Life is Beautiful !!

All of us need some challenges in our lives to keep us stimulated and lead our lives to the fullest. We go through stress everyday regardless whether its pleasant or not or whether it is an emotional stress or a physical one. Stress is the body's general response to any demand made on it. When we are stressed, our heart tend to beat faster, our breathing becomes heavier, our muscles contracts, our mouth feels dry and our pupils dilated. This can lead to serious health problems.
The way one handles stress varies. I would go for a spa treatment if i feel stressed, pamper myself and just relax my mind and my body. Its a pity that some people are too busy or just dont have the time to make time to pamper themselves. I consider myself very lucky doing things i love to do and having a job i enjoy doing, amiin......

The way a person handles stress varies from one individual to another. One of the important aspect of dealing with stress is knowing the way in which your body responds to the challenges. You must first identify the causes of the stresses in you life. Once identified, you can learn to cope with them. Remember that when your body and mind is stressed over a long period of time, you will

begin to have high blood pressure, muscle tensions which causes body aches, overly sensitive, and body resistance begins to dwindle.

I always recommend stretching for stress relieve besides meditation and a good body massage.

Other than these methods, i find breathing techniques and visualization to be effective and does really helps. Ive done these techniques a dozen times in my classes around the country especially when i noticed some of the students were too stressed during the courses. (Kursus JSBN, KBS etc...). You too can do the breathing techniq ues and visualization in your own home or at the office. It can help us feel better mentally, emotionally and physically.

Breathing patterns are directly related to the stress response and can influence your emotional state. When stressed, without realising your breathing patterns will change. Shallow or short breathing from the chest will worsen anxiety and reduce energy level. To avoid this and to ensure correct exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs, breathe deeply and use diaphragm instead of the chest muscles. ( eg. yoga breathing technique)

Try doing this :

Lie flat, release the muslces from feet to upper body step by step. Close your eyes and release your face muscles.
Distract your mind from stress provoking thoughts, just relax.
Put one hand on your chest and one on your tummy.
Breathe slowly through your nose keeping your mouth slightly open. As you inhale through your nose, allow air to push your abdomen up so that your hand rises.
Hold in breath a few seconds and as you exhale feel your tummy deflate and your hand falls.
Repeat a few times and then vizualise you are inhaling positive thoughts and exhaling all the negativities in your life.

Keep on breathing slowly, eyes still closed, now direct your attention to each part of your body.
Tense the muscle of the area, hold for 10 seconds, then release and totally relax the muscle feeling it weak and heavy.
Concentrate on the warmth and heaviness of the muscles for about another 10 seconds. By now you can feel your body totally relaxed.
Eyes still closed, imagine you are at a pleasant, peaceful place, maybe a meadow, cool green mountains or a deserted beach.

I always recommend imagining birds flying between the clouds and faces of the people you love smiling at you.

Concentrate , focus and put yourself in the relaxed picture for about 10-15mins.
Try to imagine the colour, smell and sounds.
Practise these techniques regularly even if you are not stressed. It will lead to a more relaxed general view of life.

Go to places you have always wanted to go.

Surround yourself with positive thinking friends

Get a cat or an aquarium full of colourful fish. Watching animals play can be a calming effect

Never take your family for granted

Enjoy life while you can.

Like i always say - Life is short and life is what you make of it, you are responsible on how you want your life to be.

Think positive !!


this article is specially dedicated to Pn NorSeela :)

Biceps and Triceps

In my posting dated August 29, 2009, i did highlight on arms exercises using tubings or bands. I do not know why i am into arms, maybe because i am too embarrass to wear sleeveless because i know i dont have beautiful arms. I know most of us have the same problem or probably we dont have enough courage or confidence to wear em' sexy sleeveless dressess. Some of my students come up to me on how to work on these muscles. I will always try to include workouts on these muscles besides concentrating on the midcore. Below are some exercises on arms you might want to try at home or probably at the office while waiting for the traffic to disperse.

The two major muscles at our arm are the Biceps and Triceps

Biceps is located on your upper arm. The biceps are the muscles that you use to lift things like a bucket of water, heavy loads like when you run out of gas and have to change the gas cylinders, when you bowl ( as in bowling) or just simple movements like carrying a baby.

Triceps are the muscles along the back of your biceps. If they are too flabby, some people call them 'the wings' . The good news is that all muscles work in pairs.

This is because they can contract and relax but cannot push or stretch themselves. When you do a bicep curl, your biceps muscles contracts and at the same time your triceps is pulled to make it longer. Likewise when the triceps contracts at the sametime the biceps is pulled to make it longer. These two muscles work together. Neither muscles can stretch by itself, it must be stretched by its antagonist or partner

Arm push up

A. Lie on left side, with left hand resting on right shoulder. Point right hand fingers toward head, flat on the floor in front of your chest.

B. Contract abdomen and chest while you push off right hand and lift your body several inches off floor. Slowly lower. Repeat 10 times, then switch sides.

This workout focuses mostly on the triceps and the deltoid muscles (shoulder muscles)


Tricep extension using band

A. Stand with right foot about 2 feet in front of left (do not lock knees), with the middle of a resistance band under left foot. Hold ends of band in each hand, and position arms so elbows are bent next to ears and your hands are behind your head.

B. Slowly extend arms over your head, keeping elbows next to ears. Remember to tugged in your tummies in order for you to have a straight back to prevent hyperextension. Then slowly lower back to starting position. Do 15 reps with right leg forward. Switch legs, then anchor band with left leg, and repeat

This exercise focuses mainly on your triceps.

Please do not arch your back or head or arms fall back, this is an hyperextention and you will not want to hurt your back

Crossover Extension

Lie on the floor with your knees bent. Holding a dumbbell in your right hand, raise your arm straight up. Place your left hand on your right triceps for balance; it will also help you feel the



muscles working. Slowly bend your right arm 90 degrees across your chest, taking care not to bend your wrist. Pause for one or two seconds, then straighten your arms.

It is important for you to work on different areas of each muscles groups. The following consists of two exercises each for the biceps and the triceps. This allows you to work different areas of each of these muscle groups.

Pick a weight that allows you to complete between 8 and 15 repetitions. Perform two to three sets of each exercise before moving on to the next exercise. Give the muscles time to recover between workouts -- at least 48 hours.

BICEPS

Standing Biceps Curl with Dumbbells

Stand with feet apart parallel to your shoulders and slightly bend your knees, or sit in upright position.

1. Hold dumbbells with palms facing forward, arms hanging down at your sides.
2. Flex at the elbows and curl dumbbells up to approximately shoulder level. Keep elbows close to sides throughout movement, do not allow them to move forward. This exercise can be done with alternating the arms
   

Hammer Curls with Dumbbells

1. Stand as abovementioned position, or sit in upright position.
2. Hold dumbbells with palms facing each other, arms hanging down at your sides.
3. Flex at the elbows and curl dumbbells up to approximately shoulder level. Keep elbows close to sides throughout movement and do not allow them to move forward. This can be done by alternating the arms
   

Note: Remember to keep back and head straight in a neutral position throughout movement. Shoulders should be stabilized by squeezing shoulder blades together slightly only the elbow joint should move.

TRICEPS

Lying Triceps Extension with Dumbbells

1. Sit in upright position on a flat bench. Rest dumbbells on corresponding thighs.
2. Lie on back and bring the dumbbells to your chest. Press up so they are directly over shoulders with palms facing in.
3. Lower dumbbells toward forehead by bending elbows to 90 degree angle. Elbows should remain pointing to the ceiling. Arms shouldn't move from the shoulder to the elbow

Triceps Kickback with Dumbbells

1. Place right knee and left hand on flat bench. Keep back flat.
2. Hold dumbbell. Raise right arm up so that upper arm is parallel to floor with lower arm hanging straight down toward floor and palm facing in.
3. Keep upper arm parallel to floor and raise dumbbell straight back until arm is almost straight. Do not lock elbow.
4. Lower dumbbell slowly back to starting position, keeping your upper arm parallel to the floor. All the movement should be in your elbow, not your shoulder.
5. After performing all the repetitions with the right arm, reverse position and perform move with left arm.

Note: For both exercises, remember to keep back and head straight in a neutral position because hyperextension may cause injury. Keep shoulder stabilized throughout movement.

Reminder: Always warmup and stretch first before you do these exercises to avoid injury and when you are done, please do not forget to stretch. Good Luck people !

Shuffle anyone ?!!

Pernah dulu di Port Dickson saye di undang sebagai Jury/Pengadil untuk Pertandingan Shuffle, Poco Poco dan Senamrobik peringkat Negeri Sembilan. Sebetulnya saye ini seorang Pengadil Kecergasan yg telah diiktirafkan oleh Kementerian Belia & Sukan. Bila di sebut Kecergasan, bererti ia merangkumi banyak aspect termasuk la shuffle dan poco poco. Berpeluh juga la bilemana saye ditugaskan sebagai juri poco poco dan shuffle buat pertama kalinya, almaklum sajelah saya ini tidak termasuk dalam golongan yang minat dalam kedua bidang ini. Akan tetapi saya anggap ini sebagai cabaran lebih lebih lagi bila sudah di trained, dan rules & regulations nya boleh dikatakan similiar, tidak menjadi masalah besar lah untuk mengadilinya buat kali kedua di Selangor.



bersama kawan kawan juri Shuffle


salah satu kumpulan yang menunjukkan aksi menarik


satu perkara yang saye kurang mengerti adalah kenapa kebanyakan peserta suka memakai topeng semasa pertandingan.


bila dah ending baru la mereka membuka topeng mereka. pada pendapat saye, saye lebih suka kalau mereka memakai topeng seketika saja, sebab bile mereka buka topeng baru la kite nampak expressi muka mereka yang mana ini termasuk didalam katergory pemberian markah facial expression




menarik persembahan mereka dan dalam pemerhatian saya ada peningkatan dalam persembahan dimana ada lebih kurang 4 kumpulan yang mampu pergi ketahap nasional dan international. Mereka ini kreatif dari segi persembahan dan mampu melakukan nye dengan baik termasuk lah dari segi execution of movement



kumpulan yang didatangi khas dari Klang


Syabas anak anak muda semua, saya lebih suka melihat mereka berlatih shuffle dari melepak di komplek beli belah tanpa haluan. Sekurang kurangnya mereka menjalani satu kegiatan sihat dan kalau mereka serious, mereka boleh pergi jauh dalam bidang ini.