Sports

HOW DO YOU BUY A BIKE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU?

March 12, 2015 by Rebecca

BY Liz Perry

HOW DO YOU BUY A BIKE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU?

Contributing journalist Liz Perry sits down with bicycle professional and ProCycles owner John Silvia to ask about the best bicycle fit.

Q. If I were to come into ProCycles, how would we get started?

A. First, I will ask you a few questions like, “do you ride now?”

If so, “what kind of bike do you have?”

“How do you envision yourself riding?”

Based on your individual needs, I will make suggestions on bikes.

Q. How do I select the bike that is best for me?

A. Selecting your new bicycle is a fun process! We will size and measure you. I will help you each step of the way. I will show you several models that may be what you are looking for. I will explain to you the pluses and minuses of each bike.

Q. Who are your customers that you cater to?

A. Our clients range from first timers to racing experts, and from young teens to folks in their 80’s. Cycling is a great way to lose weight and gain fitness!

Q. What if I have questions later?

A. After you cycle off with your new bike we provide ‘free consulting’. We will spend time helping you with riding plans, techniques, and maps! You can check out ProCycles Facebook page for rides, community events and clinics.

Q. How do I get started?

A. Stop by our ProCycles Shop on U.S. 1 or call me at 772.692.8476.

Thanks John – I can’t wait to get started!

John Silvia is a professional and experienced cyclist and advisor with 27 years experience. He is the owner of ProCycles on U.S. 1 in Stuart.

Liz Perry – Your Health & Wellness Magazine Contributor

About the author, Liz Perry is a Treasure Coast Florida resident who is a Harvard Alumnus. Liz currently is a medical journalist, speaker and educator on disease prevention, national healthcare consultant with over two decades in the medical field.
Liz Gibbs (Perry), is a senior partner in Absolute Solutions International, Inc.
Please feel free to contact Liz with your questions or comments at Liz.perry@post.harvard.edu

The above information is opinion based except where noted. Always contact a licensed professional for information on the above subject or BEFORE applying or practicing the above information.

HealthyMartin.com is designed to assist you in finding medical doctors, dentists and alternative, organic & holistic health, fitness and sports professionals in Martin County Florida, the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast. “Healthy Martin, working together for better health choices for you, your family and friends”.

Filed Under: Fitness, Sports

Tennis – The Game of Your Life

February 25, 2015 by Rebecca

BY Jessica Agee-Bradshaw

Living in south Florida offers many ways to maintain your mental and physical well-being. Playing tennis is a great way thousands of people have found to do this. Tennis is the ideal sport for any age and fitness level as the game can be picked up at any time because it is low impact and doesn’t depend on the player’s strength.
tennis
Playing tennis gets your mind and body moving. It requires the cooperation of the whole body – feet get you into the right position, arms and hands position the racquet to make contact with the ball and the torso and legs provide the power to send the ball flying over the net. All these factors come together every time you hit the tennis ball making tennis a real workout – running, swinging, reaching and pivoting. Tennis also requires your brain to be creative and involves planning, tactical thinking, agility and the coordination of many different parts of the body. Tennis is truly a whole body sport.

Many health benefits can be obtained through playing tennis including decreasing the risk of heart attack. By lowering blood pressure, maintaining a healthy body weight, lowering cholesterol, reducing stress and being physically active one reduces the risk of heart disease. Why not combine healthy habits with meeting people, being active and having fun playing tennis?
For information on how to start playing tennis visit http://irmsltennis.net/

Jessica Agee-Bradshaw – USTA Local League Contractor for Region 6

About the author, Jessica Agee-Bradshaw lives in Palm City FL and is the USTA Local League Contractor for Region 6 – Indian River/Martin/St. Lucie Counties. She began playing tennis in 2001 in Atlanta where she captained teams for ALTA women’s leagues and USTA mixed doubles leagues and involved with Pre-Collegiate tennis teams. She was the Secretary for the Tri-County Women’s Tennis Association and afterwards President.
Please feel free to contact Jessica through the above website or email; jessica.ustatc6@aol.com regarding local tennis opportunities.

The above information is opinion based except where noted. Always contact a licensed professional for information on the above subject or BEFORE applying or practicing the above information.

Filed Under: Sports

Golf – Focusing On The Short Game

February 18, 2015 by Rebecca

BY Josh Camitta

This issue I will be focusing on “Short Game” tips for players of all skill levels:

Let us start with debunking a common misconception, greenside bunker shots should not be feared! This is the only shot in golf where you do not need to hit the ball! Ideally, for most situations the player should be looking to strike the sand about 1-2 inches behind the ball. It is this attack pattern that gives us that nice “splash” of sand.

“For most bunker shots the player should be looking to strike the sand about 1-2 inches behind the ball. It is this attack pattern that gives us that nice “splash” of sand”

A great drill to help train this unnatural entry point is to draw a line in the sand with your club. Now imagine that line is the desired entry point for the sand wedge. If the divot begins at the line and then extends beyond it, great job, this is proper bunker technique. If the entry point is either before or past the line we drew then we know that those shots would either be too fat or too thin respectively. Once you can consistently strike the proper part of the line, the only thing in your way from achieving great bunker play is the space between your ears.

Having played in countless professional and amateur events, I have seen many ways to approach the short game. The one principle I have seen consistent with the world’s best players, keep it simple! On TV we see some miraculous recovery shots from the world’s best.

short game tips

Thankfully, you and I do not have to play on PGA TOUR venues with lightning fast greens and rough thick enough to lose your dog in. While we may be required to hit the high flop, and a few other circus shots, for the vast majority of the time the shot in front of us is only as hard as we make it. For example, on your approach you hit it just short of the green. The pin is about 15 paces off the front edge. Most amateurs will go right to their trusty S wedge and give it a whack. While this CAN result in quality shots, it is certainly not the most consistent.
Instead of taking a big back swing and trying to fly the shot half way to the pin, why not club up and make a nice tidy putting stroke? By taking a 9 iron instead of a sand wedge, the shot difficulty drops dramatically. Using a 9 iron, we are effectively turning a shot with a large margin of error into a shot as consistent as a putt. With the 9 iron, simply grip down, and make a smooth putting stroke. This will allow the ball to pop up slightly (right over the collar of the green) and on impact it will roll out beautifully as if it was like any other putt. This shot variety not only takes the guesswork out, it also increases your odds of making that hard-earned par more often.

Josh Camitta, Your Health & Wellness Magazine Sports Contributor and Pro Golfer

About the author, Josh Camitta lives in Jupiter Florida on the Treasure Coast and is a professional caddie and a previous assistant professional at multiple South Florida golf clubs as well a former professional golfer. Josh earned a degree in “Golf Management” from Keiser University College of Golf and studied under Dr. TJ Tomasi, a Top 100 Golf Instructor rated by Golf Magazine.
Please feel free to contact Josh with your golf questions or if in need of services at email info@bluntventures.com

The above information is opinion based except where noted. Always contact a licensed professional for information on the above subject or BEFORE applying or practicing the above information.

Filed Under: Sports

Stand Up Paddle Boarding !

February 15, 2015 by Rebecca

BY Rebecca White-Martin

One of the fastest growing watersports in the world, stand up paddle boarding is growing leaps and bounds. You can do it on any body of water from oceans, lakes to rivers and bays. It’s a great full body core workout, builds balance and is another way to experience the water in the outdoors. People of all ages, skill levels, and experience can be up and riding in a very short period of time. There is even room to throw a small child or man’s best friend on board.

Who Invented Stand up Paddle Boarding?
Maui surf legend Laird Hamilton was looking for a way to cross train for big waves in the early 90’s. He grabbed a canoe paddle and his longest surfboard and found paddling while upright to be a fantastic workout. Many mistakenly believe he invented the sport of paddle boarding however its original roots date back over thousands of years to ancient Hawaiian, Peruvian and African culture. All 3 cultures had some form of paddle boarding however the Hawaiians are given the credit as the first to actually surf waves with a paddle for actual sport and had a word to describe surfing with a paddle – Hoe He’e nalu.

How to Stand Up on your Paddle Board?
Always start out in calm flat water and keep in mind you could be falling so unless you’re in the tropics a wetsuit may be a good idea.
• Get the board out into the water so the fin is free from hitting the bottom.
• Start out on your knees and take a few strokes on each side of the board.
• Slowly stand up with one foot at a time and stay in the middle of the board with feet parallel to the stringer about shoulder width apart.
• Keep a slight bend in the knees and your core centered over the board.

Paddle Boarding

Here are all the items you need to get out on the water paddling;
1) Stand Up Paddle Board – Paddleboards come in all shapes and sizes. The most common construction method is epoxy and fiberglass wrapped around an EPS foam core with one or several fins to help the board track in the water. A standup paddle board is much thicker than your average surfboard. Paddle boards typically range from 8′-12′ in length, 28″ – 32″ wide, and 4″ – 5″ thick. If you’re just starting out the best thing to do is select a wider, longer, thicker board. This type will offer the greatest stability to learn the paddleboard basics on a flat body of water. As you gain experience you can progress to a much smaller board.
2) Paddle – Stand Up Paddles come in a variety of constructions from plastic, aluminum, wood, and carbon fiber with a variety of handle, blade and shaft shapes. The general rule is a paddle used with your paddleboard should always be 6″ – 10″ above the height of the paddler. Size your paddle on the longer side for flat water use and the shorter side for use in the surf. The blade is typically bent at a slight angle to the shaft to allow for more forward reach when taking a stroke.
3) Leash – A leash keeps your paddle board attached to you with a Velcro strap around your ankle (or calf) that is attached to the paddleboard. Leashes come in a variety of sizes and the general rule is to use a leash around the same size or slightly smaller than your board. In the event of a fall currents and winds can quickly sweep your paddle board away from you and in the ocean your board becomes a lethal weapon when carried with the force of an ocean wave. Always remember to use your leash.
4) Traction Pad – Most paddle boards come equipped with a traction pad preinstalled on the deck of the board. The traction pad is a soft layer of EVA foam typically grooved to provide grip and a soft cushion for the feet much like the sole of a shoe.
5) PFD (personal floatation device) – If you use your stand up paddle board beyond the limits of a swimming , surfing or bathing area the US Coast Guard requires you to have a USCG Approved life vest. Please see the following link by the WPA (World Paddle Association) regarding the Life Vest Safety Laws.

Transporting Your Paddleboard
Since paddleboards are so large getting your board to the local beach or your next travel destination does not have to be a difficult task with the proper equipment;
Shoulder Carry
With the paddle in one hand lift the board from the tail with the nose on the ground. Walk to the center of the board and shift the board’s weight back to balance on your head. You can then shift the board over to balance on your shoulder. To lay the board back down just follow the steps in reverse order.
Handle Carry
The carry handle is a small handle installed at the center point of the board to carry it to and from the water easily. Just lift the board by its handle and go.
Wheels
Many products on the market offer wheels to attach on one side of the board and a handle on the opposite side. This can be used to wheel the board along or be attached to a bicycle.
Car Racks
Paddle boards can be strapped on any vehicle with car racks. Most surfboard soft racks will fit a paddle board. Or if your vehicle already has an existing rack system you can simply use straps to tie down the boards to the existing hard rack. Some racks even having locking devices to secure the boards from theft. Many people just throw a towel on top of the car and run straps thought the doors.
Air Travel
For airplane travel many companies make travel bags to carry your paddleboard. These are typically padded but it’s always recommended to add some extra padding of your own such as towels or bubble wrap. Also keep in mind the latest surfboard and paddleboard board bag charges and size limits of your airline before you book your flight.

The above information is opinion based except where noted. Always contact a licensed professional for information on the above subject or BEFORE applying or practicing the above information.
HealthyMartin.com is designed to assist you in finding medical doctors, dentists and alternative, organic & holistic health, fitness and sports professionals in the Treasure Coast Florida areas of Martin County, Palm Beach County, Saint Lucie County and Indian River County. “Healthy Martin, working together for health choices for you, your family and friends”.

Filed Under: Parks and River Health, Sports