Before fitness training, one must give importance to doing warm-up or stretching exercises to prevent accidents or to enhance the output during the training. There are also a number of precautionary measures and tips to serve as guidelines when doing fitness exercises. Here are some of them.

1. To increase your flexibility and to avoid injuries, stretch before and after workout. Almost everyone knows that stretching before workout prevents injuries during the exercises, but only few people know that stretching after workout, when muscles are still warm, can increase flexibility.

2. Hold your stretching position for more than 60 seconds to increase flexibility. While holding your position for 20 seconds is enough for warm ups, holding each position for at least 60 seconds will develop the body's flexibility.

3. Do not go into a stretching position then immediately return to the relaxed position, and do it repeatedly. This is more appropriately termed as bouncing while in a position. When stretching, hold that position for several seconds, and then slowly relax. You may do this exercise repeatedly this way. Bouncing or forcing yourself into a position during stretching can strain or damage some joints or muscles.

4. Work slowly in increments instead of immediately proceeding to doing the hardest exercise or position.

5. Make sure that you have stretched or warmed up all muscle groups. For some people, even if they have strong bodies, they tend to neglect the neck when working out of stretching. Stretching the neck muscles can be as simple as placing the palm of one's hand against the front of the head and pushing it. Then, do the same to the sides and the back of the head.

6. Stretch regularly to continually increase your range of movements and your level of flexibility and strength.

7. Workout considering only your capabilities and not of others. Do not force yourself to do exercises that you are not yet capable of just because there are people who can do it. Increase your limits slowly. Listen to your body. There are days when your body may be too tired that you may have to consider reducing your range of motion.

8. Learn to rest. Rest in between sets and stations to make sure that the body has enough time to recover its energy. Also, it is advisable that you don't work the same muscle groups consecutively for two days. The muscles grow during the period when you rest and not when you are working out.

9. Do aerobic exercises to strengthen your heart. Aerobic exercises are those physical activities that much oxygen for fuel. This includes cardiovascular exercises such as skipping rope, running or swimming.

10. Music may help you when you want to train for longer periods or to increase your intensity. You can use mp3 players, CD players or lightweight am radio receivers for this. Just make sure that you brought your headset with you so you wouldn't disturb people who don't prefer music while exercising.

Apart from preventing injuries and increasing one's limit, it is also said that stretching is good for a tired body and also for a stressed mind and spirit.

Summary:

It's quite amazing how many people go through their lives with very little thought as to where they are heading with it.

Keywords:

life,happiness,sorrow,confusion,solution,self help,inspiration,self harm,suicide

Article Body:

It's quite amazing how many people go through their lives with very little thought as to where they are heading with it.

There is an accepted lifecycle assigned to everyone and most of us seem to just fall into it and 'live' it out as if there was no alternative.

There are some truly disturbing statistics about people's lives, most of it relates to their financial status at retirement time but I won't scare you with that, you can research it by yourself if you have not heard it all before. But what is even more disturbing is the quality and 'purposeless-ness' of their lives which is difficult to measure or put into statistics, yet is all around us.

I don't want to point fingers at anyone, all you have to do is look around and you'll see what I mean. I often look at people with drug and alcohol problems or even history of selfharm, suicide. I think it is getting worse and I just couldn't help myself from wondering why that is.

I don't claim to know all the reasons for it or be an expert in this field, however, I have a keen eye and lived enough, both in years and experience, to have found some of the common reasons why that is and what some of the solutions might be to this problem.

But the way I see it, one of the biggest problems is this lack of purpose people find in their lives. The other is the lack of time or, for one reason or another, commitment to finding out about it.

It is not easy to stop and look at one's life and it is even more difficult to face up to the reasons why someone's life may have no purpose or is 'in a mess'. The lack of unbiased, friendly and in some cases anonymous help make this even more difficult. I haven't done any research (yet) on how good free, anonymous phone-in help lines are. But I would not be surprised if they were very, very busy. I say this because of a personal experience I had as a young university student.

I had some problems in my life and thought there was no one I could talk to. So, after some struggle within myself I decided to drop in at the university's own counseling service. I'd explained that I had some problems I really needed to discuss with someone. They started asking my name, address, what course I was attending etc, etc, etc. Two minutes into this 'conversation' I thought to myself "hang on, I don't want to be a statistic, I just need someone to talk to... now." It was hard enough to come up with the courage and come to a complete stranger and own up that I do have a problem that I don't think I can solve on my own and need some else's help, let alone being quizzed about things which should not really matter, not just now anyway.

So, I promptly turned around and left without saying much. I don't think they'd kept my record, need to keep the paperwork down, you know... Anyway, I got myself an ice cream, two scoops just to be on the safe side and had a loooong walk in the city churning over thoughts after thoughts in my head. It was one of the worst and best days of my life. The worst because I realized I was only a number at the university and I did not get the help I needed so very much and I also realised I did not have anyone close enough to talk to about my problems. And the best because in the long walk I'd allowed myself some 'time-out'. Allowed myself to stop and think about what was happening to me, why I was having the problems I was so desperately seeking solution to and why I felt so alone. I'd found time enough to clear my head and find the solution from within... I can't remember what route I took, where I ended up walking to. But I can clearly remember every thought I had on that day and this was more than 20 years ago...

Since then I've learnt to rely more on my own abilities and realised that all solutions have to come from within. You are the only person who knows everything about yourself and this makes you the only person qualified to find the right solution for your problems. Sometimes it seems easier to try and find someone to help you, in a sense put the responsibility on them. But to be as blunt as I can, you are the only person to whom your problems matters the most. It is good and you should discuss things with others, use as them as sounding boards, source for inspiration and encouragement but at the end of the day you have to solve your problems from within. You have to look at your life and find a direction and purpose for it.

Summary:

Nominated for 16 Emmys and 4 Golden Globes, Coach delighted fans of all ages during its celebrated nine-season run. One of the most underrated sitcoms of its era, the series covers the exploits of fictional Minnesota State Screaming Eagles college football coach Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson), the quintessential male chauvinist pig. But unlike many of his politically-incorrect brethren, Hayden has a heart of gold. It’s this softer side that appeals to successful anchorwoman and...

Keywords:

coach dvd review

Article Body:

Nominated for 16 Emmys and 4 Golden Globes, Coach delighted fans of all ages during its celebrated nine-season run. One of the most underrated sitcoms of its era, the series covers the exploits of fictional Minnesota State Screaming Eagles college football coach Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson), the quintessential male chauvinist pig. But unlike many of his politically-incorrect brethren, Hayden has a heart of gold. It’s this softer side that appeals to successful anchorwoman and girlfriend Christine Armstrong (Shelley Fabares). In the locker room, Hayden is joined by assistant coaches Luther Van Dam (Jerry Van Dyke) and Dauber Dybinski (Bill Fagerbakke), the perfect compliments to the coach’s oftentimes sketchy logic. Between his estranged daughter Kelly (Clare Carey), her less-than-manly boyfriend Stuart (Kris Kamm), nagging athletic director Howard Burleigh (Kenneth Kimmins), and ladies basketball coach Judy Watkins (Pam Stone), Hayden is always dispensing sarcasm, trading barbs, or being aggravated by someone.

Craig T. Nelson is brilliant in his portrayal of the opinionated and overbearing, yet multidimensional Hayden Fox. His onscreen rapport with co-star Shelley Fabares creates the believable illusion of a true romance. But Coach boasts a cast replete with star power. The series is given a charming comic angle by the underappreciated and long overdue breakout role of Jerry Van Dyke, brother to Dick Van Dyke, who plays the role of Luther Van Dam, the stuttering and kind-hearted bungling best friend of Hayden. Jerry had a few guest appearances in the decades before Coach that were absolute show stoppers (both The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show come to mind), but Coach put his talents to use full-time so all the world could see just how funny this man really is. Overall, Coach is a fun and oftentimes brilliant comedy, and the first few seasons are by far the best. So grab yourself a chair and some official Minnesota State Screaming Eagle merchandise and enjoy watching one of the best comedies of its time…!

The Coach (Season 1) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Kelly and the Professor” in which Hayden learns that his daughter Kelly, a student at Minnesota State, recently went out on a date with a professor. The revelation drives Hayden crazy, and he’ll go to any lengths to uncover the identity of the guilty faculty member… Other notable episodes from season one include “I’m in Love with a Boy Named Stuart” in which Hayden is introduced to Kelly’s new boyfriend, Stuart, his future arch-nemesis, and “I’m Sorry I Told You My Wife Was Dead” in which Hayden compromises his integrity in an effort to coerce a widow into handing over the massive donation her dead husband had promised the Minnesota State football program.

Below is a list of episodes included on the Coach (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (Kelly and the Professor) Air Date: 02-28-1989

Episode 2 (Love Me Tender) Air Date: 03-01-1989

Episode 3 (Kelly, Meet Christine) Air Date: 03-08-1989

Episode 4 (I’m in Love with a Boy Named Stuart) Air Date: 03-15-1989

Episode 5 (The Loss Weekend) Air Date: 03-22-1989

Episode 6 (Gambling for Meat) Air Date: 04-05-1989

Episode 7 (19 Candles) Air Date: 04-12-1989

Episode 8 (Parents’ Weekend) Air Date: 04-19-1989

Episode 9 (I’m Sorry I Told You My Wife was Dead) Air Date: 04-26-1989

Episode 10 (Define Romance) Air Date: 05-03-1989

Episode 11 (Whose Team is It, Anyway?) Air Date: 05-17-1989

Episode 12 (Hoot, Hoot Hike) Air Date: 05-31-1989

Episode 13 (Dauber’s Blow-Out) Air Date: 06-07-1989

Summary:

Big thoughts and big actions. Do them together and you can certainly make your dreams come alive. This process is simple and direct, as you just need to apply the law of manifestation.

Keywords:

mind power, subconscious mind power,positive self thought, positive thinking, positive attitude, manifestation

Article Body:

Big thoughts and big actions. Do them together and you can certainly make your dreams come alive. This process is simple and direct, as you just need to apply the law of manifestation.

The size of your thinking determines the greatness you are going to achieve in life. Think small and you will live small. The guts and dare to think big, you are going to achieve a whole new level of results. Dream of a small car in life then that's what you are going to receive. Desire more and willing to work to get that more, you are going to get more.

Emotions and feelings are the motivation fuel. Your feelings of "I want this very badly" will spur your commitment and determination to a level that would allow you to push past your limits and comfort zone to reach your goals. Search deep inside you to truly understand the reasons "WHY" you need to reach those goals. Once you understand them, pen your goals down on paper to create an impression in your subconscious mind.

Following that, take BIG actions that correspond to your great and big thoughts! If you are searching for your dream house, see how much it costs and plan it out on how to obtain the dream house of yours. Dream and visualize about your dream house everyday. In this way, it activates the law of attraction and simultaneously you start to attract people and events that relates to your thoughts. Stay alert for “coincidences” from the universe – for example, suddenly meeting an architect or anyone who can help you get that dream house.

Keep an open mind when it comes to your strategies and action plan. If you find your strategies are not getting you to where you want to be. Change! However, bear in mind that you only change your plans and not you goals. It's easy to give up when the going gets tough but it takes commitment, determination and guts to persist and ultimately succeed. Remember, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going!

Free things in life are hard to come by. You probably won't see too many things that are free of charge. And if you do, let's just say that you'll get what you pay for. Maybe if you're incredibly lucky, you'll gather a couple of free items in your lifetime to sell at yard sales.

But when we do get access to free stuff, sometimes it's not totally lame. Sure, maybe you could live without your free keychain. Perhaps life would still be the same without that free souvenir mug your co-worker picked up for you. And maybe, just maybe you could survive without those free monograms.

Actually, free monograms are pretty neat. They may be a small insignificant design, but they can still add a personal touch to your stationery. Of course, it takes time and resources to create a monogram and apply it to a letterhead or a piece of clothing. With this in mind, where would free monograms be found?

Free monograms can be found as an option on many small items. Some banks will allow you to personalize your checks. You can add a monogram or alter the lettering styles with no extra cost.

Certain washroom accessory stores offer free monograms on their items. You can add your initials to towels. This will make you feel like a king after relaxing with a nice hot shower. You can also add a special touch to your bed pillows and covers to give your bedroom a more personal feel.

If you want to avoid mix-ups at the airport, a free monogram on your briefcase will do just that. Your luggage will be easily distinguishable from similar types of baggage. This will certainly save some time and effort in finding your briefcase.

Even custom rubber stamps can come with a free monogram. These will help give anything you stamp a unique touch. Some companies will even allow you to use your own custom graphic with no extra charge.

Products from Lillian Vernon also feature free monograms. Almost anything you purchase from this company will monogram it for free. This includes small and big items like office accessories and fireplace grates.

The Vera Bradley company also has free monograms on certain items. You can get a monogram on placemats or duffel bags. It's a nice feature to add on an already fashionable design.

Jewelry is also yet another item that can have a free monogram added to it. If an inscription doesn't suit your tastes, you can add a special design to a piece of jewelry. That special person will appreciate the thought that you cared a lot should you decide to personalize their jewelry gift.

It looks like free stuff doesn't have to be a complete waste. A couple of items may turn out somewhat useful, and a few items are cooler than others. Still, nothing beats the level of customization and personality that a monogram offers. Being able to add your own style for free to an already purchased item is well worth the price.