Easy Ways to Better Health: Stress Relief
Who can resist the tranquility of an Aquarium? Whether large or small, it’s been proven that aquariums help reduce stress and anxiety and lowers blood pressure. Have you ever wondered why so many doctors and dentists have aquariums in their waiting rooms? It produces a natural form of relaxation in the patient. Relaxing colors, slow movements and peaceful sounds of running water ease the nerves and creates a serene feeling within. Many hospitals and nursing homes have taken note of this and now provide their patients with soothing aquariums, particularly in dining rooms.Other means of stress relief include relaxation tapes and videos, imagery, meditation, and social support. Practice positive thinking at all times. When you feel negativity creep in, turn your thoughts around. It isn’t always an easy thing to do, but with practice, you can be in charge of your thoughts.
Leading a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and plenty of exercise also helps you reduce stress. Walking is a great stress reducer, particularly since the only cost involved is a good pair of walking shoes.
Try some deep breathing exercises, a massage, or some soothing music, anything that takes you away from present day problems. With some people it can be curling up with a good book by the fireplace. We each have to find our own kind of relaxation therapy.
Cancer patients in hospitals are finding relief with acupuncture (when performed with their regular treatment of chemotherapy and radiation) in alleviating their depression and anxiety from their illness. Many hospitals across the country are also acknowledging the health benefits of the hands on healing technique of Reiki.
And, let’s not forget the age-old advice about the healing powers of laughter. Sometimes the simplest methods to our healing is right under our noses. Rather than looking for miracle drugs, alleviate your stress with a good belly laugh.
More Stress Relief Suggestions:
Simple lifestyle changes can make a world of difference when it comes to stress relief. Try some of these ideas. See if they work for you.- Multi-tasking isn’t for everyone. Doing one thing at a time and doing it well will give you more satisfaction and peace of mind. Trying to do too many projects at one time only confuses the mind.
- Get rid of clutter in your home. When you buy a new article, discard one old item. Or, better yet, don’t wait until you buy a new article. Try discarding one piece a day and watch the clutter disappear.
- Pay bills as soon as they arrive. This eliminates last minute worrying and late fees on credit cards that add to your stress.
- Make sure you get enough sleep.
- Put a little sunshine into your life. A few minutes a day outdoors in the sun will add the Vitamin D that your body needs.
- Set your clocks 10 minutes ahead, avoiding stress getting the kids to school in the morning, getting to work on time, or making that doctor’s appointment.
Walking
A hobby is something you enjoy doing for recreational purposes. If it’s a hobby you enjoy that can lead to better health, you’re doubly blessed. As for me, my favorite recreational activity is walking. Sounds simple doesn’t it? So simple that many people don’t take the time to really appreciate all the benefits of walking.Aside from the physical health benefits of walking, you’ll find an emotional “lift” when you open yourself up to the beauty of the outdoors. Just stroll through your neighborhood. Not only will you meet some friendly people, you’ll learn to appreciate the beauty of nature. Check out the different kinds of trees, plants, and flowers (it’s better than going to the local nursery). You’ll get some good ideas to beautify your own front lawn.
First of all, and most importantly, you’ll need a good pair of walking shoes. Once you’ve taken this first step, there’s no stopping you.
Music goes great with walking. Upbeat tunes will keep you moving along at a good pace. Or, you may prefer listening to a tape of your favorite book. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how far you’ve traveled when you’re enjoying yourself.
And don’t be surprised to find that your daily walks are addictive. Once you get started, you might find your interest leads to hiking, walking tours, and marathons.
A few sites that may give inspiration to a new outlook on walking would include:
- The Walking Site – motivational stories to get you started.
- Or you might try The Walking Connection – fitness walking, hikes and hiking, what gear to wear.
- For the senior citizens, a trusted web site would be AARP Fitness Walking
- Walking For Charity – How does a Charity Walk Work?
More Walking Tips To Get You Started On The Right Track
- If you’re fortunate enough to live near the ocean or a lake with a sandy beach, consider doing your walking there. For those of you with foot, knee, or back problems, you’ll find walking on the sand much easier on the joints as compared to the hard pavement. The soothing atmosphere of the water will also give you an emotional lift and help bring down your blood pressure. Summertime brings all the families with small children to these areas and can also add to the pleasure of your exercise routine as you watch and enjoy the little ones romping in the water.
- Start with good fitting walking shoes and always do some stretching before your walk. Loose fitting, comfortable clothes are a must. For evening walking, wear light colored clothes and carry a flashlight. Build up your endurance by walking a little farther each day.
- Visit your local sporting goods store and invest in a pedometer. See how close you come to the recommended 10,000 steps a day. You may be surprised (pleasantly or unpleasantly) to find out how close you come to this number. And, remember, all steps count from the minute you hop out of bed in the morning – not just the steps you take during your daily walk. Challenge yourself to increase your steps each day until you reach your goal.
- Make sure you’re well hydrated, bring along water, particularly on longer outings.
- Walk with a neighbor, walk the dog, or form a walking group to help keep you motivated.
Reiki
Hands On Healing:
Reiki (pronounced Ray-kee), the Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation through spiritual energy, founded by Dr. Mikao Usui, has been used world-wide for thousands of years. A technique of laying on hands is performed, giving feelings of peace, relaxation, and well being. Considered a safe and simple method of spiritual healing with the desire to enhance the quality of life, Reiki is often combined with therapeutic massage for maximum benefit.Reiki is used to treat the body, emotions, mind, and spirit to relieve muscle pain, tension, and a number of various medical ailments, bringing balance to the system, restoring the flow of energy needed for healing. Amazing results have been reported from hospitals across the country using this technique.
It is a spiritual experience that allows a closer connection to God. For a Christian viewpoint, see Reiki for Christians, a website created by Christians who practice Reiki. Their FAQ page will answer many of your questions pertaining to the practice of Reiki and Christianity. And, for more information and answers to your questions, check out The International Center for Reiki Training.
Some Benefits of Reiki:
- Relaxation and stress reduction, triggering natural healing and helping to improve sleep patterns
- Reduces blood pressure
- Helps alleviate pain
- Supports and strengthens the immune system, clearing out toxins
- Increases energy
- Improves circulation
- Eases depression
- Promotes creativity
- Strengthens intuition
- Releases suppressed feelings
- Always supports the healing process and should be used in addition to medical care, not in place of it
Bowling
Bowling, a great game for all ages. With alleys all across the country, the sport is seeing a revitalization with youth programs, college scholarships, and more high schools adding bowling as a varsity sport – all geared to attracting the younger set.
Visit Bowl.Com, a great site for scholarship information, pro tips, coaching and certification programs, up-to-date news on tournaments, and career opportunities.
To purchase bowling balls, shoes, bags, and accessories, visit Bowling.Com. They also offer books and videos, gift certificates, and bowling novelties for gift-giving.
Another good site to visit is Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) for all the latest Bowling news, articles, tournament information, special events, and store merchandise.
Or, try your luck bowling on these free online bowling games to see how good you are.
Basics of Bowling:
Bowling is an indoor sport, using a ball usually weighing between 10 and 16 pounds, with 10 frames to a game. Hopefully, you’ll get a strike, knocking down all ten pins on your first try of the frame. If not, you are allowed a second ball to knock down the rest of the pins, giving you a spare. A perfect game is 300. But any bowler will tell you that dream is hard to achieve. Automatic scoring makes the game a lot easier, allowing you to concentrate on your bowling technique rather than your math skills.Health Benefits of Bowling:
- Burns calories, helps in controlling weight.
- Tendons, joints, ligaments, and muscles all get a workout from the flexing and stretching involved in bowling, keeping the whole body in better shape.
- Interaction with other people, working as a team, creates friendships and releases healthy endorphins from the brain.
Safety Tips:
- Always warm up, as you are encouraged to do for all sports, to prevent injuries. A few simple stretches are usually enough, especially concentrating on the hamstring.
- Be careful of wrist and back injuries when picking up the ball, always using both hands and bending at the knees.
- Use bowling shoes only for bowling and check the bottoms to avoid falling due to any sticky substances that may accumulate on shoes. Avoid going over the foul line, as lanes are oiled and not meant to be walked on.
Hobby Trivia
DID YOU KNOW… HOBBY TRIVIA?
How Hobbies Got Started?The term Hobby appears to have two possible starting points.
From the 12th Century, King Henry I raced horses known as Hobby Horses. These were smaller, pony sized horses from Ireland. He spent a great deal of time and money over the years in cross breeding his Hobby Horses to improve their racing qualities.
During the 15th and 16th Centuries, the noble class took to the pastime of falconry which was the sport of raising and caring for falcons and hawks for use in hunting small birds and rabbits.
In both cases, these were activities carried out by the rich, pursuing interests for personal reward only. Today, most people can and should find time and spare money to pursue activities just for the fun of it.
Horse racing and falconry were two of the first hobbies. Luckily, today we have countless number of hobby ideas to choose from.
FindMeAHobby has, as its core mission, to help you find and get started on activities for the fun of it!
Actor, Nicolas Cage, in his younger days, collected comic books, eventually selling his collection for over 1 million dollars. Today, he collects houses and castles. One of his many prized possessions is the famous haunted LaLaurie House, a mansion in New Orleans. Read more about this interesting House of Horrors on Getaway Vacation Ideas.
And, did you know, Actor, Tom Hanks collects vintage manual typewriters and has over 100 in his collection, dating back to the 1930’s.
Beer Cans are celebrating their 75th Birthday this year. The world’s first beer can was produced in 1935 by New Jersey’s Gottfried Krueger Brewing Co. The Jersey brewing company first stocked shelves in Richmond, VA as a market test.
Author, Stephen King, enjoys walking as a hobby.
Vanna White, of Wheel of Fortune fame, crochets and has had several books published on the subject.
Noodling – This is a hobby that goes waaaay back. The Indians “noodled” for survival. Personally, I wouldn’t want to try it myself, but it sounds like a very exciting hobby if you can “handle” it.
If visiting zoos is a favorite pastime of yours, you might be interested in knowing the first zoo opened in July 1874 in Philadelphia.
April is National Garden Month. Jump into Spring with enthusiasm, visit our page on Gardening and get started. May 1st has been designated as National Scrapbooking Day in recognition of Scrapbooking, one of the nation’s fastest growing hobbies. Read about upcoming Scrapbooking Expos on our May and June Hobby Ideas pages.
June is American Humane’s Adopt-A-Cat Month, due to the fact that there are more kittens in shelters in June than in any other month of the year. Following the same principle, October is Adopt-A-Dog Month, making these months the ideal time to choose a pet.Cooking Contests
Cooking Can Be Fun and Profitable, Too
Camilla Saulsbury of Bloomington, IN won $100,000 for doing something she loves. She won the national chicken cooking contest for her Mahogany Broiled Chicken with Smoky Lime Sweet Potatoes and Cilantro Chimichurri. She competed against 50 other contestants – one from each state and the District of Columbia and endured the television cameras while she created her dish for the finals. But, hey, she probably thinks it was worth the trouble.Do you like to create new dishes? Why not get paid (by prize or by cash) for your own innovative recipes. Start nosing around and you’ll be surprised to find contests everywhere you look, mainly sponsored by cooking or women’s magazines and food companies. Most won’t pay you a year’s salary for your creation, but the better cooks will do ok and feed their family and friends well in the process. Here are a few contests to consider:
- For ONGOING cooking contests, visit Cooking Contest Central.
- Go to Better Recipes and win cooking supplies in their daily giveaways.
- Memphis, TN presents The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
- The Cheap Gourmet has monthly and on-going contests for you.
- For a wide variety of contests, check out Food Reference Recipe contests for everything from chili to mushrooms to sweet potatoes to Kid’s contests.
- A comfortable and reliable site, the Food Network. Check their site for contests and offers, possibly win a cruise, cash, a dream home, and more.
- Looking for something a little different in food contests? How about “Competitive Eating Contests”? The International Federation of Competitive Eating site will give you an inside look at the “eating” end of cooking contests.
- Insider Tips For Winning Cooking Contests.
- Try Your Luck with more Contests.
Family Tree
Genealogy is the study, discovery and documenting of your relationship ties with your ancestors, often referred to as a family tree.
Researching your family tree is fast becoming one of the internets’ top hobbies. Past family tree detectives had to rely on remote libraries and difficult to access resources. But today, all this is changing with the digital age and the internet.
More and more resources are coming online, including census reports, birth, marriage and death certificates, immigration reports, and online family tree tracking software and much more.
Identifying your roots back through your family tree is only part of the hobby. Collecting and documenting your family history in the form of stories and information about your past relatives is another great aspect to this hobby.
America is a country of immigrants where our parents, grandparents, great grandparents or past generations gave up everything to come here in order to have a better life for their children.
What better way to honor our past then to document our family ties and preserve and pass on this information to future generations.
Researching your family tree is fast becoming one of the internets’ top hobbies. Past family tree detectives had to rely on remote libraries and difficult to access resources. But today, all this is changing with the digital age and the internet.
More and more resources are coming online, including census reports, birth, marriage and death certificates, immigration reports, and online family tree tracking software and much more.
Identifying your roots back through your family tree is only part of the hobby. Collecting and documenting your family history in the form of stories and information about your past relatives is another great aspect to this hobby.
America is a country of immigrants where our parents, grandparents, great grandparents or past generations gave up everything to come here in order to have a better life for their children.
What better way to honor our past then to document our family ties and preserve and pass on this information to future generations.
Sites To Visit:
Renaissance Fairs
If you enjoy a bit of history and plenty of fun, why not check out Renaissance Fairs as a possible hobby, or just try it out for something to do for a fun adventure for the whole family. You could make this a weekend getaway as some Fairs provide camping facilities.
Picture an outdoor weekend festival-like gathering in a 16th century fantasy kingdom atmosphere with medieval costumed entertainers, musical acts, singers, jugglers, stilt walkers, fire eaters, belly dancers, mimes, puppeteers, gymnasts, court jesters, village reenactments, and plenty of food.
Renaissance Fairs are held in different parts of the country, some in theme parks while other Fairs travel the circuit. Visitors are encouraged to participate by wearing period costumes and participating in games of skill.
Entertainers mingle with guests, giving an informal, friendly atmosphere. And be prepared for medieval themed activities such as archery, axe-throwing, jousting competitions, sword fighting by knights in shining armor, Shakespearian plays, and live exotic animal displays. Demonstrations are also available for weaving, glass blowing, leather crafting, and sculpture.
Present day and period food can be purchased as well as many handicrafts from artisans across the country.
For a sampling of Renaissance Fairs with dates, telephone numbers, and directions, see:
Picture an outdoor weekend festival-like gathering in a 16th century fantasy kingdom atmosphere with medieval costumed entertainers, musical acts, singers, jugglers, stilt walkers, fire eaters, belly dancers, mimes, puppeteers, gymnasts, court jesters, village reenactments, and plenty of food.
Renaissance Fairs are held in different parts of the country, some in theme parks while other Fairs travel the circuit. Visitors are encouraged to participate by wearing period costumes and participating in games of skill.
Entertainers mingle with guests, giving an informal, friendly atmosphere. And be prepared for medieval themed activities such as archery, axe-throwing, jousting competitions, sword fighting by knights in shining armor, Shakespearian plays, and live exotic animal displays. Demonstrations are also available for weaving, glass blowing, leather crafting, and sculpture.
Present day and period food can be purchased as well as many handicrafts from artisans across the country.
For a sampling of Renaissance Fairs with dates, telephone numbers, and directions, see:
- Georgia Renaissance Festival on Atlanta Vacation Ideas.
- Tennessee Renaissance on May Vacation Ideas.
- Renaissance Faire at Lake Tahoe on Lake Tahoe Vacation Ideas.
Studying the Titanic
Books of Interest:
If you’re interested in learning more about the Sinking of the Titanic in April of 1912, read Walter Lord’s A Night To Remember, which includes a list of passengers that survived as well as gripping interviews from over 60 of those surviving passengers describing the events leading up to the disastrous sinking.A number of Titanic movies were eventually made, including the film adaptation of Walter Lord’s book, A Night To Remember in 1958. (Look for Sean Connery with a brief unaccredited appearance as a crew member.)
Other good books of interest regarding the Titanic include:
- Story of the Titanic As Told By Its Survivors – by Jack Winocur
- The Sinking of the Titanic – by Bruce M. Caplan, which includes survivors accounts and rare photographs
- The Titanic and the Indifferent Stranger – by Dr. Paul Lee
Sites of Interest:
Free Stuff
THE PRICE IS RIGHT…FREE!
Who doesn’t like getting something for free? Check out some of these sites and see if anything strikes your fancy. Offers change frequently, so be sure to check back often.- Crochet ‘N More, FREE knitting and crocheting patterns, Holiday eBook craft ideas.
- Crafts ‘n Things – A great craft magazine offering FREE downloads on many craft projects.
- Free Craft Stuff – Another site that will link you to some FREE fun crafts.
- Design and plan a garden on your computer screen for FREE with Better Homes and Gardens.
- Register on Kids Bowl Free. Buy a family pass and receive e-mail coupons for free games during the summer for the kids. Keeps them busy and it’s great exercise.
Fantasy Sports
Remember years ago when the company would put together a clunky office pool for the Super Bowl? Somebody would get creative with a bulletin board and dust off the arts and crafts supplies. Well, this was actually setting the groundwork for today’s automated, networked world of Sport Fantasy Leagues.
Yes, office pools are now automated, hosted online, and are a staple of the fantasy sports world. But Fantasy Sports has come a long, long, long way.
Fantasy Sports systems may have started out as a cottage industry, but now this area is dominated by the big boys. The major tv networks and sports print publishers have gotten in the game, providing news, player profiles, mock drafts and the software to manage fantasy leagues both large and small, public and private.
Fantasy Sports have actually made an impact on how America watches and now participates with Sports coverage. Before, we were a nation dedicated to our home teams rooting for them through thick and thin.
Now, many Sports Fans craft their fantasy teams from players across teams. On one play, rooting for Manning to throw another touchdown pass while at the same time rooting for Michael Strahan to sack the QB for a loss or fumble.
Television analysts are quick to update the viewing public on top fantasy stats. Websites abound that provide you with research opinions to help with mock drafts and player trade tips.
Take your Sports Fan Hobby to another league and dive into the Fantasy Sports World with these starting websites.
Yes, office pools are now automated, hosted online, and are a staple of the fantasy sports world. But Fantasy Sports has come a long, long, long way.
Fantasy Sports systems may have started out as a cottage industry, but now this area is dominated by the big boys. The major tv networks and sports print publishers have gotten in the game, providing news, player profiles, mock drafts and the software to manage fantasy leagues both large and small, public and private.
Fantasy Sports have actually made an impact on how America watches and now participates with Sports coverage. Before, we were a nation dedicated to our home teams rooting for them through thick and thin.
Now, many Sports Fans craft their fantasy teams from players across teams. On one play, rooting for Manning to throw another touchdown pass while at the same time rooting for Michael Strahan to sack the QB for a loss or fumble.
Television analysts are quick to update the viewing public on top fantasy stats. Websites abound that provide you with research opinions to help with mock drafts and player trade tips.
Take your Sports Fan Hobby to another league and dive into the Fantasy Sports World with these starting websites.
- SportingNews.com – New Fantasy Games and In-Depth Fantasy Analysis. Great selection of games, leagues and background information.
- Fantasy Basketball – staff writers will be offering your their weekly rankings by position.
- NFL Fantasy Football – It’s easy to run your own league when you use the web’s #1 league manager. Invite your friends and try it Risk Free for 14 days. Sign up today. Official site of NFL Football.
- ESPN Fantasy Sports – Like a high schooler with skills making the leap, if you’re looking for the best Fantasy Basketball experience, step up to the pros at ESPN.
- Fox Fantasy Sports – Player News, Weekly Projects, Draft Guides and more fantasy sports.
- CBS Fantasy Sports – Manage your office pool online with our FREE Office Pool Manager. It’s easy to use and automatically tracks everything from picks to standings.
- Sandbox – Your All-You-Can-Play Fantasy Sports Buffet. Over 30 free fantasy sports games to choose from year-round.
Fishing
Fishing has always provided a means for parents to spend quality time with their children or grandchildren out in the open and away from distractions. Fishing is a gateway activity into camping and hiking as well as reminding and encouraging us to support efforts to protect our public lands and sustain our fishing lakes and rivers.
If it’s been years since your last fishing trip, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the advances in tackle supplies and boating accessories. Also, our regional park systems are doing an excellent job in stocking our lakes and rivers. You’ll also find plenty of online resources to help you plan the great fishing getaway vacation or to help you get started with the basics.
Fishing is truly a hobby where you chart your own course since the field is so broad and you can discover your own niche that suits you. From the local catch and release pond to deep sea fishing, from making your own lures, to raising your own bait, from ice fishing to night fishing, there’s plenty for you to explore in search of the perfect hobby.
Visit our Contest page for information on fishing tournaments. Also, check out the world’s largest fishing tournament with weekly prizes at Bounty Fishing.com.
Fishing Sites To Get You Started:
- Active Angler – Read the basics and history of Fishing, articles on everything from boning and cleaning a fish to delicious recipes for cooking your catch, fishing etiquette do’s and dont’s.
Book Collecting
Reading has always been an enjoyable activity providing a means to escape into fictional worlds with powerful heroes and evil villains, unlimited adventures and unforgettable stories. Reading also provides the means to expand your knowledge through non-fiction, biographies, and trade magazines.
But avid readers shouldn’t overlook the pleasures of rare book and magazine collecting. Book Collecting offers a number of related activities that can provide hours of fun, expose you to new authors and reading material, and meet and interact with fellow collectors of similar interests online and at collecting conventions.
Pre-Internet book collecting relied on hunting through the dusty shelves of used bookstores, hitting garage sales and flea markets, and occasionally having your local used bookstore do a formal book search. This proved quite limiting depending on your local bookstores and many of us were never exposed to huge areas of collecting.
Post-Internet book collecting is entirely different. Web-based book search engines such as Alibris and ABEbooks have linked thousands of used book sellers together so that just about any book you could want, if available from someone, somewhere and its only a few mouse clicks and a credit card charge away.
Also, through various fan websites, e-zines and online articles, we are now exposed to more authors, genres, and publishers than ever before. We are only limited now by our interests and time limits.
Book collecting can take many different formats. For the most part, you can dive right in, tracking down your long lost favorite books with the Book Search options.
For those who enjoy collecting rare, first edition items, the internet provides access to those resources as well.
Book collecting allows you to go back in time and recapture a bit of the past. One area of collecting deals with the long lost, and often forgotten, pulp fiction magazine era. During the first half of the 20th century, America’s newsstands were flooded with cheap, pulp-wood paper based fiction magazines specializing in genre fiction. These magazines reflected pop culture of the day, 1930’s in particular, and launched not only writing careers but new genres including Science Fiction, the Hardboiled Detective, Sword and Sorcery and many others. Visit the Vintage Library’s Pulp Fiction section for more information on the great genre which collectors and fans have kept alive for the better part of a century.
As the pulp fiction magazines started to lose in popularity during the 1940s, in part due to World War 2 paper rationing, the paperback started to take off. Many classic stories from the pulp era were reprinted many times and numerous writing careers were launched with this new format. When the war ended, and the pulp fiction magazine distribution system collapsed in 1952, the paperback explosion occurred and its been a mainstay ever since. Book collectors can focus on the paperbacks of the 1950s and 1960s with the great cover art and stories that reflected the times.
In parallel, the comic book industry started to get off the ground in the 1930s with its golden era during the 1940s. With such heroes as Superman, Batman and Robin, Spiderman, and many more, its had an indelible mark on pop culture. The comic book and graphic novel market continues to grow and influence all forms of entertainment today.
There are endless possibilities for a book collecting hobby.
Rare Books…What are you looking for?
That long lost rare, first edition book that you haven’t seen for twenty years? Here are three great places to find that book.First, its Alibris. We highly recommend this rare and used book search engine. It’s fast, thousands of book dealers are involved, and we always seem to find what we are looking for. Our sister website, The Vintage Library, uses the Alibris service exclusively for posting its used book inventory.
Our second book search engine has 100 million books from around the corner and around the world at your fingertips, online at Abebooks.
Both services bring together booksellers and independent bookstores for easy access.
Our third choice puts you in direct contact with other book collectors providing you with some potentially great deals at great prices. It’s, of course… EBay!
Alibris and Abebooks are great for established booksellers with regular inventory, EBay is great for those who only sell occasionally or are liquidating collections.
Another great service that these three website provide is they act as a great pricing tool. If you have items that you are not sure of their worth, use these three websites to get a ballpark value. Pricing is not an exact science, so you’ll need to investigate thoroughly, but these three sites are a great place to start your rare book valuations.
Puzzles!
September 11, 2013 by
Puzzles are a great mental activity which can help pass the time, relax and comfort, and stimulate the brain, helping to ward off Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Today, jigsaw puzzles are for all ages, come in all sizes and all types of artwork. Some are extremely challenging with 3D features or even completely blank pieces with no picture at all.
Puzzlepoint.com is a great online source for traditional Jigsaw puzzles.
Play along with The New York Times Learning Network’s twice monthly new crossword puzzle.
See our March Hobby Ideas page for information on the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held in Brooklyn, NY.
Another category of puzzles is the brain teasers. Remember Rubik’s Cube?
That huge sensation. Well, the cube and many variations are still with us, but this only scratches the surface of great brain teasers.
If you are looking for some teasers to wrap your brain around, consider WordJuxtapoz for some creative mind puzzles.
Jigsaw Puzzles:
The first jigsaw puzzle dates back to 1760, an English school teacher John Spillsbury was looking for a new way to teach geography. For more on the history of the Jigsaw puzzle, visit the American Jigsaw Puzzle Society.Today, jigsaw puzzles are for all ages, come in all sizes and all types of artwork. Some are extremely challenging with 3D features or even completely blank pieces with no picture at all.
Puzzlepoint.com is a great online source for traditional Jigsaw puzzles.
Crossword Puzzles:
The Crossword puzzle came along in 1913 when journalist Arthur Wynn published the first crossword puzzle in the newspaper New York World. Since then, crosswords have become an obsession for millions, especially on those long bus and train commutes to work.Play along with The New York Times Learning Network’s twice monthly new crossword puzzle.
See our March Hobby Ideas page for information on the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held in Brooklyn, NY.
Brain Teasers:
Another category of puzzles is the brain teasers. Remember Rubik’s Cube? That huge sensation. Well, the cube and many variations are still with us, but this only scratches the surface of great brain teasers. If you are looking for some teasers to wrap your brain around, consider WordJuxtapoz for some creative mind puzzles.
Ballroom Dancing!
Ballroom
dancing is not only a graceful form of self-expression through
movement, but it’s also considered a competitive sport with a
requirement of a certain amount of athleticism.But you don’t need to have professional aspirations to enjoy ballroom dancing. Classes and social dancing are both great ways to participate in the ballroom world as a beginner.
Classes and Social Nights
You can get involved in ballroom dancing by attending classes at a studio or a local college. Ballroom dancing clubs on college campuses often offer cheaper classes than studios.
Some studios also host social nights, where the first hour is a class, and the second hour is comprised of social dancing. Socials are cheaper than regular classes, and are also a great way to meet other dancers.
You can also learn from ballroom dancing videos, although it’s better to supplement a class with videos rather than replace it with them. You can learn basic steps from video demonstrations, but in order to get the correct form it’s best to take a class.
Finding a Partner
At most events and classes, a partner is not required and you’ll be randomly paired with another dancer and will rotate frequently. However, if you want to attend a competition or perform in a showcase, you have to choose a partner and practice with them in your spare time.
A good partner…
- Has the same goals as you. Do you want to perform at showcases with designated choreography? With a performance team, or just your partner? Do you want to compete? Or do you want none of those things and just want a social dance partner? If your partner doesn’t want to competitions but that’s all you want to do, it won’t be a good fit.
- Makes time to practice. If you’re practicing for a competition or showcase, you need to practice enough to feel confident in your routine in order to perform it well on the day of the event.
- Can lead/follow. This goes both ways. As a leader, you need a partner who can read your signals and follow into the appropriate move. As a follower, you need a partner who can lead correctly and isn’t pushy or doesn’t know what he’s doing. Both leaders and followers need to be responsive to each other and be aware of their roles in each dance. For example, in the Viennese waltz, if the follower is beginning to fall out of form, it’s the leader’s job to switch to a step such as side whisks to let them take a quick break. These intricacies exist within all the dances, and a good partnership will be full of these learning moments as you and your partner get to know each other.
- Likes the same style as you do. If you prefer latin to smooth, but your partner just likes smooth, this is a problem. Good dancers have a base knowhow of both latin and smooth dances, but everyone has a preference. The more you can focus in on a style and a particular dance, the better you get at that dance.
- Respects you. Mutual respect is key. Dance can be frustrating, especially if someone is more or less skilled than their partner, or when learning new choreography. That’s why both you and your partner must respect each other and tolerate mistakes and the learning curve.
Ballroom Dancing Shoes
Good fitting ballroom dance shoes are important to preventing injury and properly executing dance moves, since ill-fitting shoes can cause you to lose your balance or twist an ankle. Learning to dance on heels is a skill on its own, and beginners should start with smaller heels, and work their way up.
Keep in mind the differences between styles for shoe types:
- Latin shoes for women are open toed and flexible, allowing her to stand on her toes much more easily.
- Smooth shoes for women are closed toed, and less flexible.
- Practice shoes are more comfortable shoes with heels that resemble jazz shoes. These shoes help protect your feet while still helping you get used to dancing in heels.
Types of Ballroom Dancing
There are many different styles and types of ballroom dancing, and to the beginner it can all seem overwhelming – so figure out what you want to get out of ballroom dancing, and then go from there.
If you’re interested in social dancing, try nightclub or American Rhythm styles. If you’re more interested in competing, try International.
Smooth styles are traditionally what people think ballroom dancing is: elegant waltzes and peppy quicksteps that get you around a dance floor.
Latin styles are varied and range from the jive to the sultry rumba. International samba is much different than the kind of samba you’d see in Brazil, and there’s a focus on form.
There are two categories of international ballroom dancing: latin and smooth.
- The international latin dances are cha-cha, rumba, samba, paso doble, and jive.
- The international smooth dances are waltz, viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, and tango.
Nightclub styles are certain dances that are less structured and better for social dancing. These styles vary and have less of an emphasis on form and more of an emphasis on the lead/follow partner relationship. Salsa, lindy hop, mambo, swing, merengue, and hustle are all considered nightclub dances. Some competitions (especially in the collegiate divisions) have informal categories for these dances.
The last style of dance is American Rhythm, which is less prominent than international ballroom dancing. If you take a ballroom dancing class, it will most likely be in international style class. American Rhythm is much more social, whereas International is more formal. Although you can compete in American Rhythm, the International category is much more popular to compete in.
American Rhythm is broken up into two categories, much like international: latin and smooth.
- The American Rhythm style of latin includes Mambo, Rumba, Cha Cha, Bolero, Samba, East Coast Swing and Merengue.
- The American Rhythm style of smooth includes Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango & Viennese Waltz.
Most competitions are expensive and geared toward professional dancers. You pay for entry (per dance), for your costumes, travel – it can add up. But if your dream is to become a professional dancer, this is the way to go.
Collegiate Ballroom competitions, on the other hand, are often free if you’re a member of a ballroom dancing club. Collegiate competitions are much like sporting events, with spectators and University teams and cheering and friendly rivalries with other schools. Collegiate comps are also open to dancers of all ages and skill levels.
Ballroom dancing is what you make it. It can a be a fun way to get exercise, a method of meeting new people, or even a competitive sport. Enjoy!
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