Sound Body - Ball State Sigma Phi Epsilon

Mutant University w/Gabe Moen - Ball State Sigma Phi Epsilon

Sound Body training

Tulane University - Can you keep up with Schiffman?

Jeff Schiffman is a Tulane SigEp alum and a former Chapter Counselor.

Thanks to Bill Hydrick for passing the article along

Tulane University - Can you keep up with Schiffman?

While some people’s motto is “don’t sweat the small stuff,” Jeff Schiffman’s motto is simply “ SWEAT!” 

Jeff Schiffman says his spinning class called RIDE “isn’t just about your body; it’s about your brain and your heart.” (Photo from Romney Pilates Center)

As the senior associate director of admission at Tulane University, his schedule takes him all over the world recruiting students. While life on the road can make it difficult to maintain any schedule, Schiffman is dedicated to staying healthy and having fun. 

After he took a spinning class in Los Angeles a few years ago, he was immediately hooked. This led Schiffman to start teaching his own class, a high-energy, full-body workout called RIDE, at Romney Pilates Center in New Orleans. The maxim of his class might be “think with your whole body” but with his musically themed sessions, ranging from ’80s to Beyoncé to Glee, his patrons often forget to think and just have fun. 

“You’ll leave my class covered in sweat,” Schiffman promises, “but it’s my hope with an incredibly positive feeling. RIDE isn’t just about your body; it’s about your brain and your heart.”

In fact, most of Schiffman’s activities in New Orleans center around body, brain and heart, and getting others into the same. Aside from doing triathlons all over the Gulf South, he participates in a boot camp in Audubon Park with Office of Admission staff. 

Through Outreach Tulane, Schiffman started his involvement with Youth Run NOLA, an organization that works to empower underserved students in the New Orleans area by training them to run races like the Crescent City Classic and Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. 

Schiffman still runs with the same group of students he started with four years ago. And last month he helped Romney Pilates organize a Pride Ride for members of the LGBT community, which had a great turnout from Tulane students and staff.  

In everything he does, Schiffman puts his mind, heart and sweat all in to help others get the most out of theirs.

This Guy is NUTS! About SigEp

Go, Renato, Go!

Renato Villacorte (CA Mu '91) is a loyal member of the NUTS! group that raises money for undergraduate scholarships to Conclaves. At this year's Conclave in Dallas Grapevine Several brothers challenged him to run in the "Sound Body 5K Run" and promised to donate to the NUTS! fund or the Fallen Brothers Fund (for families of those lost in service to their country). Brother Garry Keif even promised to double his $500 pledge if Renaton did the run in a purple and red wig!

As you can see in this picture Renato was up to the challenge! By completing the run in spite of the conspiracy to render him unfit by plying him with strong spirits the night before, and by wearing the aforementioned wig in the 90 degree heat, our stalwart brother has managed to single-handedly raise nearly $5000 for the NUTS! and Fallen Brothers funds.

Congratulations to Brother Villacorte and also to those loyal brothers who gave so generously to "incentivize" him to succeed in the 5K challenge. Maybe next time we can get him to run in a full wet suit!

SD Alpha - SigEp 30Sec Commercial

Here is another in our series of "Great Recruiting Videos". This one is from SD Alpha -South Dakota State University. In 30 seconds they communicate the message of "Sound Mind", "Sound Body", and "This fraternity will be different."

Good job Guys.

SigEp Syrup Challenge: Retreat Fall 2012

Don't try this at home, folks. Or anywhere else without a ready supply of insulin.

Not exactly sure how this is part of the "Balanced Man" experience, but I'm pretty sure it is not "sound body".

Local couple puts out welcome mat for fraternity cyclists

Local couple puts out welcome mat for cyclists:

Patty Saunders and John Shea have
welcomed Journey of Hope cyclists into
their home for the past 12 years. 

"Sunday morning, 70 cyclists are slated to leave San Francisco and Seattle on an annual coast-to-coast fundraising tour for the developmentally disabled.

Twenty-eight of them will make their first stop around 5 p.m. in Napa — to be greeted by Patty Saunders and John Shea, a couple who have welcomed the riders for the past 12 years.

Their effort is part of a life spent aiding and advocating for disabled children and adults — and giving them the attention often denied them.

Each summer, the nonprofit Push America organizes the Journey of Hope, featuring fraternity members cycling from the West Coast to Washington, D.C.
...

Journey of Hope members, who belong to chapters of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, sign sponsors to donate funds before the tour, which includes two routes from the Bay Area and a third starting in Seattle. Along the way, the riders make donations to local programs supporting developmentally disabled residents, including Options3 Inc., a supported-living center in Santa Rosa."

'via Blog this'

Health and Wellness at Orlando Conclave

From Ryan Blanck

At Conclave, health and wellness experts will be available to provide you insight ensuring you live a balanced life. These health and wellness professionals specialize in:

• Nutrition,
• Massage therapy,
• Athletic training,
• Personal training and group exercise,
• Physical therapy,
• Yoga, and
• Life-style management.

Interactions with the “Wellness Team” will vary from workouts, educational programs, a panel discussion, and private consultations.
Visit the Health and Wellness Room during open hours of operation to learn from these professionals.

Click here to meet the Wellness Team.

Complementary fitness sessions are made available Wednesday afternoon and the mornings of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Sessions include:

1. Mind & Body,
2. Sports Conditioning,
3. High Intensity Interval Training,
4. Functional Training,
5. Performance Stretching, and
6. Core Training.

Click here for a full description of these sessions.

Pack workout apparel and appropriate footwear to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

The Sound Body 5K benefitting YouthAIDS will take place Friday morning. A special thank you goes to Nike for their event guidance and sponsorship.

• Pre-event sign-in - 6:30 AM
• Event start - 7:00 AM

Late registration will be available on-site at the resort. Spots are limited.

Participant shirts, short sleeve Nike dri-FITs,are available first come, first serve based upon registration order.

Mark your calendar... Adam Price, Kansas ‘10, will host an interactive session, "Implementing Sound Body into Your Chapter" in the Health and Wellness Room on Saturday, August 15 from 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM.
Adam has worked with many chapters to identified best practices to make Sound Body an expectation of each chapter, each member.
Email Adam with ideas and questions or stop in the Health and Wellness Room throughout the week.

Shouldn't HQ get License Fees for This?

Or, wait...maybe it's the other way around?

History

In 1949, Mr. Kihachiro Onitsuka began his athletic footwear company (Onitsuka Co., Ltd.) by manufacturing basketball shoes out of his living room in Kobe, Japan. He chose the name ASICS for his company in 1977, based on a famous Latin phrase "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano", which when translated expresses the ancient ideal of "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body." Taking the acronym of this phrase, ASICS was founded on the belief that the best way to create a healthy and happy lifestyle is to promote total health and fitness.

ASICS® products were introduced to the United States in 1977 and brought with them an incredible story of athletic performance and technical advancements, a philosophy which still holds true today.

http://www.asicsamerica.com/brandcampaign/

Sound Mind, Sound Body, Missing Principles

One of our Regional Directors sent this message to his chapters today. It was the latest of several HQ based communications on the same topic sent out this year.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:  IM Rankings and Varsity Athletes--Action Required
Date:  Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:40:07 -0500  
 
You may have noticed in the last few issues of the SigEp Journal that we have been 
highlighting our chapters who are leading their campuses on and off the field, 
academically and athletically.

Nothing shows the value of Sound Mind and Sound Body more than a list of 
intramural champions next to a list of our top academic chapters; a list of our 
Residential Learning Community accomplishments next to an expo on a varsity athlete.
[...]
Fraternally,

**************(signed)
*/Sigma Phi Epsilon
/Regional Director
310 South Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220

/This Fraternity will be different.../

On the surface, there is nothing wrong with touting Athletes and Academics as a reason to join a fraternity. But what about the "This Fraternity will be different" mantra that gets played in counterpoint to every celebration of SigEp being just like the others but better? Have the spiritual dictums of the Ritual been discarded because it is easier to get metrics on manpower, GPA, and intramural trophies?

We have seen several comments on the focus and direction of this email. Mostly they are wondering when we lost our way and forgot our principles. The last time I looked the Cardinal Principles were "Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love" - not varsity athletes and academic overachievers.

One of our alumni put it this way:

When I read this kind of stuff it makes me wonder where this fraternity lost direction. I read the ritual and we talk about Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love but that is no longer important.  There are so many dimensions to this fraternity and we care only about two things.  What happened to being men of high character, men who did what is right, men helping others?

There are many outstanding chapters out there who are doing great things on their host campuses and we just ignore those chapters.  Our HQ staff is so focused on a marketing mantra of sound mind and sound body that we have lost focus on the heart and spirit of our fraternity.

Recruit lots of men, get a chapter GPA above 3.0, and win intramurals and you have a great chapter is the message from Richmond.

It just makes me sad.  What would our founders think of what we find important today?

What, indeed? I believe the men in our undergraduate chapters want the best FOR the fraternity and FROM the Fraternity. The chapter alumni and other volunteers work many thankless hours to help them get there. Our leaders and staff seem to be more concerned with hitting metrics than with developing character.

Vote Early - Vote Often

No, not in THAT election (though it is important too).

Adam Gartner is a SigEp at IL Nu (Eastern Illinois Univ.) and is in the running for a scholarship. He is among 10 national finalists and the outcome is determined by an online vote. Read the article for particulars and help a brother out.

(Thanks to Chuck Eberly for the information)

Some election thing is happening in two weeks or something, but the real election we should all get behind is for the men's soccer Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

The award is given to a men's soccer player who exhibits success in the classroom, on the pitch and in the community. Also, the player must exhibit good character.

The award is available to all senior soccer players in the country, but it has been trimmed down to 10 finalists, one of whom is Eastern senior defender Adam Gartner.

Gartner, a finance major with 3.64 GPA, is a constant fixture in the community helping coach youth teams and spending some of his spare time at area schools reading to children.

Gartner is also excelling in the classroom. He has been named 2007 National Soccer Coaches Association of America SCAA Second Team Scholar All-American, 2007 NSCAA First Team All-Region Scholar, two-time ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District and two-time First Team Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete.

On the field, Gartner is one of the Panthers most versatile players as he can play anywhere from the middle of the field to any of the defensive positions.

In 2007, he finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference with nine assists and remains one of the top players for the Panthers this season.

So far this season, he has two goals and two assists. Gartner is up against players from some of this nation's top universities including Harvard, Brown, Notre Dame and the United States Military Academy.

Do you want those Ivy League pretty boys thinking they are better than us? I didn't think so.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, Gartner sits in fifth place with 8 percent of the vote. I challenge you Panther fans to get Gartner to the top. Each computer can account for one vote per day with voting ending Nov. 19.

So I encourage you to get on your computer, get on your neighbor's computer or, golly, find one in the library and type in http://soccer.seniorclassaward.com.

Find Gartner's name, put a check mark next to it and remember to vote early, vote often.

Column: Vote for Gartner - Sports

Delta Delta Delta Launches Reflections

TRI DELTA TACKLES WOMEN'S BODY IMAGE ISSUES
WITH FAT TALK FREE WEEK AND REFLECTIONS

Tri Delta is thrilled to launch the first-ever Fat Talk Free Week (Oct 13 - 17), a nationwide event that coincides with the official public debut of Reflections: Body Image Program, Tri Delta's revolutionary body image education and eating disorders prevention program. Tri Delta co-developed Reflections with Carolyn Becker, Ph.D, FAED, of Trinity University, and the local sororities on that campus.

With major partners on board including Seventeen magazine, National Organization for Women (N.O.W.), the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), Fat Talk Free Week is a 5-day public awareness campaign that is designed to draw attention to the damaging impact of the "thin ideal" on women in society.

Check out the powerful video, https://secure.pursuantgroup.net/pursuant4/deltadeltadelta/fall08/dddselect/flashstory.asp that we hope you'll watch and forward to your friends and family today!

For more information about Fat Talk Free Week and Reflections, visit www.reflectionsprogram.org.

Official press release: http://www.bodyimageprogram.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/reflections-launch-release-10-13-08-final.pdf

Sigma Pi's Run for Great Cause

UCLA frat members run to raise money for the Rape Treatment Center
By Eli Smukler, Daily Bruin

Athletes from across the world will be weaving down the streets of Los Angeles on Mar. 2, covering neighborhoods from Hollywood to Crenshaw in the 23rd annual L.A. Marathon.

In the middle of an estimated 25,000 runners and over one million spectators will be a handful of dedicated Bruins, many of whom have had little experience in long-distance running.

This year's philanthropy event for the University of California at Los Angeles Sigma Pi fraternity will be to train and run in the 26.2 mile race. They are gathering monetary pledges from around the community to donate to the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center.

Last year, competing in the same event, the fraternity managed to raise over $7,000 with 13 brothers finishing the grueling crosstown race.This year Sigma Pi is hoping to build on their previous success by opening up participation to people outside the fraternity as well.

"Both Greek and non-Greek, guys and girls, we're trying to get a real broad group of people doing it with us this year," sophomore Michael Spiker said.

Spiker, the house philanthropy chair, has organized a weekly training run where runners get together and run a predetermined distance, progressively longer as the weeks go by.

But by no means is this enough to get in shape for such an intense race. Runners are encouraged to do plenty of their own training during the week. Spiker said he runs three times a week.

"(There are) different trails around campus," Spiker said. "We run the perimeter around the school and down by the beach at Santa Monica. It's a little harder around UCLA because there (are) busier streets, but we do find places to run."

Of the 15 to 20 UCLA students planning to run in the marathon, few have ever had to prepare for a race anywhere near this long.

Junior Matt Sandler has been training with the group since early December. Like most of the runners, Sandler has plenty of athletic experience, playing both high school basketball and lacrosse, but has never done anything like this before.

"A lot of us haven't run (even) 12 miles in our lives," Sandler said. "I'm running a new personal high every week. Each time, I realize I just accomplished another goal for myself."

With the completion of such a strict regimen, the group will look to show up on race day with confidence.

However, Sandler knows their inexperience will be difficult to downplay."As much as you can prepare for running a marathon, I don't think anything is going to actually match the intensity of the day," Sandler said.

The Sigma Pi organized running team is only halfway to accomplishing their training goal. After starting out with a six mile run the first week, they hope to finish an 18-mile set a week before the race.

So far training has gone well and the runners are confident."We all have so many other things we could be doing," Sandler said. "It's the other guys around you that motivate you to keep going and getting better and better each week."

(C) 2008 Daily Bruin

What do Greeks Need?

Greek Movement has released a national survey with interesting results. What's the number one "Greek Need"? "Discovering my Skills and Talents"; number two: "Graduate and Get a Good Job"; number six: "Get Enough Sleep." Sound familiar? I thought so. The various needs are compared to the ubiquitous "Mazlow's Needs Hierarchy" to find insights about the way students are getting their needs met.

Number six on the Top 10 needs list is “not getting enough sleep.” This is rather surprising because sleep would fall under the lowest level, yet it appears to be a very crucial need to these students. According to Maslow, this lack of sleep that the students are experiencing might indicate a huge problem for Greeks as they try to progress in other areas. Perhaps it is the pursuit of the very top level that is causing them to fall behind on one of their most basic needs of all.

Number two on the Top 10 needs list is “being able to graduate and/or get a good job.” This need would fall under the second level, still very low on the pyramid like the need for sleep. From my own experience, this need for security or future security really affects a student’s decision and growth in college. I have seen many fraternity and sorority students leave the Greek system or become very inactive in their chapters because they want to succeed academically so that they can get a good job in the future. Or perhaps they have to leave the chapter to work more so that they can be more financially secure. This is one example of having to temporarily remove yourself from one of the higher levels to take care of a lower need first.

Tyler Zach, staff writer for Greek Movement, developed and conducted the survey. He is a SigEp, too.

"Greek Movement" is sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ, but the opinions and advice you find there are very focused on the real world and not at all 'preachy.' It's a good site. We have have a link to it for quite some time now.

From the home office - SPRI partner

Another partnership deal announced by HQ.

SigEp SPRI Partnership
11/19/2007 8:39:23 AM

Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp), a national fraternity committed to “Building Balanced Leaders for the World’s Communities,” Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp), a national fraternity committed to “Building Balanced Leaders for the World’s Communities,” has partnered with SPRI Products as their sole provider of rubberized and core equipment.

The partnership will grant over 270,000 lifetime and undergraduate SigEp members with direct access to the latest in health and fitness information, products, news, and events. SigEp members can also receive favored pricing on featured SPRI products.

The mission of Sigma Phi Epsilon is based on the Balanced Man Ideal of Sound Mind and Sound Body. Members do not simply participate in intramural sports but are encouraged to sponsor annual physicals that measure cholesterol, blood pressure, and screen for different types of cancer. Members are empowered to live their best life… a large component of which is developing a healthy lifestyle through strength training, proper nutrition, and cardiovascular fitness.

SPRI is well known in the fitness industry because of quality and their focus on helping people aspire to healthier lives. SPRI has been the pioneer in the areas of rubber resistance training by utilizing medical technology to introduce the stability ball and rubberized tubing to the fitness industry over 25 years ago. Products are designed with all people in mind, young and old from amateur to professional athletes.

Adam Zwyer, SPRI’s Marketing Manager, states, “SPRI has a commitment to continue to improve our products as technology allows. We intend to continue to lead the industry by producing new and innovative products to help people achieve their health goals allowing them to live healthier, happier, and more mobile lives. SPRI does not simply produce fitness accessories; we produce solutions.”

Not to sound ungrateful or anything, but what is it exactly that we are getting out of this deal? Other than being a target audience, I mean. The various partnerships and associations may well be good for all concerned, but would it hurt to have just a bit more transparency?

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity • News Release

We don't need those wimpy bicycles!

Running. In November. In Montana. Now THAT is dedication! I bet you thought the SigEp bicycle story was impressive. Check this one out.

Running to Bozeman / Fraternity treks to Gallatin Valley on foot to raise money for charity
By JAMIE KELLY of the Missoulian

Jogging past the Clark Fork River, Nick Ferrington picks up the third leg of Sigma Phi Epsilon's every-other-year charity relay run from Missoula to Bozeman for the Griz-Cat football game. The event raises money for the Watson Children's Shelter.
Photo by SEPP JANNOTTA/Missoulian

Every other year, when the Brawl of the Wild takes place in Bozeman, the guys from Sigma Phi Epsilon arrange a road trip.

They get a couple of vans together, stock them full of food and beverages and hit the road.

They take their time getting there, sort of the long way. Oh sure, it's the same way that any number of Griz fans take, that 217 miles of Interstate 90 heading east. But while you're listening to tunes in the comfort of your heated, padded four-wheel cradle of vehicular luxury, the Sigma Phi's are getting snowed on, rained on, honked at and blistered as they run - run, as in, with their feet - the entire distance from Missoula to that other town whose university has some sort of feline-like creature for a mascot.
[...]
Neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor dark of night - and yes, they do run through the night - will stop these guys (and a few sorority women as well) from reaching the stadium by game time Saturday. And when they return (by car; are you bonkers?), there will be no trophies or accolades. Just a pile of cash for Missoula's Watson Children's Shelter, for which their lungs and legs pump.
[...]
For at least 20 years - and some say as many as 30 - the boys of Sigma Phi have done this for the center, which houses children who have been abandoned, neglected or abused, serving as an emergency shelter for infants to 14-year-olds.

If it weren't for a good cause I would say these people are crazy. At least they have a great attitude.

“In the past, police cars have stopped us because someone will report there's been an incident of spousal abuse and someone's running in front of the car,” said Colin Boyle. When they learn it's a group of fraternity guys doing the running, many assume that it's a hazing ritual.

Hazing? No. Crazy? Sure.

Because November in Montana can be ... well, it can be all wintry.

And if it snows?

“We run through it,” said Mahoney.

“Wear a flannel shirt,” said Boyle.

“Good shoes with lots of traction,” said Duncan. “And hopefully, there will be no cardiac episode.”

You can make a great case for it as a "Sound Body" activity, but you have to wonder what happened to the "Sound Mind" part.

Missoulian: Running to Bozeman / Fraternity treks to Gallatin Valley on foot to raise money for charity

Fast Approaching Graduation

In September of 2004 I started taking courses toward an MBA at the University of Phoenix. Fortunately they have ground campuses in Houston (four of them!) so I was able to to everything in a classroom setting.

Now, after several fits and starts,I can see the end. I have one session left in my current class and then one more six-week class and that is it! Whew! Because of the way UoP does graduation - once a year - I will actually be attending commencement on Sep 15, about a month before I officially finish up. I can't wait.

It has not exactly been easy. In the intervening time I have had to deal with all the usual life stuff that you get in your mid-fifties. I lost my Dad, had to deal with kids starting college, got a grandchild added to the mix, shakeups and killer projects at work. You know, life. Oh, and I write a couple of blogs in my spare time. But thank goodness we are nearly done.

Was it worth it? That depends on how you count. Even with my company helping out it was not cheap, and I wonder if I will see an immediate jump in salary. Even so, I am close enough to retirement that I may not see the NPV of any gains outweigh the cost (see- I can speak MBA now!) But I really did not do this for the money. I did it for personal growth. I wanted to see if I can still compete and follow through. Well, that and the fact that my wife got a doctorate a few years ago and I felt like I needed to play catch-up.

The SigEp part of this story is interesting. I guess I had heard so much of the "Sound Mind - Sound Body" propaganda that I felt like I had to work both sides of the equation. I started exercising by walking every day, then running. Last year I began going to the gym at work a few times a week and added resistance training on those devices that look like relics left over from the Spanish Inquisition. I am not going to run a marathon anytime soon, and "Ah-nahld" need not fear my bodybuilding prowess, but I feel good and look pretty OK for an 'old fart', so I am happy on that score too. As far as being a "Balanced Man" it looks pretty good from this angle.

The real story here is that I decided to stretch my goals and have done it. That is the part that feels great and it is a reward sufficient to itself.

What have you done lately to stretch yourself?

Running on empty

We have just returned from the Conclave 5K run, benefitting YouthAids. Why do I think I can still keep up with kids less than half my age?

This year we got RFID tags so that our time could be accurately assessed - one more way for me to be embarrassed. During the stretching and loosening before the run I was trying a stretch that Rod Raymond was demonstrating and - POP! - something in my hip gave way. I decided I had done enough stretching and went and sat for the rest of the 'warm-up'.

During the run I was very focused on the hip and whether I was "injured" or just "hurt". I was able to hobble over the finish line ... eventually, so I guess it is just "hurt". But it was a new experience and not a good one. Other than that it was a pretty fair run. Alanta has hills, though, and Houston doesn't so that gave a bit more challenge. We started early enough that the heat was not too bad and there was a good breeze to keep up cool. Centennial Park has dancing water jets on part of the plaza too and they were welcome after we were done.

Truthfully, after all the whining, I am glad I did it. I was talking to Sam Moschelli after the run (yes, he was there too) and noted that there were about 100 or so people who got up to do the run, but over 1000 stayed in bed!

And they had t-shirts this time.

AA Meeting at Conclave

(No, this is not a joke.)

Once again this year there will be an opportunity for SigEps (and guests) who are "Friends of Bill W." To attend an informal meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous while at Conclave.

The meeting is scheduled for Friday evening at 9:00pm in the Inman room. The information will also be in the registration booklet.

We are glad to pass this information along to anyone who would like to attend. This will be an open meeting. Meetings of this type are open to alcoholics and their families and to anyone interested in solving a personal drinking problem or helping someone else to solve such a problem.

We do have a request, however. The person who was planning to lead the meeting has a scheduling conflict. If you are a member of AA and are willing to do some "service work" by leading the meeting please send an email to wordjunky@gmail.com and we will help you get set up.

Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Copyright © by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.

Thanks to the HQ staff and David Graziano for making a place for this on the schedule.

Sound Body - Experts issue new physical exercise guidelines

OK everyone, let's get up and get moving. New recommendations by the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine came out today. Everyone should get at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week.

Two leading health groups issued new guidelines on physical activity, updating influential recommendations issued in 1995 while also crafting advice tailored specifically for those 65 and older.
[...]
The advice comes amid rising health problems stemming from sedentary lifestyles and obesity among Americans, as well as people in many other nations.

"I think physical inactivity is the biggest public health problem we face. I think it actually accounts for more morbidity and mortality than anything except maybe cigarette smoking," said Steven Blair of the University of South Carolina, one of the experts who crafted the recommendations.
[...]
The new guidelines call for healthy adults to engage in moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for at least 30 minutes five days each week, or vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 20 minutes three days a week. The guidelines also state that exercise above the recommended minimum amounts provides even greater health benefits.

Moderate-intensity aerobic activity can be a brisk walk, light jogging or other exercise that noticeably accelerates the heart rate. Vigorous-intensity exercise like jogging causes rapid breathing and a substantial increase in heart rate.

The guidelines called for weightlifting exercise to work on muscular strength and endurance, with eight to 10 different exercises on two nonconsecutive days a week.
[...]
"If you want to stay out of the nursing home, probably the best approach is to be sure you're physically active and fit," Blair said.

Um, I don't think "12-ounce curls" count, though.

PS: Don't forget the "Sound Body 5K" at Conclave.

Experts issue new physical exercise guidelines - Yahoo! News

Where Are My Pants?

Take Off Your Clothes and Run:Second San Diego State 'Undie Run' a Success
(Warning: pictures at this link may be "NSFW")

Students at San Diego State University got down to their underwear for a good cause for the second time this spring.Students planned to gather just before midnight on Wednesday, May 9, to commence the second edition of the SDSU Undie Run. The students last ran in just boxers, bras and panties prior to the campus' hiatus for Spring Break.Students were able to donate the clothes they wore before running to charity for the needy people of the city named for a whale's vagina.The Frat Boy News salutes the students of SDSU for putting together such an amazing new event that will become a tradition for years to come. A selection of photos from the event can be found below.