Yoga Provides Empowerment, Hope for Nairobi Slums
Posted: May 25, 2012 at 2:11 pm
NAIROBI - Daily life in the slums of Nairobi is a constant struggle - with people trying to scrape together money for food, rent, and school fees. And the slums were most affected by the 2007 Kenyan post-election violence. Yoga wouldnt appear to be the most obvious solution to helping these residents, but the Africa Yoga Project is trying to do just that. Project
Paige Elenson has been teaching yoga for 15 years. The former Wall Street consultant came to Kenya in 2007 to live and volunteer in the Nairobi slum of Kibera. She co-founded the Africa Yoga Project.
It was actually a huge opportunity to start the project right around the post-election violence. It was a time where people were feeling very separate from each other, where different tribes were starting to fight just because of their tribe, and to introduce a practice thats around peace and unity, where you dont have to talk, but you just do and you physically are united," said Elenson. "People started to really come together in a way that exceeded their tribe.
For 26 year-old yoga instructor Joyce Murugi, who experienced the violence in the Nairobi slum of Mathare firsthand, yoga provides an outlet for dealing with the trauma. It was just now like, when I go and train yoga, its me and my mat. I only train, no stress," she explained. "When I get outside the mat, its like Ive been reborn from the way I entered the class is not the way that Ive left the class.
The Africa Yoga Project has trained over 50 instructors like Murugi, all from the Nairobi slums, who teach more than 200 free classes per week in the same areas. They make additional income by teaching private classes at gyms, spas, hotels, and even the United Nations.
Yoga, is something that typically, in the West, we see as for the upper class. Here in Kenya, weve reversed it. Weve put all the yoga, pretty much, in the slums. And its now the people from the slums that are teaching the upper class. This is a great way, to really reverse how we think of people, and what yoga is, Elenson stated.
Escape
Thanks to the free classes, 48 year-old Alice Njathi can temporarily escape from the stresses of life in the slums. Its just like a medicine. After you have done it, youll feel different. Youll feel different from your body and your mind. So you relax and concentrate," she noted. "You relax, so you feel that you are now different. And Im feeling it. And its helping me.
Although a new concept for many Kenyans living in the slums, Elenson says that yoga is universal.
What impresses me is that someone who takes classes in New York City could go to a place that looks completely different, you could be in Kibera, and in the middle of a slum and get on your yoga mat and all of a sudden, youre just on your yoga mat, Elenson said.
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Yoga Provides Empowerment, Hope for Nairobi Slums
Yoga May Improve Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Posted: at 2:11 pm
People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Feel Better After 6 Weeks of Iyengar-Style Yoga
May 24, 2012 (Honolulu, Hawaii) -- Young patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may feel better after practicing yoga for just six weeks, a new study shows.
Researchers reported their findings here last week at the American Pain Society's annual meeting.
"It seems to be a very feasible, practical treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis," one of the researchers, Kirsten Lung, tells WebMD. Lung researches pain at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The results are not surprising to Kathleen Sluka, PhD, a physical therapist who researches pain at the University of Iowa. All kinds of physical activity can help with rheumatoid arthritis, she tells WebMD. Sluka was not involved in this study.
RA is a chronic type of arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease. It is most common among women. Early symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, and stiffness.
As it progresses, RA may feel like the flu, with muscle aches and loss of appetite. Early and effective treatment may help prevent joint and bone destruction.
The UCLA researchers say some drugs for RA can pose additional risks for younger patients. So the researchers are looking for alternatives. They decided to try Iyengar yoga.
In Iyengar yoga, practitioners may use blocks, straps, cushions, and other props to stretch and strengthen their muscles.
The UCLA researchers recruited 26 women with RA. The women's ages ranged from 21 to 35. On average they had suffered from RA for 10 and a half years.
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How To Get Happy with 2 Simple Tips – Spiritual Life
Posted: May 22, 2012 at 2:18 pm
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How To Get Happy with 2 Simple Tips - Spiritual Life
Life Coach in New Orleans Louisiana – Video
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Life Coach in New Orleans Louisiana - Video
Merced High's passionate principal awarded
Posted: at 2:18 pm
John Olson has a passion for sports and coaching. Earlier in his life, he managed sporting goods stores in Merced, Modesto and San Luis Obispo.
But the best decision the 48-year-old Merced High School principal said he ever made was to go back to school and get his teaching credential. That has led to a 21-year education career and recent recognition as the top secondary school principal in Merced, Mariposa, Madera and Fresno counties.
"I'm thrilled with the award," Olson said. "It was a real honor and is an indication of the success of the school. I look at Merced High School as a beacon of hope. We do incredible things here, and I have a wonderful staff."
Olson comes from a family of educators. His dad, Robert Olson, was a longtime agriculture and science teacher at Livingston High School and his mom is a registered nurse who taught adult courses.
Olson's wife, Irma Ayala-Olson, is principal of Alicia Reyes Elementary School in Merced and his son, Tony, 27, is a flight instructor and helicopter pilot in Long Beach. The Olsons' daughter, Danielle Mahler, 25, is a senior at California State University, Stanislaus, and wants to be a physical therapist.
"My passion is teaching and coaching," Olson said. "Physically it's tough and you can work long hours. I get revived with athletics and extracurricular activities. Merced High School is a wonderful school, and I love it here. It's a great school, it really is."
Olson's love for Merced High impresses Stephanie Cowperthwaite, a campus security liaison.
"He's awesome; he's like a cheerleader for the kids and staff, too," Cowperthwaite said. "He's accessible, easy to talk to and really a nice guy. He knows more kids by name than any principal. He gets really involved with kids and that's really cool. We're really proud of him."
English teacher Michelle Dillon said Olson's leadership style reminds her of retired Merced High principal Tom Scheidt.
"Principal Olson makes us feel we are truly part of the Bear family," Dillon said. "He makes us feel like we matter and are valued. We know he cares about all of us. He exudes Bear pride and tremendous school spirit."
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Merced High's passionate principal awarded
Barnes is UWGB cage aide
Posted: at 2:18 pm
GREEN BAY - John Barnes is taking the next step in his basketball coaching life after joining the Wisconsin-Green Bay women's program Monday.
The Escanaba native spent the past year as an assistant coach at University of Michigan under Kevin Borseth, who last month returned to UWGB as head coach. Barnes will be associate head coach.
Barnes, who pulled to the side of the road to talk while house hunting in Green Bay Monday, said the location and familiarity with Borseth were key factors in his decision to join the Phoenix.
"That was a very important decision compared to other jobs I was offered," said Barnes, who played at Michigan Tech during Borseth's tenure as head women's coach.
"That was a big selling point in coming to Green Bay. I know what he expects of me and he knows what I can do," Barnes said of taking a very attractive position. "There were a lot of people wanting the job."
He also interviewed recently for an assistant's role at Saint Louis University under Lisa Stone, who he worked for in 2010-11 at University of Wisconsin.
"I really liked it and I liked working for her," Barnes said. "They are really pushing to get the program headed in the right direction. Distance was a major factor (in declining the offer)."
He already knew of the UWGB opportunity and liked the idea of living close to his home town and Houghton, where he spent 2003-10 as women's head coach at Michigan Tech. He still owns a home there.
He also interviewed for the head coaching position at University of Northern Kentucky after his stint at Michigan ended. "I thought it went very well. It was a good experience to go through the process," he said.
"I was pretty picky as far as where I was interested in going," said Barnes. "I'm at the point where I want to work with someone I know I have a good relationship with. The area and distance all were factors."
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Barnes is UWGB cage aide
Kragthorpe: Utah prep coach retiring happily, but worried about state of sports
Posted: at 2:18 pm
Prep sports Lehis Gladwell sought to retain traditional values.
Lehi
Dick Motta influenced his career choice and Nick Emery and T.J. Haws played against his last team.
Those names help define the coaching life of Lehi High Schools Craig Gladwell, whos retiring this month.
So do his age (65) and number of years (43) in the profession, although he hardly looks old and certainly could keep going.
Gladwell is a coaching marvel. In a way, his longevity tends to obscure his achievements. He holds a place in Utah basketball history, having won four Class 2A state championships at North Sevier in the 1990s. Yet with so few varsity head coaches of high-profile sports staying in the game for anything approaching his tenure, Gladwell is further distinguished.
"I just plugging along, and loving it, right up until now," he said.
This year became the stopping point not because of any driving forces, necessarily, and not accompanied by any regrets. Attending the state tournament in March was enjoyable for him. He didnt find himself longing for one last chance to coach.
Yet amid his satisfaction, hes mildly disillusioned about high school sports. While reflecting in a classroom at Lehi on a recent afternoon, Gladwell acknowledged being happy hes at the end of his career, not the start.
"I dont like the direction its going," he said. "Its all about recruiting. Its all about who can assemble the best talent, and then win. Its high school, education-based athletics. Its not college or pros. That part frustrates me."
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Kragthorpe: Utah prep coach retiring happily, but worried about state of sports
Life Time Fitness Members Lose More Than 48,000 Pounds During the Life Time Weight Loss 90-Day Challenge
Posted: at 2:18 pm
CHANHASSEN, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:LTM - News), the healthy way of life company, today announced that its members lost 48,118 poundsthe equivalent of an 18-wheel tractor semitrailer or 24 tons during the companys Life Time Weight Loss 90-Day Challenge.
More than 2,400 Life Time members participated in the program, which encouraged participants to lose the largest percentage of body weight during three months with the support of exercise and nutrition coaching. The Life Time Weight Loss 90 Day Challenge is a source of inspiration and a catalyst for members to start a comprehensive, time bound, personal challenge that will transform their outlook and behavior about weight management.
Helping our members to take personal responsibility for their health, while providing a fun and educational challenge to help them achieve their goals is what Life Time is all about, said Jeff Zwiefel, executive vice president, Operations. Our 90-Day Challenge uniquely delivered the people, programs, support and motivation necessary to provide members with healthy habits for life.
Among the 2,400 success stories as a part of the 90-Day Challenge are:
During the Challenge, participants received:
For more information on the next 90-Day Challenge, including inspiring stories of personal transformations, visit http://lifetime-weightloss.com/90day.
About Life Time Fitness, Inc. As The Healthy Way of Life Company, Life Time Fitness (NYSE:LTM - News) helps organizations, communities and individuals achieve their total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals by engaging in their areas of interest or discovering new passions both inside and outside of Life Times distinctive and large sports, professional fitness, family recreation and spa destinations, most of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Companys Healthy Way of Life approach enables customers to achieve this by providing the best programs, people and places of uncompromising quality and value. As of May 7, 2012, the Company operated 105 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC(SM) brands in the United States and Canada. Additional information about Life Time centers, programs and services is available at lifetimefitness.com.
Perfect Pushup Test (Fitness Guinea Pig) – Video
Posted: at 2:18 pm
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Perfect Pushup Test (Fitness Guinea Pig) - Video
Bodyjam 60 from Zenity Health and Fitness – Video
Posted: at 2:17 pm
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Bodyjam 60 from Zenity Health and Fitness - Video