Blog Posts From Active Action Sports Tagged With toby-guillette

10 Tips for an Active Lifestyle

Active Toby — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:42:00 GMT

Hey everyone, Trish and Toby here. We’re firm believers that the active lifestyle involves more than just being physically active--it’s about being intellectually and socially active too. We compiled a list of 10 tips for being active in all areas of life. Because no matter what stage of life you are in, you should always strive to be the best version of yourself.

1. Maintain a positive mental outlook. There's a clear connection between living well and having a cheerful outlook on life. Research has found that people who think positively about life live an average of seven and a half years longer than negative thinkers.

2. Avoid processed food. Eating processed, boxed, canned and frozen meals guarantee that you are eating unnecessary chemicals, sodium, sugar and fat. Eat fresh, natural food and eliminate trans fat from your diet.

3. Reduce stress. We're so focused on being go-getters that we often forget to de-stress. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like--walk on the beach or in a park, read a book, visit a friend, play with your dog, listen to soothing music or watch a funny movie. Don't forget to take some time to focus on clearing your thoughts and giving your mind, body and spirit a chance to rejuvenate.

4. Invest in a quality pair of shoes and socks. Visit a specialty store that understands that every foot and foot strike is unique. When your feet are happy, so are you. Comfortable, supportive and well-fitting shoes and synthetic socks are worth the investment of time and money.

5. Socialize. Having a social network is important to the body, mind and spirit. People who are socially active tend to be healthier, happier and less likely to become depressed. To stay socially active, make a point of getting out of the house. Make plans with your friends to go out to lunch or better yet, make plans to exercise regularly with a friend or group of friends. Exercising with others is usually more fun than exercising on your own--and it can help you stick with your exercise program. Try joining our online community today!

6. Exercise your brain. The key to keeping your memory sharp is continuing to challenge it. Having a book on hand and discussing what you’ve read with friends or a book club is one way to keep your brain in good shape. Crosswords, Sudoku and puzzles are also excellent ways to keep your brain agile. There is always more learning to do. Find out what works for you.

7. Volunteer. Donating your time at an aid station during a race or soup kitchen over the holidays, puts life into perspective. Be thankful for all you have and give to others who are less fortunate.

8. Omit high fructose corn syrup from your diet. Widespread use of this highly modified sweetener is making us and our children unhealthy. High fructose corn syrup bypasses the digestive process and goes straight to the liver, where it gets turned into fat. Combined with the typical American high-fat diet, the result is increased danger of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Try using honey as sweetener instead. As an added bonus, ingesting locally grown honey before allergy season helps your body acclimate to some pollen levels in advance.

9. Maintain close relationships. Make a point to strengthen ties with your family, friends and loved ones. Volunteer work, religious ties, even pets~~anything that keeps you involved with others~~reduces stress and enhances health. Having a strong network of family and friends and a broad range of activities will support your health.

10. Give yoga a try. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes when your body is limber and flexible. Plus, yoga reduces the chances of injury. Try a beginning yoga class to enjoy the wide range of benefits--your mind and body will both thank you.

Comments are encouraged--please share your tips for staying healthy and active with the rest of us.

Whitewater Riverboarding

ActiveAdmin — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:10:47 GMT

It is said that sometime in the late 70's, a group of Frenchmen navigated river rapids high up in the Alps with bags stuffed with lifejackets and polystyrene. By 1981, this concept led way to the production of the first Riverboard which is now synonymous with Sledging or Hydrospeeding. Since its inception, this action packed activity has caught the attention of adrenaline junkies across the world and is now recognized as a professional sport in Europe with competitions organized every year.

The allure of white water Sledging is that operator’s intimate proximity to the river. The operator is equipped with a padded wetsuit, booties, life jacket, helmet and fins for kicking. The fins provide propulsion and steering as the operator’s chest rests on the plastic board while arms are neatly tucked inside for grip and control. No experience is necessary to learn all the skills from a competent instructor who will then guide a group down the river while negotiating the safest route through class IV rapids. As experienced as your guides claim to be, a serious degree of risk still exists when participating in such extreme activities. Be sure to thoroughly read liability waivers and be knowledgeable of your health coverage whenever traveling abroad and/or chasing your next adrenaline rush.

Check out this video which provides a closer look from a “Sledger’s” point of view:

Bouldering 101

ActiveAdmin — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 19:53:01 GMT

[http://active.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/bishopboulder.jpg]Bouldering is a term for a style of rock climbing in which the climber does not use a rope. Initially, this may sound quite dangerous however, the height of a bouldering route rarely exceeds a level where a fall would lead to serious injury. Although injuries do occur on occasion, there are safety measures used to limit the severity of a fall. The first is the “bouldering pad”, which looks like a compact mattress and is placed under the climber during a climb. This highly cushioned material will absorb a fall from nearly 20 feet if the climber lands on their feet. “Spotters” are also essential for safety. By having a fellow climber watch closely while climbing, a spotter can literally re-route a climber’s trajectory if they happen to fall and correct the trajectory so not only do they land on their feet, but they also will land on the bouldering pad and avoid injury.

Bouldering routes are much shorter and incorporate more explosive power moves differing from sport climbing and traditional climbing which are longer routes requiring more endurance and a rope! The appeal of bouldering within the climbing culture seems to be its quick and easy access. To get started with bouldering, all one needs are climbing shoes, chalk and chalk bag, bouldering pad, a spotter, guide book and of course, boulders! All inclusive beginners’ packages cost as low as $200. Bouldering is often the starting point for those to hone their skills and develop the technique and fitness necessary to progress to the natural next step which is top rope climbing, and then lead and sport climbing, followed by “trad” climbing and then big wall climbing.

(Photo provided by Toby Guillette)

Le Parkour

ActiveAdmin — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:45:24 GMT

Le Parkour is a physical art, the aim of which is to move from point A to point B as efficiently and quickly as possible, using the abilities of the human body. It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment — from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls — so parkour can be practiced in both rural and urban areas.

Inspiration for parkour came from many sources, the foremost being the 'Natural Method of Physical Culture' developed by George Hébert in the early twentieth century. French soldiers in Vietnam were inspired by Hébert's work and created what is now known as parkour.

There are fewer predefined movements in parkour than gymnastics and other extreme sports, in that parkour is not made up of a list of appropriate "moves". Each obstacle one faces presents a unique challenge on how they can overcome it effectively, which depends on their body type, speed and angle of approach, the physical make-up of the obstacle, etc.

Most important are good jumping and landing techniques. The roll, usedto limit impact after a drop and to carry one's momentum onward, isoften stressed as the most important technique to learn. Check le parkour at it's best in this video clip.

If you liked this years Winter X-Games in Aspen, then you’ll really be stoked when you hear this news!

ActiveAdmin — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 23:43:17 GMT

[http://active.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/73132854_1.jpg]Camp Woodward and Intrawest have announced an exclusive partnership to bring the state-of-the-art action sports training facilities to the slopes. By November of 2007, Copper Mountain in Summit County Colorado plans to provide the first progressive winter-focused action sports facility to skiers and snowboarders. Previously, Woodward Camps and facilities were only available for summer action sports such as inline skating, skateboarding and BMX. Woodward at Copper will maintain the same instructional principles of Woodward’s world famous camps in Woodward, PA. and Tehachapi, CA. The 20,000-square-foot indoor facility will incorporate progressive teaching apparatus including trampolines, foam pits, resi-pits and bungee systems, two on-snow superpipes, and a private terrain park. This safe and supported environment will allow winter athletes to push the limits of their own abilities while propelling competitive snowboarding to the next level.

(Photo provided by Getty Images, taken by <span id="ctlInfo_ImageDetails">Doug Pensinger)