L.E.A.P. or London Experience of Art du Deplacment & Parkour was opened in September in London´s Westminster Academy in the grounds´of the Academy Sport. The site, in which the equipment is supplied by Lappset Playworld, is the worlds´ biggest spot dedicated to Parkour and free run.

The equipment, made from galvanized steel, is designed by Stephane Vigroux from Parkour Generations. The facility is designed as an urban surroundings with the features and traits of a modern city spaces. Lappset Parkour products are designed in collaboration with Parkour and freerun professionals. Managing Director of Lappset Playworld Chris Jones stated that the company is pleased to be involved with L.E.A.P. and hope that the project would encourage people who may not be interested in traditional sports to go out and participate in Parkour.

Parkour is taking off on UK and it is estimated that some 40 000 people take part in the activity regularly. Parkour UK is targeting to train 500 new Parkour coaches by the end of 2012. There is however only few sites or areas in the whole country dedicated to this rapidly growing sport. Westminster Council´s Deputy Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure Steve Summer stated that the Parkour site in Westminster Academy enables youth to express themselves with freedom, discipline and self-awareness in a safe environment.

Eugene Minogue, Chief Executive of Parkour UK told, that the site is a result of many years work and dedication and will provide the sport a platform to develop further. Lappset is based in Rovaniemi, Finland and exports playground equipments to over 40 different countries.

Are you a senior citizen looking to feel better? Or perhaps you are a child concerned of your aging parents health.

Senior fitness (in Finnish: senioriliikunta) is an issue which comes up often in conversations with both young and old and that’s a good thing. There are number of ways that people can help themselves to stay fit and stay healthy. For aging people, cardiovascular exercises can offer a number of benefits, which shouldn’t be ignored. And there are many different ways to reap the benefits – you don’t always need to join the gym or buy expensive running shoes to feel well.

Cardiovascular exercise can also have a number of psychological benefits - it can help you feel stronger and more capable, happier, more energetic, etc.

Cardiovascular training serves as the foundation for other fitness programs. The conditioning and health of the heart and blood vessels are the basis for safety and performance in nearly all athletic endeavors.

First of all there’s the weight loss benefit. Cardio can burn a a lot of calories. It’s important to remember that this shouldn’t be the only reason to do it. Losing weight this way can take a long time and there are other benefits just as well important, particularly for seniors.

Cardiovascular exercise can also raise your metabolic rate. Some studies have shown that with regular cardiovascular exercise your resting metabolic level will increase. This is one way in which it can help you to lose weight. This exercise also decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, so it’s beneficial for your heart. Even just walking 20 minutes, three time a week can lower your risk.

Cardiovascular exercises also make your lungs stronger , increase bone density, reduce stress levels, reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, give a temporary relief from depression and anxiety and give you better sleep as well.

And remember, getting fresh air while doing your exercise is a great way to combine two things. So find if there’s an outdoor gym nearby and try those air walkers, steppers or other equipment while enjoying the scenery instead of the confines of the dusty indoor gym.

Feeling old? Feeling fatigued? Even the simplest task start seeming arduous? Climbing the stairs makes you feel out of breath sometimes? Well, I did too, until I found out the benefits of cardiovascular training or cardio for short. Cardio is a simple and easy way to improve senior fitness (in Finnish: senioriliikunta).

By cardiovascular exercise, I mean exercises that involve the large muscles like legs and help make your heart and lungs stronger. Cardiovascular exercise has lots of health benefits like lowering your blood pressure, and also it can burn lots of calories - for those of you who want to lose weight.

Cardiovascular exercise is activity involving the large muscles, such as your legs. The word 'aerobic' refers to something that needs oxygen. During cardiovascular or aerobic exercise oxygen gets continuously delivered to your muscles.

To give your heart a proper workout you need to make sure that you do your cardiovascular exercise with a certain amount of intensity, but you don't want to overdo it. One way to measure the amount of exertion while exercising is by monitoring your heart rate but whether you measure or not, the main thing is to get moving.

I was walking by the other day by an outdoor gym and I found Norwell Norwell Form Function products. I realized how easy it is to stay fit yet at the same time stay outdoors. Norwell’s cardiovascular line of products has been designed for this kind of activity and it’s fairly easy to use, regardless of age.

A product called Cross is a comfortable way of developing the muscles in legs and hips while improving the cardiovascular endurance. Cross gives the user the feeling of moving on the spot in her own pace, while vital functions and the general well being are enhanced.

Norwell Form Function Stepper develops leg muscles and improves cardiovascular endurance. Stepper has two curves. The big curve serves as support during training. The little curve is wrapped in non-skid rubber, which is good idea especially if there has been a rainy night before and the equipment might be otherwise wet during my morning walk to the outdoor gym.

Now that the year has turned and the new one is ahead of us, it is great moment for re-evaluating the lifestyle, the diet and make readjustments if necessary. The long autumn and the dark winter may have reduced the motivation for proper gym and other exercise, but it will be soon regained by the extra energy loaded by the new ideas and hobbies.

There is a lot a talk about food these days such as low carbohydrate diet or raw food. Maybe the best option for the new year´s diet renovation is to keep sure that the diet is variable enough and doesn't contain too much of fats and sugar. Load enough of fresh vegetables and such on your daily lunch plate as well. Super foods and dietary supplements will add to the nutritional value of the daily intake.

Food isn´t however the only key to healthy and long life. Proper and regular exercise will be needed as well, and no diet will make you slim and fit and the head wont follow your lifestyle renovation without exercise. Gyms offer a sophisticated plans for making your lifestyle healthy, with the help for example of personal trainer. Yoga and Pilates classes are often scheduled for working people. Self motivated sports can be more attractive choice for those, who feel that regular classes and personal trainers too committing. For elderly people all kinds of senior sport ( in Finnish: senioriliikunta ) choices are available, such as nordic walking, light jogging and gymnastics. The present condition and the future targets guide to suitable way of physical exercise.

The most useful however is, that you remember the good ambitions you had in the first days of the year also later in the year, when the summer starts to knock on our doors.

Our new blog has been launched today. Stay focused on it and we will try to keep you informed. You can read new posts on this blog via the RSS feed.