Your sister is due to give birth next month.  Your best friend’s birthday will be on next Wednesday.  One of your business associates is hospitalized, and you would like to send a get well gift.  There are so many occasions that we want to send a gift to our friends and loved ones to let them know that we care about them. 

However, we all live in a hectic world, and we don’t have much time to shop for gifts. Shopping for gift baskets online is a convenient and easy way to send your gifts for any occasion.  It takes just a few clicks to select and order your gifts online, and you are able to send them to your recipients anywhere in the United States.

Gift baskets are available in different sizes and price ranges.  You will find the perfect gift for any budget.  Moreover, there are gift baskets designed to suit every occasion, such as anniversary, birthday, new baby, holidays, housewarming, get well, or thank you.  For example, by sending a sympathy gift basket, you can show your sympathy and concern to your friends who face loss and need your spiritual support.  Similarly, you can congratulate new mom and new dad by sending new baby gifts, such as baby necessities gift bags, baby gift baskets, baby clothings, new baby carrier, bath time baby toy, or baby time capsule to preserve the precious moments of the new baby's arrival. For housewarming, you can send your friends with a gift modeled from a home and filled with delicious treats, practical tools, and other new home essentials to congratulate them on becoming new home owners.

Gift baskets also make great corporate gifts that make you look good.  Business is about making contacts.  You can send gift baskets to your loyal customers to show your appreciation of their business, or to your associates to thank them for business leads or outstanding performance.  You can also send gift baskets as prizes in fundraising for charitable organizations, and other corporate events.

You can send a gourmet gift basket for any occasion.  These elegant gift baskets are overloaded with gourmet food items, chocolates, coffee and cheese. The varieties of gourmet gift baskets include breakfast baskets, Kosher gourmet gift baskets, sugar free gift basket, heart healthy gift baskets. coffee or tea baskets, and chocolate baskets.  In addition, you can send cheesecakes, dessert cakes, candles, spa gifts, or red roses!

Alternatively, you can choose from a variety of specialty themes gifts. You can find gifts for recipient whose passion is in books, golf, fishing, gardening, camping, race cars, movies, or pets.  You can easily find a gift according to the hobbies or passion of your recipient.

In summary, sending gift baskets to your friends, clients and loved ones makes great sense.  It is an easy and convenient way to leave a good impression to your recipients, let them know you care about them, and without breaking your budget.

Kate S is the CEO of Gift Basket for All, LLC.  You can shop at her website, http://www.giftbasketforall.com, for sensational gift baskets for all occasions, including anniversary, holidays, new baby, birthday, get well, sympathy. 



By: Kate S

About the Author:

Several months ago, my spouse and I were taking a jog around the subdivision. As we sometimes do, we talked about all the houses and what we like and don't like about each one.

Even tho' we see the same houses each time we take a stroll, we always find something new to talk about. During a particular jog, we saw something intriguing on top of one of the neighbors' roof. It was an antenna and it looked similar to one of those old-fashioned antennas everyone used to use instead of getting Satellite.

The difference was that it was much smaller than the old-fashioned ones. I was speculative to why they had it because I thought just about either everyone had cable, satellite or an inside rabbit ears. A few weeks later,

I was outside washing the car and that identical individual happened to travel by the house. I waved and then decided to walk over to him. I asked him that I had noticed the new antenna on his roof. He told me that it was an HD antenna.

Then he let me know that he found out you can station it on your roof and it will pluck up HD signals just like the Satellite company sends out. The only difference is that you get clearer pictures and you don't have to pay per month for it like you do with satellite.

I thought it was interesting and later that day, I told my hubby what the neighbor said. My hubby said that it probably doesn't come in very good when there is a bad snow storm or high winds. I was wondering about that because why would he want an HD signal that was not consistent.

I went on the Cyberspace and found out that many of the antennas are rugged enough to keep their HD signals even in storms. The cost of them was not really much money either and we would pay for it in a few months time in the amount that we pay monthly to the satellite co..

I ran it by my spouse and then bought it. Now, we also have an antenna on our roof and it truly is pleasant to get HD channels without relying on the dish provider's monthly fee.

I saw my neighbor shortly after I put up the antenna and he noticed. He was joyful that he was able to let me know about it and asked if I was happy. I let him know that I was thrilled, appreciated the info and the extra savings each period!

Wearing proper shoes for different types of running is vital. There are three different types of shoes that should be worn. For easy days and long runs, daily trainers work fine. For tempo runs, hill workouts, and races longer than 10k light weight trainers are the best choice. For track workouts and races shorter than 10k racing flats work great.

Daily trainers are the shoes that you will run the most mileage in. Make sure that your daily trainers are comfortable. I believe that all shoes should be comfortable right out of the box. The daily trainers that I wear fit so great that I am not afraid to run a 20 miler the first time I wear them. Shoes that need to be broke in are probably not the right type of shoe for your feet. Find out what type of foot that you have and then only purchase shoes that fall into that category.

Light weight trainers are great shoes for faster paced training. For tempo runs and hill workouts light weight trainers are the ticket. Light weight trainers have adequate cushioning and support to protect your feet and still are light enough for faster paced running. Be careful when buying light weight trainers. Make sure that you purchase the correct type for your type of feet.

Another great thing about light weight trainers is that they are light enough and stable enough for longer races. I personally wear trainers for half and full marathons. My own experience has been that my feet never hurt after half marathons, finishing a full marathon everything hurts. I would still recommend wearing light weight trainers for these race distances.

Racing flats are very light weight, usually less than 9 0z. Be careful with racing flats, finding the correct fit is extremely important. Don't always purchase the lightest pair that you can find. I prefer racing flats with some support and cushioning. A few ounces of cushion and support are always better than becoming injured just to save 10 or 15 seconds in a 5k.

I personally would not recommend wearing racing flats in races longer than 10k. I have worn racing flats in a couple of half marathons and my feet were sore for days afterwards. Since I have worn light weight trainers exclusively my feet never hurt afterwards.

The most popular time to wear racing flats is during track workouts. The feeling of wearing light weight shoes during fast paced workouts is what makes racing flats so popular. I personally like to wear racing flats during all of my track workouts. There are others who wear racing flats only for a race. Choose which time works best for you.

There is a lot of discussion surrounding a person's body weight and shoe selection. I am 6'1 and weigh 180lbs, so being a larger runner I still wearing light weight trainers and racing flats. I would recommend that each person decide for themselves if they want to wear lighter shoes.



By: Curt Shryack

About the Author:

Try some of these proven facial mask recipies! Each treatment has its own duration that you should leave the mixture on for. When complete, rinse off with lukewarm water unless the recipie states otherwise. These provide proven results, so many professional spas use identical (or similar) treatments. Make sure that before applying any facial mask blends, the face should be washed and cleaned with a mild facial wash. Best of all, they are all natural and can do no harm to the skin. Sample a homemade facial mask; you might be amazed with the results.

- Basic: -

1. Got egg in your face?

- Beat one egg white - Add three to six drops of lemon juice - Smooth it out all over the face evenly - Wait for at least five minutes for the mixture to dry and spread on a second layer

2. Honey mask

- Combine two tablespoons of alcohol, two tablespoons of water - Add 100 grams of warm honey - Smooth on the face; keeping it on for at least 20 minutes

3. Milk: it's good for you!

- Combine 1 tablespoon of nonfat instant powdered milk, 1 teaspoon unflavored yogurt - Add half a cucumber, peeled and sliced in small peices - Put all ingredients in a blender and mix until pasty - Spread all over the face, keeping it on for at least twenty minutes

4. Oatmeal: it sticks to more than your ribs

- In a blender, blend together a tablespoon of oatmeal, two tablespoons of powdered nonfat milk - Add one egg white and half a cup of orange juice. - Apply unto face and let it stay for twenty minutes.

5. Oatmeal: another method

- Mix together an egg white, a teaspoon of orange juice - Add two tablespoons of instant oatmeal - Apply to the face and leave on for twenty minutes

6. Honey and milk

- To a beaten egg white, add in one half teaspoon of honey - Add lemon juice, fresh milk and flour - Spread to the face and keep it on for twenty minutes and rinse with cool water

7. Chamomile

- In blender, combine about one teaspoon finely crushed and dried chamomile flowers, a teaspoon of fresh mint finely chopped - Combine with tablespoon of honey and an egg white - Smooth on to face, keep on for twenty minutes

8. Go bananas

- Mash about half a banana and combine it with a tablespoon of orange juice - Mix in one tablespoon of honey - Keep the mixture on for fifteen minutes

9. Sour power

- Combine half a cup of honey, a tablespoon of lemon juice - Add two tablespoons of cooked instant oatmeal - Smooth onto face and wait for thirty minutes before rinsing

10. Cucumber delight

- Mix into a blender a combination of one mashed banana, and half of cucumber - Drop in a tablespoon of honey and half a cup of lemon juice - Spread over the face and rinse off after thirty minutes.

- For skin lightening: -

1. Glycerin

- In a bowl, whisk together one egg yolk, one teaspoon of honey - Add a teaspoon of glycerin - Smooth onto face and rinse off after two hours

2. Papaya delight

- Mix together one egg white and a cup of mashed papaya - Add a tablespoon of lemon juice and two tablespoons of sour cream - Refrigerate before applying to the face - Rinse after an hour.

3. Lemon and lime

- Bring to a boil a quarter cup of lemon peel, a quarter cup of lime peel, and lemon leaves - Steep for five minutes and add a tablespoon of lemon juice, two tablespoons of oats - Add a tablespoon of wheat germ - Let cool, then apply on the face - Rinse off after 30 minutes

4. Papaya and honey

- Blend together two tablespoons of honey and half a cup of mashed ripe papaya - Smooth on the face - Rinse off after twenty minutes

5. Carrots and papaya

- Mix together an egg yolk, three tablespoon of mashed papaya - Mix in three tablespoons of cooked and mashed carrots - Leave on the face for thirty minutes

6. Baby soft skin

- Whisk together half a cup of lemon juice, an egg white - Add three teaspoons of powdered infant formula - Leave on the face for thirty minutes and rinse off with warm water, followed by cold water.

7. Carrot concoction (the 5 minute facial)

- Blend in half a cup of carrot juice, cooked oats - Add half a cup of wheat germ and two tablespoons of lemon juice - Smooth on the face and rinse with warm water after 5 minutes

- For healthy glow -

1. The linden mixture

- Bring to a boil and steep for five minutes a mixture of orange juice and linden flowers - When cooled, add in two tablespoons of lemon juice, two tablespoons of yogurt and a teaspoon of honey - Leave onto the face for at least thirty minutes and rinse off with warm water and cold water for the final rinsing

2. Garden freshness

- Boil and steep half a cup of parsley and lemon leaves inside half a cup of lemon juice - Mix in three teaspoons of infant formula - Leave on the face for an hour

3. OJ does it

- Combine three tablespoons orange juice with half a cup of honey - Smooth on the face and leave for thirty minutes - Wash off with warm followed by cold water.

- For oily skin: -

1. Olive oil

- Combine an egg yolk, a tablespoon of honey - Add a tablespoon of olive oil and half a cup of oatmeal - Leave on the face for fifteen to twenty minutes and wash with warm water

2. Tomatos

- Combine a cup of oatmeal with three tablespoons of non fat milk - Mash or use blender on tomatoes and add to mixture - Leave this mixture on the face for an hour and wash off with warm water

3. Strawberry delight

- Boil and steep lemon leaves - Add in half a cup of oatmeal, three tablespoons wheat germ - Mash half a cup of strawberries and mix in - Smooth on the face for an hour and wash of with warm water



By: John Morris

About the Author:

The issues of moral and ethical values have been swept under the rug. Masquerading under so-called life-giving values, organ transplanting has become big business. In reality, practices surrounding organ “harvesting” is a “logical” conclusion of a materialistic view of human life, driven by self-centeredness and greed.

In the first part of this article I have provided my basic opinion and provided the foundational reference that has provided guidance for my thoughts and conclusions. In the subsequent articles, I will write more details and expand my argument.

People all over the world have been made to believe that organ transplants are a wonderful and beneficial service for others. Doctors, celebrities, religious leaders, politicians and business people are encouraging people to donate their organs as well as to wait patiently for an organ to come their way. Gordon Brown is now advocating the “harvesting” of organs without explicit approval from the patients. Hospitals are setting up medical tourism to provide this service and increase revenue.

Sick people are encouraged to hang onto life in terrible pain and misery, waiting and waiting and hoping and hoping for a rescue. I recently saw a Television program in which an elderly person with heart problems was on a waiting list. He kept saying how he was daily hoping for a heart transplant. I wondered if he even thought for one minute that his wish for a heart meant that someone had to die first! Some child, some partner, some person had to be declared clinically dead and then held in life until his or her body parts could be removed.

Something is terribly wrong here. I know that it is popular to think that there is nothing wrong with organ transplants, but there is and there are many people in this world who strongly disagree with this practice. We need to speak up and protect ourselves.

When grisly details emerged about one nation (reported thus far) accused of deliberately timing executions of criminals and selling organs of the dead criminals, people made such a stink about it. Yet this kind of behaviour is a logical outcome of the materialistic view of life and living. Now we hear that the “Health Ministry has explicitly banned sales of human organs in an apparent attempt to clean up the country’s lucrative but laxly regulated transplant business” (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12050522/). And Gordon Brown wants everyone to be on the waiting list so that parts of the bodies can be taken out unless you made sure to opt out. How nice that we hear reports of the efficiency with which Spain has such a policy and they are providing plenty of organs.

Surely there are many of us who disagree with this practice? See for example an excellent article by Michael Tymn (http://www.beyondtheveil.net/organs.html). It is time that we give a loud voice to our opinions and beliefs. If you are one of these, and you reject organ harvesting, make sure that your family understands your wishes and that your Will explicitly states that you do not wish to have your body parts “harvested.”

Even this word “harvest” is interesting, as if we were picking oranges or apples or bananas to take to market, picked just at the right time!

The Esoteric Teachings speak clearly against organ transplants. To begin this series of articles, I have provided an excellent reprint of a Chapter from the book Other Worlds by Torkom Saraydarian, titled “Organ Transplants.” You are welcome to link to it and read it. In the next few weeks, I will expand on my opinions and conclusions and provide an alternative view of life and how we can deal with illness and the gift of living life after life.

Why am I against organ transplants? Here are some reasons:

1. It retards the evolving path of the departed soul by tying it to the physical earth; it complicates the life of the recipient with the karma of the departed. Every physical part of our bodies is impressed by the experiences of all the lifetimes lived on earth. When a soul is born into a body, all the recordings in the soul from previous lives are impressed on the physical body. Then added to this mix are all of the person’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual life experiences from the present life. The recipient takes on the complete personal recordings and life histories of the donor as well as his or her karma from all lifetimes. We are in a double bind: The departed soul is tied to the physical plane, to the recipient, for as long as the recipient lives. The recipient is tied to the departed. This is why we have so many documented cases of recipients taking on the characteristics of the donor, even to the point of developing the same kind of immune system. The result is one body part with two souls attached to it.

2. It emphasizes quick fixes and does not look for causes of illness in the physical, emotional, mental, and karmic worlds; it takes the “easy” and material path to dealing with human problems.

3. It encourages criminal and ethically questionable practices by governments, hospitals, and medical personnel. Everyone focuses on quick fixes.

4. It encourages people to desire life at the expense of others; it makes people physically and materially centered at the expense of the overall spiritual principles of life. In wishing for an organ for oneself, one is in effect wishing for someone else to die and make his or her body parts available.

5. It forces poor people to sell body parts and preys on the weak, the poor, and the defenseless; it unfairly tips the scales toward the rich and powerful.

6. It makes the families of the departed feel guilty and depraved if they choose not to donate the organs of the departed.

7. It promotes the erroneous involvement by politicians, popular actors and media savvy persons, as well as medical centers into trying to manage life and its meaning, instead of leaving these questions to the spiritual aspects of one’s life.

8. It demeans the sanctity of human life and takes advantage of the departed at their most vulnerable point in physical live.

9. It ignores the complexity and depth of human life, human experiences, the purpose of life, the subtle bodies of human beings, and dismisses the ramifications of manipulating the natural process of life. It focuses only on the immediate material needs for living.

10. It promotes fear of illness and death, likening both to battles to be fought and “won” instead of being processes for learning and redemption.

11. It encourages a person to attach to physical life when all signs point to the need to leave this plane for a short time and re-emerge. It prevents a person from learning key lessons from the karmic conditions that brought the person to the illness or situation. If we learn from our life conditions, these conditions will not be repeated. If we do not learn from them, and cover them up, the fixes are only temporary and we will still need to deal with the causes next time around. The misery and suffering is therefore complicated further and lasts longer than it needs to.

We should indeed take proper medical services needed to live healthy and productive lives. We need to learn to live in a healthy and natural way and learn the causes of a healthy life. I do not believe in suicide nor do I believe in assisted suicide. There is a deeply spiritual and redemptive quality in learning our lessons well in each lifetime, whether we are the sick and suffering or the caretaker of the sick and suffering.

But we do not need to prolong a sick physical body. We are not simply our physical bodies. We are not simply material beings destined to be fertilizers on earth. We need not feel guilty for not donating organs. Nor do we need to make bereaving relatives and family members feel guilty for not donating body parts of a deceased relative. Our life quality is not measured by years on earth in one lifetime; we have thousands of lifetimes in which to grow and learn.

Fear of aging, fear of illness, and fear of dying keeps us tied to the physical existence as if nothing else exits. Fear forces us to emphasize the outer at the expense of inner development; it is extremely short sighted. We grieve when we lose a loved one. This is natural and should take its course. We grieve for our own loss since essentially we cannot grieve for the departure of the other person. No one belongs to us and each person takes birth into a particular family and nation, and then moves out of it. Every birth puts us in a different configuration. This is not news and is taught in all the Ancient Wisdom traditions. We do not belong to one family forever, to one nation forever, to one religion forever, to one race forever. The soul experiences all facets of human life and human existence on earth.

My views are not meant to hurt or insult anyone. Each person should have the freedom to make decisions based on his or her belief system and these decisions should not be forced on us by our religious leaders, politicians, doctors, popular figures, financial considerations, and the like. I am advocating a truly informed decision based on a holistic view of life and not a decision based on sappy emotionalism and pushy sentimentality that is forced on us having undercurrents of dubious motives.

Being treated with dignity at our most vulnerable time is our human right. Every human being has the right to be treated with dignity, no matter what he or she has done. When you are dead, your body must be respected and treated with dignity. When you are dying, you need to be treated with dignity and not have vultures circling around you. When you are on the operating table, you need to know that you are being treated with dignity. It is at the most vulnerable times in our life that dignity outshines all human expressions. When we are not able to speak up for ourselves, it is the height of human dignity to find someone who will.

Gita Saraydarian

gita@tsgfoundation.org



By: Gita Saraydarian

About the Author:

Congratulations! You have two little ones to tow around with you when you're out running errands, taking a walk, or jogging through the park. It may seem like a daunting task to have two babies to bring along rather than just one, but with a little bit of planning, you can double your fun with double jogging strollers.

When you are trying to get back in shape after having two little ones, it is important to look for exercise activities that will not only accomplish your goals of losing weight and toning up but also give you an opportunity to share time with your babies. Double jogging strollers are perfect for providing the opportunity to get in a good workout through jogging, running or walking, while keeping your children nearby. Using double jogging strollers not only provides you with the healthy benefit of getting back in shape, but also provides your babies with the opportunity to get fresh air and learn the value of exercise from a very young age.

Before selecting the right double jogging stroller for your lifestyle, it is important to understand your options. Double jogging strollers are not meant for just twins - two babies that are the same age and weight. Double jogging strollers can be utilized just as easily for two children who are merely close together in age. If your two children are not twins, however, it is important to realize that the balance of the stroller may be thrown off a bit by the uneven distribution of weight. You will simply need to compensate for that with your jogging stance in how you push the stroller.

Double jogging strollers are specially designed to be more flexible and hardier than other double strollers. Although it may be possible to find a double jogging stroller that places your two children in back and front positions, most are actually designed to sit side by side. This design allows for greater balance and stability when you are running behind and pushing your double jogging stroller.

Like a vehicle, you'll want to look at double jogging strollers that have enhanced suspension systems to minimize the feel of bumps and potholes along your jogging route. In addition to the lightweight frames used by double jogging strollers, the wheels used on these devices are also different than other strollers. Made more to resemble car tires than the hard plastic usually used by strollers, these wheels are designed to make the ride more comfortable for your babies while you take them along on your jog.

In addition to the types of wheels, you'll also have the opportunity to choose between double jogging strollers that have one wheel in the front or two. This is a matter of personal preference in how you want forward weight balanced when you are jogging. Other options to consider when choosing between double jogging strollers include how you can change the position of where your babies are seated to heighten their comfort along the ride.

Runners get benefits from many different areas, the first is cardiovascular, the second is they are getting aerobic exercise and third is they are increasing endurance. A good pair of running shoes can be an important investment that can vary in style and function. When deciding to buy shoes makes sure you are purchasing the shoes for the right activity. Running shoes are manufactured for specific activity. When shopping for running shoes you should not look at the fancy designs but the functionality and durability of the shoe. The best women's running shoes are designed to give the feet control, stability and cushioning. Finding the perfect pair of running shoes is part science and part art, with a healthy dose of research thrown in. There are many different running shoes today; there are those that can be used on grass, mountain trails and on tar. The majorities of running shoes are development and produced so the shoes can be used on sidewalks or road surfaces because this is where many of the runners run today.

The shoe should have about a thumbs' width of space more than the full size of the feet. The middle foot area should have a secure and comfortable resting place beneath it. Also, be sure to try on both shoes. On many people one foot is usually bigger than the other foot. Inside the shoe is a stiffened cup encasing the toes known as the box, or block? The place over the toe is called the vamp, the opening near the toes is called the throat of the shoe.

Shoes that are well made have the ability to provide a rubber sole that can give good traction while an athlete is in motion, this will reduce the chance of getting injured. Shoes with motion control are especially recommended for athletes' with flat feet or over pronator. Give serious consideration to buying a motion control running shoe if you wear orthotics or have flat feet. A shoe with motion control is a good stable shoe to choose.

Just like many of the advanced technologies like ipods, cell phones the running shoe has technically evolved in the marketplace. Running shoes are very important for the runner, it helps with balance and the runner needs a great shoe to absorb the shock to the leg and the shoe needs to be strong to handle the impact when the runner is running. Running shoes are designed for sporting activities. Runners benefit from the combination of cardiovascular and aerobic activity. Buying a good pair of running shoes is very important, in general running shoes should be replaced every 3-4 months, the new running shoes come in many different styles. At the top of this list was clearly a high-quality pair of running shoes. The key components of a perfect pair of running shoes are cushioning, stability and durability. Most of the common injuries when shoes are not fit properly are pains in the knee, arch pain which is under your foot and a sharp pain the heel.

By: David Fishman

About the Author:

If you are anything like me, you are still scrambling to find last-minute gifts for the loved ones in your life. Why not go a little above and beyond and give them the gift of good health? I know it sounds a little corny, but compared to another sweater that they won't wear or a CD they will just end up exchanging, this is something that will actually make a difference in their lives. I know you don't have much time left for shopping so I have searched locally and on the web for the best healthy gifts that you can still get before December 24th (hurry most online orders are due today)!

Great Harvest Bread. One of my favorite and most inexpensive gifts to give (and receive) is a healthy and wholesome loaf from Great Harvest Bread. There are many great local bread companies but I love Great Harvest because they use freshly-milled whole grain wheat flour and they have some of the healthiest breads in town. I suggest you go with their gift pack which gives your recipient little cards that they redeem for 1 honey loaf, 1 loaf of their choice and a jumbo cookie, all for only $12.

Subscription to a Healthy Magazine. Some of my favorites are Cooking Light, Prevention, Shape, Fitness, Health and Men's Health. Most will be around $12-18 for a year's subscription and it really is a gift that gives all year long.

Gaiam Walk Fit Kit Pedometer. This little gem keeps track of daily steps and calories, plus it includes a stop watch and distance counter. Anyone trying to improve their health and stay more active will love this easy to use pedometer available at www.target.com for only $24.99.

CalorieSmart. I always say that weight loss is all about calories in and calories out. This portable, pocket sized, handheld device will take all the work out of monitoring your calories taken in from food and spent during exercise. It contains nutritional info for over 35,000 foods and even includes menu items from over 250 restaurants. Plus it allows you to enter your daily workouts so you know exactly where you stand at the end of the day. This is a wonderful tool that will certainly help take the headaches out of weight loss and food monitoring. $80 at www.amazon.com.

Local Lessons/Classes. I met a man the other day whose wife bought him a "Tennis in No Time" beginner's tennis class from a local tennis club four years ago. He's played tennis regularly ever since. Why not give your active loved one tennis lessons, golf lessons, a Yoga or Pilates class, dance lessons or a healthy cooking class? Sometimes something unexpected can end up being the best and most memorable gift. For ideas and types of classes available call local a Yoga studio, any of the local gyms, tennis or golf clubs or try looking up cooking lessons in the yellow pages.

Reebok Adjustable Weights. These are great for the home exerciser. They are space-saving, adjustable hand weights with 5 settings from 2.5 to 12.5 pounds each dumbbell. No more buying 3 or 4 sets of different hand weights - all you need is this one set and you are ready for any workout. $61.99 at Target or look for them online.



By: Darlene Nicholson

About the Author:

Many people go for jogging and running on a daily basis. They will require good shoes to provide cushion for their feet while they run and also prevent injuries to the feet. It is very important that the feet are comfortable while your run, otherwise undue pressure will be exerted on your feet and it will lead to injuries in the long run. Hence, the importance of using good and comfortable shoes for running cannot be ignored. The main problem here is with the identification of the right type of running shoes.

About thirty years earlier, the number of companies manufacturing shoes was less and the number of models available was also less. But now there are a wide range of models available in the market and the number of brands have also increased rapidly. There is so many choices now that a person can hardly pick one among them with confidence that it is the right one for him.

Running shoes available today contain features like motion control, additional rear foot control and extra support for the arch side of the shoe. These features are present in different proportions in different varieties of shoes. Hence, the runner must choose the right type of shoes depending on his running style and stature. While neutral cushioning is more in some type of shoes, stability factor is strengthened in some other models of shoes. Hence, there is no single model or brand of running shoes which is suitable for all the runners.

The main function of running shoes is to provide cushion to the feet while the user is running and to prevent damage to the feet in the process of running. Hence, factors like stability, cushioning, arch length etc. should be considered while keeping each runner in mind separately.

A new pair of running shoes can be obtained at about 10-20% discounts while older shoes can be obtained at even cheaper prices. You can find older pair through many sources, even through the internet.

If you are looking for running shoes on the internet, you must be sure of the shoe size you need beforehand. Then you can look at various models available and see which one suits your style of running and your build and it also available at a moderate price. The most important thing to consider when purchasing a product online is to check whether the website has a provision for replacement of unsuitable shoes.



By: Jena Luthovski

About the Author:

We have all done it, you have probably been ordered to do it by your coach, you'll probably want to do it to lose some weight... But is jogging really the answer to your training needs.

I mean, will going for a jog solve your lack of endurance in a game of squash, rugby, football or golf?

Are you lumping around more body fat around the court than you absolutely have too so you feel that a jog around the block will make this go away...

What I write over the next page or so will probably annoy you, you may even flat out disagree with me. All I ask is that you keep an open mind.

Some 40 or so years ago, a man Mr K Cooper invented the world of aerobics and ever since, we have been "shackled" to the concept of effective training involving an hour long bout of aerobic training, normally in the form of a jog, cycling down the street, or attending a fitness class.

However this form of training has been long since proven to NOT be the most effective method for most sports AND, more importantly, NOT an effective fat loss tool either.

How has this form of training managed to remain the foremost practised workout in the world? Whilst my sceptical head has many theories on this, the purpose of this article is not to disprove the aerobic method, but to provide you with reasons to try something else instead.

I could bore you with many studies that prove that Interval based training principles and resistance style workouts are better for your sports training needs, but instead I want to appeal to your common sense.

Unless your chosen sport is purely endurance based, such as marathon running, triathlon, long distance cycling or cross country skiing then you need to look at the how you challenge your body when you are "playing" your game?

Even an endurance based sport demands a different look for optimum training plans, but that is for another article!

Most sports require short bursts of effort interspersed with periods of rest. The ability for your body to handle these efforts is based on the ability for your muscles to recover effectively ready for the next effort. Think of the short sprint to reach a long ball, darting across the squash court, or rushing at an opponent to make a tackle.

Most sports require a level of strength exerted over a short period of time, ie. POWER. Think of a tennis stoke, golf swing, a leap or a quick start.

Most sports require a flexibility and at the same time a stability of your joints to execute a controlled movement. Think a kick of a ball, striking a ball with a bat, or throwing an object.

Now tell me how spending most of your training time doing a low intensity, aerobic style workout like that of jogging or an hour on an exercise bike is going to help you develop a better body for sport?

This style of workout that has been shown to restrict mobility, increase your chances of repetitive strain injuries and breaks down muscle tissue in order to retain your body's natural homeostasis.

Armed with a little knowledge and a helping of common sense, you can see that doing your "usual" workout may not be optimum for you or your sport! I also mentioned at the start that this style of training is not that effective for fat loss either! The only study I will cite in this article demonstrates that an interval based training plan has be shown to be NINE times more effective for fat loss than doing long slow steady state workouts such as jogging, or working out on an exercise bike for an hour or more!

Impact of exercise intensity on body fatness and skeletal muscle metabolism. Tremblay A, Simoneau JA, Bouchard C. Physical Activity Sciences Laboratory, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Quebec, Canada.

So what should you be doing for your sports training?

Well simple really, take a look at the demands your sport has on the body...

Is it short sprints, then go out and train for short sprints...

Is it dynamic, powerful movements whilst on your feet, then train to make dynamic, powerful movements whilst on your feet (that means stay away from the machines, and pick up a dumbbell or two!)

Is it jumping, first step quickness, changes of direction, flexibility, stability, strength, power?

You see what I am getting at?

Most of us never need to do aerobic style training, whilst to some this will come as a relief, you may still be resisting this paradigm shift. What I propose is such a fundamental shift in over 40 years of training folk lore that it is easy to dismiss such a simplistic concept.

Sabine is a keen skier, water in the summer, snow in the winter. Since changing her training approach from that of endurance athlete to that of power and strength, her sporting performance has taken a dramatic turn for the better, what's more her body fat percentage dropped to below 20%. Her workouts never last more than 45 minutes and has not done a single aerobic workout since the change.

Whilst every sport is different, it is important to note that the basic requirements of "most" sports requires a very different model of training than that which is normally adopted. Before heading out for your next workout, take a close look at the demands of your sport and ask yourself honestly if the jog you are about to do is going to make a difference? Or are you just doing it because that is what you have always done...