All posts tagged: flexibility

Shorter apprenticeships give teacher training ‘flexibility’

Shorter apprenticeships give teacher training ‘flexibility’

Published by skeptic

DfE plans to change minimum apprenticeship course length to eight months, which could align teaching courses with other routes DfE plans to change minimum apprenticeship course length to eight months, which could align teaching courses with other routes More from this theme Recent articles Shortening the minimum length of apprenticeships to eight months will give “the type of flexibility the teacher training sector has been asking for”, government has said. But officials are yet to confirm it will apply to the increasingly popular teaching course. As part of a package of apprenticeship reforms unveiled this week, ministers said they would shorten the minimum duration of such courses from 12 to eight months from September. The 12-month minimum has caused a headache for those delivering the postgraduate teaching apprenticeship (PGTA), which was approved for delivery in 2017 and now accounts for 7 per cent of entrants into postgrad teacher training each year. Qualified teacher status is issued after nine months, as it would be on any other postgraduate teacher training course. And apprenticeship providers had reported …

I did this five-minute yoga routine every day for a month and was surprised at how quickly it improved my flexibility

I did this five-minute yoga routine every day for a month and was surprised at how quickly it improved my flexibility

Published by skeptic

“You’re moving very stiffly,” my partner pointed out at the end of 2024, as I bent down to tie my shoelace—and he was right. Like many people, I spend hours working at my desk and my muscles are often tight when I clock off. Stretching usually gets little to no attention in my daily routine. I might squeeze in some guided stretches before and after a workout class or do a back stretch while waiting for my lunch to heat up, but I rarely make the time to do a dedicated flexibility session. Determined to make 2025 the year of change, I decided to commit to five minutes of stretching every morning. I spotted Yoga with Bird’s five-minute morning yoga workout for busy people, rolled out my mat and got started. Thirty days later, I feel more supple, awake and energized. How to do the five-minute morning stretch routine Supercharge Your Day: 5-Minute Morning Yoga for Busy People – YouTube Watch On Five minutes might not sound like much, but it’s more than enough time …

A yoga teacher says this five-minute stretch is all you need to maintain flexibility in your spine

A yoga teacher says this five-minute stretch is all you need to maintain flexibility in your spine

Published by skeptic

Having a sedentary job, lifting heavy weights and the natural aging process can all contribute to a stiff and achy back. Regular movement and stretching can alleviate aches and pains, but it’s not always easy to know where to start. If your back is feeling particularly rigid right now, yoga instructor Francine Cipollone (or Yoga with Bird) has created a routine that works your spine through its six main movement patterns. These movement patterns include flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion. Flexion is when you bend your spine forward, and extension is when you bend it backward. Rotation involves twisting your back to either side, and lateral flexion is when you bend to the side. Cipollone says all of these movement patterns are vital for spinal flexibility. So if you’ve got five minutes, it’s worth rolling out your mat and giving this session a go. How to do Yoga with Bird’s five-minute back stretch 5 Min Yoga Back Stretch for Tension Relief – 6 Movements of the Spine – YouTube Watch On The moves in …

Accountability focus risks SEND ‘flexibility’

Accountability focus risks SEND ‘flexibility’

Published by skeptic

An over-focus by some mainstream schools on accountability measures when developing their curriculums has resulted in “less flexibility” for pupils with SEND, an Ofsted review has found. The watchdog and the Care Quality Commission have published a joint thematic review of arrangements to prepare children for adulthood in six areas of England. It found children and young people with SEND reported that they “struggle with an overly academic curriculum that does not suit their strengths and, in some cases, acts as a barrier to moving on to their preferred post-16 options”. The review heard that specialist providers “were meeting the individual needs of children and young people by providing a tailored curriculum focused on their aspirations, strengths and needs”. “Conversely, we heard that mainstream schools are far less likely to offer similar opportunities. This is often due to a curriculum that is unable to cater for a wide variety of skills and interests.” The report said some mainstream school leaders “focused more on meeting school accountability measures when developing their curriculum offer for children and …

AnyChat brings together ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and more for ultimate AI flexibility

AnyChat brings together ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and more for ultimate AI flexibility

Published by skeptic

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More A new tool called AnyChat is giving developers unprecedented flexibility by uniting a wide range of leading large language models (LLMs) under a single interface. Developed by Ahsen Khaliq (also known as “AK”), a prominent figure in the AI community and machine learning growth lead at Gradio, the platform allows users to switch seamlessly between models like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Meta’s LLaMA, and Grok, all without being locked into a single provider. AnyChat promises to change how developers and enterprises interact with artificial intelligence by offering a one-stop solution for accessing multiple AI systems. At its core, AnyChat is designed to make it easier for developers to experiment with and deploy different LLMs without the restrictions of traditional platforms. “We wanted to build something that gave users total control over which models they can use,” said Khaliq. “Instead of being tied to a single provider, AnyChat gives you the freedom to integrate models from …

“If you want to move better and have more lower body freedom you need to start training your flexibility and it all starts in the hips”: A movement expert suggests five moves for hip mobility

“If you want to move better and have more lower body freedom you need to start training your flexibility and it all starts in the hips”: A movement expert suggests five moves for hip mobility

Published by skeptic

Sitting for long periods, overtraining, running and cycling—especially without warming up properly—can all contribute to tight hips. This tightness is often caused by tension around the hip flexor muscles, which, if unaddressed, can lead to a reduced range of motion, limited mobility and an increased risk of injury. The good news? You can improve hip flexibility without spending hours stretching. According to Tom Merrick, also known as the Bodyweight Warrior, you only need these five drills to make a difference. Merrick, a calisthenics expert and fitness coach known for his strength and flexibility workouts, says: “These five stretches will have all essential ranges of the hip covered and can be applied from beginner to advanced.” How to do Tom Merrick’s stretch workout For detailed instructions on each exercise, watch Merrick’s longer YouTube video. In it, Merrick also recommends testing your flexibility by holding a lower-body position, like a deep squat, before starting the routine, then performing the position again afterward to highlight the difference the stretches can make. “If you want to move better and …

A Pilates instructor says this 20-minute workout will strengthen your hips and boost flexibility

A Pilates instructor says this 20-minute workout will strengthen your hips and boost flexibility

Published by skeptic

If tight and achy hips sound familiar, then it’s worth using at-home Pilates workouts to boost your flexibility and strength. A workout like this one, whic focuses on building stability and flexibility in your hip muscles, helping you move more freely and avoid injury. It’s created by Jakarta-based Pilates instructor Mira Hassan, who runs one of Fit&Well‘s favorite Pilates YouTube workout channels, Flow with Mira. Hassan explains that training the muscles supporting the hip joints can relieve tightness and tension, while strengthening and stabilizing the pelvis. This is crucial for balance, posture and everyday movement. This 20-minute workout doesn’t require any equipment, but all the moves are floor-based so a cushioned Pilates mat, like this extra thick top-rated one from Amazon, will support your spine. How to do Mira Hassan’s 20-minute hip workout 20 min Pilates Hip Workout – Hip Strengthening Exercises for Beginners – YouTube Watch On Why do you need to stretch and strengthen your hips? “Our entire body is interconnected, so if you have tight or weak hips, it’s likely this will …

Cognitive flexibility impaired in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, according to new research

Cognitive flexibility impaired in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, according to new research

Published by José

Recent research published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research has provided insights into the cognitive impairments associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The study demonstrated that individuals with GAD exhibit significant difficulties with cognitive flexibility and show a heightened ability to recognize negative emotions, such as disgust and anger. Although these cognitive predictors cannot replace existing diagnostic tools, they highlight the significant impact of anxiety. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a variety of topics, events, or activities, which is out of proportion to the actual likelihood or impact of the feared events. People with GAD find it difficult to control their worry, and this anxiety and worry are associated with physical symptoms such as restlessness, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. This disorder significantly interferes with daily activities and can cause distress in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Despite the high prevalence of GAD in primary care settings and its substantial impact on individuals’ lives, there …

Build strength and flexibility without any equipment using this 15-minute Pilates routine

Build strength and flexibility without any equipment using this 15-minute Pilates routine

Published by skeptic

If you’ve never tried Pilates before, you might be surprised at how effective it is at building strength. Its slow, controlled movements force you to isolate and challenge your muscles using just your body weight. Pilates instructor Katie Pierce recently shared a Pilates workout that targets a wide range of muscles in your core and lower body. It’s ideal for people who want to build strength without putting pressure on the joints, which is a risk associated with lots of cardio and weights-based activities. The workout only takes 15 minutes and doesn’t require any equipment, but you might find it useful to have a good yoga mat to hand.   How to do Katie Pierce’s Pilates workout Take a look at Pierce’s Instagram Reel and the caption for the repetitions required for each move.  If you want a longer workout, you could do multiple rounds of this routine. Or team this session with this five-minute upper-body Pilates workout, to hit an even wider range of muscles  How it works This routine involves lots of pulsing …

Mental flexibility can preserve relationship satisfaction amid partner’s sleep issues

Mental flexibility can preserve relationship satisfaction amid partner’s sleep issues

Published by José

We all know that getting a good night’s sleep is vital for physical and mental health. Yet many people share a bed with a partner who can’t help disturb their sleep. For example through their insomnia, frequently going to the bathroom, snoring, or a tendency to toss and turn in bed. Unsurprisingly, research has shown that poor sleep can lead to increased anger and decreased satisfaction with the relationship. But can we avoid falling in this trap, short of sleeping in separate bedrooms? Yes, if we are naturally good – or learn to be so – at goal disengagement, the mental flexibility to jettison goals once they prove unachievable, suggests a new study in Frontiers in Psychology. “Here we show that someone’s general capacity to let go of unattainable goals seems to prevent worsening satisfaction with their relationship, if their spouse experiences sleep problems,” said lead author Dr Meaghan Barlow, an assistant professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. “This ability might allow such people to put more time and effort into their relationship and protect …