Time to ditch those stereotypes part 2

the Welsh countryside,  Snowdonia 

We are in Wales. It is late summer, a Bank Holiday weekend and everyone is out and about.  We thought we would go for a walk around Mt Snowdon.  Wrong.  Turns out everyone in the United Kingdom also had the same idea, and were hiking the mountains in huge numbers.   So that there were cars parked legally and illegally  for miles. Wow everyone, all ages,  were walking, or canoeing or climbing or sailing, amazing. 

Alas we should have  picked a quieter time.  But what a buzz.  The scenery was magnificent, at every turn. A beautiful drive, but no walking for us.

Time to ditch those stereotypes

New York.

There was almost no litter in New York.  The streets were clean, stations, everywhere. There were lots of tourists, every third person had a map in their hand. As well, there were a lot of out-of-towners.  That is folks from other states who were visiting  New York.
Certainly there was a buzz about.  Lots of women in shorts and sun dresses.it was warmish, 30 degrees. It was holiday season and children were just about to head back to school.

Everyone was kind to us, and people always helped us, if we were lost. Traffic was incredibly heavy and often hopelessly backed up, do we were glad we decided not to drive.  Everyone takes the subway.  And it is complex,  like the London Underground,  so people are pretty fit.  All the subways have steps.

Our hosts worked very hard.   They were very busy.

We hardly saw them. However they could order out for anything. Want your washing done? Sure,  just phone the Laundry, who come to the apartment  (up the four flights of stairs) take the laundry and return it two days later, washed, dried and folded. Want a quick meal, just phone, it's delivered in a flash. Be prepared to tip.

Water tanks in New york.  They are everywhere. They assist with water pressure.  This building is near the highline, photographed from the Whitney Gallery.  Some ta ks have been painted by major artists.  They are called think tanks. See my blog 

Inside the new building located at ground zero

Incidental Exercise - on holiday

Soho - New York

We are lucky to be staying in New york.  We are walking everywhere and,  of course, taking the subway.   Our accommodation is on the fourth floor.  Or should I say the forrworth florwor.  We're getting fitter with every outing.

As well, getting lost brings extra mileage. We meandered an extra kilometre just crossing Central Park from the Natural history museum.  It's all so beautiful and interesting that we don't seem to notice how far we've walked

Back in the Saddle Again

A quick heads up.

I will be leading the classes at Carina, from now on.

Sandgate class commences next week.

Meanwhile, the Aspley and the Nundah classes resume on 25th January.

The holiday exercise program B.W.S.

Balance - try to practise for a few seconds every day

Walking - Go for a walk everyday

Squats -  Squats three times a week.

This simple regime should keep you in good shape to rejoin the classes after the Christmas holidays.

Draw up the golden thread, while relaxing the shoulders - Habit of the Weekr

A more subtle habit, this week.  Take an imaginary thread from the soles of your feet right through your pelvis, then the crown of your head,.  Pull that thread upwards, grow taller.   However this week while pulling your golden thread, all your shoulders to move independently..  Let's not allow our thoracic spine to move as asingle unit, a wire cage, if you will. Instead allow your shoulder blades to be free.

Habit of the week-  Drawer your golden thread, leave your shoulders behind.

Learn something new - Habit of the week

There was lots of talk during the week about mental health, and wellbeing. One discussion I heard dealt with long lead time that will be required to correctly diagnose dementia, and Alzheimer's disease, never mind cure it.  Neuroscientists are in it for the long haul, don't necessarily believe the headlines.  However the program wrapped up with this helpful thought.

What can you do if you have received a diagnosis of dementia,  aside from all the medico's, pathology and testing regimes, what can you do?
This is the recommendation

1. Get physical- do some exercise.  The brain is a vascular organ, it has a rich blood supply,  so whatever is good for the circulatory system is also good for the brain.  Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise stimulates blood flow.  Who hasn't been for a walk to clear the head.  Or got a great idea, while walking.
2. Social.. Connecting with people is good for your grey matter.  Get out that door and see people, make that phone call?  I wonder if screen time counts, ? Probably not.
3. Learn something new.  Extending yourself, mentally is good for the brain.  It is certainly something you can undertake, yourself.  

I have been learning iItalian for more than 20 years, now.  What a joy it is to be able to hear something in Italian and understand, or at least get the gist of it.  To be able to say something in Italian,  is good fun.  The most delightful, surprising thing is to look at life through the prism of another culture. The first response to some weird way something might be expressed in Italian, is to think, " that's strange,  my second response, delight.  My third response,  why do we express the that particular notion the way we do in English.

Here is an example. "This spaghetti has no taste" in Italian becomes "gli spaghetti non sanno di niente". This spaghetti knows nothing.   Ha

Habit of the week Learn something new.  See what delights are in store for you.

Love the FLOTUS = Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States

She has done it again.  Got some headlines for all the right reason... I'm talking about Michelle Obama.  There has been a fun video of various edited clips of her talking to Colbert, having a sack race with Jimmy.  Always fun, graceful.  She even danced on Ellen's show.

This reminds me of the lunch they hosted in July the kids state dinner.... a little late in publishing this on the blog.  Here is the link http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/michele-obamas-lets-move-america-campaign

While you are there you can check out her speech on the video provided.  Oh, and Barack was there, too.

What a role model she is.  She advocates physical activity, growing veg in the garden. and this grand Kids State Dinner is all about healthy meals.