MAROM designs: exercise

Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts

Monday, April 25, 2011

Product Review - Aerobie Sprint Flying Ring

The History of the Aerobie® Brand

During the 70′s and early 80′s while working as a consulting engineer and teaching part time at Stanford University, Alan Adler invented toys in his spare time and licensed his ideas to toy companies. Alan was also an avid sailor who taught himself aerodynamics in order to be able to design sailboats. His love of inventing toys and his new found knowledge of aerodynamics led him into the pursuit of better flying toys.

He began his interest in flying toys by studying ways to improve conventional flying discs that are descendents of the old Frisbee pie tins. His analysis and experimental work led him to the discovery that flying rings rather than discs have an advantage when it comes to balancing aerodynamic lift over a wide range of speeds. (See Alan’s paper for a more detailed explanation.) His work led him to a series of flying ring inventions. The first was the Skyro ring that he licensed to Parker Brothers.

Alan designed and built the first prototype of the Aerobie ring with its spoiler rim that balances lift over a wide range of throwing speeds in early 1984. The first throw of the Aerobie ring on Roble Field at Stanford showed Alan he had something special. The ring flew straight and true for an incredible distance, "as if sliding on an invisible sheet of ice." Onlookers were amazed.

The Founding of Aerobie, Inc.
Alan knew the Aerobie ring could be a hit. He also knew the flying performance of the Aerobie ring was going to be dependent on maintaining aerospace quality standards in the manufacturing processes. He therefore founded Superflight, Inc (now Aerobie, Inc.). in 1984 to manufacture and sell his high performance sport toy inventions beginning with the Aerobie flying ring. For its first 20 years of existence, Aerobie Inc. was officially named Superflight, Inc. However, in recognition of the fact that all of the products were named Aerobie and everybody knew the company as Aerobie, as of 2005, our company’s name is officially Aerobie, Inc.

Aerobie, Inc. Today
Aerobie, Inc. is still owned by Alan and he still works on inventing new, exciting sport toys. They now manufacture thirteen Aerobie brand products and sell them through retailers of all types throughout the United States and to distributors in over thirty countries. All Aerobie brand sport toys are known for their extraordinary performance and quality. Their warehousing, packing, and shipping are all done in San Carlos, California.

The Future of Aerobie, Inc.
The company is always looking for new and exciting products. Since their first two golf discs, released in the Summer of 2003, have been quite popular, they expect to continue to develop their presence as a golf disc manufacturer.

They make the spectacular Aerobie Sprint flying rings that can turn an hour of exercise into an hour of fun for any group of kids or grown-ups. That hour of fun can spread into a family activity that gets everybody together and moving in a fantastic game of catch. Sprint rings are great for kids 7 and up!

My Take on the Product
My family loves to get outside and have fun together. This disc is so much fun! I call it a disc because it is so much more than a frisbee. This disc flew so far, I was completely amazed and I kept challenging the disc, pushing myself and the disc o go further. I even took the disc to a local football field to try it out and the disc performed, I mean it really performed. I was able to get it thrown from almost one end to the other. Never before have I seen a disc that can fly as far or as well as this disc. Be careful in high wind areas as the wind can really carry this disc far, even when you don't want it to. As a parent, I loved this disc as it truly encouraged my kids to have fun outside, and though it only seemed like minutes outside, we actually were outside for over an hour!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Monday, April 18, 2011

Get Fit America for Kids: Inspiring Conscious Happy Active Children

By Scott Cole

I have been working with children since 1986, and in those early years I worked with suicide prevention teens in the Dallas area---to this date the toughest audience in my career. I mention this because sometimes adults feel that a child may just be “lost” and that what we are doing for them is perhaps not “breaking through” and never will.

Believe me, that is a common feeling to have, and certainly faced with what we see in America today---children who are morbidly obese, diabetic, medicated, and experiencing ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), it is no wonder that adults and parents feel frustrated, which seems to be pushing us farther from what we need to be doing---and that is reversing this ugly sad uninspired trend of cutting time and funds for music, art, and physical education.

I can share unequivocally that when given the chance to move, express, and learn something new and different like Yoga and Tai Chi, children respond, not always when and how you want them to, but trust me, the seeds are planted and these mindful movement programs make a huge difference. By the end of my term with the suicide prevention teens, I remember one girl coming up to me, hugging me crying, “Don’t leave, I love it when you come see us.” I never forgot that.

Let us consider what are children are NOT getting:

Healthy, organic, soil-grown food that for the most part could prevent adult-onset diabetes and obesity.
Movement in all forms: Dance, Yoga, Tai Chi, Physical Education and PLAY every day. Children NEED to breathe, move, express, scream, and ultimately experience healthy quiet time.
Nature Experience: Outdoors, or certainly learning about Nature through “field trips” as we used to call them.
Healthy levels of TOUCH, both from adults and their peers. Activities that involve touch and physical/social communication are needed now more than ever as children bury their heads in video games, computers, cell phones, instead of looking into the eyes of their friends and touching each other in healthy play or activity.
Support at home and in school: The United States is #36 on the longevity list worldwide (tied with Cuba according to the United Nations list), and is the most obese nation on Earth. This translates into adults who have the same issues in charge of making decisions to prevent the current generation from having the problems we have.

America’s current in-home and educational landscape isn’t coming close to any viable solution until concerned adults (WE) take charge of it at ALL levels.

Let us consider addressing what children today NEED:

First off, we need to make it MANDATORY that organic REAL food is served in schools, and have the children take an active part in learning about food, crops, and conscious farming. No more corn subsidized fructose corn syrup in drinks and fruit cocktails, no more packaged nutrient-less slop, no more low-quality after-thought beef and chicken fingers, and all soda machines should be eliminated. Not the most popular decision I know, but AMERICA IS ADDICTED to this “STUFF” that isn’t real food, and our bodies are in rebellion. If children had normal levels of blood sugar, and are not doctored up by medication or addictive fast-food and sugars, ADHD would be reduced and we would start to see healthy alert, active children re-emerging. The problem arises in budget and corporations that bid for these contracts, promising more for less dollars, and inevitably it is about profit, not about providing great food for our kids.
If anything should be subsidized by the government, it should be food for our public schools, but organized by a non-corporate committee of nutritionists, parents, organic farmers, and educators.
Next, we need to implement all forms of movement and PE in schools: Yoga, Tai Chi, Sports, Kickball, and Creative Play. We just need to get our kids moving and playing again! Whoever decided that eliminating PE would make our children “study more” has never dealt with children. Once children play, emote, and express, they are more likely to actually WANT to sit down and read a book, study, or be quiet.
Children need to learn more about their surroundings, from farming to crops to geography to nature. Whenever I do the Get Fit America in-school assemblies, I teach barefoot, and if allowed by the school, the children are allowed to take their shoes off too. This ALONE is a big adventure that gets the children excited to play and learn. It still amazes me that something so natural and simple is not the norm anymore. We talk about feeling the earth, listening to and becoming aware of Nature, and how our bodies are designed to touch and feel through the feet and hands, all incorporated with the movement and exercise.
Touch is vital for any person. Touch deprivation can contribute to depression, loneliness, and anti-social behavior that can manifest in a lifetime of discomfort around others. After I have the children moving for awhile in the school assemblies, I then introduce a Partnered section of the program where the children get to touch, do mirrored-image movement, and learn to stretch and trust each other. I tell them, “If you let go of your partner you are letting go of yourself.” Most of them get the lesson.
Adults need to do their part and understand that even if we don’t get the lessons of healthy living, it is VITAL for us to make choices that will influence our children for the better.

American obesity is an addiction, and adult onset diabetes is preventable, so unless we want to watch people age, become medically dependent, become lethargic, depressed, and inactive, then we need to turn this big ship around and get back on course to dock in an environment that will have clean pure water, organic healthy food, mindful exercise and creative encouragement as standard fuel for a healthy life.

Parents, teachers, educators, and concerned adults need to play an active part in each community, as part of an expressive society that both honors and cherishes our children enough to give them the tools to become the healthiest, most mindful, articulate, compassionate generation ever.

Get Fit America TOP TEN ACTIVITY MOTIVATORS FOR KIDS

Walk: Anywhere, anytime, with friends and supervised if needed
Jump Rope: Great for coordination and fun to do
Dance: Learn a new Hip-Hop routine and perform it
Play Sports: Solo and interactive, wonderful for social skills and self-esteem
Stretch or Do Yoga: Different poses are fun to try, learning proper breathing and focus
Learn Martial Arts: Tai chi, taekwondo, karate, judo teach self-respect and discipline
Garden and Build: Dig holes, build a flowerbed, create a stone pathway, plant, get your hands in the soil
Get Active Outdoors: Create an obstacle course, hopscotch, climb trees, hike
Play in the Water: Lakes, beaches, and pools, enjoy swimming, building sandcastles, tromping through the mud
Sketch, Draw, or Create: Draw your favorite Yoga pose, sketch your feelings, see www.getfitamerica.us to see other children’s drawings from the school assemblies

Scott Cole is a former National Aerobic Champion, star of Abs of Steel, and creator of the top-selling Discover Tai Chi series for adults. His work with children began in 1986 with suicide-prevention abused children, which won him an AFAA Notable Award. Cole continued to fine-tune his in-school assemblies and has taught children in Texas, California, Florida, Connecticut, Maryland, and Wisconsin.

Get Fit America for Kids original NAPPA Award-winning workout DVD and the ALL-NEW Get Fit America for Kids LIVE!!! Adults for Kids Educational DVD is available through www.scottcole.com and www.getfitamerica.us .

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Glidebikes Make Learning to Ride a Bike Child's Play

Remember being a kid trying to learn to ride a bike? You teetered back and forth on your training wheels, and when your dad finally took them off you lost your balance and inevitably fell, repeatedly. This potentially dangerous scenario is all too common and it scares many kids into not wanting to ride.

GlideBikes, an American manufacturer of the popular European balance bike, has the solution to this problem. A balance bike is a smaller, lower bicycle (starting at 12” seat height) with no pedals that is constructed in a way that will allow children starting at two years old to learn two-wheel balance. Kids learn to balance safely without tears or training wheels and can start slowly by “walking” the bike without pedals getting in the way. Within a short period of time, they are confidently gliding along, balancing upright on two wheels.

GlideBikes are extremely lightweight and feature 65° seat and head tube angles designed to give the bike the slowest balancing speed possible (1.5 mph), making them the safest balance bikes on the market. Not even the models manufactured in Europe, where balance bikes have been for decades, can claim such a low balance speed. Typical road bikes use 70-71° seat and head tube angles and require a faster balance speed.

GlideBikes also feature strategically-placed foot pegs that allow children to feel comfortable when gliding, much like resting your feet on actual bike pedals. They are made of premium materials and are tested for quality assurance on a regular basis by Inventor Ed Mondello and his own children.

There are three GlideBike models for children of all ages:

The Mini Glider (ages 2-5, up to 100 lbs.)
The Go Glider (ages 5-10, up to 125 lbs.)
The Super Glider (Ages 10 +, up to 250 lbs. and perfect for older special needs children)

For more information, please visit http://www.glidebikes.com/

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Book Review - A Walk for Sunshine

About the Book
A Walk For Sunshine is an award winning adventure story that will fill you with inspiration to go after your dreams. Jeff Alt takes you along every step of his amazing 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail adventure filled with humor and inspiration. Now, he includes practical advice to plan your own hiking adventure.

Alt takes you along on an entertaining walk with bears, bugs, blisters, skunk bedmates, and hilarious food cravings. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy this adventure for a noble cause. Jeff dedicated his journey to his brother who has cerebral palsy inspiring an annual fundraiser which has raised over $180,000 for the disabled home in which his brother resides. A Walk For Sunshine has been featured on ESPN, Hallmark Channel, reviewed by the AP, and more. As you walk along with Jeff, you experience perseverance, surviving with only the bare essentials, the success of goal setting, and overcoming obstacles. His story sheds light on the pursuit of a simpler life. In 2007, Jeff shared an epilogue focusing on his Life Lessons from the trail and how he has applied them to his life.

THE NEW 3rd EDITION: of A Walk For Sunshine includes Gear ideas and other tips for taking your whole family hiking, and details about the annual Walk-With-Sunshine. We've taken the outdoor "leave no trace" ethic and applied it to A Walk For Sunshine. This edition is printed on 100% recycled paper.

About the Author

In addition to walking the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail, Jeff Alt has walked the 218-mile John Muir Trail with his wife, and trekked across a 50-mile path of Ireland with his wife, young daughter, and extended family. He and his wife emerged from the church doors on their wedding day with backpacks. His son was taken on his first hike at 8 weeks.

Alt is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA). His adventures have been featured in media nationwide including: ESPN, Hallmark Channel, the AP, CNN-Radio, NPR, and more. Alt's award-winning books, A Walk for Sunshine and A Hike for Mike, have been reviewed in Library Journal, Chicago Sun Times and more.

For more information visit www.jeffalt.com

My Take on the Book
I have read numerous tales of people taking on the Trail, with the most recent being Bill Bryson's Walk in the Woods. In all of these books you are given the true reality of the Appalachian Trail and the realities that it provides to those that try to conquer it. This book is similar. What I liked about this book though is the honesty of the author and the reasons for his journey. While this book is not like Bryson's, I mention it to make the connection to others writing about their experiences on the trail itself.

I was inspired by the author's tenacity, will and fortitude through the difficult hike. You can tell that he loves what he does and that he wishes to share his love for the outdoors with anyone that will listen. As a father Jeff has done a great job at writing a book that he can share with his and others' children about the importance oof nature and being active, while at the same time, having goals and sticking to them.

As a reader you get the full honesty of this writer on the highs and lows of the trip itself which is wonderfully refreshing. I liked the fact that he was honest about his preparation for the hike and stresses the importance of this preparation, as many people start the Appalachian Trail with too little preparation.

This book is a wonderful one that I would recommend to all. As a father I loved the message and thought that it would be a great story to share with my own kids as they get older!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Book Review - Fifteen Minutes Outside

About the Book

Drawing inspiration from her own journey to get her family outside every day, Fifteen Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids is a month-by-month collection of 365 easy and enjoyable ways to connect as a family and explore life outdoors.

Rebecca said her family not only became closer after the year end, but experienced great health benefits through fun physical exercise and discovered a deeper appreciation for nature.

Transform your family with some of these quick and fun ideas:

Make a Birdfeeder- Make a bagel bird feeder yourself and hang it on a tree outside within view of where you eat breakfast. No bagel? Use a pinecone instead.
Make Mud Prints - Give your kids license for what you feel comfortable with: mud shoe prints, mud bike tire prints, mud handprints, no rules? Let your kids loose and have towels ready by the door for muddy shoes and clothes as soon as you are home.
Ships Ahoy! Sail Juice Box Boats in Puddles - After your kids finish their juice boxes, find a puddle and float them like boats.
Look for an Aerial Battle - At this time of year, the kids and I tend to notice small birds engaged in battle with a larger bird in the distance overhead. Keep watch on the sky; do you see a turf battle? A hawk hunting for newly hatched baby birds? What can you find?
Make Your Own Fossil - Take a small box, tape both sides and remove one side of the box. Fill the box with mud and press objects, such as shells, rocks, leaves, or sticks into the mud and bring the boxes inside to dry.

About the Author

Rebecca P. Cohen is a gardening and outdoor lifestyle expert whose mission is to inspire people to get off the couch and discover how simple it can be to incorporate an active, outdoor lifestyle into a busy schedule. Her work has been featured in Family Circle, Better Homes & Gardens, Backyard Solutions, and Washingtonian magazines, as well as on Rachael Ray’s website, Yum-o!, SheKnows.com, and WorkingMother.com. Rebecca is also a Spokesmom for the National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There movement. The mother of two small children, Rebecca incorporates the outdoors into every aspect of life, bringing invaluable tips and inspiration into her product lines, television segments, and website, www.rebeccaplants.com.

My Take on the Book If you are looking for a book that will open your eyes and will encourage you and your family to get outside and engaged with one another, this is the book to do it! It is an inspiring book that will definitely make you think about what you are doing with your kids. Keep it close at hand for easy reference, as with as many ideas that it presents, you will never be at a loss for activities that will leave the whole family having fun together.

I commend the author for putting together such a great book, and would highly recommend it to all parents!

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

iBike Dash CC Wireless Cycling Computer Launched for iPhone & iPod touch

Velocomp LLP, www.iBikeDash.com, a leading sports technology company and creator of the iBike^®line of power meters, announced today the iBike Dash CC (Cycling Computer), a light-weight wireless bicycle computer system that turns any iPhone or iPod touch into your own personal fitness trainer. Priced starting at $199, the iBike Dash CC creates an entirely new category of interactive cycling devices, enhancing the cycling experience in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before to help you finally keep that New Year’s resolution to get in shape!

Includes Free iPhone/iPod touch Bike App with Easy-to-Read High-Res Color Graphics & Animation

Easy to install, the compact (3.2 oz) iBike Dash CC takes your biking from leisure to fitness, helping you quickly reach your goals by measuring your speed, power, heart rate, wind speed, time, trip, elevation, and calories to become healthier and fitter. The iBike Dash CC includes a free iBike app available from the iTunes App Store at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibike/id369550718?mt=8, which features customizable tools, from simple speedometers to work-out programs. The app is displayed on the iPhone or iPod touch screen with easy to read high-resolution color graphics and animation.

Dispels “No Pain, No Gain” Myth – “HR Pacing Meter” Tells Boundaries – Critical for Safe Training

Intelligent biking is all about sustaining your energy, so that you have more than enough left for the last few miles. Forget the “no pain, no gain” myth, the iBike Dash CC tells you how hard is too hard. Riding within your boundaries is critical for safe training, and with the iBike Dash CC’s “HR Pacing Meter,” you can see at a glance whether your heart rate in the right zone. The HR Pacing Meter determines your fitness level with 5 Heart Rate Color Zones from 50% to 100%. These zones indicate the degree of difficulty you will experience when cycling in each zone at your fitness level: from Blue (very light) to Red (very hard). Each of the zones address different goals, from losing weight in the bottom zones to improving fitness in the middle zones, to maximizing performance in the top zones. After regular exercise, you’ll find you’re able to exercise more comfortably in the upper zones and for longer times in the lower zones.

Use Optimal Cycling Effort to Burn Fat

iBike Dash CC also tells you when your cycling effort is optimal for burning fat; how many calories you’re using during the ride, on all rides this week or all rides this month; what speed and distance you’re traveling; and even where you are on your bike route. Also, iBike Dash CC can help you set some personal goals, measure your progress and allow you to adjust your performance as you enjoy your ride.

Virtual Co-pilot, Navigator, & Trainer -- All in One

“We’d all like to be fitter, healthier and lose some weight, but the truth is just riding your bike for

half an hour or so a day won’t necessarily do it,” said John Hamann, CEO, Velocomp. “With the revolutionary iBike Dash CC on your iPhone or iPod touch, you can take the next step, knowing how to manage your biking effort to the best effect to help you become fitter with an amazing cycling dashboard at your fingertips -- a virtual co-pilot, navigator, and trainer -- all in one.”

iBike Dash CC Features:

50 power-based and Heart Rate (HR) zone workouts.
Includes ANT+ speed sensor with optional sensors for cadence and HR.
User customizable touch screens display cycling information in color with unique graphics and animation.
Features easy-to-read large fonts with back-light display for night-time viewing.

· iPhone’s GPS, map, and weather capabilities operate seamlessly with the iDash, greatly enhancing the rider’s experience.

· Power-based indoor trainer feature.

· Bike odometer.

Calendar feature keeps track of weekly cycling stats, including calories, miles and speed.

· HR Zone dial presents cycling exertion in an extremely intuitive manner.

· Easy-to-follow, on-screen instructions and instructional videos.

“Phone Booth^TM” dashboard/case houses circuitry, keeps out water and absorbs shock.
Easy to install, use, and move from bike to bike.
No need for calibration.
Allows seamless hands-free calls using your iPhone and Bluetooth headset with no interruption to ride data collection.
Allows full use of touch screen, even while wearing cycling gloves.
A rechargeable/replaceable spare battery can be housed inside the “Phone Booth” to extend the

operating time of your iPhone/iPod touch.

· Compatible with all ANT+ speed, cadence and HR sensors.

Pricing & Availability

The iBike Dash CC is available immediately for iPhone and iPod touch, priced at $199 MSRP for the basic version and $329 MSRP for the advanced version with additional features (including cadence, HR, calorie measurement, battery and charger) through the Apple Store at: http://store.apple.com/us/product/H3828LL/A or Velocomp at: http://www.ibikesports.com/ibikestore.html. iBike Dash CC includes the holder, mount, wireless speed sensor, iBike app for iPhone or iPod touch, and iBike software for Mac and Windows desktop computers. For more information, see www.ibikedash.com.

About Velocomp - First to Deliver Advanced Power Measurement at a Consumer-Friendly Price

Velocomp, LLP is a leading sports technology company based in Boca Raton, Florida. The first in the bicycle industry to deliver advanced power measurement at a mainstream price, Velocomp is dedicated to

product breakthroughs in the areas of performance, measurement, design, and value. Launched in June

2006, thousands of iBike^® power meters are being enjoyed worldwide. For more information, see www.iBikeSports.com.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Game Review - Just Dance 2

About the Game

The original Just Dance game got the world dancing like never before, and now the #1 best-selling Music/Rhythm game for play on the Nintendo Wii system is back with Just Dance 2. This time around it will be just as easy to keep the party going with an all-star tracklist--more than 45 strong, plus downloadable songs--from different genres, as well as the hottest dance moves of today. In addition, Just Dance 2 pushes the envelope even further with more accurate movement recognition by the Wii Remote, allowing better dancers to reap the rewards of their superior skill, without putting the game out of reach of beginners. Finally Just Dance 2 includes all-new dance modes making the game even more party oriented than its predecessor.

Just Dance 2 Tracklist

1. Avril Lavigne – "Girlfriend"

2. Bangles – "Walk Like An Egyptian"

3. Beastie Boys – "Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim Remix)"

4. Benny Benassi presents “The Biz” – "Satisfaction"

5. Blondie – "Call Me"

6. Bollywood – "Katti Kalandal"

7. Boney M. – "Rasputin"

8. Charleston – "Mugsy Baloney"

9. Cher – "The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)"

10. Digitalism – "Idealistic"

11. Donna Summer – "Hot Stuff"

12. Elvis Presley – "Viva Las Vegas"

13. Fatboy Slim – "Rockafeller Skank"

14. Franz Ferdinand – "Take Me Out"

15. Harry Belafonte – "Jump In The Line"

16. Ike & Tina Turner – "Proud Mary"

17. James Brown – "I Got You (I Feel Good)"

18. Jamiroquai – "Cosmic Girl"

19. Junior Senior – "Move Your Feet"

20. Justice – "D.A.N.C.E."

21. Ke$ha – "TiK ToK"

22. Mardi Gras – "Iko Iko"

23. Marine Band – "Sway (Quien Sera)"

24. MIKA – "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)"

25. Outkast – "Hey Ya!"

26. Quincy Jones & His Orchestra – "Soul Bossa Nova"

27. Reggaeton – "Baby Girl"

28. Rihanna – "S.O.S."

29. Snap! – "The Power"

30. Sorcerer – "Dagomba"

31. Studio Allstars – "Jump"

32. Studio Musicians – "Crazy In Love"

33. Studio Musicians – "Jungle Boogie"

34. Supergrass – "Alright"

35. The Frighteners – "Monster Mash"

36. The Hit Crew – "Holiday"

37. The Hit Crew – "Toxic"

38. The Jackson 5 – "I Want You Back"

39. The Pussycat Dolls – "When I Grow Up"

40. The Rolling Stones – "Sympathy For The Devil (Fatboy Slim Remix)"

41. The Ting Tings – "That’s Not My Name"

42. The Weather Girls – "It’s Raining Men"

43. Vampire Weekend – "A-Punk"

44. Wham! – "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go"

Four New Dance Modes

Dedicated to providing a richer, deeper gaming experience, the development team behind Just Dance 2 has included four new dance modes. These include:

Duet Mode

Created to foster more interaction between players, Duet Mode allows players to dance together, and in the process forces them to pay more attention to the players around them instead of simply following on-screen prompts.

Dance Battle Mode

Dance Battle Mode is a team mode that features up to 8-player support. Although individual scores are the basis of the overall team scores, the extreme multiplayer basis of the mode changes what can be the individual nature of dance into something very different.

Party Mode

Party Mode is a straight up dance fest in which players can get together and dance for as long as they want, just for the fun of it.

Just Sweat Mode

An exercise mode disguised as fun, the meter built into the Just Sweat Mode allows players to measure the energy they expend while dancing as well as set objectives to be met during their dance sessions.

Key Game Features

Chart-Topping Singles - Over 45 new tracks from classic hits and legendary songs to today's chart-toppers

Real Moves - Like its predecessor, Just Dance 2 features iconic dance moves choreographed by real experts to every style of music, including rock, pop, hip hop, R&B, and world beat

All New Game Modes - All new modes deliver hours of multiplayer fun

Just Sweat It Off - Just Dance 2 is a workout in disguise, keeping you energized and motivated as you dance the calories away. You can also keep an eye on your fitness with the Just Dance Sweat Meter and a calorie burn counter

Multiplayer Support - In certain modes Just Dance 2 supports up to 8 players

Improved Wii Remote Recognition - Just Dance 2 contains more accurate movement recognition of the Wii Remote, allowing better dancers to reap the rewards of their superior skill

My Take on the Game

Ok, I usually have two left feet when it comes to dancing. My girls on the other hand will dance at any song that comes on. When I d dance, it usually is spinning around with my girls or slow dancing with my wife, so I had no idea what to expect in this game. I had heard many positive things, but when I actually got into the game I was impress by the game.

As I started, it took me a little while to get used to the controls and the moves. The moves were quite fast and furious and combines with a great mix of songs, you can, as my girls would say, get your groove on.

As I got into the game I started to notice that this game really got your heart moving. Especially in the Just Sweat It Off mode, you simply burn calories like there is no tomorrow. My wife even got into the fun and she stated that she could even get into the songs and the game. I think the reason for this and for my reaction was the fact that even though this was a game it got you moving and gave you a fun workout that you could have as a family!

I'm getting the hang of the moves and the game and I look forward to continuing to have fun with these dance, while learning a lotof different moves and dances. Though we only have three controllers right now, I think eventually we will need a fourth so the whole family can get the fun all at once!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Kids Teaching Yoga

Yoga, To Help Calm and Focus Your Child

By age eight, it was apparent that Haley was bestowed with a high level of intelligence, creativity and energy. So much energy, in fact, that at times it was hard for her to manage the long hours of sitting that are often required in elementary schools these days. Her parents were looking for ways to help her focus and be more successful in school, so they referred her to the yoga class taught by the school counselor, Lynea Gillen.
Counselor Gillen had been working at this elementary school for many years before she met Haley. Gillen, a 35-year practitioner of yoga and yoga teacher, had been creating new ways of using yoga breathing techniques and poses to help children in the school's behavior classroom calm themselves and focus. The principal of the school and other teachers saw the positive effects this program was having and soon the school district moved two other behavior classrooms to Gillen's school.

One of the benefits of yoga Gillen noticed right away was that the activities calmed the students' nervous systems. They became more connected to their feelings and more receptive to learning. As a result, Gillen started to marry the calming yoga activities with some new communication and social skills games she had been developing.

Haley

Taking it one step further, she started having the students lead the "Yoga Calm" activities. Four years later, Haley, her star assistant, was actually teaching the activities to the other children in the behavior classroom as well as to her siblings at home. Today, Haley is thriving in school, while the Yoga Calm program is being used by thousands of schoolteachers, counselors and parents across the country.
In 2007, Gillen published success stories like Haley's and 60 school and home activities in her award-winning book, Yoga Calm for Children. But to better capture the beauty and magic of what happens when children discover and share their unique talents she created a new children's yoga DVD, Kids Teach Yoga: Flying Eagle (www.yogacalm.org, Three Pebble Press, January, 2011). It was developed with her husband, Jim, a long-term yoga instructor in Portland and co-author of their original book.

Haley, now a graceful and poised 12-year-old, leads a diverse group of boys and girls (ages 4-11) on a yoga adventure. The children learn how to calm themselves and use simple yoga poses and balance activities to develop the strengths of the eagle (be strong, focused and caring). With the class broken up into three segments, children can do just a few poses or the entire 21-minute class. Parents, teachers, and the kids themselves report positive effects immediately.

To build social skills and a sense of community, each child contributes to the class by leading activities and giving each other compliments. There are other team-building group activities, too, like Tree Circle where children help each other to learn more advanced balance poses.

Rylie

Perhaps the most poignant scene is at the end of class when student Rylie invokes her Native American heritage's love and respect for the eagle through a beautiful original song performed during Haley's relaxation storytelling sequence.
Beautifully filmed in HD, the outdoor setting of this DVD, and the bonus segment's footage of eagles in the wild with narration by Audubon Naturalist, Steve Engel, is purposely designed to inspire children's curiosity and knowledge of the natural world. In another bonus segment, Dr. Jeff Sosne, an expert on ADHD, teaches one important eagle skill -- focus -- by engaging the children in a game designed for classrooms and home to develop eye contact and improve concentration.

Children love animals. The symbolism of the eagle in this class -- combined with children leading the yoga activities, storytelling and the music -- are powerful motivators for developing fitness, imagination, environmental awareness and lifelong social skills.

Gillen hopes as more children try yoga, they will learn how to direct their youthful energy and passion to helping others and making the world a better place. Kids Teach Yoga: Flying Eagle is a good place to start.

My Take on the DVD
When I first watched this DVD with my girls they were a bit skeptical. In saying this though I found that once it got going they were interested in the positions and showing off what they could do. I have tried Yoga in the past and this DVD is a great starting point for kids, and even adults, to allow them to start slow with uncomplicated positions. What I liked most was that this DVD got my kids up and moving. It is long enough to feel quite stretched out and short enough to keep a child's attention.

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