Hey guys! I’ve got a really interesting guest post today about martial arts. It’s not something that I’ve ever really tried before (aside form a few token Judo lessons as a child). It sounds fascinating though, I hope you enjoy
Stress is only something natural in us and it quite frankly comes down to how we deal with situations when we are overwhelmed with stress. I know a lot of my friends told me that martial arts actually helps them with stress and they’ve also learned how to control it. With this information I wanted to find out more about it.
I’ve been to a few kickboxing classes but never really understood the deeper knowledge of the art. Sure, a good healthy workout routine can help take your mind off things, but Martial arts has been a proven exercise that does all that and more. There are many types of Martial arts but I discovered that Tai chi is more based on spiritual ideas that promotes a need for balance in the body, mind, and spirit. It is a graceful form that uses slow hands and slow movements in the body which does wonders for the health and body too.
To give you a better understanding how, every Tai Chi movement consist of some sort of stretch, rotation and twisting of the muscles which helps to release tension in the body. Through these movements it pays attention to the connection between the mind and the body which can relieve stress, fight diseases, and enhance physical well-being. There are other Martial art forms out there like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Judo and more which you can learn more about at Martial Tribes. However, if you’re thinking that you need to become seriously healthy and put some zen into your life, then give Tai Chi a try, as it consists of components which can help improve quality of life and has plenty of health benefits.
You will find that when practicing Tai Chi, it works on all of the major muscle groups and joints and these are needed for the slow, gentle movements. After a few sessions of this low-impact, weight-bearing exercise, it will improve balance, agility, strength, flexibility, stamina, muscle tone, and coordination. A lot of seniors practice this art because it’s easy to get into and it’s effective and does the health wonders. It just shows that we should start earlier.
There are some people who don’t realise how important breathing is when you’re working out and it’s often ignored. When you perform deep breathing, it enhances blood circulation to the brain, which boosts mental alertness, and this simple practice supplies the entire body with fresh oxygen and nutrients. When you exhale stale air from the lungs and then inhale a lot of fresh air, this will increase your lung capacity and releases tension. This kind of breathing technique successfully helps you to balance and control your body and your mind by connecting the two.
During inhalation and exhalation, a form of energy is being allowed to complete a path of circulation through your whole body, and this makes your body connect to your mind. Other exercises like yoga as well as martial arts shows that meditation soothes the mind and enhances concentration. To be able to concentrate and focus will give your mind clear thoughts and reduces anxiety, you will even find yourself being more productive and getting things done. Staying calm and being able to control the stress you’re dealing with will give you a peaceful mind which then lowers blood pressure and heart rate meaning a happier you.
Have you ever done martial arts before?
Do you believe spirituality should come into play when exercising?
Hello lovely readers! Hope you’re having a fantastic week. Today I have a really interesting guest post about working in the food industry. I think it would be dangerous to work with food – I’d just eat it all
The great thing about the food industry is that eating doesn’t exactly go out of style. The food industry relies on passionate professionals with a broad range of skills to give us quality food, day in, day out.
There are lots of different ways your skills can be applied within the food industry – you don’t just have to become a chef! Here’re a few alternative foodie career options…
Manufacturing
In the UK, you can enter the food manufacturing industry by earning an NVQ while working on the job. By picking up the skills as you go, you’ll have a great foothold in an industry, which currently employs tens of thousands of people in the UK. This job might not exactly by ‘your calling’, but there’s certainly lots of interesting and well paid careers available in this area of employment.
Packaging
It’s not just a box – the amount of work which goes into the packaging of your food is staggering. Packages need to be designed to be attractive and meet industry standards for distribution. Every element of food packaging, from colour to imagery, requires a creative eye and a specialist skill set.
Research and development
Get into the food and beverage industry by working to put more, and better, quality products on the shelves. If you have an interest in food-related science or research in general, you could find yourself developing new products for domestic and international markets.
Logistics and supply chain
Good food has to get the people, and the logistics of delivery are an extremely rewarding career. On one end of the process, you’ll be sourcing ingredients for manufacturers, negotiating prices and quickly securing stock from around the world. At the other end of the food industry process, logistics work secures the supply chain, from manufacturing to retail outlets.
Marketing and PR
Manage a food company’s public image, deliver marketing campaigns, and maximise your brand to increase sales. It’s a highly translatable career and gives you a chance to exercise your creativity in service to good food. Food is big business, and even if you’re a qualified nutritionist or dietician, you could find yourself in a marketing role. Whether it’s online marketing, creating content for a company’s blog, or directing TV adverts, if you are struggling to get a job which directly utilises your nutrition skills, you can always expand your skillset outside of nutrition and obtain experience and skills in an niche such as marketing. In turn this will greatly enhance your chances of obtaining a job you will love. Take a look at this article to see an interesting case study.
Engineering
The manufacturing section of the food and beverage industry coordinates the production of quality for a food supplier such as Bidvest. This could involve supervising production chains, fixing bottlenecks or even redesigning the manufacturing process to develop more efficient manufacturing systems.
Health and safety
In the tabloids, the words ‘health and safety’ are treated like a slur, but it forms a vital part of the food industry. Health and safety specialists protect workers from injury in the production of food and are also responsible for making sure the environment is protected in the manufacturing of food.
Other
If you really want to come at your career from left field, you could always pursue a career in fortune cookie writing, or become a ‘flavour guru’, dedicated to using hyper focused taste buds to tasting the food before it’s sent to market! Or, you could even work as a professional food forager for kitchens dedicated to using wild food.
Have you found an amazing career in the food industry you’d like to share? Leave us a comment below, we’d love to hear about it!
Happy Friday everyone! I have a great guest post today all about cycling and in such a beautiful part of the UK, North Wales.
Cycling is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, and we’re lucky to have a nation covered in quality cycling routes. Combined with North Wales’ popularity as a family holiday destination, you can’t go wrong planning a cycling trip in the area. Get yourself a holiday cottage in Snowdonia and spend a weekend, or maybe a bit longer, on your bike in the beautiful Welsh hills.
Chester and Holyhead are already worthy destinations in their own rights – and for cycling fans there’s a really charming, but quite challenging, ride between the two. You have a multiple options along the way: National Cycle Routes 5 and 8 are available at various times, or you can hop off the main roads and take a scenic detour to avoid traffic. Strong cyclists are required for this route, as it takes up to eight or nine hours to complete in a day.
For mountain bike enthusiasts, Coed y Brenin is kind of the big one. It hosts a huge network of mountain biking routes of varied levels of difficulty. We recommend trying the Tarw Trail, if you’re an experienced mountain bike rider, a reasonably tough trail that starts off quite easy but, over the course of the ride, accelerates you into twisted rocky corners and some challenging terrain cambers. If you’re not a technically skilled rider, there are plenty of other options in the area.
If you’re interested in a more family friendly experience, the Mawddach Trail is a great bet. Both ends of the course lead to plenty of parking, cafés, and bike hire facilities. The ride itself is spectacularly scenic, giving you views of Southern Snowdonia and the gorgeous Mawddach estuary. The route is 9.5 miles long, so younger riders need not be overtaxed by taking in the whole route. If you plan a trip, don’t miss the iconic bridge railway at the Barmouth end.
Note: The flat, paved terrain and traffic-free ride make this a great route for any wheelchair users, or for disabled cyclists to build confidence before taking on other routes.
Forming part of National Cycle Route 5, the bike path between Talacre and Penmaenmawr is a charming coastal course. You’ll pass through Prestatyn, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Llanddulas, and more. The full route is 34 miles, so a competent rider should be able to complete the round trip in a day quite happily.
The trip from Caernarfon to Bryncir is a 12.5 mile stretch of scenic cycling on a section of National Cycle Route 8. You’ll be skirting the edges of Snowdonia with some wonderful vistas of nearby ridges and the occasional glimpse of Mt Snowdon over the hills. An usually-wide bike path with good tarmac, you’ll have wonderful views of the sea as you descend towards the ocean overlooking the Lleyn mountains.
If you’re screaming at your monitor because you can’t believe we left out your favourite route, let us know in the comments!
Hi guys, I have another guest post for you today – perfect timing as the nice weather seems to have arrived!
If you’re a naturally active person, who doesn’t often go more than a couple of days without doing some form of exercise, whether it be a leisurely walk or an intense workout, then you might find it difficult to sit still when on holiday or on a weekend away. It’s also more than likely we’ll spend a short break indulging in things that may not be all that good for our bodies! It is possible to maintain some shred of a healthy lifestyle whilst on holiday, though! Here’s how:
1. Explore the local area on your bike! It’s a great way to discover the place you’re staying in: it’s a fun, quick way to get around and see more, it’s super healthy, and best of all, it’s free.
2. Choose a nature break – instead of a city stay or a suburban break, choose to visit somewhere that’s plentiful with countryside or nature so you can get out and about in the wild. The Treehouse Hotel at Port Lympne Reserve, Kent, is the perfect retreat for an active, fit weekend away.
3. Download workout apps – this can help you to keep up with your workout routine by following workout videos or doing stretches whilst on the move. Some of our favourites are MyFitnessPal, Johnson & Johnson 7 Minute Workout, and Pocket Yoga.
4. Plan a fitness activity as part of your weekend away – book active excursions or activities so that moving around and being active is part of the enjoyment of your holiday.
5. Cook at home – cooking your own meals is often much less calorific than eating at a restaurant (you’ll also avoid the temptation of a tantalising dessert!) Book a holiday rental that offers its own kitchen or self-catering facilities and you can stick to your healthy eating regime at least for one or two meals a day.
6. Sip wisely – you’ll no doubt enjoy some bevvies on your break, but be sure to choose low-calorie alcoholic drinks and avoid sugary cocktails, opting for slim line tonic or soda water as a mixer instead.
7. Take the stairs – leave the lift behind and opt for the stairs at every opportunity – it’s a great way to help burn fat and tone up! Climbing or running up a set of stairs really works your glutes, helping to burn up to 953 calories per hour.
Incorporating these top 7 fitness tips during your next weekend break should be an easy way to stay on top of your health goals! What’s your favourite exercise to do during the holiday period? Let us know in the comments below!
How’s everyone this morning? If you’re from the UK, then hopefully you’re not still damp from our rather soggy Sunday! Feels all rather autumnal to me. Winter is coming…
Friday night I stayed over at my parent’s house. I wanted to try out the new Lee-On-Solent parkrun that had started a few weeks ago and it’s about three miles from my parent’s house. It runs alongside the beach on the promenade and is really flat. It’s actually part of my long run route when I stay at my parents.
I hadn’t run since Ultra12 last Sunday as I was concerned about my shin/calf (I say shin/calf as I’m actually not sure where the ‘issue’ is – it’s just a general discomfort and tightness of my calf that then aggravates closer to my shin, if that makes sense). In the week it was feeling grumpy and niggly and the last thing I wanted to do was annoy it further. I ran 20 miles over 12 hours (and a parkrun a few hours earlier) so I’d definitely pushed it out of its comfort zone and I needed to give it time. Check me out being all sensible.
My plan then on Saturday was to drive down to the beach car park about a mile away from the start and run down. This meant that I could judge my leg before I got caught up in any parkrun buzz and adrenaline and could walk back to my car if it felt rubbish. At Netley my warm-ups tend to be very quick and I knew if I went I wouldn’t bail on the run as there were so many people I know there and I’d have been embarrassed to have dropped out last minute (stupid, I know).
Annnnyway, I did some dynamic stretches and then began running down. Everything felt fine. I literally had the biggest smile on my face running to parkrun. Thank god.
Beautiful blue skies and the parkrun start ahead
I got to the start in more than enough time and chatted with a fellow Hedge End Running Club member. It was nice to see a friendly face, though to be honest everyone was very friendly and lovely. But then all parkruns are welcoming! 🙂
This parkrun is very flat and with few turns (it’s an out and back twice…you run along one way, then turn to go back, then run past the start/finish area, turn and run back) so it’s ideal for those wanting a PB, if the wind isn’t too bad. Because of my recent niggle I wasn’t looking to go crazy. I just wanted a quickish run to get the legs turning.
As I started I felt good and my legs felt nice and fresh. I was listening to music but not my usual “GO GO GO” music on my Running Playlist that encourages me to go faster. Instead I just put on music that was in the charts that I was liking lately as I didn’t want to get lost in the moment and push myself too hard. Basically I was looking to enjoy myself 🙂
Photo credit: AmandaLou Hall and Ethan Gee
The first mile was great. Despite not setting out with the ambition to smash the pace I felt very comfortable at sub-7min/miles. I just went with it. I noticed there weren’t any other females around me and felt quite content.
At the turnaround I checked to see if there were any ladies in front of me (I say I wasn’t racing, but it’s always nice to know your placing!). There was a young girl storming ahead and that was all. As I turned to go the other way the full force of the wind smacked me in the face. Ah so that’s why my first mile was so lovely. I was being pushed along nicely! The second mile was therefore a lot harder and a bit of a grind. My pace dropped but I didn’t mind (a completely different story to last week’s parkrun – what a difference a change in mindset makes).
At the next turn around point, where we would then head back to the finish, I passed the girl. She was really struggling. Again the wind was now behind me and it was suddenly easier again. I sailed nicely to the finish.
I finished in 21:37 as first female and I was chuffed. A hard but enjoyable run.
Sadly I’m an absolutely idiot (this might not be that much of a surprise). I sat down and caught my breath. I went over to the young girl who finished second I think and said well done. I chatted to a few people. Then headed over to the barcode scanner. Oh wait, where’s my finisher’s token?
Cue panic.
Arghhh, I’d put it down somewhere! Despite spending a good amount of time searching the area with the help of a few kind people, I couldn’t find it. It was very windy so I was worried it’d blown away. I spoke to the marshal in charge who took my name, my Garmin time and my barcode number and promised to sort it. I felt terrible though as I know they’ve had a few problems lately with tokens going missing. Long story short, after a few emails they managed to get me on the results on Sunday. I was mortified to have caused such a faff and felt suitably guilty. I donated £5 because I felt so bad. It costs them £70 to buy 100 new tokens (they can’t buy them individually).
I ran back to my car as a cool down, which was also a great way to check how my niggle felt post-run. Things felt fine! Hurrah. I still think I need to be careful and I’m now including calf raises into my strength training because clearly this is a weakness I have that keeps cropping up. I regularly change my trainers so I really can’t think what else I can do (apart from not go crazy with jumping up my mileage).
Later in the day I went shopping with my mum and decided to do something I’d been considering for a while. I’ve always liked the thought of having a tattoo but can never really make my mind up on what or where I’d have it. I also know I’d probably regret it later. And I’d just look stupid. Years ago I used to have my belly button pierced but I let it heal over. My belly button, I think, is really quite ugly so I thought what better way of improving things and doing something a little bit (for me) crazy.
You can see where the plaster had been on my tummy
It didn’t hurt as it was numbed beforehand and it was very quick. I’m very pleased. You only live once!
I also splashed out on a new outfit that I could then wear to the meal my parents and me were going to that evening. I bought this beautiful long skirt from Monsoon, and then paired it with a very simple strappy top, a white cardigan and a necklace in the sale all from New Look.
How pretty is that pattern and those colours? The skirt is of really good quality – there is a lot of material there and it fits beautifully.
The restaurant we went to was called Beefy’s in Southampton. It’s located in the Hilton hotel at the cricket grounds, The Ageas Bowl. It’s rather posh and very lovely.
The service was impeccable. They were so attentive, pleasant and friendly. And the food was gorgeous. Yes it is expensive (relatively so – mains are around £12-15 but can go up depending on what you choose, obviously. My dad had a steak for £30!).
You choose a type of bread to start (I went for olive bread) and then I had a sharing platter with my dad of hummus, feta, olives, bread, roasted vegetables and local watercress. For main I had a char-grilled sweet chilli chicken salad. My dad and me joked that we’d both expanded our culinary choices by me choosing that salad and not the Caesar salad and him having a Porterhouse steak rather than a rump steak. Small steps. For pudding I had sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. It all tasted amazing. Definitely worth a visit!
And then the weather turned and I woke up to stupid amounts of rain the next morning. Originally I’d planned to go for a long run with some guys from the club but I didn’t know if I was going to stay at my parent’s again or not (I did) and I was still being cautious about my niggle. The last thing I wanted to do was go for a long run and ignore any discomfort. I wanted the option of just cutting things short without feeling the need to explain things to people (I know everyone would have been lovely about it but I would feel awkward). So I went solo.
It was absolutely tipping it down and I only had shorts and a sleeveless top. It wasn’t cold per se but it was miserable out there. My run felt fine. There was an awareness of my niggle at the start but nothing to hinder me or make me feel I was “pushing through” discomfort or pain. Then for the rest of the run it felt fine. I actually felt really good and fresh (despite being soaked to my skin).
I did get yelled at by a driver though. I was running along a relatively short road where there were no pavements and he pulled up next to me and yelled that it was a stupid place to run. There was more than enough room for the both of us (and cars the other way) and I had made sure I was in full view of any oncoming cars. *Sighs*
The run felt good but I still don’t know where my head is at for the Cheddar Gorge marathon in a few weeks time. I’m 90% certain I’ll do it. The only thing that will halt me will be if that weekend is really rainy (because it will just be a mud bath and I want to enjoy it) or if my niggle becomes anything bigger.
Decisions, decisions.
And I’ll leave you with the joys of running in the rain with long hair.
I’m sure it’s so much easier being a man…
How was your weekend?
Have you got any piercings?
Have you done anything stupid at a race before? My life is full of stupid moments…
