Ombretta was working night and day, while I was doing the same, for almost two weeks when I was at ICANN Durban.  Since I returned home a week ago, the pace hasn't stopped for either of us.  So we decided it was time for a road trip; after all it is summer time. Tomorrow morning we'll be getting on Black Betty and Betty Davis and going on an adventure to explore the interior of South Florida...  Not a long trip.  Not by distance, neither by the 5-6 days we are planning to... Read full post

The 90+ degree days here in Miami Beach, where the summer temperatures measured how much time one spent out of doors, appear to be common everywhere in the 21st century!  Up on the west coast and all across Canada, the midwestern United States, all across Europe... this summer's heat is intense and everyone is feeling it...
In order to maintain our workouts, we need to start at 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. to be able to train in reasonable temperatures - otherwise its just like Bikram Yoga,... Read full post

It was a week ago that I was unexpectedly laid off from my job, after 7 and half years. It was truly shocking to hear from my I was no longer needed as a full time Designer, because the company was heading in a different direction. I remember feeling confused and taking by surprise, not know how to deal with it, what to do next, where to go to clear my mind.I cleared my desk and as I was packing my bag, I saw in it my swim trunks, googles and cap. I left the office extremely upset at the... Read full post

So today is my 60th birthday.  For some it is a BIG birthday, but for me 50 was that...  In my view, 50 is the 'half way there' mark, so 60 is just 10 years further on.  As my friends will all attest, I am 100% sure that I, along with many in my generation and absolutely all of those in coming generations, will live to be 100 years old and more.  I take this understanding from the pace at which technology, science and medicine is racing forward...  As incredible as it... Read full post

Spring is on our doorstep and after a winter of hibernation, now is the time to start working on your fitness. New York based personal trainer and former Mr Australia, Gennaro Ferra, shares his top 10 tips for getting in shape for Spring.
 
1. Set your alarm 30 minutes early each morning and go for a 30- minute power-walk. After the first week, add in a two-minute jog after every four minutes of walking. After the second week, sprint for 30 seconds, jog for two minutes, walk for three... Read full post

In taking a holistic approach to one's health and physical fitness, one has to look at diet. All the current data on healthy eating is pointing to what has been called "lean green" which refers to leaning in the direction of vegetables and away from a diet heavy in meat.  Many doctors are also promoting the recognition that our bodies are the healthiest when we are slightly alkaline in our food intake rather than acidic.  http://www.acidalkalinediet.com/Alkaline-Foods-Chart.htm... Read full post

Did you ever hear of Nemo 33, the deapest man made swimming pool in the world, a place in Brussels (Ukkel/Uccle)? Being of a curious nature, I went to have a look. You can only swim one hour at lunch time and one hour in the evening. Apart from that the place is for real divers, not for tourists like me. It's very easy to get to from my place : the ring and then exit Ruisbroek to the left and at the first roundabout left : the 33 meters deep swimming pool.
 
A multilingual... Read full post

The American website RateBeer (just like last year) crowned the Belgian Trappist Westvleteren 12 the best beer in the world. There are ten Belgian beers in the Top 50 (eleven last year). Rochefort 10 is number seven. Westvleteren 8 is number seventeen. Belgian restaurants and cafés also get good rates. One restaurant I like very much, called 'De Heeren van Liedekercke' in Denderleeuw, Oost-Vlaanderen, has been rated the best beer restaurant in the world! That's where I had my first... Read full post

Monday
Aero House (12:30pm) & Ultimate Conditioning (1pm) @ Crunch, Chelsea
Arms, Abs Assets @ NYHRC, 21st & Park
Just Dance @ NYHRC, 23rd & 6th
Tuesday
Functional Training (8:15am) & Cardio Sculpt (9am) @ Equinox, 63rd & Lex
Cardio Sculpt (5:15pm)  @ NYHRC, Cooper Sq. 
Ass & Abs (6pm) & Funk (6:30pm) @ Crunch, Lafayette & Astor Place
Wednesday
Step Challenge (12:15pm) @ NYHRC, Cooper Sq
Hardcore (6pm) & Arms, Abs, Assets (6:30pm) @ NYHRC,... Read full post

Just saw this great set of videos from a series orginally broadcast on the BBC in the 1980's, called the Way of the Warrior.  It features our school of karate, Goju Ryu, in the traditional Okinawan form.  'Karate' translated means 'the of the empty hand."  Hence this amazing fighting style...
Here are the links to the first four parts of the series. Each segment is about 10 minutes long and really interesting to watch, particularly the detail around sanchine kata in Part... Read full post