MBT’s new Athletic Collection helps to strengthen the small and often neglected muscles that protect the joints and back; areas that suffer from repeated shock and compression during sporting activities. Keeping these small but important muscles in top condition has a positive effect on the entire body, as well as on athletic performance.

Specifically designed to be worn before and after athletic competitions, MBTs can help prevent injury, as well as speed recovery and regeneration.

MBT is footwear that not only helps you stay healthy, but also helps you stay on top of your game. And nothing feels better than that.

Barefoot Studio offers an expert MBT fitting service, making sure you leave with the perfect pair of MBT shoes for you. You can now also order on-line or by telephone. Its still best to come in for a fitting but if this is not possible we will give you the best advice possible over the phone.

All of us at barefoot want to wish you a fantastic 2010!

Karen, Paula, and all the Barefoot Team.

The convention was hosted by the German Nordic Fitness Association who were fantastic hosts. We enjoyed a Bavarian evening of beer, sausage and song; a biathlon competition consisting of nordic walking/running and shooting, and much camaraderie between the many countries represented there… Japan, Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, France, South Africa, Germany.. to name a few.

There was of course time for some serious Nordic business… lectures from leading experts on Nordic Brain Training, Medical Nordic Walking theory, Biomechanical and metabolic issues, & Gait analysis as well as the latest research findings. Combined with some great outdoor sessions on deep stretching techniques, Postural exercises to improve walking, and a fab new concept in the Nordic Gymstick. We wil be sharing more news on all of this via our British Nordic Walking site… so keep an eye on www.britishnordicwalking.org.uk. And if you’re coming to class this week watch out for the deep stretches!! and brain training exercises!!!!!

Check out the photos and watch out for more nordic walking news from the weekend. (By the way Joy’s team won the Biathlon event, and I got all 5 of my shots!!!!)

Team UK & Ireland on form !!!???

Catherine presents to the convention

It snowed!

Karen shooting in the Biathlon

How many layers of clothing did we have on?

Primary Times magazine, asked Karen to be their roving reporter last week and experience the thrills of the big top for herself! She went along to the Big Top in Cardiff’s oval basin to meet Adie Delaney, the No Fit State Circus’s trapeze artist. Here’s what happened…

My guide and mentor Adie went to circus uni in Australia for 3 years and has been performing ever since. I, on the other hand, was pulled up onto the trapeze bar (no net!) after 3 seconds! The bar is 8 meters off the ground, which I promise you is a very long way and seems even higher when you stand on it and start to swing. I’m not really sure how to put this experience into words. I could feel the adrenaline course through my veins as I began to swing higher and higher. Time for a trick! Now it’s essential this happens at the high end of the swing as apparently it is there that one is weightless… get the timing wrong and you weigh twice as much! So I swing….. let go with the hands and now I’m upside down and flying backwards. Air rushes past me, I’m not sure which way is up… but now I have to get back upright. Remember, weightless at the ends, so how come it took all my strength to climb back up to sitting? Needless to say after half an hour I was sweating, shaking and my arms looked like Popeye after a can of spinach! Afterward I lay collapsed on a big crash mat and gazed in awe as Adie went through her rehearsal routine. Now that looked effortless, graceful and having had a taste of how immensely physically challenging the trapeze is, was jaw droppingly impressive.

Enjoy the photos, but my recommendation is see the show. Tabu by the No Fit State Circus is on in Cardiff bay from 11th – 27th September, call the box office or visit the website

Roald Dahl Plas

Cardiff

Box Office: Wales Millenium Centre

08700 402000

Join Nia co-founder Carlos Rosas for a two-hour journey into the Heart of Nia.

Through a powerful mix of music, movement, and heart-pounding joy, your body will soak up new sensations while your spirit plays! Using a blend of classic Nia and freedance, Carlos will guide you into a deeper relationship with movement, opening the gateway for you to experience the Joy of Movement from the inside out.

This one-of-a-kind Nia ride, punctuated with high peaks of athletics and sensuous valleys of stillness, will allow you to explore the essence of Nia in a new way as you connect with Nia’s past, present, and future.

Place: Urdang Academy, Old Finsbury Town Hall,  Roseberry Avenue, EC1R 4RP
Time: 10.30-1pm
Date: Saturday 12 September 2009
Cost: $55

To Register for Heart of Nia Playshop follow th link to the Nia HQ site

For regular Nia classes check out our Studio timetable and Nia pages.

Alun Ffred Jones Noric Walks at the Royal Welsh

The Royal Welsh Show attracts people from all over Wales and the Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, was at Llanelwedd today (22 July),  encouraging everyone in Wales to get active and highlighting the next big sporting event to take place in Wales this autumn.

On a day of visits to the show, the Minister called in to the showground’s sports arena to see the activities being laid on by the Sport Council for Wales, including rugby skills sessions run by Cardiff Blues, judo and gymnastics, as well as a demonstration of Nordic walking, an active type of hiking offered in conjunction with Age Concern Cymru, as a taster for the more mature showgoer.

Alun Ffred Jones said:

“We want to support the Welsh population to be more physically active on a daily basis because of the health, social and economic benefits that exercise provides. We are currently consulting on our physical activity action plan, ‘Creating an Active Wales’ and I would urge people in Wales to contribute their own ideas on how we can go about achieving that aim.”

British Nordic Walking worked with Age Concern Cymru to develop their Nordic walking project. Karen Ingram, INWA National Nordic Walking Coach for Wales, trained the Age Concern volunteers and staff. You can visit the British Nordic Walking website to find your nearest class and buy Nordic walking kit in our Cowbridge store or on-line.

For m ore information have a look at the events pages of the website

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Ironman contest, Dawn swam 2.4 miles, biked for 112 miles and then ran a marathon 26.2 miles. In total it took Dawn 14 hours 52 minutes and 7 seconds to finish the race – a very impressive first Ironman

2.4 mi. swim – 1:45:56  • 112 mi. bike – 7:27:01  • 26.2 mi. run – 5:28:38

Go girl!

On Saturday 18th July & again on the 15 August their INWA Nordic Walking Instructors will be at the Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre, from 10:30am. The event is free and booking is advised.

The team will also be at this years Royal Welsh show which starts on the 20th July.

And as part of the celebrations of Grandparents & Grandkids Day at the National Botanical Gardens of Wales, the Nordic Walking Instructors will again be offering the chance to have a go at Nordic walking.

For more information visit the Age Concern website