MIGHTY MOVIES

Miguel Ortiz

The military isnt all action and adventure. There are plenty of dull tasks required of service members that can send even the most motivated of troops to sleep. Whether its writing an after action report, studying for your promotion board, or trying to figure out the convoluted requirements to get your leave approved, here are some of the best military soundtracks to listen to and keep you on track. Note that this isnt a list of the most epic military soundtracks, hence the omission of legendary film soundtracks like Das Boot, Black Hawk Down, and Crimson Tide.

1. Band of Brothers

If youre like me, youve lost count of how many times youve watched Band of Brothers. From watching reruns on TV to popping in the DVD/BluRay for a mini marathon, Michael Kamens arrangements have graced the ears of thousands of viewers. The combination of beautiful orchestral melodies combined with the almost haunting choral work makes this soundtrack an excellent choice for some calming background music. That said, youd be forgiven if you kept the Main Titles, Suite One, and Suite Two on repeat. After all, they are the most used songs from the legendary mini-series. Its spiritual successor, The Pacific, also has a noteworthy soundtrack. However, its a bit too intense with its dramatic swells and drum beats to make the list for studying and relaxing music.

2. Saving Private Ryan

It makes sense that the forerunner of the previous entry be on this list too. Band of Brothers took a lot of production cues from Saving Private Ryan including its score. Produced by the legendary John Williams, the same man that brought us the music for iconic films like Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, E.T., and Jaws, the soundtrack from Saving Private Ryan does not disappoint. The opening song, Hymn to the Fallen, is iconic in its own right and is often used for Veterans Day and Memorial Day events and videos. Additionally, the soundtrack itself is over an hour long, so you can get plenty of work done while it plays. If you enjoy this soundtrack, I also recommend giving the original Medal of Honor video game soundtrack a listen. The game was conceived by Spielberg after he completed Saving Private Ryan and Michael Giacchino, the games composer, was heavily inspired by Williams and went on to compose for eight more WWII-based video games.

3. Gladiator

Come on, this one counts as a military movie. After all, Maximus Decimus Meridius was a Roman general commanding an army in battle at the films opening. At any rate, composers Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard built a truly inspirational soundtrack for the film. You dont even need to have seen Gladiator to appreciate its music as a studying or working accompaniment. Additionally, the album won the 2001 Golden Globe for Best Original Score Motion Picture.

4. The Thin Red Line

Yes, its another Zimmer entry. Anyway, the 1998 film is a bit of a departure from other war films of its time like Saving Private Ryan or Platoon. At any rate, its soundtrack was nominated for Original Dramatic Score at the 71st Academy Awards. Although it didnt win, its impact on movie music is long-felt. The films main theme, Journey to the Line, has been used in the trailers for Man of Steel, 12 Years a Slave, and X-Men: Days of Future Past. It was also used in the trailer for Pearl Harbor, the soundtrack of which was also composed by Zimmer and features heavy influence from The Thin Red Line. Pearl Harbor didnt make this list due to its more melancholic tones.

5. Dunkirk (Honorable Mention)

Hear me out. This one is absolutely not a good choice to study or relax to. Its time ticking theme and anxiety-inducing builds are not the kind of sounds you want to hear if you need to slow your heart beat. However, if youre on a time crunch, this might be just what you need to get yourself in the zone. Picture this: Its 0400 and youve been up since 0300the previous day. Youre running on pure caffeine and adrenaline and both are running dangerously low. Your task, whether its a slide deck, a new SOP, or a stack of evals, is due first thing in the morning. Some people thrive under the pressure, and if thats you, why not add some epic background music to your sprint to the finish line? The satisfaction garnered from completing your last minute task just before its deadline will be sweetened by having the films End Titles play you through to your victory.

Ben Weaver

Fighting fires is hungry work. And since firefighters spend long hours, even days, at the fire station, it naturally falls to some schlub rookie to lace up an apron and put food on the table. Thats normally how it goes.

But Meals Ready To Eat doesnt profile normal.

In South Philadelphia, theres a fire station where things go down a bit differently. Thats because the members of Phillys Fire Engine 60, Ladder 19 are lucky enough to count a gourmet chef among their ranks. In fact, he outranks most of them. Hes Lieutenant Bill Joerger, hes a former Marine and this kitchen is his by right of mastery.

The two sides of Lt. Bill Joerger (Go90 Meals Ready To Eat screenshot)

and both are delicious. (Meals Ready To Eat screenshot)

It is a little weird for a ranking officer to spend hours rustling the chow. Its a little strange that he goes to such lengths to source ingredients for his culinary art. Its a bit outlandish when those meals are complex enough to necessitate a demo plate.

But Bill Joerger doesnt care about any of that. When not actively saving lives, he cares about honing his cooking skills, eating well, and creating in the midst of a chaotic work environment some small sacred space where everyone can relax and just be people together.

Meals Ready to Eat host August Dannehl spent a day with Joerger at the firehouse, experiencing the often violent stop-and-start nature of a firefighters day and, in the down moments, sous-cheffing for the Lieutenant. The story of how Joerger found his way from the Marine Corps to a cookbook and then to the firehouse kitchen is a lesson in utilizing ones passion to impose some order in the midst of lifes disarray.

Fatherly

Remember how awesome The Empire Strikes Back was? You can stream that particularly great Star Wars movie on Disney+ right now. And, as of Nov. 15, 2019, Disney+ just added some context to one classic Boba Fett and Darth Vader beef. In the latest episode of The Mandalorian, we finally understand why Darth Vader said no disintegrations.

Spoilers ahead for The Mandalorian Chapter 2: The Child.

In the second episode of The Mandalorian, our titular bounty hunter continues his make-it-up-as-you-go-along journey to protect a little baby Yoda-looking creature. Throughout his misadventures in this episode (which culminate in getting a giant space rhino egg) the Mando tangoes with a bunch of Jawas who have stripped his spaceship of much-needed parts. In an effort to get his stuff back, the Mando busts out his nifty rifle, which, as it turns out, turns anyone he points it at into a puff of smoke. He vaporizes a few of the on the lizard-like Trandoshans who ambush him at the top of the episode, and later on, a few pesky Jawas.

The Mandalorian gets ready to disintegrate some punks.

(Lucasfilm)

Later, when he has to make peace with the Jawas to barter for some of his parts back, he mentions I disintegrated a few of them. In terms of what weve seen in the Star Wars movies so far, this specific tech hasnt been witnessed, but it has been mentioned. When Vader hires a bunch of bounty hunters to capture the Millennium Falcon in The Empire Strikes Back, the Dark Lord very pointedly shakes his finger at Boba Fett (a dude who rocks Mandalorian armor) and says no disintegrations.

Boba Fett and IG-88 in The Empire Strikes Back

(Lucasfilm)

So, there you have it. Vader was well-aware that this weapon was probably in Boba Fetts arsenal, and now, just a about six years after the events of Empire Strikes Back, in The Mandalorian, we get to see what that weapon looks like. The most surprising thing? In The Mandalorian, the disintegrations are shockingly mess-free. Less like a blaster, and more like a civilized vacuum for a more elegant bounty hunter.

After every episode of The Mandalorian you watch on Disney+, it invariably suggests you watch The Empire Strikes Back. Kind of makes sense now, right?

This article originally appeared on Fatherly. Follow @FatherlyHQ on Twitter.

Blake Stilwell

John Rambo changes lives. Not just in movies, but in the real world. From the flawed antihero of First Blood to the immortal god of death and destruction in 2008s Rambo, Sylvester Stallones action-hero prototype isnt just the forerunner of modern, big-budget action stars, hes a real-life game-changer. A cinematic visit from John Rambo has historically been an omen of big changes to follow in the real world.

Stallone just announced the production of a new Rambo movie and it couldnt come at a better time. Hes definitely going to take on Mexican drug cartels in the film, which is a good move, but there are many other places that need the help. Call it the Rambo Effect.

For the uninitiated, Vietnam veteran John Rambo goes off to find some personal peace after the war, meeting up with old Army friends and traveling the world, looking for meaning. What he ends up finding is a personal war everywhere he goes. He fights the bad guys in the movies and wins but in the real world, something always happens in the country he visits, often within a year of a films release, changing them for the better.

Anyone whos a big fan of Sylvester Stallones Rambo series knows the sequels are a far cry from the story and intent of the first film. In First Blood, he was a flawed Vietnam veteran who became a rallying cry for a generation of vets who were all but ignored by society. Seriously, this is a really great, thoughtful movie with a good message.

The Vietnam War took a toll on America in a way the country still hasnt fully recovered from. It was the first time Americans learned to distrust the President of the United States and this fostered a general mistrust of the government ever since. First Blood takes America to task about things Vietnam veterans still talk about today: Agent Orange, public indifference toward veterans, public perception of crazy Vietnam veterans, veteran unemployment, post-traumatic stress, and more.

The 80s were a crazy time for everyone.

What people really noticed while watching First Blood is how awesome that Green Beret stuff really was, so by the time First Blood Part II came about, Rambo was a full-on action hero the mold for the Bruce Willises, Arnold Schwarzeneggers, and the Steven Seagals yet to come. The real message was lost amid big-budget explosions and fight sequences.

Crewmen of the amphibious cargo ship USS Durham (LKA-114) take Vietnamese refugees from a small craft, April 1975

(U.S. National Archives)

The second installment of the Rambo series was released almost ten years to the day after the fall of Saigon. In the real-world, reunified Vietnam under Communist rule, chaos ensued. Thousands were herded into reeducation camps, a crippled economy suffered from triple-digit inflation, the state went to war with Cambodia and then China. Thousands of refugees took to fleeing by boat to anywhere else.

Still, some things just dont age well.

The year after First Blood Part II had Rambo return to Vietnam, the Vietnamese government began implementing massive reforms to move away from the strict Communist structure that dominated it for the previous decade. In the intervening years, the economy began to recover as the government moved to a more socialist form.

In 1988s Rambo III, John Rambo sets off to rescue Colonel Trautman after hes taken captive in Soviet-dominated Afghanistan. Of course, Rambo goes right into Afghanistan, destroys every Soviet in his wake and rescues his old friend in a blaze of fiery glory. That same year, the Soviet Union began its final withdrawal from Afghanistan, a war that was a major contributing factor to the fall of the Soviet Union.

Coming to theaters of war near you.

In 2008s Rambo, the former Green Beret joins a group of missionaries headed to Myanmar. 2008 Myanmar was a brutal totalitarian dictatorship scarred by rampant human rights abuses both on screen and in the real world. In the film, a warlord is brutalizing the Burmese people and the missionaries become victims. A team of mercenaries goes back into Myanmar with Rambo. Rambo kills everyone who isnt a good guy.

Two months after the films release, the actual Myanmar government suddenly held a real constitutional referendum intended to guide the country down the path away from the military junta and into democratic reforms. By 2010, Myanmar held contested, multiparty elections. The military government was fully dissolved in 2011 and, by 2015, there were serious elections held in the country.

Im not saying John Rambo had anything to do with any of this, all Im saying is that John Rambo could be the harbinger of positive change in the world. Which is good, because there are a few place that really need a change.

Even though this is hardly the worlds longest ongoing conflict, it has to be one of the most intense and well-attended. Anyone whos anyone is sending troops to Syria, and soon Germany may even join the party. All joking aside, this is a conflict that has, so far, killed more than a half-million people in seven years by moderate estimates, but no one really knows for sure.

A war this intense should end sooner rather than later. Even though Richard Crenna (the actor who portrayed Col. Trautman) died in 2003, maybe Rambo can be sent to Syria to rescue Trautmans son? Ill leave that for Stallone to decide, but hes got to get Rambo there somehow.

Just one North Korean parade and its all over.

While the intensity of this conflict peaked more than 70 years ago, the ongoing human rights abuses and detainment of North Koreans in prison camps is exactly the kind of thing John Rambo would hate to see.

And if theres anyone who could reach Kim Jong Un on his own, its John Rambo.

Pictured: Rambo sneaking back into Burma.

Even though his first visit to Burma (Myanmar) foretold the coming of democratic reforms, an argument could be made that they didnt exactly reach what anyone would call true quality before the law. In fact, a number of civil conflicts are ongoing in Burma, including the Rohingya slaughter and insurgency read so much about in the news lately, but there are others at least 18 different insurgent groups operate in Burma to this day.

If ever a war needed to end, its the ongoing Saudi-led coalitions war against Houthi-dominated Yemen. If ever any single country needed a John Rambo to finish things off, its this devastating embarrassment. For three years, Saudi Arabia and its 24 coalition partners have been hammering away at little Yemen and the Houthis who took it over, killing tens of thousands of people many civilians and are no closer to winning right now than they were three years ago.

Name a more iconic duo. Ill wait.

The Moro people of the Philippines have pretty much been resisting invaders since the beginning of time. For at least 400 years, the Moro have resisted Spanish, American, Japanese, American, and Philippine dominance over their traditional area of the country.

If theres a world leader that would make an excellent Hollywood villain, its Rodrigo Duterte, current president of the Philippines. Hes not crazy, he thinks hes doing the world a favor, and his methods are shocking. After a few centuries, this conflict should be ready to end and who better to bring that about than Rambo and a giant hunting knife?

Somalia has been in the throes of civil war since the 1980s and it has never even begun anything close to a recovery. After the fall of the Barre dictatorship, no one has held a controlling area of the country, including the United States, the United Nations, and even Ethiopia, who invaded Somalia not too long ago, crushing just one more in a long line of Islamic Insurgents who want to control the Somali people.

More than half a million people from all over the world have died in this conflict and it has displaced more than 1.1 million Somalis. It is time for this conflict to end thats your cue, Rambo.

Shannon Corbeil

Weve passed on all we know. A thousand generations live in you now. But this is your fight, hints Mark Hamills Luke Skywalker.

(Well, Ghost Luke, Im guessing)

This week at D23, LucasFilm released new footage from The Rise of Skywalker, leading fans to speculate what it all means as the Skywalker Saga comes to an end.

I for one got excited for the first time in a long time.

Check out the special look at then lets break it down:

http://www.youtube.com

Of course, the most buzz-worthy scene is Dark Rey wielding a duel-bladed and red lightsaber. I dont want to fansplain to you or anything, but red blades are of course associated with the Sith, who often preferred synthetic crystals energized by the dark side of the force.

Reys blade could mean a number of things. Maybe she nicked it? Maybe she turned to the dark side? Or probably maybe its just a vision. Rey hasnt had a character flaw yet, but who knows? Maybe J.J. Abrams wants to throw us a curve ball.

(PS: Has anyone else noticed how dangerous these fancy lightsabers are? Like, how does Kylo Ren not chop his leg off any time he ignites his crossguard lightsaber?? The Force can only do so much)

I just want to know that he attended his safety brief.

Anyway, back to Rey.

Twitter user Alan Johnson has a different theory about Dark Rey:

twitter.com

Now that would be interesting to me. And Im going full nerd to tell you why.

A brief history on clones in the Star Wars universe: they were bred to fight as soldiers under their Jedi commanders during the time of the Republic (think prequels). Under Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the clone troopers fought the droid army of the Separatists during the Clone Wars.

But there was a hidden trigger implanted into every clone, and Palpatine (who of course we know was a Sith), issued Order 66, which named the Jedi Knights enemies of the Republic and called for their eradication. The clone militants purged the galaxy of the Jedi and gave Palpatine unchecked control of the Republic, allowing him to become the true antagonist of the original trilogy.

Emperor Palpatine was thrown into a deep shaft by Darth Vader during the Battle of Endor presumably dead and yet promo materials for the Rise of Skywalker have been teasing his return.

Could Palpatine have survived his fall? Id say yes any trained Force-user can levitate so its far-fetched for them to fall to their death. Theoretically he could have also hidden himself for all these years.

If he is alive, and Rey is a clone, that could pose many questions. Is Dark Rey also a clone? Could Palpatine Order 66 her? Are there more versions of her? (I mean, I wouldnt be unhappy with an Orphan Black situation)

As a fan, its fun to consider the possibilities, which makes The Rise of Skywalker even more fun to look forward to.

Fatherly

There are a lot of great moments in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but there is one very specific and hilarious scene in which Peter Parker very confidently misidentifies AC/DCs killer song Back in Black by saying I love Led Zeppelin! And though this seems like a funny throwaway, this is actually the exact moment where Far From Home brings the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe full-circle. You may have thought Avengers: Endgame was the end of this era of Marvel movies, but really, the latest Spidey flick is the real ending. And thats because it wraps up multiple storylines about the only character who can never return to these movies Iron Man.

If you squint through those special Tony Stark high-tech glasses, Spider-Man: Far From Home actually reads as Iron Man 4, and thats because a huge chunk of the movie is about how Peter Parker deals not only with a world without Tony Stark; but more specifically, a world which Iron Man created. Spoiler alert, but the entire conflict of Far From Home revolves around disgruntled former employees of Tony Stark; people who either got yelled at by Jeff Bridges in the very first Iron Man movie in 2008, or in the case of Jake Gyllenhaals Quentin Beck, had their inventions hijacked and turned into holographic therapy for Stark.

Like the next generation of young Marvel fans who are just getting into all this superhero stuff, Peter Parker inherits the mixed legacy of Tony Stark whether he likes it or not. Because this version of Spidey doesnt really have a fatherly-Uncle Ben figure, Iron Man was Peters next-best-thing to a dad. And in Far From Home, all the mistakes Tony made become Spider-Mans problem. Happy Hogan reminds Peter that although Iron Man was great that he was also all over the place, which is a nice way of saying Tony Stark was actually kind of a douchebag and may have given Peter and the rest of the world more than they really want to deal with. Anyone who has had been saddled with messiness after the death of a parent knows how this goes. For Spidey, his personal life is totally compromised in the post-credits scene (in which his secret identity is revealed) all of which is, indirectly, Tony Starks fault. In fact, the seeds for Peter inheriting Tonys problems are sewn in Spideys first official MCU appearance; in Captain America: Civil War. Back then, Tony recruited Peter to help him reign-in Cap, but we now know this movie also was where Tony ignorantly turns Beck into a bad guy.

http://www.youtube.com

Which brings us back to that AC/DC track; Back in Black. This is the song that opens the very first moments of 2008s Iron Man;Tony Stark sits in the back of a humvee speeding through Afghanistan, drinking a cocktail, acting like jerky the millionaire arms-dealer that he is. From that point, Tonys caravan gets attacked, and through the course of the movie, and a lot of snarky one-liners, he eventually becomes a slightly better person and you know, Iron Man. In fact, just like Far From Home, that film famously ended with Tony Stark revealing his identity in a press conference. And now, unwillingly, Peter Parker has become the new Iron Man insofar as his identity has been revealed too, albeit not by choice. Either way, Peters journey is very similar to Tonys at this point, the only difference is Peter didnt get much of a choice in the matter, whereas Tony did.

Despite everything that happened to Tony Stark, Captain America and Black Widow throughout all of their Marvel movie adventures, for the most part, these characters read as adults, and in the case of Tony and Natasha, adults who were not innocent people, like at all. But Peter Parker is the opposite of this. Even after everything, hes been through in five movies, hes basically still at the beginning of his heros journey. Which is why Far From Home is both an ending for the old Marvel movies and the beginning of the new ones.

http://www.youtube.com

Its unclear what new Avengers movies will look like in 2020 and beyond, but because Tony is 100 percent dead and Steve Rogers is 100 percent living in the past in secret, the big recognizable heroes of Iron Man and Captain America wont be around. (Also that rumored Black Widow movie is thought to be a prequel?) In any case, if the new Avengers are Captain Marvel, maybe Hulk, Falcon, and Bucky, then it seems like Spidey might become their defacto leader. After all, once youre secret identity is revealed, youve got nowhere to be other than with other superheroes.

The musical cues and plot similarities of Spider-Man: Far From Home help to complete Tony Starks story one movie after his onscreen death. But, our incumbent Peter Parker isnt Tony Stark. Like at all. He doesnt really know who AC/DC is, even if he likes the music. This Peter is the face of the future of the next big round of Marvel movies, and in some ways, thats reassuring. The MCU began with a tortured man-baby who drank too much and said sexist things. That guy accidentally became a hero, and of course, because of that journey of redemption, we all love Tony Stark. But now, it seems Marvel is going to do stories about different types of heroes, and those people, like Peter Parker, might be a little bit better than the generation before them. Marvel is done with the old guys. Its time to give the kids a shot.

Luckily, as Far From Home proves, the kids are more than all right. Theyre better than us.

This article originally appeared on Fatherly. Follow @FatherlyHQ on Twitter.

Blake Stilwell

More:

5 great military soundtracks to study or just relax to - We Are The Mighty

Juliette Grco and I may have been born almost 50 years apart but she had always been part of me. When we were kids growing up on a housing estate in Strasbourg, my mother had a ritual: on Sundays, she would play French chanson for us. Lo Ferr, Jacques Brel, Charles Trenet, Georges Brassens, and Juliette Grco. She was the only female artist in the pack so not only did her mysterious voice have a distinctive impact on me, I also assumed she was a tough cookie with character. In my young boys mind, she was their equal, a great artist, period. Years later, as I was relaxing at home in the midst of recording my second solo album, I switched on telly and here she was with her husband Grard Jouannest who had been Jacques Brels pianist and composer, and I thought how amazing it would be to meet them. The following morning, I told the sound engineer at my record company. It just so happened that he had recently worked with Juliette Grco. He was our go-between. I sent her my work and she agreed to meet. One day, she opened the door of her house near Paris to me and we became friends for the next 13 years, spending Christmas and holidays together.

When Grco met new people, what she was interested in was to find a poetical connection with them. No poetry, no friendship. It didnt matter that you were from a different milieu, a different country, a different culture, or belonged to a different musical genre, generation, political family or even that you shared the same convictions. The only thing that she cared about was poetry, and style. And a love for words and the written text.

In a way, this mirrored my own story. One of my headmistresses noticed my love for books from an early age and fed my passion. She also convinced my mother to take me to a better school and helped me getting a scholarship. Literature and poetry made me who I am. Albert Camus in particular played a great role in shaping the young rebellious man I was. When Camuss daughter asked me to perform for the centenary of his birth in 2013, I invited Juliette, who had known him well, to be with me on stage.

I asked Juliette about her love affair with Miles Davis in the late 1940s, early 1950s. When Jean-Paul Sartre asked them why they didnt marry, Miles answered: Because I love her too much for that. If she had followed him back to the US, she would have been considered there as a negros whore, she confided to me. I am currently adapting their love story for the screen.

I consider Juliette as the last interprte of our times. Somebody who completely appropriated the words of another to make it her own. It was extraordinary to see. Suddenly, your words were hers, and hers only. She had a way of delivering words that was unique: it was both very powerful and moving to witness.

She was both a godmother and teacher to me. Thanks to her, I rediscovered writers such as Boris Vian and Louis Aragon, people she had known well. She had a way of explaining intricate concepts with simplicity.

We were friends right up to the very last weeks of her life. She had this extraordinary elegance, both moral and physical, even when she had become rather frail. Its her elegance in all things that I shall most vividly miss.

Continued here:

Juliette Grco remembered by Abd al Malik | Music - The Guardian

I once dated a guy who insisted that, given the choice between the two, he would almost always take a massage over sex.

I was initially skeptical of this claim, as it seemed to violate the sacred social dictate that all men are bound to a state of perpetual horniness and would cut off their own arm in exchange for sex at any and every opportunity. In addition to my disbelief, I also took some irrational offense at this dubious preference for not-sex over sex. Did he really like massages that much, or did he just hate having sex? Or worse, did he just hate having sex with me, specifically?

It only took one massage to make a believer out of me, however, and these days I, too, would probably take massages over sex if I could only have one for the rest of my life.

Fortunately, barring an oddly specific scenario Ive yet to consider, I cant really envision a situation in which anyone would actually be compelled to make such a choice. A small bright spot in an often cruel and unfair world, theres no reason we cant have massages and sex. In fact, bringing massage into the bedroom can actually improve your sex life, enhancing sexual experiences for both you and your partners.

Incorporating massage into your sexual repertoire can make sex last longer and provide opportunities to explore erogenous zones that are often overlooked, says Casey Tanner, certified sex therapist and an expert for sex toy company LELO. While some might resist massage because it doesnt seem overtly sexual, massage actually attends to your two largest sexual organs: your skin and your brain. Massage also increases blood flow, adds Tanner, leading to more sensitivity and lubrication, all of which ultimately translates into more orgasms.

Massage can also help partners become more familiar with each others touch language, says Eric Joppy, licensed massage therapist and owner of SenseFuel Massage. Massage helps you relax and become more comfortable with each others bodies, ultimately leading to a deeper, more intimate connection, says Joppy.

While, as Tanner notes, massage is often incorporated into a sex as foreplay or aftercare preceding or following a more explicit sex act, it can also be enjoyed as a standalone experience that need be no less intimate or erotic than sex itself.

While sex is an incredible tension reliever, I wouldnt call it relaxing to the body, says publicist Melissa Vitale, who considers it a karmic blessing that she recently entered a relationship with a man currently training to become a certified massage therapist. Massages help me feel rejuvenated, cared for and supported all at once, and it can be incredibly arousing, she tells InsideHook. I find the afterglow of a good massage can be just as blissful as post-orgasm.

Below, a few experts share tips on how to massage your partner into a state of post-orgasmic bliss, no orgasm required.

When it comes to sexy massage, what you dont have in the environment is just as important as what you do, says Tanner. To the extent possible, remove reminders of life stressors; put your pets away, wash dirty dishes, and turn off the technology.

As for those life stressors that cant be eliminated like loud traffic sounds or neighbors relaxing music or a white noise machine should do the trick, says Rachel Beider, massage expert and author of Press Here! Massage for Beginners: A Simple Route to Relaxation and Releasing Tension.

Tailor the ambience for sensuality using your five senses taste, touch, sight, smell and sound, says Tanner. Low lighting is a must, while scented candles can do double duty when it comes to sight and smell. Beider also recommends burning incense, using essential oils or scented lotion.

Basically, you just want it to be as comfortable as possible, says Beider. Temperature is also really important, she adds. The room should be comfortably warm, and Beider also suggests making use of a heated blanket.

Taylor Sparks, erotic educator and founder of intimacy retailer Organic Loven, suggests both partners begin with a warm bath or shower, whether alone or together, in order to relax and unwind pre-massage. Sparks also recommends laying out anything you might need oils, pillows, towels etc. ahead of time, putting everything within reach so you can easily grab it during the massage without breaking physical contact with your partner.

A massage is an exchange of energy between giver and receiver, says Sparks. If you can always keep one hand on your partner at all times while you get more oil or a towel, the energy will stay constant.

One of the most important things in massage is communication, says Beider. Its a good opportunity to practice consent and to ask for what you really want, which can also be helpful in other parts of the relationship. Massage fosters trust. It helps you express vulnerability.

With that in mind, the best way to begin a massage is to simply ask your partner what they want. Similar to professional masseuses, ask your partner if there are any regions of your body theyd like you to focus on or avoid, says Tanner.

Its also important to continue checking in with your partner throughout the duration of the massage. Ask them what they want and confirm things like pressure, speed, pace or location, says Beider, who suggests establishing a number system to help communicate the right level of pressure: If ten is way too much pressure and zero is boring, maybe you want to be massaging someone at a six or a seven. Partners can then communicate their desire for more or less pressure more precisely.

And even if you think youve got it down, dont hesitate to continue checking in with your partner periodically. I think sometimes people are afraid to say something, so its really important that you check in with them during the session, says Beider, who also stresses the importance of asking for specific feedback rather than accepting a simple, Its fine.

Your partner probably isnt expecting you to become a master masseuse, but figuring out where to put your hands and how to move them in a way that constitutes an actual massage instead of just a random rub down can be intimidating for a massage newbie. For those who really have no idea what theyre doing, Beider breaks down two foundational strokes to keep in mind.

The basic stroke in massage is called effleurage, says Beider. Its those long, relaxing, gliding strokes, and it accomplishes two things: it spreads oil across the surface that youre working on, and it also introduces your partner to the touch that youre providing, fostering trust.

The second stroke Beider recommends is petrissage, a deeper, kneading stroke good for breaking up adhesions, or knots.

This feels really good, especially in between shoulder blades, around the lower back and the neck, says Beider, who suggests creating flow throughout the massage by using long effleurage strokes in between areas that have been worked more deeply.

Start on the back so your partner can start to relax and become more comfortable with your touch, says Joppy. Then move from the back to the neck and down to the lower body. Try to use long strokes going from the bottom of the back to the top of the neck, or from the bottom of the legs to the top of the glutes.

And if your hands need a break? A sure fire way of giving a great massage is to turn to that large massager in the drawer, says Sparks. Yes, you can (and probably should) use a vibrator on your partner during sex, but a vibrator can also come in handy during not-sex. Vibrators that double as body massagers are capable of reaching 9,000 rpms and can work out the kinks just about anywhere you put them, says Sparks.

Dont forget that massage isnt just about the person being touched; the masseuse can get just as much out of this sensual experience, says Tanner

But to reap those benefits, youre going to have to relax, be present, and go slow.

It is just as important for the giver to be relaxed and in a comfortable position before, during and after the massage, says Sparks. This is an exchange of energy, and the giver must be in a mood to give. While you should stay focused on your partner, listening to their breathing and responses both verbal and physical, its also important to focus on your own breathing and state of mind, she adds.

Breathe, echoes Joppy. Deep, conscious breathing will naturally sync your two bodies, resulting in a deeper, more intimate and sensual connection.

Like sex, a good massage requires communication, consent, and enthusiastic partners who are both present and willing to engage physically and mentally.

Listen to your body, and that of your partner, says Tanner. When in doubt, just ask.

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How to Give a Massage That's Actually Better Than Sex - InsideHook

Beethoven in 250 words.

Beethoven fans and aficionados give us 250 words no more, no fewer on the great composer, as the world marks the 250th anniversary of his birth.

16 December 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of great composer Ludwig van Beethovens birth.

Weve invited music lovers and Beethoven devotees to give us 250 well-chosen words of their own to sum up what the great composer means to them.

Heres to you, LVB...

You can have the sunniness of Mozart, but very often he seems to be painting a world that is only sunny and ordered and loveable. With Beethoven, however, even though hes nearly always optimistic, theres often a lot of pain to be got through on the way. So in that sense hes realistic.

In the music of Beethoven you feel the agony, and the pain, and the effort; and the stretching, and the yearning; and the desire for things to be right; the storms that get in the way. And then, very often, like in the famous last final movement of the Fifth Symphony, the sun bursts through but hes taken us on a journey through lots of pain and melancholy before we get there.

I think if you listen to symphonic music written by a composer like Beethoven, there is a real sense of a human individual struggling to be happy, struggling to connect, struggling to belong. You get a sense and you can call it over-reading, if you dont like this way of talking about music of someone who feels outside of the run of common humanity and wants desperately to be a party, who wants to join in the dance, but cant. And then hes brought in by the forces of the orchestra, by the forces of a kind of belief and hope.

Beethoven, I do think, in particular is our champion, our humanitarian kind of figure, our Prometheus. Hes just there for us.

This interview originally appeared on Moira Stuart Meets...

This December, StephenFry narrates Beethovens Prometheus with Classic FM's Orchestra on Tour, The Philharmonia. Click here to find out more and watch on demand.

My favourite piece of music by Beethoven is the second movement of his Piano Concerto No. 5. Its always been my favourite. As well as it being an incredibly beautiful piece of music, I love the simplicity of the piano part. In particular, I love the purity of the solo passage about a third of the way in.

Its the piece of music my wife walked in to on our wedding, so as well as being a wonderful piece, it evokes all these memories of my wife looking beautiful on our wedding day.

I love classical music. I went to Guildhall School of Music & Drama when I was younger and therefore learnt lots about music. Sticking with Beethoven, another piece I really love is the Pastoral Symphony No. 6. It was one of my dads very favourite pieces of music, so again is particularly special to me. Towards the end of the symphony, when we come out of the storm and feel the sunlight breaking through again, it always feels like an inspiring moment for me.

I listen to classical music to relax at the end of a busy day Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, you name it. Theres a bit of a battle in our house because weve got a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, and theyre not as into classical music as I am. So theres often a battle between whose music gets put on when I win, I choose classical music because I find it really relaxing.

Sir Keir Starmer is the leader of the UK Labour Party. Prior to his time in law and politics, Sir Keir played theflute,piano, recorder andviolin, and was a young scholar at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London.

From my vantage point as a conductor, I naively thought 2020 would be remembered as the year the world celebrated the 250th anniversary of Beethovens birth. No one could have anticipated the unbelievable upheaval that 2020 would bring or how inconsequential a composer anniversary even an iconic one would seem. But the more I thought about Beethoven, the more I realised what a perfect symbol he was for everything we have experienced this year.

Beethovens life was filled with physical and personal challenges, capped by his profound and devastating hearing loss. He longed to connect with people, yet became inevitably more isolated. Now that we all have a deeper understanding of isolation, we can relate to his frustration. We can also draw inspiration from his continued faith in humankind. Despite everything, he believed we were empowered by sharing joy. When he incorporated Friedrich Schillers poem Ode to Joy into his Ninth Symphony, it was a radical call for equality, freedom and brotherhood.

I originally collaborated with Carnegie Hall on plans to honour Beethovens anniversary by reimagining the Ninth Symphony for 21st-century audiences, with orchestras on six continents. When these live events were cancelled, I partnered with YouTube, Google Arts & Culture, BTHVN2020 and the worlds leading arts organisations, inviting the international community to celebrate Beethovens birthday with joy-filled videos tagged #GlobalOdeToJoy. After sharing such a difficult year, this was our chance to come together and amplify his message by flooding the digital sphere with unity, solidarity and hope.

Marin Alsop conducts #GlobalOdeToJoy in 2020. Click here to find out more.

Beethoven broke the rules, simple as that.

You dont begin a piano sonata with a resounding chord, like Beethoven did in the Pathtique.

Nobody had begun a piano concerto with solo piano, as Beethoven did in Piano Concerto No. 4.

You cant possibly begin a symphony with two huge chords, as if to say Pay attention!. Beethoven did in the mighty Eroica.

In a good performance of Mozart, his music should wash over you, cause you to smile, convince you all is well with the world. A good Beethoven performance should turn your knuckles white from gripping the arms of your seat, your nerves shredded, but leaving you imbued with a feeling of exhilaration and triumph as well as deep love and admiration for a man who suffered the worst fate that can befall a musician, yet overcame it.

Beethoven was difficult, irascible, hot-tempered, cruel to his friends, withering about other musicians. How nice would you be if you were a musician, and you knew that was all you could be, and you realised you were slowly, inexorably, losing your hearing?

Beethovens music is evidence of his iron will and determination, his resolve not to give in to deafness, but to triumph over it. His music instils the same spirit in us Look at me. I refused to give in to my deafness, and by doing so I overcame it. Listen to my music. Through my music you can face whatever hardship confronts you and overcome it.

Subscribe to John Suchets new podcast, Beethoven: The Man Revealed, via Global Player, the official Classic FM app.

To me, Beethoven was the beating heart of the Romantic era not only through his music but the spirit of his soul. Over my career I have been lucky to play many of his piano concertos to audiences around the world, but I didnt actually begin performing his works until I was 20. Perhaps I felt that the emotional challenge, rather than the technical, was beyond my comprehension before then.

Beethovens short Bagatelle Fr Elise was not published until forty years after his death, and this, coupled with the identity of the lady in the title, gives is a deeply personal and intriguing context shrouded in mystery. For a pianist, Fr Elise requires a lightness of touch almost featherlike for the delicate melodies and left hand arpeggiated chords. The home key of A minor suggests lamentation, and the rondo form mirrors the emotions that move through storms clouds of sadness to moments of happiness and back to uncertainty much like the early stages of falling in love!

I recorded this piece for my Piano Book release on Deutsche Grammophon last year to inspire young piano players. I had neither performed nor recorded the piece before, but my motivation was to move the listener. It would be disingenuous to describe this piece as simple background music. The dynamics and phrasing are so important, and really bring out the depth of the emotions concealed within. This work demands to be treated like the great masterpiece it truly is.

Click here to watch Lang Lang & Friends 2020 Virtual Concert on demand now.

Beethoven's music is unmistakable its full of vitality, humour and drama. He was a complex genius. To me, he is to music what Shakespeare is to literature. It's hard to imagine a world without Beethoven's music.

As a pianist, his piano sonatas have always been stationed within easy reach of my music stand. And I even have a portrait of him above my piano which looks down on me every day as I compose. It inspires me to respond to any musical challenge!

Beethoven's music sounds as fresh today as it did when it was first published; as with all great works of art, it is ageless, timeless; immortal. Music, to Beethoven, was a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy offering an entrance to a spiritual universe. He was a father of modern music - linking the classical and romantic. I agree with Stravinsky who called him supreme among musicians.

The overriding feature in all of his music is vitality. Even his gentle music is more profound and more affecting than that of other composers. Goethe said of Beethoven that he never knew a more energetic artist. Beethoven is always surprising us every passage of his music is utterly convincing. In 1823, Beethoven wrote to his friend the Archduke Rudolph, to whom he dedicated the Missa Solemnis: There is no loftier mission than to come nearer than other men to the Divinity, and to disseminate the divine rays among mankind. Beethoven, without a doubt, fulfilled that mission.

Debbie Wiseman is Classic FMs Composer in Residence. Her new work for cellist Steven Isserlis is out in 2021.

Beethoven the brilliant virtuoso. Beethoven the bigger-than-life hero. Beethoven the transcendent visionary. Three epithets to cover the three creative periods of one of humanitys greatest geniuses. I hadnt really, viscerally, understood how amazing he was until this year, when I decided to tackle the complete cycle of 32 sonatas.

As I made my way through this incredible treasure trove, my biggest discovery was Beethovens character as it shone through his music. He wasnt the angry, grouchy man with a stormy brow I previously imagined, but a composer of light and life. His music radiates life energy, so present in every note we sometimes dont notice it so obvious it seems. But in this most difficult year, oh did I notice it.

Learning and recording his sonatas, following him on this journey that took nearly 30 years to complete, I was constantly uplifted by the warmth and life glowing from every page. I was energised by the unstoppable fast movements. I was entranced by the poetic beauty in his melodies. I felt privileged to have access to magnificent, awe-inspiring sound worlds particularly in the late sonatas which he had explored, captured in music and shared with us.

This year Beethoven became a composer I passionately love and turn to for comfort and support; a composer I passionately want to share with others. I couldnt have asked for a better musical companion for this year, and I so look forward to exploring his musical worlds for years to come.

Boris Giltburg performed all 32 of Beethovens Piano Sonatas in 2020. Volume 6 is out now on Naxos.

Beethoven has been part of my world for as long as I can remember. Writing Immortal, my novel about the composers immortal beloved, was a chance to try instead to immerse myself in his. Ive emerged with his music meaning more to me than ever before. Now I experience Beethoven not as an intellectual mountain-range or an unapproachable Goliath, but as a total human being, complete with all his fortitude, self-delusion and personal demons.

During lockdown I began practising the piano again regularly for the first time in years and decided to learn some Beethoven sonatas that I hadnt tried before. With live music all but wiped out these past months, Ive never been so glad that I can play some myself, and trying to get to grips with the Waldstein Sonata and the E flat major Sonata Op. 31 No. 3 has brought home the extraordinary generosity of Beethovens musical spirit. However much effort you put in, he rewards you threefold. Having conquered his own despair through his art - and sometimes I think thats what he was doing - he helps us with ours, giving us more and more energy, filling our hearts with his own unquenchable joy.

Oh, how beautiful it is to live, he wrote to Franz Wegeler, to live a thousand times!

We often think of Beethoven as the music of struggle - but its overriding drive is transcendental joy, filled with wonder at the marvels of nature and an elemental passion for life itself.

Jessica Duchens novel, Immortal, is published by Unbound and is out now.

Listen to 250 minutes of music by Beethoven across the UK on 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, at ClassicFM.com and on Global Player, the official Classic FM app.

Original post:

Beethoven at 250: famous figures share what his music means to them, in 250 words - Classic FM

Overview

Aerobic exercise is any type of cardiovascular conditioning. It can include activities like brisk walking, swimming, running, or cycling. You probably know it as cardio.

By definition, aerobic exercise means with oxygen. Your breathing and heart rate will increase during aerobic activities. Aerobic exercise helps keep your heart, lungs, and circulatory system healthy.

Aerobic exercise differs from anaerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercises, such as weightlifting or sprinting, involve quick bursts of energy. Theyre performed at maximum effort for a short time. This is unlike aerobic exercises. You perform aerobic exercises for a sustained period of time.

Read on to learn more about aerobic exercises you can try at home and at the gym. And remember, always talk to your doctor before beginning a new aerobic exercise routine.

Cardiovascular exercises can be done at home. There are many you can do with little to no equipment, too. Always warm up for 5 to 10 minutes before starting any exercise.

Equipment: gym shoes (sneakers), jump rope

Benefits: Jumping rope helps develop better body awareness, hand-foot coordination, and agility.

Safety: Your jump rope should be adjusted for your height. Stand with both feet on the middle of the rope and extend the handles to your armpits. Thats the height youre going for. If its too long, cut or tie it to avoid tripping on the rope.

Duration and frequency: 15 to 25 minutes, 3 to 5 times per week

Following a jump rope circuit is a great indoor or outdoor activity, though youll want to make sure you have plenty of space. Your circuit routine should take 15 to 25 minutes to complete.

If youre a beginner:

If youre an intermediate exerciser, you can perform the moves for 30 seconds and rest for 30 seconds between sets. The advanced circuit should be performed for 60 seconds at a time, followed by 60 seconds of rest.

Equipment: gym shoes (sneakers), sturdy chair or couch for dips

Benefits: This exercise increases heart and cardiovascular health, builds up strength, and tones major muscle groups.

Safety: Focus on proper form with each exercise to avoid injury. Keep your heart rate at a moderate level throughout. You should be able to carry on a brief conversation during this exercise.

Duration and frequency: 15 to 25 minutes, 3 to 5 times per week

This aerobic circuit is designed to get your heart rate up. Perform the following strength exercises for 1 minute:

Then jog or march in place for 1 minute for your active rest. This is one circuit. Repeat the circuit 2 to 3 times. You can rest for up to 5 minutes between circuits. Cool down afterward with some light stretching.

Equipment: running shoes

Benefits: Running is one of the most effective forms of aerobic exercise. It can improve heart health, burn fat and calories, and lift your mood, just to name a few.

Safety concerns: Choose well-lit, populated running routes. Let someone know where youll be.

Duration and frequency: 20 to 30 minutes, 2 to 3 times per week

If youre a beginner, run for 20 to 30 minutes twice a week. Your pace should be conversational during the run. You can alternate between 5 minutes of running and 1 minute of walking to start. To stay injury-free, always stretch after your run.

Equipment: gym shoes (sneakers)

Benefits: Walking daily can reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression.

Safety: Walk in well-lit and populated areas. Choose shoes that offer good ankle support to reduce your risk for injury.

Duration and frequency: 150 minutes per week, or 30 minutes 5 days a week

If walking is your main form of exercise, aim to get 150 minutes per week. This can be broken down into 30 minutes of walking 5 days a week. Or, walk briskly for 10 minutes at a time, 3 times each day.

You can also use a fitness tracker to keep tabs on how many steps you take each day. If your goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day, start with your base (current amount you walk) and slowly up your daily step count. You can do this by increasing your daily steps by an extra 500 to 1,000 steps a day every 1 to 2 weeks.

So, once youve identified your base, add an extra 500 to 1,000 steps. Then, 1 to 2 weeks later, increase your daily step count by an additional 500 to 1,000 steps.

Your local gym is a great place to get in some aerobic exercise. They probably have equipment like treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical machines. There may be a pool for you to swim laps in, too.

If you arent sure how to use a type of exercise equipment, always ask a professional or trainer for assistance.

Equipment: pool, swimsuit, goggles (optional)

Benefits: Swimming is a low-impact exercise, so its good for people prone to or recovering from an injury or living with limited mobility. It can help you tone your muscles and build strength and endurance.

Safety: Avoid swimming alone and, if possible, choose a pool with a lifeguard on duty. If youre new to swimming, begin by enrolling in swim lessons.

Duration and frequency: 10 to 30 minutes, 2 to 5 times a week. Add 5 minutes to your swim time each week to increase your duration.

If your gym has a pool, try swimming as aerobic exercise. Its a nonimpact workout, so its a good choice if youre prone to injury. Youre also increasing your heart rate, toning your muscles, and building strength and endurance all without adding additional strain to your body.

You can start by swimming laps using one stroke, such as freestyle. As you swim more, add additional strokes. For example, you could do 1 to 4 laps of freestyle followed by 1 to 4 laps of breaststroke or backstroke.

If you get tired, rest on the side of the pool between laps. Always follow the safety instructions and guidelines of the pool where you swim.

Equipment: stationary bike

Benefits: This low-impact exercise can help develop leg strength.

Safety: Ask a trainer at the gym for help adjusting the bike so that the seat is the correct height. This will help reduce your risk for injury or falling off the bike.

If youre biking at home, a general rule is to adjust the bike seat height to maintain a 5- to 10-degree bend in your knee before reaching full extension. Doing so reduces compression on your knee joint. Its not recommended to fully extend your knee while peddling on a stationary bike.

Duration and frequency: 35 to 45 minutes, 3 times per week

Riding a stationary bike is another option for low-impact cardio. Stationary bikes are a good cardiovascular workout, help you develop leg strength, and are easy to use. Many gyms and workout studios offer cycling classes, which use stationary bikes. But you can still benefit from a stationary bike workout without taking a class.

After stretching and warming up by cycling at an easy rhythm for 5 to 10 minutes, increase your pace to 15 miles per hour and aim for 20 to 30 minutes of steady cycling. Cool down for 5 minutes. Stretch to finish.

Equipment: elliptical machine

Benefits: Elliptical machines provide a good cardiovascular workout thats less stressful on the knees, hips, and back compared to the treadmill or running on the road or trails.

Safety: Look forward, not down. Use the handlebars if you feel unsteady or to help you get on and off the machine.

Duration and frequency: 20 to 30 minutes, 2 to 3 times per week

The elliptical machine may seem intimidating at first, but its easy to use once you get the hang of it. After warming up, keep your posture upright while you use your legs in a pedal motion to move the machine. Look forward the entire time, not down at your feet. Keep your shoulders back and abdominal muscles engaged. Cool down and exit the machine to stretch.

Increase the resistance on the machine for a more challenging workout.

If you dont like exercising on your own, a class can provide a supportive and encouraging environment. Ask the instructor to show you proper form if youre new. They can help you modify the exercises if youre a beginner, if necessary.

Attend group classes at your local fitness center 2 to 3 times per week to start. You can always go more frequently later on if you enjoy the workout.

Equipment: gym shoes (sneakers)

Benefits: Kickboxing is a high-impact exercise that builds strength and endurance. It may also reduce stress and improve your reflexes.

Safety: Drink plenty of water throughout the class. Take a break if you feel dizzy.

Duration and frequency: 60 minutes, 1 to 3 times per week

Cardio kickboxing is a mix of martial arts, boxing, and aerobics. Your class may start with a warmup of jogging, jumping jacks, or strengthening exercises, such as pushups. Then expect a series of punches, kicks, and hand strikes for the main workout.

There may be core or strengthening exercises at the end. Always finish your workout with a cooldown and stretch. Drink plenty of water throughout the class.

Equipment: gym shoes (sneakers)

Benefits: Zumba is beneficial for heart health, improves coordination, tones your entire body, and may help relieve stress.

Safety: Drink lots of water during the class. Take a break if you feel tired or dizzy. You may want to wear shoes that provide good ankle support if youre prone to ankle injuries.

Duration and frequency: 60 minutes, 1 to 3 times per week

If you like to dance, Zumba is a fun choice for an aerobic workout. After warming up, your instructor will instruct the class through easy-to-follow dance moves set to upbeat music. Youll finish with a cooldown and stretch.

Shoes are required. Drink plenty of water throughout the class. You can always take a break and rejoin if you get tired.

Equipment: stationary bike, cycling shoes (optional), padded bicycle shorts or pants (optional)

Benefits: Indoor cycling classes build strength and improve muscle tone and cardiovascular endurance.

Safety: If your new or need a refresher, ask the instructor to help you set up the stationary bike. Lower your resistance if you get tired, or take a break if you feel lightheaded.

Duration and frequency: 45 to 60 minutes, 1 to 3 times per week

Unlike a leisurely bike ride, a cycle class will get your heart rate up. It may include resistance and climb (incline) portions for maximum training benefits. This will help you build strength and tone your muscles. Some classes require cycle shoes that you clip into the bike. You can usually rent these at your facility.

Most classes are 45 to 60 minutes long and include a warmup, cooldown, and stretch. Bring water with you to the class. If youre new, you can reduce the resistance on the bike and peddle lightly for a break if you get tired.

The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes or more of aerobic exercise five or more days each week. That can be broken up, though. For example, you can take three, 10-minute walks throughout the day.

You should also add in two or more anaerobic strengthening sessions each week that focus on major muscle groups. If youre new to exercise, see your doctor. They can assess your health and recommend a fitness routine thats safe and effective for you.

More here:

Aerobic Exercise Examples: At Home, at the Gym, Benefits ...

BOSSES at a gym are looking to expand and offer aerobics and yoga classes.

An application has been submitted for a new two-storey building with the studio on the first floor and ground floor parking.

The site is owned by Pro-Physique Fitness Gymnasium on the former Laund Mill, Great Harwood, which was in danger of being left derelict.

In the planning statement it said: The gymnasium is used by locals many of whom arrive on foot. Its membership is approximately 600, with many using the facility on a daily basis.

The owners offer bespoke training programmes and has a referral scheme with local GPs who prescribe exercise for their patients who have a number of medical conditions that exercise can help to remedy.

To address the growing need for aerobics and yoga and other types of class based exercise they need to provide additional space which cannot be accommodated within the current building. In order to do this it must grow.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak the gym needs to provide more floor area to allow members to use the facility properly when it re-opens. To achieve this the first floor of the proposed building would be used as additional floor space for the activities that will be moved from the existing gym to this new space.

The ground floor space will be used as car parking.

The new aerobics and yoga studio will provide jobs for two full-time instructors and two part-time instructors along with cleaning staff and a maintenance role.

The upper floor level will be an open studio floor area with entrance from ground floor, having its own uni-sex disabled toilet.

The studio floor space is designed to accommodate classes of 10 people each with space to carry out the aerobic moves without impeding the pupil next to them.

There will be four classes per day between 8am and noon and five between 1.30pm and 5pm.

Read the original:

Plans for new Great Harwood aerobics studio and car park - Lancashire Telegraph

Getty Images

What is a great brand?A great brand has these elements:

A great brand is exceedingly well-known.

A great brand has outstanding relevance and differentiation.

A great brand is markedly superior in character.

A great brand is remarkably skilled.

A great brand has undeniable leadership.

A great brand has high aspirations.

A great brand focuses on satisfying the needs of all stakeholders.

A great brand does not need to be a big brand in terms of size. But, it does need to be a big brand in terms of its power to engage peoples imagination. For example, Nike, Coca Cola, McDonalds, Apple, Beetle are great brands.

Unfortunately, Reebok, once a great brand of the 1970s and 1980s is about to be an orphan. Adidas, the second-largest sportswear maker in the world, bought Reebok in 2005. Today, Adidas wants to sell Reebok. Adidas was never able to replicate the extraordinary, out-sized success of Reebok. A look at the history of Reebok shows how the brand lost its way. Great brands and iconic brands can last forever. But, only if properly managed.

Reebok represented the beginnings of the gym-fitness scene, especially for women. Think Jane Fonda aerobic videos. Think John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis in Perfect, the 1985 film based on an article in Rolling Stone magazine about health clubs and singles. Reebok has one of those incredible stories. Its provenance is fascinating.

In an English workshop, a fourteen-year old named Joseph William Foster designed some of the earliest spiked running shoes. In 1900, he founded his business adding his sons soon after. The company J.W. Foster and Sons became famous across the British Empire for innovative athletic shoes. The Olympic runner, Harold Abrahams, wore a pair of Fosters running pumps in the Paris Summer Olympics in 1924. Mr. Abraham was commemorated in the film, Chariots of Fire.

Two of J. W. Foster's grandsons, Joe and Jeff Foster, created a new enterprise in 1958 called Reebok. Reebok shoes were popular internationally. But, it was not until 1979 that Reebok entered Americas consciousness.

At a trade show in Chicago, a young man named Paul Fireman saw Reeboks. Mr. Fireman worked in his familys outdoor and fishing gear business in Boston, MA. Looking for something else to do, Mr. Fireman asked one of Fosters grandsons for the rights to license and sell Reeboks in the U.S. In the space of two years, in 1981, Reeboks sales were $1.5 million.

Mr. Fireman saw the explosion of health clubs and aerobic classes. Most gyms focused on men and bodybuilding. Health clubs and aerobics had large female participants.Reebok gave women the Reebok Freestyle aerobics shoe in 1982. The Reebok Freestyle was the first athletic shoe designed for women.

If you lived in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, it seemed as if every womans foot was wearing a Reebok Freestyle shoe. It was as if you were not serious about aerobics if you were not wearing the Reebok Freestyle. This particular, highly attractive athletic shoe captured the imagination of women. It was a physical entry to the world of fitness before fitness became fitness, as we know fitness today. Reebok owned aerobics. It was the brand that perfectly fit that junction of time, values, excitement, and personal health focus. The Reebok Freestyle was part of the liberating acceptance of women into non-professional physical fitness. The Reebok Freestyle was so successful that by 1983, Reebok's sales were $13 million.

Reeboks success led Mr. Fireman to buy the U.K.-based parent company in 1984. The Reebok brand went public in 1985. And, during the 1980s, with new shoe products, shoe innovations, clothing, and accessories, Reeboks sales soared to $1 billion. Reebok closed sponsorship deals and sports celebrity endorsements. Reebok was one of the most connected sports brands next to Nike. The brand was soon part of the Adidas family.

For whatever reasons, and there are multiple instances to point to, Adidas could not keep the energy going. Adidas replaced Paul Fireman. Adidas pushed Reebok into a wide array of partnerships. These diluted the image of Reebok. The logo was changed a few times, each time with a new rationale. What Reebok stood for was lost.

There were all sorts of turnaround plans and restructurings. There were write-downs and strategic plans. Adidas had hoped that Reebok would be a linchpin for competing with Nike. Cost cuts did yield profit on the bottom line. But as one analyst told The Wall Street Journal, Returning profit was a good step but driving the top line is something else.

Coronavirus has closed the door on many great brands. Neiman Marcus, J. C. Penney, Nordstrom are just a few. All of these had issues before coronavirus. It is the same with Reebok. There is no reason for great brands to disappear except for brand mismanagement. In Reeboks case, they lost the core promise of the brand. Reebok lost its core identity.

Some marketers talk about a brand lifecycle. They say that brands go through several stages from birth to growth, to plateau to decline to death. This is wrong. Brands do not have to follow a natural lifecycle. Brands can and do live forever. Brands do not have to die. Factories may close and turn to rust. Technology becomes outdated. Brands can live forever if properly managed.

The Reebok brand is not dead. It can be revitalized. Lets hope that whoever buys Reebok will focus on articulating Reeboks core promise in a relevant, differentiated, trustworthy way. Lets hope that the new owner will focus on delivering that promise consistently to every customer, every time, everywhere.

Continue reading here:

The Iconic Reebok Brand Is On The Auction Block - Forbes

By: Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi | December 19, 2020 4:20:26 pm We all get lazy to workout during this season. (Photo: Pixabay)

When you think about winters even the best fitness enthusiasts find their workout routines taking a back seat. When it is cold. our body automatically goes into a dormant mode due to reduced circulation and spasms in the muscles.

This is because the cold weather makes the muscles lose more heat which makes them contract. In turn, stiff muscles cause more pressure on the nerves causing impingement, shares Dr Manoj Kutteri, wellness director at Atmantan Wellness Centre. Ahead, he shares a few exercises which can help you maintain the health of your joints and promote circulation in your body.

Stretching

Stretching is an underrated activity but one which can set things right in winter because it helps in enhancing joint health and also helps lubricate them while correcting your posture.

Careful and well-coordinated stretches are important to improve the range of motion at the joints. If you are already suffering from any compromised functioning of the joints, then you must do mostly static stretches whereby you stretch and hold it for some time until the initial pain and stiffness ease-out, suggests Dr Kutteri.

Walking

Walking might seem like a low impact exercise but it has long-term health benefits. Joint movements while walking help increase the blood flow in turn making them more lubricated. He adds, Walking is also a good form of cardio that helps maintain the warmth of our body, making the muscles and ligaments attached to the joints much relaxed and supple.

Yoga

Practising yoga during winters cannot be stressed enough. He suggests doing the Sookshma Vayama (loosening exercises) in yoga which specifically targets various joints in the body. Regular practice of yoga also helps to improve the cardiac efficiency and better the working of the nervous system. Intense practices in yoga such as suryanamaskar etc can also be practiced by someone who does not have any joint problems, adds Dr Kutteri.

Cycling/ Aerobics

Aerobics and cycling are a great way to not only start your day during winters but it is also the best way to get fit because not only does a 30-minute cycling or aerobic session warm your body but makes sure you are burning a good amount of calories too. Resistance training and moderate impact practices are a great way of preventing osteoporosis and also good for bone mineralisation, says Dr Kutteri.

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Here are four exercises to help keep joint pain at bay this winter season - The Indian Express

Floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee was Mohammed Alis mantra to capture the heavyweight title back in the 1970s and its still alive

today at the Title Boxing Club in Springfield where all the floating and stinging is burning calories, improving the posture and instilling confidence without bloodying any noses.

Its the best workout in the world, said Tommy the hammer Coelho, an employee of the club that runs around with sparring mitts, giving pointers on landing that jab. Absolute total full body workout, he said.

LaToya Spencer from Alexandria agreed, as she cooled off after a session. The workouts are divided into an eight-round program led by an announcer, similar to the aerobics classes that attract many. I love it, a good workout, Spencer said. Aicha Jaani was also in the class. Helps with your anger, any issues, she said.

The Title Boxing Club is in a shopping center right off Rolling Road next to the West Springfield Police Station, and the inside if full of punching bags, a mini boxing ring, weights, a locker area and a little store where there are sweats, tee-shirts and boxing gloves in the 12-18 ounce size for the punching bag workouts. In the ring, a boxer would wear 10-12 ounce gloves, and the mixed martial arts (MMA) uses four ounce gloves.

Even with all this boxing and punches being thrown, there is no actual fighting between participants, its all about working up a sweat, ducking and weaving for upper body strength. MMA uses a lot of kicks, where boxing is mainly concentrating on the punches.

Some of the punching does bring fighting into the picture too. A little bit rubs off on anyone thats gone through the class. You learn self-defense, youll learn the basics here in self-defense, said Jacob Scharf, the general manager. Coelho noted the stance they teach for landing the punch, and noted how he saw it recently when there was an incident in the parking lot and one of the men shifted his weight onto the back foot.

Somebodys going to get hit, Coelho said.

Coelhos boxing knowledge goes back to when he started boxing at age 10 in Oakland, Calif. He was a three-time Golden Glove State Champion, and rose to the top in the Air Force boxing program out in the South Pacific. In addition, he was a three-time National Roller Speed Skating Champion.

The West Springfield location is one of several in the Northern Virginia area. Others are located in Fairfax, Falls Church, and Ashburn. Our exercise classes engage the body, mind and spirit by channeling the fundamentals of a true boxers workout, it says on the website.

Michael Carson, a local MMA pro, has worked out at the Springfield club before.

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Boxing isn't Always About the Knockout - Virginia Connection Newspapers

(CNN)

Before you start your Christmas list for You-Know-Who, lets go through what they already got (or got themselves) this weird shut-in year of 2020: slow cooker, gaming console, video teleconference class subscription on how to cook with a slow cooker, fancy cookware, new phone, robot vacuum, sourdough bread starter and, yep, video teleconference class on how to bake with sourdough bread starter.

In other words, its going to be a hard holiday season to find something to treat people whove had to treat themselves just to stay sane this year unless, that is, if you think outside the usual gizmos, goodies and gluttony.

After months of being locked up indoors, barred from gyms and beaches and unable to get in a pick-up game of basketball anywhere, the best gift you could give someone you love and who you want to pick out Christmas presents for for years to come is the gift of fitness and health. And the safest way for people to keep in shape is an at-home workout system like Tempo.

This isnt a Shake Weight and a set of oversized rubber bands. Tempo Studio is essentially a real gym and trainer you get to keep at home, meaning you dont have to wear a mask and you dont have to wipe down and share the equipment between every set.

The first all-in-one home fitness system and AI trainer, it uses 3D sensors, motion detection and a powerful artificial intelligence to analyze your form, regulate your speed and that most vital of jobs for a good spotter keep accurate count of your reps. Itll even let you know if youre overdoing it on the weight or if youre ready to kick the challenge up a notch or three.

Tempo Studio comes with a full 115-pound set of professional Olympic weights and equipment, a 42-inch touch screen, a workout mat, a recovery roller, a Microsoft Azure Kinect 3D motion sensor and camera and a heart monitor everything needed for a workout whether youre a veteran gym rat or completely new to the fitness scene. And though it packs a big punch, the whole thing takes up only a 3-square-foot footprint, meaning you wont have to dedicate more than a corner of a room to it. Even that big screen neatly hides away in its own cabinet another reason the Tempo Gym has won so many design awards!

That touch screen isnt just for showing pretty pictures while you work out, either. Its your portal to a full staff of certified trainers who can help you improve in whatever kind of workout youre looking for, from aerobics to strength training, five-minute abs or mobility training. Each of the over 500 group classes ends with personalized feedback from the coach on how to get the most out of the next session. And if youd rather not work out with strangers, you can use Tempos customizable AI to create your own solo sessions or to compete for best times and accomplishments with your friends. Whether youre getting ready for your next marathon or just trying to shed a few quarantine pounds, the Tempo AI will use its deep database of scientific knowledge and cutting-edge tech to help you achieve exactly the goals you set for yourself, helping you design three- to eight-week fitness programs thatll keep you in great health even if you still cant make it to the fitness center anymore.

Whether its a holiday present for a loved one or a gift that youre giving yourself, Tempos got the goods to make health and fitness a reachable goal even under these most challenging of circumstances. This holiday season, why not give the gift of many more holidays to come with Tempo Studio?

Link:

The home gym that should be on your wishlist - CNN