Thursday, August 25, 2011

Last Post

My dears, for new posts, refer to http://marcianovo.blogspot.com/ where I will continue writing.
I am not in Kuwait anymore, so let's change blog.

Shokran.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Good bye.


End of a Era.


Happy to end a part of my mission. Sad for letting behind the good people I met in Kuwait.
When I arrived in Bned EL Gar to start my activities as Fitness Manager, I felt it was not going to be easy…
Mentality attached to the 80’s about Fitness technique, customer service mistaken by lack of management directions, and a very clear absence of professionalism in all departments of the company made me re-think for some minutes if it was a corrected choice to leave my country to come to Kuwait. But the challenge of changing minds grabbed me deeply. I was going to face trouble, yes, and I did!
The great lesson I got from all the people I met? People are all the same everywhere: if they have principles and you give them your heart, they will take care of it; otherwise, they will betrayed and abuse you!
After many discussions about labor rights and production; management decisions done without any research or sense of direction, I conclude my mission had ended in Kuwait. They did not need me anymore. When the high management does not trust in the number you show proving instructors are making the difference, it is really time to go! What kind of business man does not believe in statistics but believe in gossip? By the way, interfering and questioning private lives is the favorite sport of the owner. Enough is enough! I always mentioned that  to say “it’s over” is a very hard decision. And it happened to me! Took me long time to decide IT WAS OVER!
So God interfered brilliantly! And after some sudden events (so fast I did not notice it!), I found myself in Cairo, with a ticket back home- one way.
Yes I am going back to Brazil. I am happy and excited about it. Also have no idea whatsoever what I will do there, but I am sure it will be something meaningful and unforgettable!
Thanks for all the gentle, kind and deep personality people I met in Kuwait. You will never be forgotten.
Thanks also for the hopeless cases, empty soul people, and creatures without a mission in life I met. They showed me the road to evolution is long and I had walked some distance already. Also they tried my principles and values, and guess what? I won! It still very clear for me that RIGHT is RIGHT, WRONG is WRONG.
Good friends, that’s the report of part of a life. A life well lived, fully, fearless and happily.
See you around – the World!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

HA!


All right, I am doing that again!
Today, after a long time, I reviewed my last 26 years of traveling up and down around this planet. And the feeling was GOOD. Suddenly I felt I am doing the right thing, again!
First time was simultaneously breaking a relationship too cold for me and the curiosity of traveling to Europe. Italy gave me 7 kilos and a new language.
Second time was just to follow the husband (the cold one that promised to be warmer) and practice German.
Third time was a major change: moving to Saudi Arabia (with the husband that was getting better actually) with the daughter on my arms. That was heavy…
Another three times literally around the world. Twice towards East and once West. Amazing experience. Many pictures and one special trip through Europe with my parents. No money can buy their happiness from that time!
Then, a long period of small trips only, inside the country. Moving from Sao Paulo to S Jose do Rio Preto was a very good option. But that one was with another husband… And Rio Preto taught me a new form of love.
Trying to move for good to the Amazon changed my career completely. No return. A changed to Managerial levels, deeply. But did not work, God knows why. Me, no clue. No husbands at that moment.
Back to Sao Paulo, the chance to move again to the Middle East. That time alone and to work on my passion – training instructors. End up that I got married again, a “louco” like me. Two years and eleven months, many short trips (Cairo, Damascus, Khobar), a lot of troubles and many laughter after, I am about to do it again – moving.
So today I had to review all the journey of my life so far. Just to be sure that’s how I am – a gypsy, someone that never stops, always saying YES for opportunities and adventures. I don’t have a car or a flat (I had them, a lot, but I sold, changed, gave, so I don’t have them anymore), but I accomplished other values. Maybe nowadays, people don’t get impressed by my values (intelligence, culture, maturity, respect for people, love for the profession) but certainly they count. I know that because for all the places I passed by, I let seeds of my ideas and principles. And from time to time I have news from far about people following those principles. For me, it counts a lot. To have the courage to change people’s lives requests lack of fear.
And that’s who I am – a fearless person.
And I will do that again!
And again, and again, and again. By there I will be 80 years old and maybe it will be time to stop.
Maybe.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

5 Simple Steps To Start Your Day Productively

Article extract from http://www.pickthebrain.com/

I have being using some o f the steps described by Thanh Pham and they do work for better productivity.

Enjoy the reading.







It can be a challenge to jumpstart your productivity every day. That certainly was the case for me as I had no consistency at all. Some days I would start off my productive but for the majority I wasn’t. Over the years talking, seeing and living with productive friends (they are all self-help junkies like myself) I’ve noticed they all do similar things in the morning, so I started doing what they do. What one man can do, another man can do too. Right? After doing it myself I’ve come up with tried and tested ways to get yourself in a productive mode every single day. Here are five really simple and easy steps to jumpstart your day for maximum productivity.



1. Stoke the fire.



Before we can get any work done we have to warm ourselves up. After you wake up your body and mind are just warming up so to speak but we want to get them ready before we start working. It is like stoking a fire; you need to warm the coal bit by bit before the fire lights up. Your physical energy is your main source of fuel so we have to make sure to have it stoked before we can use it. This starts with freshening yourself up. Some people prefer to exercise before they start their workday. Others just need to use the bathroom, change their clothes and then start. Find what your routine is for stoking the fire and do that every morning before you start your day. By building a consistency in your routine you will discover that it will get easier and easier to start your day.





2. Upgrade yourself.



After stoking the fire, especially if you have exercised, is a great time to relax and upgrade your skills. Anything that will help you relax, further your education or calm your mind would be good to do. Over time when you upgrade your skills you will get better at your job and the things you do. Your productivity will increase as you learn to do things smarter, more efficient and in less time.



Meditation is a good way to spend your time before you go to the next step. Reading a book, reviewing notes and reading inspirational quotes are one my personal favorite activities. Oftentimes the nuggets you pick up during this time will affect how you get work done that day. Perhaps reading one chapter in a book changes your view on how you should do things or an inspirational quote gets you all excited on your future. We often don’t find time to educate ourselves so doing it in the morning (when there are no distractions) is the best time to do it.



3. Write down what you want to do today.



In order to for you to get work done, you have to be absolutely clear on what you want to achieve with actionable steps. When you don’t know how to achieve your outcome it becomes a lot harder to reach it. It’s like driving a car in foggy weather. Sure you might reach the destination but you will go very slow and with a lot of hesitancy. Instead, when you know what to do exactly in simple steps it’s like driving in sunny weather with a GPS system next to you. You know what to do, when to do it, you’re more motivated and you will reach your destination much faster.



Now that you know the outcome that you want, break it down backwards in actionable steps. Once you have the steps, decide which ones you are going to do first and write them down for you to do today.



4. Visualize the consequences.



One of the most powerful ways to overcome procrastination is by visualizing the consequences of your actions. Anything you do of importance will have (major) consequences for your life, be it positive or negative. By considering the positive consequences you can fabricate motivation for yourself.



Tony Robbins is famous for saying that we either move away from pain or we move towards pleasure. Would you get yourself started if you knew that doing X, Y, and Z would make you a millionaire? You bet you would if a million dollars had positive consequences for you. The reverse is also true where pain can act like your motivator. Would you act on your work if you knew not doing A, B, and C would disappoint your family and friends? I think so!



Before you do anything, take a moment to think and visualize the consequences. See how the consequences can make you get to work. Especially focus on the positive consequences because they will be your mental fuel for motivation.



5. Do it.



If you’ve come this far doing all the previous steps you’re already more productive than most people. However, what separates the best from the rest is execution. At this point you’re way passed the tipping point and now it’s time to get the snowball rolling. You have yourself set up for a productive day, the roadmap is in place, you know what the consequences can be and now the only thing remaining is to take action. So let’s get to work!



Pictures to Touch

 How many times you went to a gallery and wished to touch the pictures? We see it all the time.
The invitation, as u can see, is for blind people.
I did not know what to expect.
But I was curious...

                Invitation coming from the Embassy. I dressed up for it!


 A Table with "raw" material to touch. Some pleasant, other cold, soft seeds caught my atention.
The pictures with description in Braile.
Someone from the organization at the last moment adding written text for us that can see.


All touchable. Wood, plastic, metal, all forming butterflies shapes.
Soft cloth for the bodies of the butterflies. Also rough cloths.
















Paper to unroll and play with, small balls made of soft plastic.

A big "touching sense" all over the place.

The artist was quite busy surrounded by Embassadors, blind teens, photografers, more diplomatic people, one Minister, waiters. No chance for me to talk to her.
Anyway, I let her a note on the guests book,  congratulating for the awareness of the needs of a minority.
And suddenly I realized I don't know any blind person.
Also realized I am very unaware of my touching sense... There was a picture covered by a cloth and one sleeve to introduce the hand and "read it" by touching. I tried, and tried, and tried again, and could not visualize the picture. Completely "touching" ignorant. While the teens were laughing on discovering the misterious picture.
Being deprived of one sense, enhance the others - that's what specialists say.
What I realized is that, having all senses functioning well make them all very superficial and slow.
The question that remains: having all senses at half potencial or lose one or two and become a X-Men?
...


Monday, February 21, 2011

Lately the world is ...

Studying human behavior we figure out we lie, we cheat, we manipulate and do all necessary unethical things to get what we want.
It has being like this for centuries...
Men lie to achieve his goals and disregard other people's rights and feelings.
All religions, trying to correct their bad attitude, set rules and more rules of interaction among the population.
It has being more than 10000 years of known history of humans on the Planet.
Apparently no solution for us, isn't it?

Suddenly the Arabs started complaining about dictatorship and corruption...
They firmly request their leaders to leave power...
They die in order to reach their demands...
They cry on TV telling how tired they are with the poverty of their lives...
They destroy the cities...
They wash the streets after the revolution...



Leaders still resisting, attached to the old, easy, full of lies lives they lived before.

But the time has come.

All books talking about a better world, with equality and honesty is now becoming true through the people's hands. Simple people that realized "enough is enough".
We cannot take fake leaders anymore.
Our lives HAVE to be guided to the best. And "the best" does not exclude anyone, we need to "include" all souls in this journey.
 




Surprised by the times I am living (I read in many books it will happen, I just did not know when...) I state I am for the first time in my life happy to be human! :) 








Monday, January 10, 2011

And we are always learning, isn't it?


This constant habit I got -"out of comfort zone" - makes me crazy sometimes. But I cannot help! I want to change into a better person everyday.
My lovely husband was reading the article below and I asked him to forward it to me. While I was reading, I felt like reading a "sutra" or part of  Al Coran,  when basic behavior is spread to the population  for a better social environment. 
Knowing the art of listening is quite a gift. But the impossible does not exist, sah?
Let's try...






“To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and it is as essential to all true conversation.” ~ Chinese Proverb
Listening is the most important part of a true connection in conversation. When we listen, we gain knowledge and understanding about people and circumstances. Everyone wants to feel heard, but most times people prefer to talk rather than listen.
Active listening requires empathy, affirmation and the ability to process and respond without taking over a conversation. When you listen to the world you will know more, build trust and increase your popularity with friends.
Slave To The Cell Phone. How many times have you put a person on hold so that you could answer your cell phone or text a message during a conversation? Not only is this blatantly rude, but you have officially disconnected from the speaker. This behavior makes the speaker feel unimportant and shows you are not committed to the moment. It is disheartening to a speaker to feel like a conversation on the cell phone is more important than a face to face moment. Turn off your cell phone or put it on vibrate answering only in case of an emergency.
80/20. Are you speaking 80% of the time or listening 80% of the time? A good listener will speak 20% of the time and listen 80% of the time. When listening, parrot back what you have heard to show you are paying attention and ask open ended questions so that the speaker will go into further detail about the topic. This kind of affirmation makes people feel heard and you will feel like a hero.
Bad Body Language. If you are visually distracted and darting your eyes around the room, the listener is likely to feel unsupported and will feel your attention is somewhere else. A good listener stands tall or sits up straight, leans into the speaker and makes eye contact. Focusing your eyes on the speaker makes him feel like the center of the universe and validates the conversation.
Enough About Me, Let’s Talk About Me. Don’t be a ball hog in a conversation by taking over with idol chatter about yourself. Sometimes in an effort to show you understand what is being said you may make a connection and inadvertently change the topic or divert attention to yourself. If you feel the need to express a connection with a personal experience, keep it short and simple and allow the speaker to continue leading the conversation until it is your turn.
Overly Critical and Judgmental. If you interrupt the person in the first sentence of the a conversation to pass judgment you have immediately lost the ability to establish a rapport. Looking for errors, being overly critical, and jumping to conclusions by passing judgment are quick ways to disengage from the speaker and leave you solo in the conversation.
Actively listening is a bonus attribute in every relationship. It requires an investment of time and effort to connect with the speaker by being present in the moment and lending your ears completely. This important skill will build rapport, enrich work environments, and ease tension in personal relationships. Give your eyes, ears and heart to another person and reap the reward of making another person feel validated and heard.

Cindy Platt 

Friday, January 7, 2011

Another reason to exercise!!!

Against many myths among club members, exercise is a way to prevent varicose veins and not the cause of them. Article extracted from http://www.webmd.com


Varicose Veins

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins near the surface of the skin. They are most common in the legs and ankles. They usually aren't serious, but they can sometimes lead to other problems.
What causes varicose veins?
Varicose veins are caused by weakened valves and veins in your legs. Normally, one-way valves in your veins keep blood flowing from your legs up toward your heart. When these valves do not work as they should, blood collects in your legs, and pressure builds up. The veins become weak, large, and twisted.
Varicose veins often run in families. Aging also increases your risk.
Being overweight or pregnant or having a job where you must stand for long periods of time increases pressure on leg veins. This can lead to varicose veins.

What are the symptoms?

Varicose veins look dark blue, swollen, and twisted under the skin. Some people do not have any symptoms. Mild symptoms may include:
  • Heaviness, burning, aching, tiredness, or pain in your legs. Symptoms may be worse after you stand or sit for long periods of time.
  • Swelling in your feet and ankles.
  • Itching over the vein.
More serious symptoms include:
  • Leg swelling.
  • Swelling and calf pain after you sit or stand for long periods of time.
  • Skin changes, such as:
    • Color changes.
    • Dry, thinned skin.
    • Inflammation.
    • Scaling.
  • Open sores, or you may bleed after a minor injury.
Varicose veins are common and usually aren't a sign of a serious problem. But in some cases, varicose veins can be a sign of a blockage in the deeper veins called deep vein thrombosis. If you have this problem, you may need treatment for it.

How are varicose veins diagnosed?

Your doctor will look at your legs and feet. Varicose veins are easy to see, especially when you stand up. Your doctor will check your legs for tender areas, swelling, skin color changes, sores, and other signs of skin breakdown.
If you have signs of a deep vein problem or you plan to have treatment for a varicose vein, you may need more tests.

How are they treated?

Home treatment may be all you need to ease your symptoms and keep the varicose veins from getting worse. You can:
  • Wear compression stockings.
  • Prop up (elevate) your legs.
  • Avoid long periods of sitting or standing.
  • Get plenty of exercise.
If you need treatment or you are concerned about how the veins look, your options may include:
  • Sclerotherapy to close off the vein.
  • Laser treatment to destroy the vein.
  • Radiofrequency treatment to close off the vein.
  • Surgery to tie off or remove the vein.




Thursday, January 6, 2011

A small view of Pilates Method


 
 

The Pilates Method of exercise has its origins in the work of the late Joseph Pilates, who was born in 1880 near Düsseldorf, Germany. He was a frail child and turned to physical fitness programmes to improve his body image, becoming a keen sportsman, developing talents in sports as varied as diving, gymnastics and boxing.
Interned in the war years because of his nationality, he developed a fitness programme for his fellow internees in order to maintain their health and fitness levels whilst being held in confinement - he always claimed that his regime was the reason why not one of these internees died from the influenza epidemic that killed thousands in 1918! 
Returning to Germany, he came into contact with the world of dance, in particular through contact with Rudoph von Laban, the originator of 'Labanotation', which is the most widely used form of dance notation. Hanya Holm included many of his exercises in her programme and, to this day, they are still part of the celebrated 'Holm Technique'. At the same time as working with dancers, Joseph Pilates was also instructing the Hamburg police force in self-defense!

He was, in fact, asked to train the new German army, but declined and decided to emigrate to the United States of America. On the boat trip, he met a nursery teacher, Clara, whom he later married - and with whom he set up his first fitness studio in New York, at an address he shared with the New York City Ballet.
 
His studio soon began to attract the 'elite' of New York with leading ballet dancers coming to him because his exercises perfected and complemented their traditional exercise programme. Actors and actresses, sportspersons, the rich and the famous were all attracted to a workout that built strength without adding bulk, balancing that strength with flexibility, and achieving the perfect harmony between mind and muscle.

In the past, screen legends such as Gregory Peck and Katharine Hepburn used the Pilates Method and, today, it is the preferred work-out regime for leading personalities from the worlds of entertainment and sport. Yet, until the late 1990’s, Pilates remained essentially unknown to the general public – how things have changed in that short space of time as an estimated 25 million people now take regular Pilates classes in the USA and some one million in the UK.
Pilates today is taught in several forms, directly reflecting the legacy of Joseph Pilates, who developed the method some 80 years ago. He did not lay down a formal training programme, with the result that, on his death, his 'disciples' continued teaching by adding their own variations to the core philosophy and exercises. This flexibility in approach is one of the reasons why Pilates has been so successful over this time period. 


Pilates is remarkably effective - and medically-approved. It is of an holistic nature, being based upon a well-constructed philosophical foundation. Central to the Method is 'awareness of your own body' and each and every exercise is built around its eight basic principles:

Relaxation
Concentration
Co-ordination
Centering
Alignment
Breathing
Stamina   
Flowing Movements

By working on the deep architectural structure of the body, 'core stability' is achieved, and then maintained, through increasingly complex movement sequences. Specific problem-areas can be targeted by an exercise, but always in relation to the rest of one's body. 
Your body awareness is heightened by bringing together mind and body - Pilates literally teaches you to be in control of your body, allowing you to handle stress more effectively and achieve relaxation more easily. 
The Pilates Method can work for everyone, regardless of fitness level! Exercises can be mat or machine based, but mat-work exercises have a great attraction in that they need no special equipment, and are particularly safe for those with back problems. Its consistent success rate in solving such problems has brought it to the attention of osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists and homeopathic doctors.
In fact, many osteopaths and physiotherapists are now setting up Pilates studios as part of their practices. 

The (unacceptable!) truth about CELLULITE. IRC.




Questions about slimming creams and anti-cellulite treatments made me wonder if something new had come out from labs and cosmetic science. As far as I studied, there were NO cream able to cross all skin layers and burn the undesirable fat that persecute our idle body shape. Nevertheless I am aware science evolute! So, digging in the net, I found...



Cellulite

At some point in their lives, most women -- and some men -- are bothered to a degree by cellulite, the lumpy substance that makes skin on the thighs and buttocks look like cottage cheese. Although its name may make it sound like a medical condition, cellulite is nothing more than normal fat beneath the skin. The fat appears bumpy because it pushes against the connective tissue beneath the skin, causing the skin above it to pucker.
Although the cellulite is not harmful, many women are willing to go to great lengths to get rid of cellulite, creating a big market for cellulite creams and other treatments promising smooth thighs. 

Cellulite Causes

Even though cellulite is fat, having it doesn't mean you are overweight. Even thin people can have cellulite. If you are overweight, however, losing weight may reduce cellulite.
The No. 1 factor in the development of cellulite is being a woman. Genes also play an important role. If other women in your family have cellulite, there's a good chance you will too. Other factors that influence the amount of cellulite you have and how visible it is include:
·         Poor diet
·         Fad dieting
·         Slow metabolism
·         Lack of physical activity
·         Hormone changes
·         Dehydration
·         Total body fat
·         The thickness and color of your skin

Cellulite Treatments

Although there are many products and treatments that promise to get rid of cellulite on thighs and buttocks, there is little evidence that many of them work well -- or for long.  Here's what you should know about some of the different options:
Cellulite creams. Touted to dissolve fat and smooth the skin, many cellulite creams contain aminophylline, a prescription drug approved for treating asthma. There is no scientific evidence these creams are effective against cellulite, and for some people they can be harmful. Their apparent effect on cellulite may be due to narrowing blood vessels and forcing water from the skin, which could be dangerous for people with circulatory problems. Furthermore, aminophylline can cause anallergic reaction in some people.
Liposuction. A surgical procedure to remove fat deposits from the body, liposuction is designed to remove deep fat, not cellulite, which is just beneath the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that liposuction may make actually make the appearance of cellulite worse by creating more depressions in the skin.
Mesotherapy. A European therapy originally developed to relieve pain of inflammatory skin conditions, mesotherapy involves injecting substances such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes into the tissue just beneath the skin. Although mesotherapy may break down fat and bring a slight improvement in the appearance of cellulite, it is also carries a risk of adverse effects including swelling, infection, and irregular contours.
Massage and spa treatments. Massage and other spa treatments may have a temporary affect on the dimpling appearance of skin, but they do not remove cellulite. Any effect is short-lived and probably due to the removal of excess fluid.


What Works for Cellulite and What's Ahead
Although current therapies do little for reducing cellulite, doctors are looking at new therapies using lasers and light sources to treat cellulite. One procedure involves red and infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit certain wavelengths known to disrupt fat tissue, causing it to shrink. This procedure is combined with rollers and suctions to soften the fibrous bands of connective tissue that cause the dimpled appearance.
Although such procedures may hold promise for the future, for now, the best option is exercise, and, if needed, weight loss. Experts agree that the most effective exercise routine for cellulite is one that incorporates aerobic exercise and strength training, along with a diet rich in rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber.
And although you can't change the thickness of your skin -- a factor in cellulite -- it could help to change the color. Cellulite tends to show up less on darker skin. If you plan to be out in a bathing suit or short shorts, applying a self-tanner may make the bumps and dimples on your thighs less noticeable.

WebMD Medical Reference

SOURCES:
MedlinePlus.gov: "Cellulite."
The Nemours Foundation TeensHealth: "Cellulite."
American Council on Exercise: "Exercise and Cellulite."
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: "Thigh Creams (Cellulite Creams)."
University of Maryland Medical Center: "Weight control and diet -- Medications."
American Academy of Dermatology: "Below the Belt" Dermatological Conditions Fact Sheet."
The University of New Mexico: "Cellulite: A Review of its Anatomy, Physiology and Treatment."

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Formula for Heart Rate during exercise

220 – Age: One Formula Does Not Fit All
by Jennifer Klau, Spinning Master Instructor
Two cardiologists were on a plane, poring over their data…
Although it sounds like the beginning of a joke, it’s really the story of how the Max Heart Rate, (220 – age)
equation came to be. En route to a conference, two cardiologists developed the equation for use by their
peers in conducting stress tests. Although they never intended for 220 – age to be applied outside the
medical field, it was and still is. In fact, most exercise physiology textbooks, ACSM guidelines, AFAA, and the Spinning Instructor Manual all recommend it for determining and monitoring exercise intensity, often without mentioning some of its inherent flaws.
Although the 220 – age (or 226 – age for females) equation can sometimes be an adequate estimate for some
people, it’s quite inaccurate for most. The reason? It doesn’t account for the vast differences in individuals’
fitness levels. That’s why using the formula to recommend exercise intensity can be confusing—even
frustrating. For example, sometimes you’ll see a rider who is seated upright, pedaling contently on a flat road,
reporting that his heart rate is at 85% of max. Obviously, the formula didn’t work in his case. If he were at 85% of MHR he would be sweating, breathing hard and exerting considerable effort. The bottom line: since
maximal heart rate is determined by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to genetics, physical
condition, fitness level and age, using a simple equation simply based on age just can’t work for every
individual.
Since we monitor exercise intensity using percentages of max heart rate, starting with an accurate MHR is
critical. When that number is off, the whole training plan is off. How can you ensure that you’re burning fat
effectively if you’re unwittingly training in the anaerobic zone? Similarly, how can you build high-end endurance if you’re not pushing your anaerobic threshold?
The good news is that there actually is an accurate way to safely determine max heart rate and come up with
individuals’ true target heart rate ranges for each Energy  Zone™. Years ago when the 220-age formula was
developed, only a stress test conducted by a physician could safely determine the data. In recent years, sub
max testing has been available through qualified fitness professionals as well, but the testing equipment was
prohibitively expensive for most health clubs. Paul Robbins, often spotted at WSSC performing VO2
testing, uses an affordable, yet impressively accurate testing unit that any health club staff can learn to use. The
tests are safe because they’re sub-maximal—the athlete being tested is never asked to go very far beyond
his/her anaerobic threshold. That’s the point when the body can no longer flush lactic acid from the muscles
as fast as it is being produced. Lactic acid accumulates in the blood, the rider fatigues and is literally forced
to slow down. AT can occur anywhere between 80% and 92% of an athlete’s MHR – but pinpointing precisely where it occurs is difficult, unless you measure oxygen uptake as Robbins does.
In the absence of sophisticated testing, we’ve found creative ways to estimate AT. Generally speaking, if an
individual can carry on a conversation during exercise, he or she is in an aerobic zone. Alternatively, if one’s
breathing is labored and it’s a struggle to talk during a workout, it’s anaerobic. The benefit of understanding
how and when this shift occurs is obvious. A rider who knows his AT can tailor training to maximize his/her
time in the saddle. Since AT rises closer to MHR as fitness improves, and drops with improper training or time off, it is relatively easy to monitor progress over time.
Balancing the hard workouts with the easy, finding the right intensity, and putting it all together is science.
By personalizing fitness goals, we can harness the abilities of each competitive athlete and everyday
Spinning® enthusiast, factoring in individual differences and specific needs, without training at high
intensities every workout, every day.


Read more on www.spinning.com

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Because the world can be a good place to live on.









Old movie, nice real history.
Yes, human kind can be good and generous and deal with differences.