic weightlifting moves like deadlifts, cleans and squats; calisthenics and gymnastics such as pull-ups, rowing, or rings; or a mix of odd exercises, such as the "Turkish Get Up," which is where you move from a lying-down position to a standing position with one arm holding weight over the head at all times.

All exercises are scaled to meet the individuals fitness level, and most are performed in high-intensity intervals, a training technique that is exactly what the American College of Sports Medicines recent poll predicted would be the biggest trend in the exercise world for 2014.

People of all ages participate, and they seem to get hooked on the WODs, the peer-group motivation and the social culture. I am not a CrossFitter myself, but I write this as an experienced sports medicine doctor who provides care to CrossFit athletes of every level. My observation is that higher-level CrossFitters are every bit as conditioned as Olympic athletes.

But, what about the much-touted risk of injury? Any high-intensity training program will likely lead to some strain or injury. In a recent, small survey study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, the authors found CrossFit injury incidence to be similar to that of Olympic weight-lifting, power-lifting and gymnastics, and lower than competitive contact sports such as rugby.

In another study of U.S. Army soldiers in a high-intensity training program that included CrossFit training, soldiers participating in the program showed injury rates comparable to those of non-participating soldiers. Ive provided care at CrossFit competitions and, so far, have not seen any serious injuries. Compare this with risky sports like mens football, womens basketball, gymnastics, or snowboarding, where there are bound to be concussions, sprains and fractures.

Sit-ups are unsafe, done at CrossFit or anywhere else. Also, while a quality personal trainer at a gym is the best medicine for some people, it, too, can lead to injury. When performing any sport CrossFit included you risk injury. The best advice is to seek out a CrossFit facility with coaches who meticulously monitor good form, don't push you past your limit and allow you to modify or avoid exercises that cause you problems.

CrossFit is a unique newcomer to the exercise scene. Evidence suggests that the CrossFit program is a viable fast track to improved body composition and cardiovascular fitness, with tremendous benefits. The risks surely outweigh those of a sedentary lifestyle.

Beauty or beast? Just ask a CrossFitter.

Scott Gillman is a doctor of chiropractic in Natick, Mass., in practice since 1991. He is also a chiropractic sports medicine specialist with a diplomate from the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. He can be reached at 508-650-1091 or through http://www.drgillman.com.

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Dr. Scott Gillman: CrossFit: Beauty or beast

Hi folks,

We just released The Five Keys to Taoist Energy Arts with Paul Cavel which is a 10-week online course. Learn more here:

CLICK HERE: The Five Keys Course Overview

Here is a short video where Paul tells you about why he created the course:

CLICK HERE: The Five Keys Course Overview

I was recently in New Zealand and wanted to share some of my experiences while traveling. New Zealand is a beautiful country, one that I have wanted to travel to for a long time.

In this blog I talk about the qi glowworms, the Maori festival, Kauri trees and the Qigong Tui Na workshop I held in Auckland.

We arrived in New Zealand and one of the first places we visited was Waitomo. Waitomo is known for a few things one of which are caves with glow worms. Read More

In this video I talk about how I healed my own back with the Yang and Wu Styles of Tai Chi. I hope you find it useful. Bruce

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Tai Chi Master - Learn Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Chi Exercises and ...

Tai Chi Healthways in San Diego brings you the authoritative Tai Chi and Qigong. Free preview tai chi and qigong lessons on DVD clips. Feel the healing Chi! Jesse Tsao, the most respected true master in San Diego and former champion from China with nearly 40 years of Tai Chi experience, teaches in La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Bernado, and Carlsbad area. Tai Chi Healthways is internationally recognized as a leader in tai chi (taiji) and qigong (chi kung) education. Our mission is to uphold and pass on the traditional teachings of this unique Chinese martial art and healing art. We are committed to setting and promoting the highest teaching standards in the industry today in order to preserve and carry on the classical teachings of tai chi (taiji) and qigong (chi kung). Tai Chi Healthways supports diversity and encourages the advancement of all styles of tai chi and qigong. Tai Chi Healthways and its associates provide a wide variety of styles and routines:

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San Diego Tai Chi (Taiji)/Chi Kung Information

BANGKOK: Thai stocks jumped on Tuesday, outperforming others in Southeast Asia, as higher oil prices bolstered buying in energy stocks and shares of Thai Airways International recovered from five sessions of falls after a positive earnings guidance for 2014.

The Thai index ended up 2.6 percent at 1,262.36, extending gains into a second day and bouncing from the oversold mark for the first time since Dec. 27, with its 14-day Relative Strength Index at 33.8 at Tuesday's close. The rebound helped the benchmark trim some of its losses since November amid ongoing political tensions while caution remained ahead of a mass shutdown of the capital on Jan. 13 by anti-government protesters calling for a reform of the political system to precede the election. Shares of energy firm PTT Pcl rallied 6.4 percent, the top gainer on the energy index, while Thai Airways jumped 5.7 percent after acting President Chokchai Panyayong saw the carrier returning to a profit in 2014. Other regional markets ended mostly lower, with Indonesia and the Philippines easing amid currency weaknesses. Singapore and Malaysia retreated from early highs in line with weak Asian markets. Vietnam edged up 0.2 percent, with banking shares rising after the government said a strategic foreign investor will be allowed to own a maximum 20 percent of a Vietnamese bank from late next month, from 15 percent now. For Asian Companies click; For South East Asia Hot Stock reports, click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 379.39 379.28 +0.03 Singapore 3120.88 3123.82 -0.09 Kuala Lumpur 1825.11 1829.18 -0.22 Bangkok 1262.36 1230.84 +2.56 Jakarta 4175.81 4202.81 -0.64 Manila 5947.44 5985.81 -0.64 Ho Chi Minh 510.12 509.10 +0.20 Change on year Market Current End 2013 Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 379.39 388.37 -2.31 Singapore 3120.88 3167.43 -1.47 Kuala Lumpur 1825.11 1866.96 -2.24 Bangkok 1262.36 1298.71 -2.80 Jakarta 4175.81 4274.18 -2.30 Manila 5947.44 5889.83 +0.98 Ho Chi Minh 510.12 504.63 +1.09 * The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Stock Market Volume (shares) Market Current Volume Average Volume 30 days Singapore 169,757,700 188,794,220 Kuala Lumpur 102,195,400 105,339,070 Bangkok 5,068,249 5,287,086 Jakarta 2,384,719,900 2,881,386,460 Manila 68,776 71,657 Ho Chi Minh 74,364 87,616- Reuters

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Southeast Asia stocks mostly weak