First Weekend of October 2014 Days of Recognition

October 4, 2014 is Frugal Fun Day. If you dig deeply, you will find resources that describe this day as "International" Frugal Fun Day, and "National" Frugal Fun Day. However, we found no documentation supporting the International or National tags. We did find plenty of reference to the intent of this day.... to have fun "on the cheap".

Frugal Fun Day is a day to enjoy fun activities that are free (or very inexpensive). If you use your imagination, the ideas are endless. Go on a bike or walking hike. The Fall leaves are on display. Have a picnic in the park, or your back yard. Invite some friends or neighbors over for a garage party and dance. Go fly a kite. Pull out the those old board games or puzzles that you have stored in the basement. Play cards with some friends.

This special day was created by Shel Horowitz, author of The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook. We strongly suspect Frugal Fun Day was created, in part, to promote the book. Regardless of the reason for creating this day, we see nothing wrong with having a little inexpensive fun. 

October 5, 2014 is World Teacher’s Day. Teachers deserve a little recognition, and some thanks and appreciation. Aside from parents and direct family, who else has as much influence on the hearts ann minds of a child... your child? Teachers not only educate, but they help to shape and frame your child's beliefs, values, and behaviors.

Parents and students are encouraged to offer thanks and recognition today. A simple "thanks", or an ecard is sufficient.  

World Teachers' Day was initiated by the Director-General of UNESCO, Federico Mayor, at the International Conference on Education in Geneva in 1993.

On October 5, 1966, a UNESCO and the International Labour Organisation  conference adopted a special recommendation on Teachers. The date of this event was selected as the date to annually honor and recognize teachers around the world.

If you are a teacher, Happy World Teacher Day!

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

 

 

 

 

 

Three Exercises That Help with Headaches

All of us need to deal with pain from time to time but the pain of a headache can be something that can really set us on end.  Some of us may experience headaches on a regular basis and they can be approaching what would be considered chronic pain.  That doesn't always need to be the case and there are three exercises that can be done regularly which will help in many cases to be able to overcome these headaches that you are experiencing.                                                                                               

The first type of exercise is a combination of cardiovascular and weightlifting exercises.  There are so many different ways for you to be able to do this exercise but the real essence of it is the fact that you are going to be building up the body from the inside out.  Exercise not only helps to balance the body internally it also assist in doing such things as increasing circulation.  A lack of circulation is behind headaches in many cases and other things which exercise does  such as the release of endorphins can help you to be headache free for the rest of your life.  It is important for you to realize however  that you should not be doing the exercises while you are in the middle of the headache.  Just make sure that you get your exercise in daily and you will notice a difference.                                                                                           

Another type of exercises which can assist you with headaches are stretching exercises.  It always helps to stretch on a daily basis but this is especially true if you have a problem with tension in the neck and shoulder areas.  This is commonly felt by individuals who have desk jobs   particularly those who use computers on a regular basis.  Make it a point to stretch on an hourly schedule   keeping your neck and shoulders loose and you will notice less headaches as a result.                                                                                   

One final way of exercising is to do some form of yoga or Pilates.  This can fall into either of the two previous categories but in reality it is a category all of its own.  Not only are these exercises excellent for building up the body but they also help us by giving us time to relax and meditate.  This can help to build the mind released some of the stress that you are feeling and avoid many of the triggers would cause headaches in the first place.                                                             

We hope our headache article series is proving to be beneficial.  Thank you for supporting our new site and blog articles.

Keep Dancin’ Larry B                                                                  

Line Dance News announces Austin Peay State University Eclectic Line Dance Class

September 22, 2014, is the start of the APSU Beginner Eclectic Line Dance Course/Class. This will be a 6 week course that is designed to fit with the University setting. The course/class is not just to teach a person line dances but to teach an absolutely Beginner how to dance. Of course, it is always great to review those basics so everyone is welcome to participate.

 

Class will be Mondays, 9/22 – 10/27 except 10/6, 6:30 – 8:20pm and this class is open to the public. Registration will be open till Noon on 9/22/2014 for this first session. There will be another 6 week session starting on 11/3-12/8. The class will be held Dunn Center, third floor annex on the east.

 

Students will learn the basic dance steps used in all dances. Proper Execution of steps, understanding of weight changes, how to recognize different rhythms, timing of steps and how to count music.  Each week class will focus on a particular dance rhythm.

 

The 6 week course/class will focus on Cha Cha Cha, Waltz, Polka, West Coast and Nightclub 2step rhythms.  Each week the class will focus on the particular characteristics that make that week’s rhythm unique. The line dance(s) taught each week will focus on the particular steps that demonstrate the week’s rhythm.

 

The University is hopeful that the Beginner class will be a success and if so will be looking to expand the program to an Intermediate Class as well as an ongoing Beginner Class. Don’t miss out on some great dances set up for this class. Register now by going to http://signmeup.apsu.edu/

 

The 6 week Course/Class and the “Line Dance Fitness” class will be instructed by Larry B. Larry has been Line Dancing for over 15 years and an Instructor for 10 years. For More information on the above course, Larry B and other great dance opportunities in the Middle Tennessee area go to www.linedancenews.com

 

The benefits of dancing: Strengthening bones and muscles, tone your entire body, improve posture and balance, reduce stress and tension, boost memory, improve flexibility, weight loss, increase energy and increase mental capacity. Dance class is also a great social event to meet new friends.

 

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

National Line Dance Week September 8-13

Yes, there is a week for a passion of mine, Line Dancing. So in honor of next week, I thought it best to do a sort of a repost of an earlier article on Line Dancing and also do a shameless plug for my current activities...

I am currently the resident Instructor at a great family place, Murph’s Country Music Barn in Cedar Hill, TN. This is a great location and right about midway between Nashville and Clarksville.  The Barn has a Saturday Night Dance with live band and Dance class from 6:30 to 7:30 pm then review of the class during the first band break.

Starting September 22, 2014; Austin Peay State University (APSU) will include a beginner class in their Adult Education program open to the community and students. I am fortunate to be a part of this start up program and the plan is to move it through the initial six week program so we can expand to having a beginner and Intermediate program. So spread the word to all you know in the Clarksville, TN area especially those who have said they always wanted to learn how to dance…

I have also started a Line Dance Fitness class for the APSU Recreation Department at their Foy Fitness Center. This class is a low impact, cardio workout class. We have just kicked it off for this semester and we are seeing great interest as we will build upon our dances and making it a full hour of dance. This class is open to students, faculty and those with memberships at the FOY.

You mention Line Dancing and the first thing people say is they don't like Country Western Music or they just don't get into line dancing.  Well, once they see that we dance to everything from Country to Gospel, they tend to think a little differently.

A Line Dance is a choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines or rows without regard for the gender of the individuals, all facing the same direction, and executing the steps at the same time. Line dancers are not in physical contact with each other. The earliest folk dances in many cultures were line dances, originating before social proprieties allowed men and women to dance together in couple dances. In early forms men and women often danced in separate lines, but the same dances are often done today in mixed lines.

Although line dancing is associated with country-western music and dance, it has similarities to folk dancing. Many folk dances are danced in unison in a single, nonlinear "line", and often with a connection between dancers. The absence of a physical connection between dancers is, however, a distinguishing feature of country western line dance.

Line dances have accompanied many popular music styles since the early 1970s including pop, swing, rock and roll, disco, Latin, gospel, waltz, polka and Jazz just to name a few styles.

Thanks to choreographers, like Bill Bader, Max Perry, Jo Thompson, Scott Blevins and others, that began to use ballroom rhythms and technique to take line dancing to the next level. Today, you can find line dancing groups all over the world and line dance competition and workshops as well.  

This is partly due the great Choreographers/Instructors such as Jamie Marshall, John Robinson, Guyton Mundy, Rachael McEnaney, Rob Fowler, Rona Kaye, Stella Cabeca, Jo Kisner and Ira Weisburd just to name a few of the great people that promote and spread the joy of dancing to the local and world-wide masses.

There are now groups forming that promote line dancing as a way to help decrease cholesterol, high blood pressure as well as weight control. Dancing in any form has far reaching benefits such as strengthening bones and muscles, tone your entire body, improve posture and balance, boost memory, improve flexibility, increase energy, reduce stress and tension and increase mental capacity. Plus dance classes are a great social event to meet new friends.

So you see Line Dancing is not the good ole country steppin you thought it was, there are moves to keep your heart rate up and it’s a great way to meet new friends. Get out there and get those feet and hips moving to the groove.

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

Labor Day 2014

Depending on whether you count from the first Labor Day or from when it became a Federal Holiday. This Labor Day is the 132th or 120^th. It was originally intended that the day would be filled with a street parade to allow the public to appreciate the work of the trade and labor organizations. After the parade, a festival would be held to amuse local workers and their families.

In later years, prominent men and women held speeches. This is less common now, but is sometimes seen in election years. One of the reasons for choosing to celebrate this on the first Monday in September was to add a holiday in the long gap between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.

It is largely a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor Day as the end of the summer season and a last chance to make trips or hold outdoor events. This Labor Day marks the Second Anniversary of moving into what we call our Forever Home. Just three short years ago, we moved from Florida into the little house on the Bluff (condo) then built and moved into this house 11 months later. 

The past three years has been full of ups and downs with making new friends and losing a few as well. We have been blessed with a whole new Tennessee/Kentucky Family. They have been a great addition to our lives and we love them all. 

Larry B., My Line Dance Instructor Persona, is finally a resident instructor at Murph’s Country Music Barn in Cedar Hill, TN.  As of August 27, 2014, I started instructing a Line Dance Fitness Class at Austin Peay State University (APSU). Now starting in September 2014 will be instructing an Absolute Beginner Line Dance Class also at APSU.

Paul continues enjoying the life of a retiree. He has become a great house/personal manager for us.

Also living in the same city with my only blood sister has been an added bonus and blessing. We have gotten closer than ever and support each other in all endeavors. Plus Pop has a one stop place to see both kids and has actually been spending more time in Clarksville when he does visit.

We could not be happier in our home and continue to make additional improvements in back yard to add more living space. We have also added a Garden and fruit trees to complete the back yard.  

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

Austin Peay State University offering 2 Line Dance Classes

Austin Peay State University (APSU) Recreation Department has confirmed a “Line Dance Fitness” class to their recreation program starting August 27, 2014. This class will be at the Foy Recreation Center on Wednesday afternoons from 5-6 pm. This class is designed to be an ongoing fast moving class to provide a great cardio workout. This class is for students, faculty and members of the Foy Center.

Starting September 22, 2014, APSU will be offering a Beginner Line Dance Course/Class. This will be a 6 week course that is designed to fit with the University setting. The course/class is not just to teach a person line dances but to teach an absolutely Beginner how to dance. Of course, it is always great to review those basics so everyone is welcome to participate. Class will be on Monday nights 6:30 to 8 pm and this class is open to the public.

Students will learn the basic dance steps used in all dances. Proper Execution of steps, understanding of weight changes, how to recognize different rhythms, timing of steps and how to count music.  Each week class will focus on a particular dance rhythm.

The 6 week course/class will focus on Cha Cha Cha, Waltz, Polka, West Coast and Nightclub 2step rhythms.  Each week the class will focus on the particular characteristics that make that week’s rhythm unique. The line dance(s) taught each week will focus on the particular steps that demonstrate the week’s rhythm.

The University is hopeful that the Beginner class will be a success and if so will be looking to expand the program to an Intermediate Class as well as an ongoing Beginner Class. Don’t miss out on some great dances set up for this class. Register now by going to http://signmeup.aspu.edu

The 6 week Course/Class and the “Line Dance Fitness” class will be instructed by Larry B. Larry has been Line Dancing for over 15 years and an Instructor for 10 years. For More information on the above course, Larry B and other great dance opportunities in the Middle Tennessee area go to www.linedancenews.com

The benefits of dancing: Strengthening bones and muscles, tone your entire body, improve posture and balance, reduce stress and tension, boost memory, improve flexibility, weight loss, increase energy and increase mental capacity. Dance class is also a great social event to meet new friends.

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

Dancing to a Better YOU!

 

 

What you may not realize, is that if you get off the couch and dance, it’s a great way to keep your body and mind healthy. Studies show that dancing can help you lose weight, stay flexible, reduce stress, make friends, and more.

Dance not only instills grace, but it also helps you age gracefully. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, dancing may boost your memory and prevent you from developing dementia as you get older. Science reveals that aerobic exercise can reverse volume loss in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory. The hippocampus naturally shrinks during late adulthood, which often leads to impaired memory and sometimes dementia.

Those plies and arabesques that ballet dancers practice aren’t just for aesthetics — they also increase flexibility and reduce stiffness. You can skip the ballet slippers and still reap the benefits of ballet by practicing some simple stretches at home. Increasing your flexibility will help ease joint pain and post-exercise soreness.

If you’re feeling tense or stressed out, turn up the music, and dance! In a controlled study in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, researchers found that partner dance or simply dancing with musical accompaniment can help bring about stress relief.

Dancing really does lift your spirits, according to a study that tested the effects of dancing on people with depression. Patients who participated in an upbeat group dance showed the fewest depression symptoms and the most vitality.

Dance is a great activity for those at risk for cardiovascular disease. People with heart failure who took up waltzing improved their heart health, breathing, and quality of life significantly compared to those who biked or walked on a treadmill for exercise, noted an Italian study.

Bored with your bicycle? A study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that an exercise program of aerobic dance training is just as helpful for losing weight and increasing aerobic power as cycling and jogging.

If you are nervous about falling as you get older, some dance lessons might help ease your worries, according to a study in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity that showed tango dancing can improve balance in aging adults. Dancing requires a lot of fast movement and good posture, so frequent dancing will help you stabilize and gain better control of your body. Dance is a weight-bearing activity, which builds bones. It's also "wonderful" for your upper body and strength.

Can’t seem to find your get-up-and-go? Taking a dance class might help. Research published in The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition found that a weekly dance program could improve physical performance and increase energy levels among adults.

The studies noted above all were based on Partner Dances but the best part of Line Dancing is that it incorporates all aspects of the ballroom/partner dances. LINE DANCING is a “no partner required” dance class.  It’s so fun and something everyone can do –yes, “real men” line dance too!  It does, however, require some coordination, concentration and perseverance…but doesn’t everything in the beginning?    

A dance class is the perfect setting to make new friends and branch out socially.

So what are you waiting for …Live, Love and DANCE!

Keep Dancin’ Larry B