All posts tagged: core

Earth’s mantle may have hidden plumes venting heat from its core

Earth’s mantle may have hidden plumes venting heat from its core

Published by skeptic

Al Hajar Mountains in Oman L_B_Photography/Shutters​tock A section of Earth’s mantle beneath Oman appears to be unusually warm, in what researchers say may be the first known “ghost plume” – a column of hot rock emanating from the lower mantle without apparent volcanic activity on the surface. Mantle plumes are mysterious upwellings of molten rock believed to transmit heat from the core-mantle boundary to the Earth’s surface, far from the edges of tectonic plates. There are a dozen or so examples thought to occur underneath the middle of continental plates – for instance, beneath Yellowstone and the East African rift. “But these are all cases where you do have surface volcanism,” says Simone Pilia at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. Oman has no such volcanic clues. Pilia first came to suspect there was a plume beneath Oman “serendipitously” after he began analysing new seismic data from the region. He observed the velocity of waves generated by distant earthquakes slowed down in a cylindrical area beneath eastern Oman, indicating the …

If you don’t like crunches but want to get a stronger core this one fitness tool can help

If you don’t like crunches but want to get a stronger core this one fitness tool can help

Published by skeptic

If you’re trying to build core strength and don’t really like doing crunches, because you find it hard to engage your core, then get your hands on a Pilates ring, sometimes known as the magic circle. Placing a Pilates ring between your knees or ankles can help you to more effectively engage your abdominal muscles, including the obliques that run down the sides of your torso and the lower back. For three ways to activate those hard-to-reach deep core muscles, take a look at these low-impact Pilates ring exercises posted on Instagram by Pilates Prescription app founder Rebecca Dadoun. You may like Then keep reading to discover why Dadoun thinks the Pilates ring is so good for building a stronger core. How to do Dadoun’s low-impact Pilates ring exercises Probody Pilates Ring Circle The top-rated Pilates ring on Amazon. Why a Pilates ring is good for core exercises “The Pilates ring builds core strength by creating resistance and encouraging deep muscle activation,” Dadoun tells Fit&Well, “especially in the inner thighs, pelvic floor and abdominals. “The …

Councils take up to 9% of school budgets for core services

Councils take up to 9% of school budgets for core services

Published by skeptic

Findings challenge claims trusts charge their schools more for services away from classrooms Findings challenge claims trusts charge their schools more for services away from classrooms More from this theme Recent articles Councils are effectively slicing up to 9 per cent of maintained school budgets, a Schools Week investigation has found – and the true cost could be higher when other charges are factored in.   The findings challenge claims from academy sceptics that trusts charge their schools greater amounts than councils for services away from the classroom. Steve Rollett, the deputy chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), said: “School trusts are very upfront about costs for shared services. This investigation highlights how local authorities can take similar amounts, but the data is much less transparent [than for trusts] and as a result likely only the tip of iceberg.” Steve Rollett Through Freedom of Information, we obtained figures from 17 of England’s biggest local authorities showing how much they de-delegated from school budgets for core services.  We also asked for the number of …

Can’t do a sit-up? A trainer says you should do these chair-based core exercises instead

Can’t do a sit-up? A trainer says you should do these chair-based core exercises instead

Published by skeptic

I’m a certified personal trainer and I can’t stress the importance of core training enough. A strong core supports every movement we make—from walking and lifting to balancing and even breathing. It’s also important for spinal health and pelvic stability. That’s why it’s always the first thing I focus on with new clients. While many people associate core training with floor-based abs exercises (like traditional sit-ups and crunches) they’re not the only options. If you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with limited mobility or simply prefer to stay off the floor, you can still work your core effectively. Try these four seated core exercises, requiring nothing but a sturdy chair and a few minutes of your time. The workout The exercises are: Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. Seated twist x10-15 each side Seated marches x10-15 each leg Seated crunch x8-10 Seated side crunch x10-15 each side Repeat the whole routine 2-3 times for the full workout. Need more of a challenge? Check out these core-strengthening …

Five standing abs exercises this trainer actually uses to improve core strength

Five standing abs exercises this trainer actually uses to improve core strength

Published by skeptic

If you hate crunches but still want to build a stronger core, try this standing abs workout from Joe Ghafari, a personal trainer at Eden. You’ll still strengthen your mid-body muscles, but you won’t have to get on the floor to do it. “Whether you’re dealing with lower-back issues, prefer upright training or want to mix things up, this routine hits your core hard without the usual crunches or planks,” says Ghafari. How to do the standing abs workout Ghafari recommends repeating the circuit two to four times depending on your time or fitness level. Standing oblique crunch x10 each side Farmer carry x30 secs Standing knee drive x30 secs Standing side bend x12-15 each side Paloff press and hold x20 secs each side 1. Standing oblique crunch Exercise Tips: Standing Oblique Crunch – YouTube Watch On Set: 3 Reps: 10 on each side Stand with your hands behind your head. Drive your right knee toward your right elbow, crunching through your side (obliques). Avoid rushing the movement—maintain a slow, controlled pace. Complete all the …

Maria Edgeworth’s Educational Philosophy in 5 Core Concepts

Maria Edgeworth’s Educational Philosophy in 5 Core Concepts

Published by skeptic

  Maria Edgeworth was ahead of her time in educational philosophy. She supported new teaching methods that remain important today. Her interesting ideas included practical education, moral instruction, critical thinking skills, individualized learning, and more parental involvement than was common in her day. We’re going to talk about some key points from Maria’s approach and see if there might be any inspiration here for people working in education nowadays. Who knows, maybe we could even change things up a bit?   Who Was Maria Edgeworth? Maria Edgeworth, John Downman, 1807. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Maria Edgeworth, an innovative Anglo-Irish educator and writer, had a profound and lasting impact on educational philosophy. She was born in 1768 and is perhaps best known as the author of children’s stories that weave moral and practical instruction into gripping tales.   Edgeworth’s father, Richard Lovell Edgeworth—himself a leading thinker—influenced her views on education. The two of them collaborated on several projects.   One of these joint efforts, Practical Education (1798), argued forcefully for learning that was centered on the …

The one type of movement you should include in your workouts to boost core strength and stability

The one type of movement you should include in your workouts to boost core strength and stability

Published by skeptic

In daily life, we move our bodies in three planes of movement: The saggital plane, which includes forward and back movements such as squats and deadlifts The frontal plane, which are side-to-side movements such as side lunges The transverse plane, which includes internal and external rotation. The third plane, transverse, is often overlooked in training plans but it’s important to practice. Rotational exercises train your body to turn efficiently by engaging the obliques (side abs). Whether you’re swinging a golf club, hitting a tennis ball or just reaching for your seatbelt, you’re using rotational strength. When I saw this Instagram post by physiotherapist Tayla Rose, I was inspired to create a workout using some of my favorite rotational moves. Scroll down to see the routine and to give it a try. How to do my rotational workout All you need for this workout is a single dumbbell at a medium weight. Choose a lighter weight if you’re new to these moves. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your …

Soft Core by Brittany Newell

Soft Core by Brittany Newell

Published by skeptic

Brittany Newell’s second novel, Soft Core, is a hypnotic dive into the neon-lit underbelly of San Francisco, where identity becomes as fluid as the fog rolling in from the bay. Following her debut novel Oola (2017), Newell returns with a more mature, nuanced exploration of desire, loneliness, and the profound human need for connection. The Dancing Narrative At the heart of Soft Core by Brittany Newell is Ruth, a directionless twenty-seven-year-old living with her ex-boyfriend Dino in a Victorian house in San Francisco’s Mission district. When she begins stripping at a club called Paradise Lost, she transforms into Baby Blue, stepping into a world where names, like identities, are endlessly malleable. The narrative takes a sharp turn when Dino, a ketamine dealer with a penchant for lingerie, vanishes without warning. What follows is not your typical missing person story. Instead, Newell crafts a hallucinatory journey through San Francisco’s sexual underground, where Ruth/Baby’s search for Dino becomes increasingly entangled with her own unraveling identity. The city itself becomes a character, its fog-shrouded streets and hidden corners …

Why I stopped doing crunches to build up my core and what I’m doing instead

Why I stopped doing crunches to build up my core and what I’m doing instead

Published by skeptic

Building a stronger core isn’t just about aesthetics—it can make everyday activities easier, improve exercise performance and even help you to stay pain-free. If you suffer from back pain, working on your core strength can be a game changer. Crunches and sit-ups are often go-to abs exercises but as a personal trainer, I know there are other, better ways to work the core. That’s why I stopped doing crunches—not because I hate them or they’re ineffective—but because they don’t train the deeper muscles needed for stability. Instead, I do isometric exercises—moves that strengthen muscles by holding a static position—such as the hollow hold, plank and wall sit. I also do anti-rotational movements, which involve resisting external forces trying to pull me out of position. These include the renegade row, plank shoulder tap and bird dog, which challenge the core muscles to work together to enhance stability and injury prevention. I’ve programmed all of these moves together into a no-crunch core workout. How to do my no-crunches core workout You will need a mat and a …

“A little makes a difference!”—a Pilates instructor shares a five-minute core workout for people who are time-poor but want to build strength

“A little makes a difference!”—a Pilates instructor shares a five-minute core workout for people who are time-poor but want to build strength

Published by skeptic

Building a strong core offers more benefits than just aesthetic appeal. Because your core is made up of many muscles—from the hips and lower back to the pelvic floor and abdominals—their combined strength can play a critical role in the way we move and feel in daily life. That’s why targeting these muscles in your workouts is so important. The good news? You don’t need to spend hours in the gym to see improvements. Pilates instructor Katy Bath recently shared a five-minute core workout on Instagram that will fire up your core with no equipment. You can either do this as a standalone session or add to the end of another workout. How to do the five-minute core workout The workout includes five moves, with 10 to 20 repetitions of each. Bath details the repetitions for each exercise in the video and recommends two to three rounds for best results. You can support your knees and joints with a yoga mat or simply a towel. Is a five-minute workout effective? You might wonder if five …