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Over the last few weeks at BioForce Golf, we have had many questions about golf fitness exercises.

Questions such as: are these type of exercises beneficial to someone who has had a lower back injury, what are the best types of exercises to improve my clubhead speed, and what flexibility exercises can improve my back swing?

Through many of our free daily golf tips on our website, we have provided answers to these questions and many more. One area of golf fitness I get quite a few questions about revolves on how to implement golf exercises into a golf swing improvement program.

Many of the individuals who come to our site are not experts in “working out.” I’ve written my golf-specific exercise manual, YOUR BODY & YOUR SWING, to help you develop a program for yourself.

Probably one of the most-asked questions is: how do I go about introducing certain exercises into my golf fitness program?

At times, certain individuals are unable to perform an exercise in its basic form. They are either out of shape, suffering from an injury, or too stiff to perform it correctly. A Russian Twist may be too difficult for a beginner to execute correctly. It takes great core strength, endurance and flexibility to complete the exercise to the limit.

In this type of situation there are “baby steps” you can take in terms of implementing such exercises into your golf fitness program.

I like to call this the “position, movement, tolerance” training guideline. This is an easy methodology to follow in terms of implementing exercises into a training program.

We’ll use the Russian Twist exercise in my book, YOUR BODY & YOUR SWING, as an example.

When you are implementing a golf fitness exercise(s) into your golf swing improvement program, you must be able to place the body in the correct starting position of the exercise.

For example, if I were to have you perform a Russian Twist, first I would ask you to place your body in the correct position for the exercise. In this situation it would be knees slightly bent and placing your torso in a position where the “abs were turned on.”

Hold it Right There!

Just placing your body in the correct position for an exercise requires effort from the body. If you were able to place your body in the correct position, I would then ask you to “hold” this position for a certain amount of time. This would indicate you are strong enough to add movement to your golf fitness exercise.

On the other hand, if you were only able to hold the starting position of the Russian Twist for 15 seconds before your lower back started to bother you, this is an indicator to me that this is where we begin your golf fitness program. I would have you “hold” the start position of this golf exercise for a certain number of seconds and sets. This would, over a period of time, develop more strength and endurance in those golf muscles.

Once we have reached a good “hold” time on a golf exercise, we then progress to adding “movement” into the equation. Movement simply stands for range of motion (how much movement you can do). Every golf exercise has a certain range of motion you move through to get the greatest benefit for your golf game.

In the Russian Twist example, a full range of motion would be a full shoulder turn to the left and right of center. Again, at the beginning you may be unable to make a full shoulder turn. So what do we do? We slowly work on increasing the “movement” within the golf exercise until you are at a point of full range.

As with the idea of “position,” we do the same with the idea of “movement.” We gradually increase until you have achieved a full range of motion in the golf exercise. Once this is achieved, we move on to the final stage of implementing a golf-specific exercise.

The final stage of implementing any golf exercise into your golf swing improvement program is “tolerance.” Tolerance can be defined as performing the correct number of sets and repetitions of a golf exercise for it to be beneficial to your golf game.

No Pain, No Gain!

The idea of “no pain, no gain” does not work in this situation. Rather, you want to be able to perform a self-prescribed number of sets and reps of every golf exercise in your program. This prescribed amount of work is up to you, the individual golfer, and what you feel is best for your body.

Too little work will provide you no benefit. Too much work or following the “no pain, no gain” mind-set can increase the possibility of injury greatly.

You need to use your best judgment on every golf exercise in your program. This will allow you to perform each golf exercise with the correct technique, develop (maybe over time) the correct range of motion of each golf exercise in your program, and finally take each exercise to “your own level of tolerance.”

It is very easy to implement golf exercises into your golf swing improvement program. Follow the simple rule of “position, movement, tolerance,” and this should help you dramatically in the development of your golf fitness program.

Once you’ve mastered the exercises and routines in your current exercise program, you’ll be ready to take it to the next level, a more advanced program.

Sean Cochran

About the Author

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.

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Obesity is a rapidly growing trend in America. Nationwide, obesity rates have increased exponentially between 1991 and 2000, with a large amount of increase in the southern states. According to research done by the CDC, all 50 states in America had obesity prevalence rates of at least 15 percent and 35 out of 50 states had obesity prevalence rates of higher than 20 percent. The United States government has implemented several initiatives to help combat obesity in America. The Food and Drug administration began a program entitled “Calories Count”, and the Department of Health and Human Services teamed up with the Ad Counsel to educate American’s about bettering their health and providing weight loss tips. While both programs are a step in the right direction, they focus more on the behavioral aspects of weight loss. Diet and exercise are an important part of combatting obesity, along with appropriate medical attention. Many doctors believe that it is not only behavioral components that cause obesity, and that there are many biological components of obesity as well. Endocrinologists are specialists in the field of hormones and glands. They can determine if obesity in an individual is caused by hormone and glandular dysfunction. A survey conducted by The Endocrine Society showed that 37 percent of all endocrinologists believe that a quarter of their obese patients are affected by endocrine disorders that lead to their obesity. There are also other health factors that affect obese people. Diabetes, hypertension, and high blood cholesterol are other health factors brought on by obesity. Millions of dollars are spent by insurance companies every year to insure treatment for these conditions. Obesity in America has been an expanding epidemic for 20 years, and understanding this disease and educating the public on the causes of obesity will help many in the future.

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It is absolutely amazing how and what happened to propel baseball into a world following. The facts the fiction the truth the half truths and general speculation caused and still causes a torrent of arguments and controversy.

We are obliged to accept some and most of our storied history of the game as pure fact. Does it matter just a whole heck of lot if one of us adds our twist to an occurrence? If we just accept and go on then everything is alright and all is well in Podunk, Muddville or Peoria. Slippery Rock is not even in this mix.

The only time Slippery Rock is of any big concern is a Saturday afternoon in every football stadium around the nation when the public address announcer gives half-time scores of games around the country. Fail to mention how Slippery Rock is faring and the crowd gets restless with concern.

Let’s get back to my baseball. Generally it is confirmed that professional baseball had it’s genesis beginning in 1871.

It is reported that Bobby Mathews of The Kekiongas from Fort Wayne won the first National Association game ever played shutting out Forest City of Cleveland, 2-0, on May 4, 1871. This was some 42 years prior to my mothers birth date of May 4,1913.

Mom did not tell me about the game I found out about it from some book about baseball. So information is not necessarily passed on person to person or generation to generation one on one.

From this 1871 game of an association of players calling themselves the National Association it has tassled out to be 30 well organized Big League teams of the National and American Leagues of Professional Baseball.

The hodge podge of teams formed somewhat informally and playing in a loose knit association it was doomed for failure. Failure came by attrition of some teams folding others joining and all struggling without an at the top management control or ownership.

Struggle as struggle will up jumps ole boy with the money and the where with all to see the possibility of this action being a profitable venture. In 1876 William Hurlbert , owner of Chicago’s National Association club, started a league where the power and the profits were controlled by team owners, instead of the players.

Now here is some of the fact or fiction to believe or not to believe. From the 1871 association of teams only two teams have survived until this day in the National League. Can you name the two teams?

Here we go they are Boston (Atlanta Braves)and Chicago (Chicago Cubs). From these two only one city can proudly proclaim we were there when it started and we are still ticking. Our caps are tipped to Chicago and all those Cubs fans.

Batter Up—Let’s Play Ball…

Major Wiley B. Channell USMC (retired) http://www.baseballfarming.com playing baseball and trying to get a scratch hit.

Baseball try it you will love it.

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The Best Coaches in NCAA Football History

NCAA football, particularly Division I-A, is one of the most competitive collegiate sports. Many coaches have had winning seasons, but only the greatest are remembered by fans. Bobby Bowden, forty four years after coaching his first college game and after twenty nine years with Florida State, is the winningest coach in NCAA history. His Seminoles were ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Top Five for fourteen consecutive seasons. His 1999 team was the first ever to go from opening game to the championship while maintaining their number one AP ranking the whole time. He is ranked second in most bowl wins. When he took over in 1976, the Seminoles had won a total of only four games in three seasons. His career record with the Seminoles, playing some of the league’s toughest teams, is 278-70-4. Also considered a NCAA coaching great is Joe Paterno. As he prepares for his fortieth year with Penn State, he is in second place for all time victories, only behind Bobby Bowden. He led the Nittany Lions to national championships in 1982 and 1986 and had five unbeaten/untied seasons. Oh, and he is the one Bobby Bowden is chasing for all time bowl wins with a record of 20-10-1.

If NCAA football was a religion in Alabama, Paul “Bear” Bryant would be their messiah. He led the Crimson Tide to six national titles between 1961 and 1979. At the time of his retirement, he was the winningest coach of all time and also held the record for most bowl wins. Bear was known as a stern, no nonsense coach. He once suspended his star quarterback, Joe Namath, causing him to miss the 1964 Sugar Bowl.

But Bowden and Paterno, as great as they are, may never be able to reach the greatness a certain Norwegian achieved while coaching America’s most famous Irish-Catholic university. Knute Rockne has been the subject to countless books and even a movie that featured a former president, Ronald Reagan, as his most famous player, George Gipp. Even people that don’t know much about football or Notre Dame surely know the line “Win one for the Gipper.” What Rockne could have accomplished will never be known. He was cut down in his prime, dying in a plane crash at age 42. But in his short thirteen years at Notre Dame, he managed to compile a record of 105-12-5, including six national championships. That is the winningest percentage (.881) of any NCAA football coach ever. He was also created the unstoppable backfield known as the four horsemen that led the Fighting Irish to a 28-2 record. He was dearly loved not only by his players, but fans as well.

Sure, there will be other great coaches in the future of the NCAA. But no one can ever forget these great men or their astonishing accomplishments.

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There are a number of things you’ll need to have when you begin cycling. The 1st and most clear is a first-class bicycle that suits you! Whilst that may perhaps seem like a no-brainer, loads of people begin out on bikes that are either too small, or made with very poor quality parts, simply because they’re significantly cheaper. The proper fit and a well made mountain bike can make your journey a lot smoother nevertheless, don’t be enticed to bargain shop for your bicycle. However, instead buy one that will survive you a significant amount of time. As soon as you have a bicycle that’s suitable for you, it is time to purchase the other items that will assist you in becoming a keen cyclist.

Lights: The minimum needed by law for your bike is a few reflectors. Nonetheless a headlight and tail light are very useful, even throughout the day. When it is dark and rainy, they can make an enormous impact in your visibility to motor cars.

Tools: Just like driving a motor car, accidents do happen while you are biking. Therefore, it is important to keep some type of tool kit on you at all times to take care of flat tyres, uncooperative chains, loose bolts and other problems.

Helmet: Whilst it’s legal in the majority of locations to go without a helmet, in a lot of others, one is obligatory. If you are aiming to cycle frequently, it’s prudent to have one even in locations where no helmet law exists.

Clothing: Whilst special cycling clothing is definitely optional, it is wise to pay close attention to what you are wearing. Loose apparel should be prevented, or tucked up so they do not get trapped in the chain. Find superb deals on cycling shorts.

Locks: If you’re lucky enough to live in a place where you are able keep your bike inside all the time, combination lock is critical. Even in the countryside, there are individuals who will happily nick & resell your bicycle.

Related topics of interest include: F1 GP & Toy Sale.

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When you think of kayaks you most likely picture a kayak constructed from plastic or a composite of fiberglass and Kevlar. However, kayaks have been available in inflatable form for several decades. These kayaks are not like the simple inflatable water toys in your swimming pool. Inflatable kayaks provide durability and stay afloat easily. Plus, inflatable kayaks have superior tracking abilities compared to inflatable boats. These are just a snippet of the countless features that bring confidence and interest to many kayakers.

Inflatable kayaks have several advantages. They weigh less then their plastic and composite counter parts. They are easily mobile and can be carried by one person versus the need for several people to move a hard-hull kayak. Inflatable kayaks can be used on day tours, camping trips, and sea kayaking. If you have little storage space available, then an inflatable kayak will suit your needs. It can be quickly stored in a compact area.

Experienced kayakers may doubt the durability of inflatable kayaks, especially with regards to sea kayaking. Inflatable kayaks bode quite well on the sea. In fact, inflatable kayaks are puncture resistant. If a puncture does occur, then it can be patched up quickly. A puncture will not lead to a sinking kayak because of the structure of the inflatable kayak.

What type of inflatable kayak will best suit your kayaking needs? There are several brands and models of inflatable kayaks to choose from. Do you want speed or stability in your kayak? If you desire speed then a long, slender kayak will be a good option. If stability weighs on your decision then a short, wide kayak will be an effective match. There are more detailed factors to consider such as payload capacity. Consult an inflatable kayak specialist before purchasing your kayak.

Do kayaking techniques differ for inflatable kayaks? Since inflatable kayaks are lightweight they can fall prey to windy conditions and rough waters. One way to remedy this situation is to sit forward and paddle close to the kayak. Additional equipment can also alleviate adverse side effects of rough waters. Confer with a kayaking professional before using an inflatable kayak. They can tailor their advice to your kayaking experience level.

How much does an inflatable kayak cost? You may have local brick-and-mortar kayaking and hiking stores in your town where you can buy a kayak. However, the Internet offers a bevy of choices. Many inflatable kayak manufacturers have company websites where you can order your kayak. You can also do comparison price research by going to such websites as http://www.nexttag.com. Prices can range from twenty dollars to several hundred dollars. With a little research you can find an inflatable kayak that has the features you want at a price you can afford.

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When you were a kid and played baseball, if you were lucky enough to even find 18 kids to play a regulation game, when it came to the batting order you pretty much took your best hitter and put him in the cleanup, or fourth spot in the order and just threw everyone else anywhere you could think. It didn’t really matter.

Major league managers have to put a little more thought into their lineups. Each spot in the order, from 1 all the way down to 9 is important. You will never see a manager just “throw” somebody into a spot in the lineup. So, if you’re a manager, what do you take into consideration when making a lineup?

The leadoff hitter may very well be one of the most important hitters in the game. Statistics show that when your leadoff, or number one hitter gets on base, your team is more likely to score in that inning than if he doesn’t. So it is important that you have a leadoff hitter who can run fast, has a good eye at the plate and is a contact hitter. You don’t want somebody who is always swinging for the fences. You want somebody with a good eye so that they can draw a lot of walks. You want somebody who can run fast so that they can beat out a lot of infield hits and maybe even stretch a single into a double. All of these things will contribute to him getting on base more often and having more chances to score runs.

Your number two hitter is somebody who should also be a contact hitter and maybe have a little power. He doesn’t have to be a home run hitter but he should be able to hit in the gaps for doubles in order to bring home a quick run if the leadoff hitter gets on and maybe steals a base, another benefit of being fast.

Your numbers 3, 4 and 5 hitters are actually almost interchangeable. They should all have good power and be able to hit at least 30 home runs a season. These are the guys who are going to be driving in the majority of your runs. Some managers put their strongest hitter 3rd and some 4th. The ones who put their strongest hitter 3rd are the ones who want the best chance of getting him up in the first inning to bring in at least a couple of runs. The ones who put him 4th are the ones who want to maximize run potential even though there is a chance he won’t get up in the first since there are only 3 outs in an inning.

Your 6, 7 and 8 hitters are usually your weakest hitters, from strongest to weakest in that order. The number 8 hitter however is very important. You want somebody down there who has the best chance of getting on base in some way so that the pitcher doesn’t lead off the next inning. So the number 8 slot is one where you don’t want to put an automatic out.

The number 9 slot is always for the pitcher as you want him hitting as few times in the game as possible. Most pitchers are bad hitters and therefor you don’t want them anywhere near a bat.

There are of course many strategies to making lineups, but these are the basics. If you stick to these, you should have no trouble putting together a good lineup for your team.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Baseball

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A new kayak costs a lot of money. But with a little research, a used kayak can be just as good at half the price.

Kayaks are a big investment for many people. Paying for a kayak does not have to hurt. You can buy a used tandem kayak. Tandem is another large kayak maker that produces dozens of different models of kayak. The Tandem brand has been around long enough that great Tandem kayaks can be bought used for excellent prices and, most of the time, in good shape.

It is easy to find a used kayak. The best way to find a good used kayak is to use the Internet. You will be able to find personal used boats for sale as well as sales through dealers. Modern kayaks have such high quality that demand is rapidly growing for good used models. You can save a lot of money by looking for a used kayak.

When buying a used kayak, it is important to inspect the boat thoroughly before buying it. Kayaks must be in like-new condition. You do not want to put your money into a boat that has been damaged. Dents or patches on the kayak’s hull can degrade with the boat’s performance. When you have done your thorough check, you might have found a great deal if the kayak is in excellent shape. You could spend thousands of dollars on a new kayak, but you might spend less than half that on a used one! Saving money is important, but so is investing your money.

Before you go to inspect a used kayak, be sure you have done good research and have found the best deals available. You will also want to be sure that you are close to where you plan to buy the used kayak. Your research could be a great reward.

You will then be able to afford more and better equipment, and, just as important, be able to spend more time on the water.

You can find great deals, tips and news, information and reviews to help you find used kayaks at CanoesAndKayaks.info.
This article can be reproduced in full as long as the resource box and live links remain intact. Copyright www.canoesandkayaks.info.

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Yearly it’s the very same tale. In spite of walking to the office, and an episodic long walk, every ski season kicks off on those harrowing first few hikes when I am forgotten in the paths of younger and abler skiing pals.

If you’re out of shape whilst skiing it’s beastly, and could be downright dangerous. To descend you need to have extra capability. If you are a tired skier you are more than likely to have injuries and weariness can be a contributing element to accidents, for example falls and crevasse falls.

Surely there is a safer manner to kickoff the winter, and a freshly released 307 page report by Steven Bynum, who has previously penned Geneva to Chamonix – A Walker’s Guide, looks to extend a resolution. Although targeted at climbers the info is largely relevant to ski touring, with its strenuous scrambles as well as other hobbies.

Climbing, training for best results is well researched and a good read. It is a quality well rounded guide which gathers together some poignant detail. One can acquire a particular training regime or tweak your existing one. Granted that it’s mainly for mountaineers, thus much of the information will be extraneous for touring, it is by all odds an account to acquire if you prefer to do any of the big day or multi day routes.

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WE BECOME WHAT WE DO

“Because we always have control over the doing component of our behavior, if we markedly change that component, we cannot avoid changing the thinking, feeling, and physiological components as well.”
William Glasser, _Take Effective Control of Your Life_

Dr. Roberto Assagioli called this technique of controlling what we do “acting as if” . . .

“If we are sad or depressed, it is difficult, if not impossible, to become cheerful or serene through a direct act of will. It IS within our power to smooth our forehead, lift our head, smile, and speak words of harmony, optimism, confidence, and joy.

“The use of this technology will actually change our emotional state. Little by little, and sometimes rapidly, the emotional state will follow, adapt itself to, and match the attitude and external behavior.”
Roberto Assagioli, _The Act of Will_

The great acting coach Constantin Stanislavsky called aligned principles simply “the method.”

What almost unimaginable, and transcendent, freedom we have. Act as we want to be, and we will become it. We do not have to be slaves to our emotions, our psychological barbs, our internal weather. We just need to imagine how we want to be and then put it into ACTION.

WHISTLING IN THE DARK

Our emotions are chemicals. (For more about emotions and chemicals, read Candace Pert’s _Molecules of Emotion_.) Whistling in the dark, acting confident when we are scared, changes our emotions. Our chemical self changes and we have the chemicals of confidence. We are confident!

No longer just acting the part.

Let’s all become actors today. Who will you be?

BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY

A queen in your court? Don that invisible crown and wave your imaginary scepter at life, commanding not cowering. Start now, Your Highness. Oh, so high.

A tycoon? Walk like a trillionaire. Get the chemicals of a magnate coursing through your blood and bones and you will become a magnet for riches — the Midas method turning all to gold.

A jewel of joy? Put on a happy face, add a bounce to your step, and open your arms wide to life. To paraphrase some song I heard long ago, say loudly when you open your arms: “I’m big! I’m glad! I’m nationwide!” Those chemicals of delight will soon stream through every cell.

“Acting as if” lets you design a new life. Shall we hold an Oscar night? You can turn your role into a day-to-day reality. You will win much more than an Oscar.

AND TODAY . . .

Decide who you are going to be today. Confident? Optimistic? Vibrant? Playful? Patient? Successful? Loving? What do you really want?

Sit for a while and imagine how you would act if you were that person. Make notes on posture, gestures, tone of voice, manner of dressing, way of walking, enunciation, expressions, sound and action of laughing, topics of conversation, you’ll think of more as you wholly and completely and fully imagine this new you. Take time with this exercise, no less than ten minutes.

Then stand up and begin to play the part. Go to the mirror and perfect your acting. This will be fun. You are doing what you loved to do as a child — make believe. You have not lost that skill to make believe. You just need to let it out on stage today.

Your acting will change every molecule in your body. Not to mention your life.

Today you are the director, the actor, and the producer all rolled (and “role”d) into one transforming performance.

Ready? Roll those cameras. The first scene starts now. Action!

©Copyright 2002 Stephanie West Allen

Stephanie West Allen, JD, brings humor and motivation to associations and organizations. http://www.allen-nichols.com
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