White Water Rafting Tips and Trips
White water rafting – you’ve seen it on TV and in movies, and it looks awesome! Getting in a raft or boat, going over waves, avoiding rocks, getting wet and having an exciting time. It’s a sport that’s gained more and more converts in the last dozen or so years, and has (of course) gone mainstream (so to speak).
But white water rafting isn’t just as simple as getting a boat on a river and hoping for the best. Unfortunately, great as it is, it can also be dangerous for the inexperienced. This being the case, this article has white water rafting tips for safety, along with white water rafting trips you might want to check out!
White Water Rafting Tips
The first tip is the most important for anyone who has never been white water rafting before, and it’s to go with an experienced instructor. This is not a sport you teach yourself, even if you’re an experienced canoeist or kayaker. An experienced instructor knows the river and how to navigate safely. The white water rafting guide also can teach you the signs of danger to watch out for, like looking for underwater obstructions.
Tip number two is make sure you know how to swim. At some point, you will get dunked and when you find yourself in a river and separated from your raft or boat, you need to know how to get to safety. And so along those lines, always wear a life jacket! Just keep in mind that your life jacket is not a replacement for learning to swim – it’s just to give you a better chance to get to safety when you do know how to swim.
A third tip is to know that like any sport, you shouldn’t jump in with both feet and expect to be a master rafter, tackling dangerous rapids from the get-go. Instead, you need to learn with smaller white water rapids, like categories one and two, before graduating to meaner water (so to speak). White water rafting can be physically demanding, so if you’re out of shape, it’s even more important to start slowly.
White Water Rafting Trips
Before you start taking lessons in white water rafting, you’ll probably want to take some guided trips. This serves two purposes; first, to make sure that you actually like the white water rafting and two, that you can physically handle it.
With all that in mind, here are two popular white water rafting trips.
The Grand Canyon is one of the best beginner white water rafting trips available. There are trips that can accommodate just about everyone. The canyon itself is awe-inspiring, and the rafting is a blast!
One river for premier white water rafting trips is the Nantahala River in western North Carolina. There are guides and trips for all levels of experience.
White water rafting is a fantastic experience – just be safe!
Filed under White Water Rafting by on Feb 1st, 2011. Comment. 
Wakeboarding Basics and Tips
You’ve head about wakeboarding, but what exactly is it? It’s a sport that is about riding a board, called appropriately enough a wakeboard, over surface of water. It is a combination of snow boarding, water skiing and surfing.
The boarder typically is towed behind a boat, at around speeds of 20-25 miles per hour. Naturally, the speed of the ride depends on board size, water and weather conditions, rider’s weight and so on. And although a motorboat is the usual towing vehicle, it can be behind a personal watercraft and even ATVs.
Here’s a few wakeboarding tips, for ease of wakeboarding, it’s usually done in lakes as opposed to rivers or oceans. However, wakeboarding in areas like intercoastal waterways is becoming more popular.
Wakeboarding History
Here’s a little information about the history of wakboarding. It started as something called “skurfing” in the late 1980s, after snowboarding became a sport. The actual term “wakeboarding” came from Paul Fraser. Paul and his brother Murray introduced a new design concept, and along with a pro snowboarder, started the line of “liquid force” boards. Then when wakeboarding caught the attention of skiers and surfers, the board and techniques kept evolving through the 1990s.
What are Wakeboards Made Of?
The boards uned in wakeboarding are obviously buoyant, and is usually made of foam mixed with resin. The combination is then coated with fiberglass, while screws attach fins and bindings.
Popular board models are Liquid Force, Gator, Slingshot, Hyperlite and more.
Here’s something interesting; the positioning and configuration of the bindings and fins can be varied and adjusted based on the wakeboarder’s preferences.
Wakeboarding Tips and Why?
For performing tricks, of course! While wakeboarding all by itself is a blast, performing tricks is the goal of most boarders. Here’s an example: fins which don’t go into the water very far, called “shallow fins”, are great for tricks like flat spins.
When it comes to the hardware, though, the hardware is typically set up so the rider can switch with either foot to the front. These setups tend to have a layout that’s symmetrical, and are geared to wakeboard riders who have some experience under their belt.
Riders new to wakeboarding, on the other hand, typically set up the board to be comfortable with their “natural” (i.e., right or left) foot forward. While more comfortable for a beginning wakeboarder, it doesn’t allow for a switch without first being modified.
Learning Wakeboarding and Wakeboarding Tips
Learning wakeboarding can of course be accomplished by just getting on the board, but your best bet is to get some lessons. That way, you won’t have to unlearn any bad habits.
It’s a fun sport, not to mention exciting. So get out there and go wakeboarding!
Filed under Wakeboarding Tips by on Feb 1st, 2011. Comment.
Paintballing Basics for a Good Time
Ready, aim, fire! Paintballing is not only a fun sport, but it’s a terrific way to get in, or stay in, shape. It’s a way to simulate combat in a way you just can’t accomplish in a video game. Plus, paintballing is a great way to meet new people.
If you’ve never tried paintballing, however, you need to know some basics before you find yourself behind (or in front of) a paintballing marker. Here are the basics of the game.
First, paintball was started in the United States (New Hampshire) in 1981. It’s evolved to a sport where players compete to eliminate other players by targeting them with paintballs. You can compete individually or as part of a team.
A paintball is a capsule filled with gelatin and food coloring. The ball is non-toxic and biodegradable. It’s shot by a device called a paintball marker.
Paintball has been elevated to a sport with competition. This competition involves tournaments, leagues, individual players and professional teams.
It’s not just a sport, either. In fact, a type of paintball is used by the military as combat training. Police use includes a non-lethal way to suppress dangerous individuals.
Where You Can Enjoy Paintballing
In many communities there are actually paintballing courses; that is, places that are specifically dedicated to the sport. On these courses, there are barriers and obstacles; sometimes even ditches to help simulate real-world situations.
Paintballing can also be conducted in wooded areas, open fields and even indoors in some locations. Using real-world locations can be a little more challenging, especially if you don’t know the area very well, but paintballing can also be more exciting in these locations.
Different Kinds of Matches
Once you’ve tried paintballing, you may want to participate in a paintball match or two. There are different kinds of matches, of course, and the rules can vary depending on the game being played.
Game types include playing capture the flag, where the objective is to get through enemy lines and capture the flag of your opponent. Similarly, you can capture an object or objects instead of a flag. Elimination is another game, as is defending a particular point or area.
So how long do games last? Well, depending on the game type, games can last minutes, hours or possibly even days. There really isn’t a time limit, except in tournament play.
Paintballing is both fun and a way of training for real-world scenarios. Ready, set – get out there and go paintballing!
Filed under Paintballing by on Feb 1st, 2011. Comment.
Power boating is an activity that is performed in a motorized boat. A power boat generally has high power and the weight of the boat is light. This allows the boat to plane easily.
The lightness of the power boat improves the handling of the boat. It also allows it to go at a very fast speed.
Also the shape of the power boat is streamlined – this minimizes air resistance and drag.
Power boats tend to be used for waterskiing as well as wakeboarding. A power boat is also used for recreational use.
To learn the skills to drive a power boat you need to take relevant exams that teach you how to handling the boat and teach you seamanship. This will allow you to become the master of your own power boat.
Filed under Power Boating by on Feb 3rd, 2011. Comment.
Zumba classes are a dance fitness programme which is similar to Bunga bunga. Zumba combines dance with Latin and international music to make exercise fun. It also used hypnotic musical rhythms so it creates a lively workout. There are many DVD’s available so you can learn at home or you can find a fitness centre which offer Zumba lessons.
History
Zumba classes first started in the 1990s by a man called Beto who is an instructor and a choreographer who created routines for Shakira. Then in 1999 he started specifically doing a class for women. The class became more and more popular so Beto created a company called Zumba Fitness, he was joined by Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion.
The music plays the most important part in the workout as it creates beats and tempo changes, so it is key that the transition from one workout to another is smooth. Zumba works on every muscle group in the body which creates a whole body workout. Zumba also uses different dance styles sych as:
- Cha-cha-cha
- Belly dancing
- Samba
- Salsa
- Hip-hop
- Tango
Classes
- Zumba – This class includes basic rhythms set to high energy music while having heaps of fun.
- Zumba Gold – This class is for older adults.
- Zumba Toning – This class uses many different toning exercises and incoperates the Zumba Toning Sticks.
- Aqua Zumba – This is known as the Qua Pool Party. It’s a great fun session, which includes strengthening, splashing and just have heaps of fun whilst doing exercise.
- Zumbatomic – This class is designed for girls and boys aged 4–12. It uses different urban dance styles like hip hop and reggaeton. It is a great fun session for children to do.
Zumba is a great fun exercise and instead of feeling like you have to exercise, Zumba gives you the feeling and smile of you wanting to do it.
Filed under Zumba by on Feb 4th, 2011. Comment.
Sphereing/Zorbing
Sphereing which is also known as Zorbing is, being placed inside a big plastic ball that rolls down a hill. You can be harnessed in a zorb or non-harnessed.
History
The first site which was available for Sphereing was in Rotorua, New Zealand. Sphereing started around the 1980s and since has been slowly becoming a very popular extreme activity to do.
The zorb which is the name of the ball used, is double skinned which means one ball is inside the other and air is between the layer. This acts as a shock absorber for the person while inside the ball.
Types of Sphereing
The two most popular types of Sphereing are:
Harnessed Sphereing
In this one you can get up to speeds of 30mph, it gives you a great thrill if with you like doing extreme activities. You are strapped in, on your shoulders, hips and feet and just roll down on a hill, this may give you a stomach-churning thrill. The experience can last up to 15 seconds though it depends on the course type and how long the hill is.
Aqua Sphereing
With this type of Sphereing there are no straps required, so you just move freely along in the zorb. In this zorb there can be upto 30 litres of water so you will be nice and wet. (Tip make sure you bring spare clothes!!) In the zorb itself you will be sliding about in the zorb so it can make you feel like a washing machine. Aqua Sphereing sounds more extreme but actually it is less intense than the Harnessed Sphereing.
There are also two other types of Sphereing which are:
Air Sphereing
This is just like the other types of Sphereing but it includes flying this time. You fly in the zorb in a vertical wind tunnel which is only available in one location in Britain, which is in Milton Keynes. It is a great activity which gives you a thrill of emotions.
Eclipse Sphereing
If you thought Harness Sphereing was scary already you should take a look at this activity. Eclipse Sphereing is being strapped into the zorb again so like harness Sphereing but you are now in total darkness which can be really scary. The zorb this time are opaque so it is blacked out inside!
Overall sphereing is a great extreme activity to do whether you go individually, have a group of friends or as a great family day out.
Filed under Sphereing by on Feb 7th, 2011. Comment.
Bentonite Clay, a Toxic Body and You
You may have heard about bentonite clay in passing, but never really stopped to think about it. However, you aren’t feeling as well as you should, have started some research and wonder if maybe you have too many toxins in your body. If this sounds familiar, then it’s time to discuss a toxic body and the role bentonite clay can play to help remove toxins from it.
Bentonite Clay 101
You’re probably familiar with clay, and you know that it’s made from very fine particles of rock or soil. If you’ve ever driven or walked through clay, you know how slippery it can be. And if you’ve ever let clay dry on something (like shoes or a car) you know how hard it can be to get off!
Bentonite clay is a special kind, and it’s primarily formed from weathered volcanic ash. It can include many different minerals and elements in its makeup. While it has other purposes, in the last dozen or so years it’s come to the forefront for use on and inside your body.
Toxins and Your Body
Unless you live in a bubble, you face a multitude of toxins every day. From the air you breathe to the water you drink and food you eat, you take them in every day. Your body is pretty good at removing a lot of toxins; after all, that’s what your kidneys, liver, colon and sweat glands do.
In an ideal world, your body would pretty much remove all these toxic materials from your body on a daily basis. However, in today’s world, we’re bombarded with substances that just aren’t good for your body. Your organs work overtime to try and get rid of the noxious substances, but eventually it becomes a losing battle. There’s too much of a “backlog” of toxins to remove, so it builds up.
Bentonite Clay and Toxins
Here’s where bentonite clay comes into the picture. It has a unique property that lets it absorb toxins from your body. One example is with your skin; there are face masks made with bentonite clay that you rub on and let dry. The bentonite clay absorbs oils, waters and toxins that are on the surface of your skin and into your pores. Once cleaned out, your pores and skin can get back on the job (so to speak) to once more removing toxins efficiently.
Your colon is another example of bentonite clay absorbing these unwanted materials. By taking bentonite clay internally, it grabs onto the toxins until it is eliminated safely from the body (usually with the help of something like psyllium). Since bentonite clay can’t be absorbed by your body, it acts like a capsule around the toxins, escorting them safely out of your colon.
The world unfortunately isn’t getting any cleaner, and your body is paying the price. By using bentonite clay to help remove toxins, you help your body function the way it was meant to.
Filed under Bentonite Clay by on Feb 9th, 2011. Comment.
What is Powerbreathe?
You’re huffing and puffing, and can’t seem to get enough air. Maybe you’re even in pretty decent shape – so why can’t you seem to get all the oxygen that you should? Assuming you are in otherwise good health, the problem may not be with your lungs so much as your respiratory muscles.
How You Breathe
If you ask most people to breathe deeply, they try to fill their lungs with air using their chest muscles. The problem is that if you want to really breathe deeply, you need to use a different set of muscles. As a result, you may be breathing far shallower than you should, in order to get oxygen in your lungs and then your bloodstream.
If you’ve ever been a singer, stage actor or have played a wind instrument, then you know that deep breaths come from your diaphragm muscles. By using them to move the air in and out of your lungs, you’re helping to get the most oxygen into your lungs, and carbon dioxide out.
What is Powerbreathe?
Powerbreathe is relatively new on the market, and was originally aimed at athletes. While people involved in sports tend to be the most frequent users, Powerbreathe is finding more and more enthusiasm among everyday people. Here’s an example; you’re in OK shape, but when you climb a couple flights of stairs, you get a little short of breath. You’ve just had a physical exam, so you know you don’t have any lung problems. You just aren’t able to get all the oxygen you need, due to your breathing habits.
Here’s where Powerbreathe comes into play. It’s a small, hand-held device that re-trains your breathing muscles so that they become stronger and more efficient. As your muscle strength improves, you get more oxygen into your body, both at rest and while moving.
Who Can Use Powerbreathe?
I mentioned earlier that Powerbreathe has become more mainstream, with everyday people using it. Can someone who has impaired lung function use it – for example, if you have chronic bronchitis? While the ultimate answer to that question lies with your doctor, in general, anyone who wants to breathe better can use it.
By re-training your respiratory muscles to be more efficient, you increase your lung capacity. In fact, Powerbreathe is also excellent for public speakers, singers and anyone who needs to be able to control their breaths.
It doesn’t take long to use, either; approximately 30 breaths twice a day is enough to increase your lung function, and the amount of oxygen you take in.
If you want to be able to work, eat, sleep and play better, then try breathing better with Powerbreathe.
Filed under Powerbreathe by on Feb 9th, 2011. Comment.
What are Homeopathic Remedies/homoeopathy?
You’ve heard about them, but what exactly are homeopathic remedies/homoeopathy? Why would you want to try them, and more important – do they actually work? Let’s talk about what homeopathy means, and why it’s gaining more and more popularity.
What is Homeopathy?
If the term is new to you, it’s a kind of alternative medicine where you take a very diluted form of a preparation that would, in its undiluted state, cause the same problem. That sounds strange, so how about an example?
There is a homeopathic remedy gaining in popularity that is made from snake venom, and it’s used to treat chronic pain…the same kind of pain you might experience if you had a snakebite! But because the homeopathic remedy is so dilute, it helps to prevent the expression of the pain. In other words, you take the remedy in order to lessen the effects of the chronic pain.
So, homeopathic remedies/homoeopathy are based on the principle that is known as the law of similars. In other words, “like cures like”.
Why Try Homeopathic Remedies/homoeopathy?
Especially if you have a chronic condition, you might not relish taking prescription medications for the long term. For example, perhaps you have a condition, such as arthritis, that you need to take prescription pain medication. While the medication works, you don’t want to get hooked on it.
Here’s where homeopathic remedies come in. They provide a way to either cut down on, or even eliminate, prescription drugs. Using the arthritis example again, after starting a homeopathic regimen you might be able to stop taking your pain medications except on rare days when extra relief is needed.
Does Homoeopathy Work?
The next question is this: do homeopathic remedies/homoeopathy work? There are people who swear the remedies do work, as well as those who insist that it’s only a placebo effect. Where is the truth?
There is no denying that homeopathic remedies do work in many individuals, even if traditional medicine insists the preparation is so dilute that it’s nothing more than water. And yes, it is always possible that the cure is due to a placebo effect in some of these people.
But here’s a question to ask yourself; if homeopathic remedies do relieve your condition, does it matter if it’s the remedy or a placebo? For anyone suffering from a chronic condition, the answer is most likely no!
Western medicine relies on charts and graphs, of being able to use a scientific medicine to alleviate a specific condition. Alternative medicine tends to treat the body as a whole, instead of in parts.
Should you try homeopathic remedies? If traditional medicine has let you down, or if you don’t want to take prescription drugs if you don’t have to, then you should investigate homeopathic remedies.
Filed under Homoeopathy by on Feb 9th, 2011. Comment.
In this article Sport and Health are going to give you a list of the top Icebreakers and Team Bonding Activities.
To start with we are going to talk about the simple easy Team Bonding Activities which can really help create an excellent team feeling mood. The first one is:
Break In/Break Out
With this Team Bonding Activities, you have to form a tight circle so you are standing shoulder to shoulder. Then you pick someone out of the group who will stand on the outside of the group and has to try and Break In the group below the legs. Break Out is the other way, so the person is standing in the middle of the circle and has to get out of the circle. These are excellent Team Bonding Activities which really starts to encourage team bonding.
Human Knot
Get the group to form a circle again and make sure they are shoulder to shoulder. Then instruct the group to grab someone’s hands on the opposite side of the group. Just ensure that the group aren’t holding onto someone next to them. The group then have to try and figure how to untangle the knot. This is a great Team Bonding Activity as it really starts getting people to start talking to each other.
2 Truths, 1 Lie
Get everyone in the group to think of 2 truths and one lie. Then make everyone take it in turns to say theirs whilst the rest have to try and guess which one is the lie.
Blindfold Feel
This Icebreaker is great if the group know each other, the group take it in turns to being blindfolded and try to guess someone by touching the persons’ face.
Head or Catch
Form a circle, someone in the middle throws the ball. Then explain that if you say catch you actually mean head and if you say head you mean catch. Head or Catch and Blindfold Feel are two great Team Bonding Activities to really start getting the group working together.
Hope you have fun with these Icebreakers and Team Bonding Activities and check back again soon to see the next lot of Icebreakers and Team Bonding Activities for you.
Filed under Icebreakers/Team Bonding Activities by on Feb 11th, 2011. Comment.
