This high-octane sport, hilariously spoofed in Adam Sandler’s You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, has actually kept participants in great shape for many centuries. Versions of the activity have been traced to ancient China and Thailand. Even North American indigenous people practiced a version of footbagging.
But the activity we recognize today is still in its infancy, really. The sport’s other name, Hacky Sack, is derived from Hackin’ the Sack, the invention of two Oregon City, Oregon, fellows, the late Mike Marshall and John Stalberger. The latter came up with the idea of using a beanbag to exercise his knees while recovering from surgery.
Today, the sport is endlessly evolving and is more widely known as footbag. One version features a single footbagger performing tricks in a small circle. In a team version that resembles volleyball, players rocket the sack back and forth over a net five feet high.
Regardless of the variation played, the workout is intense. Players are constantly on the move. Quickness, dexterity, explosiveness, and balance are crucial to successful play. The exercise engages your core, neck, shoulders, arms, and—of course—your feet and legs. Footbagging solo for 20 minutes can be more strenuous than a five-mile run. It takes effort and skill to control the bag and keep it in the air.
All you need to get started is a footbag, tennis shoes (optional—many prefer to play barefoot), and a pair of gym shorts. Then draw yourself a circle about twice the size of your body, step inside it, and “bag on!”
Photo © Kamparin – Fotolia.com
Research performed by SCOPE (Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints) performed on women in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, UK, revealed that women who ate more than three daily portions of leafy vegetables and organic fruits prior to their pregnancy reduced the risk of their baby being born under-weight by 50%. Similarly, women who consumed less than one serving of fruit each week habitually, prior to pregnancy, increased their risk of giving birth to underweight babies by 50%. The study, referenced in an article published in October, 2010 in BJOG, (An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology), concedes that it is also possible that women who tended to eat more fruits and vegetables, also probably had other healthy lifestyle habits that contributed to proper gestational weight for their babies.
When we contemplate our health and fitness and consider all of the healthy options available to us in this age of boundless information, what is an essential, beneficial activity that we easily take for granted or overlook?
As the interest in alternative treatment methods becomes more and more common, so will the discovery of natural cures to ailments. One such miracle cure is the use of apple cider vinegar for the treatment and removal of warts.
As studies are revealing in the U.S. and around the world, there are both good and bad cholesterols. A recent U.S. study shows that high levels of good cholesterol, or HDL, in the body reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. This means that people at-risk for Alzheimer’s should increase their intake of good fats and Omega 3’s and 6’s to gain the health benefits of HDL. The best sources for Omega 3’s and 6’s are through eating fatty fish, such as cod, or to purchase Cod Liver Oil from the supplements section of your nearest health food store.
A recent World Cancer Research Fund review of 7,000 clinical cases has reached a conclusion that non-organic, processed red meat is a serious threat to health and can cause cancer. This suggests that we all should stop eating processed meat immediately and seek alternatives to it in our diets.
The world of health and medicine is filled with popular myths. Unfortunately, popular myths can be destructive. They can put you in danger of becoming sick or damage your health. That’s why it’s important to separate the beneficial ideas from those that could end up being harmful.
It is common knowledge that fruits are incredibly beneficial to health and well being. Not only do fruits taste great, they are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. One of those super-fruits, is the cherry.