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Friday, August 28, 2009

Keep Your Strength and Stamina

Keep Your Strength and Stamina..
.1 Boxer's Punch + Dumbbell Squat
With a 5-pound dumbbell in each hand, throw 32 punches, alternating lefts and rights. Then let your arms hang loosely at your sides and place your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Bend at the hips and knees to lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor, and then press back up. Complete 16 squats. Repeat the sequence once.
2. Push-Up + Prone Row
Push-up: Place two six-sided dumbbells on the floor and grip them while you do a full push-up. (Lower in two seconds, push up in one.)
Prone row: In the up position of the push-up (still holding onto the dumbbells), bring your right-hand weight up to your armpit and squeeze your shoulder blade back. Lower the weight and repeat the move with your left arm. (Take one second to raise the weight and two seconds to lower it.)
3. Jump Squat + Curl
Jump squat: Assume a squat position as you hold dumbbells at your sides, your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Press through your heels to explode up quickly. Then land softly on the balls of your feet and sink back onto your heels.
Curl: After landing, let the dumbbells hang at your sides. Without moving your upper arms, curl the weights up. (Take one second to raise them and two seconds to lower.)

Friday, August 21, 2009

GREAT RAMADAN......


Ramadan is one of the holy months in the Islamic calendar. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. The name came from the time before the Islamic calendar, when the month of Ramadan fell in the summer. Fasting during this month is often thought to figuratively burn away all sins. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was sent down to the earth during this month. Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell would be closed[citation needed]. The first day of the next month is spent in celebrations and is observed as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ or `Eid ul-Fitr.


Muslims follow Islam (submission to God) and Muslim Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar, the month of fasting during the daylight. During Ramadan Muslims boycott themselves from Drinks, food, smoke and sexual contact during the daytime.Muslims believe that during
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Ramadan they must devote themselves to Allah by praying and visiting mosque. Ramadan is the month to read the entire holy book (Quran) by Muslims. It is also believed by Muslims that during Ramadan the gates of Heaven (jannah) are open and the gates of hell (Jahanam) are closed. Therefore so many believe are associated with Ramadan among the Muslims that makes Ramadan one of the important festivals for Muslims. Apart from the above, the importance of Ramadan lies in the fact, which all the Muslims believe that, it is believed to be the month during which The Holy Quran was revealed by god to prophet Muhammad (570-632 C.E.). Muslim Ramadan is also important because according to the five pillars of the Islam, pillars refer to the duties which any Muslim should follow, it is the duty of all the Muslims to fast for the entire month of Ramadan. The five pillars of Islam are as follows:
1.Reciting the two-fold Creed (Shahada) (profession of faith) - 'There is no God but Allah' and 'Muhammad is his prophet' (or 'Muhammad is the Messenger of God') 2. Prayer (salat) - At five set-times a day while facing towards the city of Mecca. 3. Alms-giving (sakat) (zakat - means 'purification', an act of worship) -obligatory and voluntary giving to the poor. 4. Fasting (saum) - Especially during the 'holy' month of Ramadan. 5. Pilgrimage (hajj) - At least once in a lifetime - to Mecca, Saudi Arabia if at all possible, known as The Hajj. And one most important:


The pilgrims who came to Mecca should walk around Ka'aba seven times kissing and touching the Black Stone The Black Stone was a meteorite to which great religious significance was attached even before Muhammad was born. Muhammad simply adopted this pagan practice and it became the "Islamic" pilgrimage of "Hajj" - one of the pillars of Islam. Hence as a follower of Islam all the Muslims are suppose to fast for the month of Ramadan. Some Muslims can be exempted from the Ramadan fasting like:
Children below twelve years.
Muslims who are physically and mentally challenged.
Senior Muslim citizen.
Muslims who travel for long distances.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Women who are menstruating.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

fashion issue review: Men's Health


Men's Health, while not necessarily known as a fashion magazine but rather a men's lifestyle magazine, is the first to arrive with their "Fall '09 Guide to Style" issue, which features two covers featuring actor Eric Bana and 40 pages dedicated to previewing the Fall's upcoming looks.
The magazine starts with a how-to on how to wear one of the go-to colors of fall - gray - including ties, belts, shoes and accessories. Next is a brief but worthwhile look at New York's Jean Shop, which offers a selection of customizable denim, and certainly looks like a shop that warrants a visit if you're in NYC.
The first feature article highlights the return to American classics that is being shown by Claiborne, J. Crew, Woolrich, Pendleton and Banana Republic. While the article is brief, it does offer a chance to hear from some of the designers of each of these lines, and offers insight into what their key pieces will be this season. While Banana Republic continues to make high-quality staples, J. Crew is expanding into new ground that is leaving their reputation for simply being a "preppy" clothing line in the dust.
That is followed by a fashion profile on Justin Timberlake, and how his style has changed dramatically throughout his career. Timberlake offers some fashion tips which are fundamentally sound - nothing really groundbreaking, but good reminders of to approach putting your outfits together.
Australian actor Eric Bana is profiled as well, revealing his fondness for the classic American navy suit, as well as sharing some tips of his own, which seem a bit more practical than Timberlake's, as he relays tips on both picking out clothes and appreciating the subtle nuances in them that will make you both value what you have in your closet while making you look your best.
The issue closes with their five trends for Fall 2009 - the double-breasted suit, thick knits, modern prep, belted coats and long scarves. While each trend is given it's own page and photo, the examples of how to carry out each trend is sorely lacking, which seems to be what most men could benefit from.
Of course, advertisements are plentiful from plenty of mainstream retailers and designers - Macy's, Hugo Boss, Ermendgildo Zegna (albeit is was a four-page spread for their Zegna Colonia cologne), Calvin Klein, Aldo, and Nautica to name a few.
Given that Men's Health isn't known as a fashion magazine as much as it is a lifestyle magazine, the offerings are in line with what would be expected - but does that mean it's worth picking up as you shop for your fall fashion? As of now, the verdict is no. Given that GQ, Details, Esquire, and numerous others are still to arrive on newsstands and in mailboxes, fashionable fellows should take a wait and see approach with what those have to offer.