All posts tagged: strengthen

Remember Self-Care to Strengthen Humanism

Remember Self-Care to Strengthen Humanism

Published by skeptic

While theists often focus on their relationship with gods and connected spirits, non-theists focus on our relationship with others and the impact of our connected actions. But we must not neglect our own well-being and the need to care for ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. Self-care may sound selfish, as it puts oneself before others and allows us to rest in a society obsessed with productivity. But not holding space for ourselves can lead to burnout, diminish our ability to help others, and cause many health complications. Prioritizing time to reflect and address our own needs empowers us to handle life’s many challenges. “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare,” wrote Audre Lorde in her 1988 essay collection A Burst of Light. Each year, Self-Care Month begins June 24 and ends with Self-Care Day on July 24. According to the World Health Organization, “this symbolic day was chosen because self-care can be practiced ‘24 hours a day/7 days a week.’” The 2024 celebration marked the …

Keir Starmer Vows To Strengthen UK Europe Relations

Keir Starmer Vows To Strengthen UK Europe Relations

Published by Sam

Keir Starmer has pledged to “fire the starting gun” on a new era of relations between the UK and Europe. Speaking ahead of a major summit of European leaders in Oxfordshire today, the prime minister said it was vital “we work together” on issues like tackling illegal immigration and standing up to Vladimir Putin. He said the European Political Community conference at Blenheim Palace – the birthplace of Winston Churchill – was “an opportunity to push on and begin delivering on the people’s priorities”. Starmer’s comments mark a major change in tone from the approach taken to the EU by successive Tory prime ministers in the wake of the Brexit vote in 2016. The PM said: “We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our relationships of the future. “That is why European security will be at the forefront of this government’s foreign and defence priorities, and why I am focused on seizing this moment to renew our relationship with Europe. “The EPC will fire the starting gun on this government’s new approach …

Belgian insurer urges politicians to strengthen low emission zones | Low emission zones

Belgian insurer urges politicians to strengthen low emission zones | Low emission zones

Published by skeptic

One of Belgium’s mutual health insurers has been taking a closer look at the country’s three low emission zones. Dr Luk Bruyneel, a health and economics expert at Mutualités Libres, explained: “As a health insurance fund, we have to protect the health of our members. As air pollution is a major health risk, we want to contribute evidence to the debate. Health insurance data for our 2.3 million members allows us to produce high-quality studies on health risks from air pollution.” Antwerp was the first city to set up a zone in 2017. This was followed by Brussels, and then Ghent. Like London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), and more than 320 schemes across Europe, the Belgian zones are designed to improve air pollution by deterring the most polluting vehicles from driving on city streets (generally the oldest diesels). As a key player in Belgium’s public health care, Mutualités Libres wanted to understand if the three zones had changed the air breathed by its members. It was not possible to make measurements at each person’s home, …

A Pilates instructor recommends doing these five moves to strengthen your whole body and mobilize your hips

A Pilates instructor recommends doing these five moves to strengthen your whole body and mobilize your hips

Published by skeptic

Pilates is a great way to build a stronger, more mobile body. It’s also a top option if you’re exercising at home, with virtually no equipment needed for a mat-based session.  Take this 20-minute routine from Pilates instructor and Shape Pilates founder Gemma Folkard, for example. It promises to strengthen your entire body, mobilize your hips and more with just five bodyweight moves.  All you need to do is unroll your yoga mat and get started.   How to do Gemma Folkard’s full-body Pilates routine Triceps dip with leg raise x6-8 Oblique crunch with hip-opener and leg rainbow x6-8 Spine stretch with leg extension x6-8 Lunge with arm raise x6-8 Lunge hold with arm raise x12 Perform the moves above as a sequence. Each one is designed to flow into the next, so try to transition smoothly between them without breaks. Look below for instructions and video demonstrations to help you execute each one correctly.   Complete the entire sequence on one side of your body, take a few deep breaths, then repeat it on …

A trainer says everyone forgets to strengthen this important muscle group—here’s how you can target it in your workouts

A trainer says everyone forgets to strengthen this important muscle group—here’s how you can target it in your workouts

Published by skeptic

Strength training is one of the best ways to build a fit and functional body. It helps you maintain muscle mass, improves bone density, and even boosts mobility. However, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut with strength training, focusing on the same set of muscles while neglecting others. According to ACSM-certified trainer Cara D’Orzio, there’s one group of muscles that nearly everyone forgets: the rotator cuff.  Located around the shoulder joint, this group of muscles and tendons connect the upper arm bone to the shoulder blade. They’re responsible for your shoulder mobility and stability, so it’s important to look after them. According to D’Orazio, the most common way to injure your rotator cuff is by not training it. “It’s what holds the shoulders together. So, if you don’t have rotator cuff strength, that’s what leads to injury,” she explains. “Many people only focus on the shoulder and the deltoid muscles and do too many military presses and too many front and lateral raises without doing any exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff.” Here, …

Europe struggles to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense system

Europe struggles to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense system

Published by skeptic

A burnt-out control room in a power plant destroyed after an attack, Ukraine, April 19, 2024. GENYA SAVILOV / AFP “Air defense is our priority today,” the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on X on Thursday, April 18. Ukraine has so far succeeded in intercepting a large proportion of the drones and missiles launched daily against its territory by Russia, it is now close to breaking down, lacking a sufficient number of anti-aircraft systems and ammunition. According to Kyiv, 80% of the country’s energy system has been damaged, and the number of civilians killed in bombardments is on the rise again. On Wednesday, a missile strike killed 17 people and wounded 78 others in Chernihiv. Aware of the threat to Ukrainians, European states are trying to organize to come to their aid after having welcomed the resumption of the US’s support, which could however still take a few weeks to materialize after the vote by the House of Representatives to provide $60.8 billion in aid. At the request of Josep Borrell, the 27 member states’ …

You only need 10 moves and 10 minutes to strengthen your upper-body with this one-kettlebell workout

You only need 10 moves and 10 minutes to strengthen your upper-body with this one-kettlebell workout

Published by skeptic

I’ve been training consistently for over a decade, experimenting with different exercise styles, equipment and environments. But, however many new moves I try, I find myself returning to the same few staples, as well as this rule of thumb: If you don’t have long to train, keep things simple.  This workout from personal trainer Oli McCann does just that. It takes just 10 minutes and only uses one kettlebell, but manages to hit every major upper-body muscle group with a series of rock-solid exercises.  How to do Oli McCann’s 10-minute kettlebell workout The routine is broken into 10 one-minute intervals, each focusing on one exercise. In each interval, you’ll perform a move for 40 seconds, rest for 20 seconds, then move onto the next exercise.  McCann also says you can repeat the routine for a 20-minute workout if you fancy an added challenge and have some extra time to train.  Why I like this workout I like this workout because it’s not unnecessarily complicated. There’s no smoke and mirrors, just 10 moves in as many …

3 Zodiac Signs See Romance Strengthen In Their Relationships Starting April 17

3 Zodiac Signs See Romance Strengthen In Their Relationships Starting April 17

Published by skeptic

There is no shortage of helpful cosmic transits on April 17, 2024, when it comes to improving our love relationships. With several train formations aligning with Venus—including Venus conjunct Node —the answer is quite simple: If we try, we get. In other words, when we show the universe that we are trying in earnest, we can open our hearts to positive and possibly romantic results. Moon trine Venus conjunct Node will be rooting for three zodiac signs. One of the things we will feel around this time is that solidity and security in knowing that what we’ve built with this one person can last and last. This might take work, but it’s not the kind of work that depletes us; if anything, Nodal energy enlivens us and makes believers out of us when it comes to love and commitment. We will see our relationships grow stronger on April 17, and that’s only the beginning. We are also working with Moon trine Mercury. While the planet is still in retrograde, we will find our footing here. …

Lords Set To Strengthen UK’s “Not Fit For Purpose” International Data Protections

Lords Set To Strengthen UK’s “Not Fit For Purpose” International Data Protections

Published by skeptic

Many apps used in the UK are owned by international companies (Alamy) 4 min read31 min Peers have warned that it would be a “mistake” for the government not to put stronger protections in place on the international transfer of data, with one former minister claiming current regulations are “not fit for purpose”. The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill will be debated in the House of Lords on Monday afternoon, with a group of peers putting forward a number of amendments in an attempt to implement further protections for the transfer of data from the UK.  With the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary both warning that the world is becoming a more dangerous place, parliamentarians are looking for ways to push the government to prioritise protecting digital rights internationally. One amendment to the bill, laid by Lord James Bethell, Lord Timothy Kirkhope, and Lord Tim Clement-Jones, seeks to prevent the UK from transferring data to countries which have “no credible means to enforce data subject rights or obtain legal remedies”. …

This trainer’s standing abs workout takes just 10 minutes and will strengthen and tone your core

This trainer’s standing abs workout takes just 10 minutes and will strengthen and tone your core

Published by skeptic

It can be easy to get stuck in a rut with core and abs workouts, doing endless crunches or planks and feeling like you’re not really getting anywhere. This workout from Kat Boley kicks those boring notions out of the park, with dynamic moves that will challenge your core and train your body for everyday life. As a bonus, it only takes 10 minutes and the only equipment you’ll need is a light dumbbell. Give it a go and see if you can keep up with Boley. How to do the workout Perform three sets of 12 repetitions, carefully following Boley’s form to make sure you’re targeting the right muscles. Are there any benefits to standing ab workouts? We spoke to NASM-qualified personal trainer Edward Panganiban, who gave us his opinion on standing ab workouts vs. ab workouts from the ground. “Training the abs while standing engages more stabilizing muscles and encourages better posture than training abs on the ground,” he says. “One of my favorite [standing abs] exercises that I like to do with …