Physical health helps mental health

Skipping exercise isn’t just bad for your physique, it’s bad for your state of mind, researchers have found. According to researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, skipping your regular exercise for just a couple of weeks can cause a serious downturn in your mood.

The subjects in the study weren’t hardcore bodybuilders and athletes — they were just regular exercisers. Still, instead of filling recharged after a break from the workout grind, they almost immediately started feeling tense, moody and tired.

It’s just more proof: The more active you are, the more energy you have.

And if you can’t follow your normal workout routine for any reason, get creative and find alternates. You’ll be happy you did.

The Ultimate Basketball Workout

With NBA training camps starting and the college season just around the corner, I thought now would be a good time to tell the world that I love basketball.

I read about five NBA web sites per day, even in the off-season (to keep up with trades and such). I constantly check college sites and watch recruiting. During the season, I read the college scores and check the box scores of every NBA game. I play fantasy basketball. And, of course, I love playing basketball.

Is there anything more fun than shooting hoops in the gym or playing pick-up games at the park? I love the swish of the net – or even better, the clank of a chain net. Playing basketball isn’t just fun; it is a great exercise activity. It requires strength, agility, conditioning, concentration and a competitive spirit. It is great for the mind, body and soul.

There are three keys to a great basketball workout that will help anybody get in shape.Step one is shooting the rock. Take hold of the ball with both hands at your waist. Your shooting hand – generally your writing hand – should be spread wide across the ball, parallel with the ground. Your other hand is your guiding hand. It should be on the side of the ball.The key to shooting well is to understand that your shot starts in your toes and ends in your fingers. Bend your knees slightly and push off from the ground using your toes. Both feet should leave the ground and return to it at the same time. Raise the ball to your head and, as you reach the peak of your jump, release the ball toward the basket, rolling it off your fingers and snapping your wrist. Follow through with your arm extended toward the hoop. Shooting the ball, done repetitively, should give you a great cardio exercise.

The second key is playing defense. When playing one-on-one or team ball, defense is important, not only because it wins games, but because it improves your reaction time, reflexes and cardiovascular conditioning. Keep your knees bent and move side-to-side to stay between the person you’re guarding and the basket. Keep arms raised, one in the face of the offensive player (so they can’t see the hoop as well) and the other prepared to block shots or make minimal contact to stay with your person.

The third key is ball-handling in the form of passing, dribbling and general ball control. This requires concentration (to keep your defender from stealing the ball or causing you to turn it over), strength (to push bullet passes or full-court lobs to your teammates) and timing and skill (to get the pass there, and to complete a wide variety of passes). This also requires you to run the court, which is great for conditioning.

In addition to those keys, I’d like to add that playing basketball is fun and competitive. You won’t even know you are working out! So grab a ball and some sneakers and go have some fun and get some exercise.

Mayo Clinic Diet

Add another one to the growing list of new diet plans these days: the Mayo Clinic diet plan, as outlined in a new book, “Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight for EveryBody” (2005, Mayo Clinic Health Information).

What sets this one apart — other than the high-profile Mayo name attached — is a committment to real health instead of gimmicks. Or, in the clinic’s words, “the book presents a practical, no-gimmicks program to help readers adopt a lifestyle that allows them to achieve and maintain a healthy weight for life.”

Eating right and exercising … now there’s a crazy diet plan. I bet it’ll never catch on.

It’s also worth noting that this is the first time the Mayo Clinic has actually produced a diet and fitness guide, despite more than 60 years of “Mayo Clinic diets” stealing borrowing the esteemed clinic’s name.

Finding Healthy Role Models

It’s tough getting (and keeping) in shape, so looking to others for inspiration is only natural. But who makes a good fitness role model?

According to The Arizona Republic, it’s probably not most public figures.

As supercyclist Lance Armstrong goes for his seventh Tour de France victory this month, he’ll probably inspire some people to get on a bike and pedal a few miles.

Women who watch Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith may step up their workouts to achieve a lithe body like hers.

But the best fitness icon to emulate is probably the neighbor who walks every morning and has a decent cholesterol count.

According to Charles Corbin, a professor emeritus in the Department of Exercise and Wellness at Arizona State University, Americans need to stop looking at unattainable health images and find more down-to-earth, real-world role models.

“Who are the heroes of a culture that is mostly concerned about the way it looks? Movie stars and TV stars – and most of those people don’t really look the way they appear – and high-level performers, even though (regular people) have no chance of doing that,” says Corbin, a professor emeritus in the Department of Exercise and Wellness at Arizona State University East.

According to Corbin, health awareness in America has been driven by celebrities, rather than the benefits of simply living right.

“Fitness needs to be a means to lifelong health, not an end in itself”, he says.

Ronald McDonald – Fitness Guru?

McDonald’s is getting ready to unveil their latest weapon in the battle to clean up their image with health-concious people — the new, improved, athletic Ronald McDonald. In upcoming spots, the trademarked clown will be promoting physical fitness and active lifestyles.

We all know 50 years of burgers and fries have given McDonald’s a super-sized PR problem with anyone who remotely cares about nutrition and diet – and contributed to more than a few super-sized butts and bellies among those who don’t care. But are we ready to accept Ronald MacDonald as our personal fitness guru?High on a Fruit Buzz, McDonald’s is giving the clown prince of clogged arteries an image makeover. The new Ronald will get some form-fitting duds, shoot some hoops, go snowboarding and espouse the virtues of fruits, vegetables and other foods that are mostly absent from the MacDonald’s menu.

Speaking of conspicuously absent, the new TV spots will probably not show the burgers and fries McDonald’s is best known for. On the other hand, some things never change. A Cheeseburger Happy Meal still loads your child up with 600 calories and 20 grams of fat, so good luck to the kid that eats that junk and tries to follow Ronald down the happy healthy path.

Guide to Applying to Art School

Applying to college is a daunting task. With applications, transcripts, standardized tests and letters of recommendation, on top of essays and interviews, it can be a very stressful and exhausting process. Applying to art school is not much different. In a lot of respects, applying to art school can be more challenging than applying to college. There are many art schools around the nation. Most people only think of the art schools in New York or other larger metropolitan cities. But you can find art schools in many U.S. cities, and all of them have something different to offer. Think about your art career goals, artistic talents and desired learning environment as you select the best art school for you. Choosing art schools involves deciding what kind of art you want to study. Art related careers include everything from painting and sculpture to 3-D animation and graphic design. In addition, some of the fastest-growing art careers are in gaming, fashion design and merchandising, and multimedia design. As art schools grow in popularity, art students will have more program options to choose from. This guide to applying to art school should answer any questions you might have, as well as help you create a dynamic art school application and portfolio as you navigate through the art school admissions process.

Art School Application

Each art school has an application that usually requires a completed application form, an application fee, an art portfolio, a personal essay or student statement, and letters of recommendation. You must include all of these elements to be considered for art school admission. Take your art school application seriously because it is the first impression you will make on the admissions staff. Put thought into why you want to pursue an art career over something else. Art schools are used to encountering talented students. They want to know why you are different from other students and why they should accept you over another art school hopeful. If you have a well-crafted application, your chances of getting an interview are greatly improved. To make sure you are on the right track, try speaking to current art school students. Ask your art teachers to help you through the process. If you have contact with professional artists, solicit their help and advice in completing your art school application.

Art School Portfolio

The most important part of the art school application process is your art portfolio. Creating an art portfolio is necessary to get into the best art schools. Your primary goal in creating an art school portfolio is to showcase your best work. Pick pieces that display your current abilities and talents, as well as future areas for artistic development. Seek help from your art teachers and the admissions staff at your chosen art schools before creating your art portfolio. If at all possible, schedule an on-campus interview with the admissions staff so you can present your art portfolio in person. This will give you an opportunity to discuss the development of each piece in your portfolio. Pay careful attention to the school’s portfolio requirements. Submit work in the desired format. For instance, some schools require that all digital files be in JPEG format. Some schools require slides of large, fragile or 3-D work while others prefer portfolio submissions in digital format only. Know the requirements for submission, and meet them. Art school is the best place for artists to develop their talent. Although getting into an art school can be challenging, it is not impossible. And it is not out of your reach. Just present a polished application and portfolio, and half the battle is over. Now that you know how to increase your chances of being accepted into art school, take a few moments to search around Art Training Schools for more information about top art schools across the nation, learn about different art careers, or contact an art school to start the application process!

Art School Admissions

There are a lot of things that students must consider when searching for an art school. Chris Mesecar, Associate Director of Admissions at The Illinois Institute of Art, helps take the guess work out of the art school admissions process:

1. What do you look for in a potential art student?
   We look for students with a passion for art. They must want to be in an environment with other artists, they want to be challenged and they must be focused. They must be able to accept constructive criticism.
2. What factors come into play when evaluating the skill and potential of each student?
   Portfolios are important. Other than the portfolio, and more importantly, students’ responses to questions in their personal interview give an indication of their potential. What do they want to do with their education, what type of job would they like to do, how do they best learn, what motivates them?
3. How should a student prepare his or her art portfolio?
   Students should work with their high school teachers to prepare their portfolios. Students should not put any work into their portfolios that they are not satisfied with. They should save their artwork throughout their high school years for possible inclusion in their portfolios. Students should also prepare slides of their work or digitize their work.
4. What are some of the things you look for in a standard art portfolio?
   We look for clean presentation of the student’s work, organization, awards won. It should show a wide range of the student’s skills. Examples could include pencil drawings, paintings in mixed media, sculpture. If they are more commercial art-driven, examples of their work might be logos, magazine layout, business cards or letterhead.
5. What kind of experience do you hope each student comes with when they are accepted?
   All experience levels are welcomed.
6. What characteristics do promising art students possess?
   They must be driven. Live, eat, sleep, breathe art. Everything else is secondary. A willingness to learn new things is important, as well.
7. What advice can you offer prospective students applying for your art program?
   I recommend that students be proactive. A student has just as much responsibility in the process as the school does. Apply for every scholarship possible. Present your portfolios to the admissions rep rather than waiting for the admissions rep to ask questions.
8. What should a student do if they are rejected the first time they apply for art school admissions?
   Enroll at their local community college to keep the study habit going. Re-apply for the following quarter. Work with the school to find out why they were rejected and put a plan of action in place with the school.
9. How do you handle the student that clearly lacks the talent for the field, but has the passion?
   Inform the student that the chosen field would be very difficult for them to succeed in and see if there is another art related major that may require the skills they could acquire or already possess.
10. What are some of the industries that talented artists from your school have entered upon graduation?
    Printing, animation, television and film, fashion, E-commerce, commercial and residential interior design, advertising, telecommunications, in-house corporate promotion, hospitality and video gaming.

Art Careers in Industry

Learn about art careers

Some people have a knack for recognizing the beauty in things. Whether it’s in paintings, sculptures, architecture, clothing or creative advertisements, artists have a way of recreating that beauty for the rest of the world to enjoy. Modern-day artists have a wider variety of fields to work in than ever, with the need for computer game designers, web designers, and other new, multimedia artists. If you have an aptitude for artistic creativity, training for a career in the art industry could help you see your work in a famous museum, at an art gallery, on the cover of a magazine, posted on billboards around the country, draped on the shoulders of a runway model or housing a corporation or community center. No matter what your interest, there are many careers in art to discover and explore:

• Advertising
• Animation
• Architecture
• Art Direction
• Art History
• AutoCAD
• Automotive Design
• Car Design
• Cartooning
• Commercial Art
• Commercial Photography
• Computer Art
• Desktop Publishing
• Digital Design
• Drawing
• Fashion Merchandising
• Film
• Fine Art
• Game Art
• Game Design
• Graphic Art
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Industrial Design
• Interactive Media
• Interior Design
• Multimedia
• New Media
• Painting
• Photography
• Video
• Visual Communications
• Visual Effects
• Web Design

Art Career – Art and Design

Fine-tune your skills for a career in art

It’s important to have a career that you love. There are many directions you can go in the art field, it’s just a matter of matching your interest with the right career. Careers in art are expanding and range from traditional arts such as sculpture to graphic design.If you are considering an art career, Art Training Schools provides information about:

• Art Schools by state
• Listings by career
• Choose the right school
• Learn about applying to art school
• Quiz – is art school right for me
• Financial aid for art school

We also provide information and resources for beginning artists:

• Getting a gallery show
• Setting up your portfolio
• Finding art supplies

Now is a great time to consider an art career. Fashion Design, Computer Art, and Web Design are just a few of the growing careers you can find at an art school near you.

Becoming a Personal Trainer

Here at Vocational Schools Guide, we get a lot of visitors interested in careers in fitness. In particular, a lot of you seem to be interested in becoming a personal trainer.

It’s a smart move. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health and fitness careers are expected to be among the fastest-growing careers around, and how many people actually make a good living doing something they truly love? So the question is, how do you start your fitness career? Well, here’s our simple plan…

1. Research – look into various personal training and fitness jobs. Talk to fitness professionals. Go beyond the local health club and try to meet up with people working in other fitness-related careers, such as stength coaches for local sports teams, exercise therapists and physical therapists. Let your imagination and your interests be your guide. This research will help you discover which fitness career is best for you.
2. Find a school – These days, proper education is a requirement for most fitness careers. You’ll need certification, if not a degree. You can also search for fitness schools right here at 365 Fitness.
3. Think about the school you want to go to – There’s quite a few out there, and some are better than others. One of the best is Pro-Fit Worldwide, which has the added advantage of online classes. Whatever school you choose, make sure they’re going to be right for you. Do they offer hands-on labs? Are they accredited? You want a career, not a piece of paper from a diploma mill.
4. Get certified – Like choosing a school, investigate your certification wisely. Make sure it will help you in the career field your interested in, and will add real benefit and marketability to you. Even more than in most jobs, as a personal trainer, you’ll have to be able to sell yourself. Also, realize over the course of your career you’ll probably get more than one certification. Where do you want to start, and where do you want to go?
5. Continue your education – your first certification is just the beginning. You’ll need to keep up on the latest fitness trends, you may need periodic re-certification, and earning additional certifications just improves your earning potential.

Be smart and recognize that the journey is it’s own reward, and you’ll be on your way to a rewarding career as a fitness professional. Good luck!

Personal Trainer

Start a rewarding career — become a personal trainer!

Do you enjoying exercise and working out? Would you enjoy teaching others about the benefits of exercise and fitness? If so, a career in personal training might be the perfect thing for you.

Become a personal fitness trainer — it’s simple!
Your job as a personal trainer is to teach people how to exercise. To be successful, you have to be more than a health and fitness educator. You also need to be a motivator and coach to each of your clients.

Personal fitness training prepares you for the personal fitness training career of your future. Personal fitness training programs focus on several fundamental topics, including:

* personal health and fitness
* injury prevention
* sports nutrition
* stress management

Fitness craze leads to increased need for personal trainers!

Millions of Americans are turning to personal trainers to lose weight and become more fit. This growing focus on personal fitness has made personal training one of the fastest growing careers in the health and fitness industry.

Personal training is no longer the solely the career of athletes. Today people of all ages and backgrounds have found rewarding careers as personal trainers.

As a personal fitness trainer you will meet with clients for an hour-long session and guide the client through workouts ranging from aerobics to weight lifting to flexibility training. Your job is to help your clients reach their personal fitness goals. As part of your responsibilities as a personal trainer you will:
* monitor heart rate levels
* measure body fat levels
* regulate diet plans
* offer advice for maintaining a health lifestyle

Personal fitness trainer salary potential

On average aerobics instructors and fitness trainers earn between $8 and $18 per hour, according to estimates from the u.S. Department of Labor. Personal trainers who are self-employed, however, stand to earn much more than that. Experienced self-employed personal fitness trainers charge $50 per hour or more.

Employment opportunities are plentiful for personal fitness trainers

Many personal trainers work in health clubs, but the list of potential personal training jobs is by no means limited to gyms. As a personal fitness trainer, your employment options include such employers as:
* universities
* spas
* resorts
* cruise ships
* corporations

Corporate wellness: The bottom line is fitness

A rapidly growing sector within the personal training profession is corporate fitness. Companies have learned over time that providing workout centers or programs for employees benefits the company in innumerable ways. This means corporations offer great career opportunities for personal fitness trainers.

Personal Training Schools: Studying for a career in personal training

There are a number of personal training schools that offer quality programs for future personal fitness trainers. Some of these personal training schools even offer online personal training programs that allow you to learn from the comfort of your home.

Regardless of the personal training school you select, the areas of study for future personal fitness trainers tend to be fairly standard and include the following general areas of study:

* Anatomy
* Kinesiology
* Muscle Physiology
* Client Assessment and Screening
* Cardiovascular Health
* Exercise Program Design
* Exercise Programming for Special Populations
* Flexibility Training
* Strength Training: Upper & Lower Body, Core Conditioning
* Business management for beginners
* Injury Prevention
* First Aid Procedures
* Nutrition in the 21st Century

How to get your personal trainer certification

There are a number of organizations that offering more than 300 different personal trainer certifications.

The National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) has been offering personal trainer certifications for 15 years and is recognized by more than 120 personal trainer testing sites worldwide.

Another provider of personal trainer certifications is the American Council on Exercise (ACE). In 2003, ACA received accreditation for all of its certification programs by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Personal Training – a great career is waiting for you!

So, there you have it — everything you need to know about how to build success for yourself as a personal fitness trainer. Personal training is a great way to help others achieve their health and fitness goals.

Get started today. Find the personal training school that meets your needs and start training today for the personal fitness trainer career you will have in the future.