How to Dress For Your Body Shape... Dressing for Your Bodyshape The fact is that, whatever your shape and size, not every item of clothing is going to suit you. This applies to everyone from wafer thin models to individuals of far more generous proportions. However, it is certainly true that those with larger or less common body shapes may have more trouble finding clothes that flatter them. For starters, many shops simply don’t cater to everyone. If you don’t fall into a pretty limited size and height boundary then the choices can be extremely limiting and this can make shopping trips a stressful, rather than pleasurable, ...

Field Hockey: a Fun Way to Stay Fit... Looking for a new way to stay in shape? How about field hockey? Field hockey is an exciting, fast-paced game that will give you a run for your workout. This outdoor sport will condition your cardiovascular system and help you stay limber. You\’ll also exercise your mind through the mental strategy and teamwork that\’s involved. Field hockey differs from ice hockey in several ways. For starters: There is usually less physical contact The playing sticks are smaller It\’s played with a ball, rather than a puck There\’s no helmet or heavy padding (except for the goalie) Teams have 11 players, not six There are more ...

Gymnastics for Kids... Every four years, the world tunes in to watch young Olympic gymnasts compete for the gold. Most of these athletes began as small children and developed their talents gradually. Do you think your child might be game? A gymnastics class can do wonders for kids, regardless of whether they make it to the Summer Games. Gymnastics takes time and patience to master, but there are lasting benefits. As young as 4 or 5 years old, children can be introduced to basic movements, which they can build on as they grow older. This training can help a child improve: Physical strength Coordination Agility Flexibility Balance Speed Focus Once ...

Tips for Managing and Preventing Muscle Cramps... If you’ve ever had a "charley horse," you know the sudden, intense pain and tightness caused by a muscle locked in spasm. A muscle cramp is the contraction of a muscle that refuses to relax. Cramps can involve part or all of a muscle, or several muscles in a group. The most commonly affected muscle groups are: Back of lower leg calf Back of thigh (hamstrings) Front of thigh (quadriceps) Feet, hands, arms, abdomen and rib cage Cramps typically occur when these muscles are overworked (known as "muscle fatigue"). Experts believe that the exertion may cause a nerve malfunction that prevents the ...

Kids and Team Sports: How to Play it Safe... It’s that time of year. The kids are in school and team sports are in full swing. Your child is having fun, learning the concept of teamwork, feeling the physical and mental benefits of exercise and making new friends. Yet, it is estimated that each year, more then three million children are injured while playing sports. Football causes the most sports injuries in children 18 and younger, followed by basketball. Other sports, including volleyball, cheerleading, soccer, gymnastics and field hockey cause thousands of injuries each year. Teach your child how to prevent injury and get the most out of ...

Racquetball and Squash: High-Intensity Workouts... Looking for a strenuous workout but don\’t have a lot of time? Consider squash or racquetball. Both games offer challenging workouts that test your fitness and keep you on your toes. Plus, they are ideal sports during those too-hot or too-cold months when you want to exercise indoors. Squash and racquetball: What\’s the difference? Squash and racquetball may look like the same game, but they\’re not. They\’re both played on indoor courts with a racquet and ball, but: Squash courts are shorter and wider. Racquetballs are larger and have more bounce. The racquets for each are shaped differently. Squash has more out-of-bound zones. Racquetball ...

Kids and Cheerleading: Is It Safe?... Your child is bursting with enthusiasm with plans to try out for the school cheerleading squad. You want her to be happy, but you\’ve heard some scary stories about cheerleading injuries. How can you make sure she won\’t break a bone, get kicked in the head or fall from a pyramid? If you decide to let your child get involved in cheerleading, do some homework. Talk to the coaching staff to find out if the program is safe. You can also teach your child some important rules that will help her avoid injury. Is the program safe? Cheerleading can ...

Getting Ready for a Bicycle Race... Bicycle racing is one of the world\’s most popular competitive sports. But it requires commitment. The life of a successful racer can be rigorous and demanding. If you hope to do well, you\’ll need to put in serious time and effort. You\’ll also need a to-do list to help you get started. Here are the basics. Just remember to check with your doctor before you commit to a strenuous lifestyle change. Make sure your bike is professionally fitted. You\’ll need to be able to ride comfortably. You can\’t race if you\’re in pain. A mechanic at a bicycle ...

Hot-Weather Health Threats... Mother Nature has turned up the heat. It\’s summer - and hot weather comes with the territory. But be careful. Too much heat can be dangerous. About 600 people die each year from the heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Normally, the body cools itself by sweating. Sometimes, though, sweating isn\’t enough. When this happens, the body cannot cool itself. This can lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Heat cramps People who sweat a lot when they are active are more prone to heat cramps. Too much sweating can deplete the body ...

How to Prepare and Get Ready for a 100-Mile Bike R... Completing a century bike ride (100 miles) is a major milestone. After all, it takes real stamina for most cyclists to do this in a single day. In most cases, a century bike ride is not an actual race. Its true purpose is to test your endurance and give you a sense of accomplishment. Along the way, you get to meet new people and take in the scenery. But century riding is not for everyone. It requires a great deal of training. First things first, you need to have a serious discussion with your doctor to see if you\’re ...