6 Games That Give Your Mind a Workout

As early as childhood, we use games to learn about the world around us. Even animals play-fight and, by doing so, develop the skills necessary for hunting and defense. Games are there to help us with social interactions, basic math, and language skills, as well as dexterity and strength.

Now yes, most of the games are played just for fun; most gamers really turn to games for fun and entertainment. However, there are games that adults play that boost their cognitive abilities. Here are a few that will give your brain a workout.

Sudoku

Sudoku is a Japanese game with numbers. There are nine boxes with spaces for nine numbers each. Your job is to fill out the boxes. Sounds simple, until you realize that a number can’t be repeated inside the box, the column, or the line. It’s great for improving your memory and focus.

Crosswords

Believe it or not, nerds and senior citizens aren’t wasting time when they are doing crossword puzzles. They are exercising their mind in terms of common knowledge, pop culture, logic, and vocabulary. Even if you fail at first, and have to constantly look up answers, you are learning something new.

Lumosity

This is not a game that you will find in your newspapers, but rather an app with a collection of games, each designed to improve your language skills, memory, concentration, and multitasking. If you want to keep yourself motivated, you can follow your own progress, or compare yourself to other users. You can play the games from your browser, or on iOS.

Othello

Othello, or its variant Reversi, is a game for two players. There is a board with two white tiles and two black tiles. The point of the game is to place a new tile on the board and try to capture your opponent’s tiles by surrounding them. You can then flip the opponent’s tiles and make them your own. The game ends when there are no more moves left to play, and you tally the score. It has been said that Othello is a game that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.

Chess

Chess is similar to Othello, in the sense that the moves are simple, but strategies go beyond convoluted. It’s a great game for learning how to see the big picture, instead of focusing only on what’s in front of you. These days you can even play chess for three, or 3D chess. Consider Shogi, as well.

Jigsaw Puzzles

This is not technically a game, but it does help with developing patience, concentration, and attention to details. We are not saying that you should stick to puzzles with 50 pieces that feature a kitten and a flower since that is for kids. For adults, there are versions with over 1000 pieces, as well as 3D jigsaw puzzles. However, it’s not the best solution for those who don’t have a lot of time on their hands.

Yoga Poses for Everyone!

We often spend our free time doing something we consider to be a fun activity. We watch movies we love, play games we love, play online on us-apuestas-deportivas.pro, and we even do exercise for fun. With exercise, you’ll often hear people say that they are too old, brittle, or weak to do proper exercise. While that is true to some degree, exercising is vital to our body development and maintenance. Yoga has done wonders for people’s posture, flexibility, mobility, and it’s known for keeping a person’s stress in check. If you think you are too old, young, skinny, fat, cool or lame to do Yoga, consider these exercises that are suitable for everyone.

Breathing

Before moving on to folding yourself into a pretzel, it is important to master breathing techniques. We will not get into details, as there are tons of breathing exercises in Yoga, but we will say that the focus is on breathing slowly and letting the good air in and the bad air out. As Yoga is done slowly, proper breathing keeps you in check in terms of calming you down and clearing your head.

The Mountain Pose

This pose doesn’t seem like exercise at first. Stand up with your back straight, and your feet close to each other. With a deep breath, you should raise your hands above your head with your arms straight. Do it slowly, keep your hands in that position, and then exhale while lowering your arms. Again, the point of the exercise is to do it slowly, as it helps your breathing and posture. Remember, Yoga is not an extreme sport.

The Tree Pose

It is important not to get discouraged if you don’t get it done on the first couple of days. What you need to do is stand up straight, put your palms together above your head, and raise one leg so that it rests on the thigh of your other leg, while avoiding the knee. At first, you might slouch, or not keep your balance, but pretty soon you’ll get a hold of it. The tree pose is great for improving your balance and tightening your leg muscles.

The Plank Pose

This pose is perfect for giving you more control over your body. The pose is fairly simple – get yourself into a position similar to that you would be in if you were doing pushups, but with a few differences. You are supposed to hold this pose, while your wrists are directly below your shoulders. Your back should be straight as well. It’s great for strengthening your core. If you have weak wrists, try resting your body on your elbows instead.

Most Interesting Water Sports Events in the UK

An exciting season awaits all watersports lovers, as some of the world’s best athletes visit the UK to show off their skills ahead of the 2020 Tokio Olympics. World-class watersports events that are scheduled to take place in the following months are also a great opportunity for betting fans to use the amazing 1Xbet promo code, specifically designed for sports betting, and offering up to €100 bonus on the first deposit. With that in mind, the most interesting watersports events are the following.

The National Watersports Festival

The National Watersports Festival (NWF) is the most popular annual watersports event in the UK. Aimed at promoting watersports among the amateurs and professionals alike, this year the festival took place from 8th to 10th June at Rutland Water. During the festival, water sports enthusiasts can participate in many different competitions, including windsurfing, stand up paddleboarding, kayak, diving, and dinghy sailing. In addition, the visitors will enjoy live music, local ale, camping and plenty of family-friendly activities at this awesome event. We are already looking forward to the 2019 edition!

Diving World Series

In 2019, Britain will also have the honour to host the elite Diving World Series event. Some of the best divers in the world will compete across four legs, and visitors will have a unique opportunity to see Olympic and World champions in action. The finals will take place 17th-19th May 2019 at the London Aquatics Centre.

ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup

One of the most prestigious canoeing events in the world, this is an annual event consisting of five races across several disciplines. Competitors collect points across all races. The World Cup Champions title goes to the competitor who collects most points in all five races.

Opening race will take place from 14-16 June 2019 at Lee Valley. Other events will take place in Bratislava, Tacen, Markkleeberg and the final will be held in Prague from 6th to 8th September 2019.

European Short Course Swimming Championships

Glasgow will host the European Short Course Swimming Championships next year. This event takes place every two years and hasn’t been held in the UK since 1998. Some of the best European athletes will compete in 40 short-course (25-metre) swimming events. The Championships will be held from 4th to 8th of December 2019 in Tollcross International Swimming Centre. This is a final swimming event before the Tokyo Olympics and chances are that new talents will emerge ahead of the biggest sports event in the world, which should make this event particularly interesting for punters.  

Cowes Week

Cowes Week has been held traditionally every summer since 1826, except during the First and the Second World War. It is one of the most popular watersports events in Britain, attracting thousands of spectators. It is a spectacular sailing event, with more than 8 000 competitors participating in races, ranging from amateurs to Olympic professionals. In addition, visitors will enjoy plenty of social activities, such as live music and parties. Next year, Cowes Week will take place from 10th to 17th August. If you are considering taking part in the Cowes Week next year, entries will be open in December 2018.

What tunes are best for your workout

Did you ever wonder why every gym has music blasting throughout the day or why more and more people wear headphones during their sports session? or have you ever felt an unexplainable rush of excitement when a certain music comes on while you’re working out, much like the thrill you get when playing games available at LottoGo.

Ever since the dawn of humanity, people have used rhythmic songs to coordinate their work. When you come to think of it it’s not that different with working out. But what’s the best music to listen to while working out?

A personal touch

According to research, the music you work out to has to influence you in a personal way. it can be a song you tie positive associations with, like a summer trip where you had a blast or a really cool party with your friends. If there was a time when you have outdone yourself while working out, you should probably stick to the same music when trying to do a really strong workout. According to experts, listen to music that reminds you of your adolescence or teenage period because those tunes will make you feel youthful and fit again.

What genre?

Research performed by Dr Costas Karageorghis, Spotify, and the Music in Exercise and Sport Group at Brunel University, London found that rap music provides you with a beat that facilitates stretching and running, while pop songs provide a steady rhythm for the main part of your session. Dr Karageorghis’ team analysed more than 6.5 million playlists that have the term “workout” in their title, comparing the beats per minute (bpm) a typical song has.

Since a typical person’s stride rate during running is about 150–190 per minute, halving these figures should give you the number of bpm that good workout music should contain (75–95 bpm), which is mostly urban music like hip-hop. Whilst pop is more attuned to more repetitive and slower tasks, like warming up or cooling down for your aerobics session, dance music is best when you’re weight-lifting due to a lot of base and percussive rhythm, and a fast rate. Finally, rock music should be avoided for cardio and other high-intensity sessions because its tempo changes can alter the rhythm you established.

Some other neat tips

The way you start out is really important. The first song that you listen to is going to set the tone for your entire workout so you need to plan ahead. If you’re doing a training session with different aspects, mix up your playlist as well. So play hip-hop while you’re working out, pop when you’re doing aerobics exercises, and blast some dance music for your strength training.

You can choose songs from your favourite sports and action movies to get into the vibe (Eye of the Tiger anyone?). Also, use the lyrics to your advantage by listening to songs that are positively reassuring. if you really like a chorus of a song, use this period for supersets in your strength training or for the intense part of your high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

These are just some of the tips you can use to your advantage to maximize your training performance. However, be sure to listen to your body and mind – if you feel that something is good for you and works for your workout, just stick with it.

Gambling and weight loss – is there a connection?

We have come across the rumor that some gamblers lose weight easily. So, is there a cause-and-effect relationship between gambling and weight loss?

Dopamine

This is a neurotransmitter that is in charge of us feeling rewarded and happy because of an experience. It also appears during things that makes us happy, or excited – like computer games, sex, alcohol, gambling, narcotics, or even a simple, yet very competitive, sports game against your friends and acquaintances.

As you can see, it has a tendency to appear during risky behavior. After a while, there is a priority on the object at hand, rather than everyday life. It is something that every potential addict must be on the lookout for. This is the reason a huge majority of casinos and gambling websites tell their patrons to gamble responsibly.

Where Does Weight Loss Fit?

Do you know that one friend of yours, who was a little bit too obsessed with video games, and always pale and fragile due to the fact that his body weight was well below normal? It is not just that he would forget to eat (though, that would happen fairly often as well), he would eat junk food, and he would have, maybe, one meal a day. Beware the dopamine, the chemical that shifts a person’s focus away from food and social interactions.

Is Dopamine the Only Culprit?

To be honest, there is the issue of hormonal disbalance as well. Gambling is romanticized as a forbidden fruit that is best enjoyed at night, and that upsets our circadian rhythm. The body gets confused with what time of day it is, with a bunch of lights, music and the overwhelming amount of other stimuli as well.

There is an old casino trick that capitalizes on this – the front door and windows (if any) are shaded, and there are no clocks inside the establishment. You have no idea when you came in and how much time passed before you got out.

The disbalance leads to weight loss (or gain), problems sleeping, mood swings, and a constant feeling of being tired and stressed.

So, What Should I Do?

As everyone and their grandma has told time and time again, play responsibly. The best way to enjoy gaming is knowing what it could do. Remember that you are doing this for fun, not as a calling.

As to what to do with the extra weight you might have put on that made you interested in the content of this piece in the first place, we recommend that you choose an exercise program and stick to it. There is definitely a connection between gambling and weight loss, but it is not a healthy one. Alternatively, you can do your research on the up-and-coming trend of betting on yourself against your weight. There are a lot of names for it, like Diet bet and Weight Loss bet.

How to Stay Fit After 40

We all grow old one day and then we look back and wonder, where did the time go? Don’t lose hope on your health, happiness, and ability to feel good though. There are always ways to improve your life whether you are young, middle age, or old. It all just depends on your lifestyle really, and if you take good care of yourself, you will enjoy life. If you take life and live it to the fullest, it doesn’t matter your age as long as you are having a good time and you feel good and you’re happy with yourself. Not to mention that as long as you are taking care of your health, diseases and illnesses are not likely to tackle you down. If you’re wondering about jobs that can help you stay fit, look no further.

Football Coaching

Becoming a football coach might be just what you need! If no other job suits you after the years, consider this one. You can be teaching people this time instead of you being the one taught. Whether it’s kids in the school, or adults even on championships, you can bet you will have fun doing something you love by coaching. Not only do you get to stay on your feet and be active, you get to socialize with your team. Think of all of the benefits there comes with it- you’re not alone and you’re also staying fit at the same time. If you love sports, this is like a dream job. Helping out others in directing them, sharing the same passion as them- it is something that can form a very strong friendship and let you enjoy your job even more. Don’t forget to participate sometimes during training to let your team know you would never tell them what to do without you never doing it. Letting them know that you are there for them is a good way for all of the plus sides in this job to stick out even more.

Think of it as a Living

We all get that “I just don’t want to do it” attitude. If you want to stay fit, you really need to put this kind of thinking aside and just get to it. If you don’t think of it as a joy or a hobby even, chances are very high that you won’t have fun exercising in any way and stop doing it. This can be detrimental to your health, for if you don’t take care of your body, you can expect it to not take care of you. Especially as you get older it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle and that means exercising, eating right, staying positive, etc. You need to get into the habit of this and start loving it. It’s the key to happiness and staying healthy at any age and you definitely won’t regret it. You’ll see the great impact that it has on your life and want to keep it that way.

Exercises to Enjoy with your Significant Other

If you and your loved one are spending more time cuddling on the sofa and watching TV and less time dancing the night away, you may notice you’re both piling on the pounds. There is scientific (and obvious) reason behind letting your good habits lag when you’re in a new relationship, so don’t give yourself a hard time, but instead take up a few new exercises and try doing them together so you and your new bae don’t have to spend time apart.

Tennis! Now you have someone, why bother looking for new tennis partners? Learn the rules and find a court nearby. Then, get in another sweaty workout after you’ve spent a couple hours on the court. Burn those ice cream calories!
Badminton – with similar vibes to tennis but a much lighter shuttlecock, you could battle it out on the court. This is a great sport to play with a significant other as, if you’re a newbie, clubs can feel a little overwhelming. It’ll also give you something interesting to break out of routine and hopefully help you create a new hobby.
Join the gym – but do a week trial first to see whether it’s right for you so you don’t end up wasting a lot of money on something you won’t bother using.
Swimming – this is a bizarre option, but swimming can get very same-y. Having someone to chat to while you do your lengths can be great motivation. That is, until one of you is a lot faster than the other and you end up being left behind in the splashes.
Workout at home – if you’re all loved up and enjoying being on the sofa, then why not throw on a free youtube video, get a little sweaty in your living room, and then get back to where you left off – whether that’s pizza and cuddles or not – having a little exercise can only do you good and might bolster those endorphins even more – as if you even need them!
Ping-pong is a sport which isn’t likely to burn many calories, unless you’re good at it you may find yourself walking to retrieve the ball more than actually swinging your arm. However, it can be a lot of fun to build up your skill with a significant other and you could find a table tennis table at your local park anyway – making it a very cheap sport to start playing! However, winter months may mean a little extra motivation is required.
Running – this isn’t for everyone and is an option which is obvious, yet not enjoyable if you end up lagging behind a speedy significant other. However, give it a go and take headphones and music if you’re worried of being left alone!

Let us know what works for you and whether you have any tips for keeping you and your loved one fit and healthy! Of course, accompany your exercise with a healthy diet of fruit and veg to make yourself feel both loved up and healthy!

Why to exercise?

The benefits of exercising are endless, there is no doubt about it, but have you managed to find your inner motivation to hit the gym or engage in some outdoor activity? If the answer to this question is “not yet,” you will certainly change your mind after reading this.
Besides losing weight or building muscle, physical activity is good for you in more ways than you can imagine. A little daily exercise, either inside or outside, can do wonders for you. It will help you gain a better posture, improve your memory, boost your confidence, help you de-stress, be more productive, live longer and simply be happier.
When deciding your workout program, it’s important to keep a balance between indoor and outdoor sessions, as this is a great way to avoid routine and boredom and keep exercising exciting.
Sometimes, it’s impossible to go outside, especially in the winter months, so you will have to do with some indoors activities. You can either hit the gym and take advantage of the equipment there or practice some home exercises such as jumping rope, stair stepping, dancing or following some YouTube workouts.
In summer, however, it would be ideal to mix up your fitness routine by also engaging in some outdoor physical activity. After all, exercising outdoors may improve energy levels and decrease stress to a greater extent than working out inside.
Outdoors, for instance, there’s more variety when it comes to the type of activity you can do: surfing, trail running, rock climbing, bicycle riding, or even aerobic. Moreover, many types of outdoor exercise are free such as running, hiking, and swimming.
The beautiful thing about running outside, for instance, is actually its simplicity, as it does not really require sophisticated gear or equipment. It’s basically just you and the open road ahead.
The most important thing is to find a routine you truly enjoy and stay motivated so your that workout doesn’t feel like work.

 The perfect equipment for running 

Regardless of whether you are an avid jogger or preparing to go for your very first run, you might want to choose your running outfit wisely, otherwise, you might find it difficult to continue practising the sport.
Running is quite a simple physical activity that does not require special equipment, but if you want to up your game and get better with every jog, skimping on the gear may lead to an early exit from the sport, so we would advise you choose the suitable gear, clothing and accessories to make sure you improve your pace and endurance.
Among the essential items you need, the most important one is a pair of good running sneakers. The running footwear is the most essential for your workout and you need a pair that’s fitted to your unique needs as a runner.
And the best way to get the right sneakers model for you is to visit a specialised running store and get advice from the trained personnel there. They will watch you run on a treadmill and recommend the best shoes for you.
Your running apparel must also include a shirt or two, ideally made of good wicking material, as you’re very likely to sweat a lot and this type of fabric will dry faster than cotton. Running shorts, pants, tights or a skirt must complete your equipment, depending on the season. These should also be made of technical fabrics designed to pull moisture away from the skin. This will help you control your body temperature, even in cold weather.
Choosing another type of fabric for your running attire can lead to chafing and getting blisters. And nothing kills a run like a blister about to pop. A pair of running-specific socks will also help you reach the finish line blister-free.
For women, the best advice would be to get a good sports bra that provides good support, otherwise, they will feel it with every step, and not feeling comfortable most probably means ditching it.
Always remember that wearing the proper attire can contribute a lot to a great workout experience.

Stay fit while traveling

Any kind of travel, whether it’s a business trip or a holiday with the family, can throw off your fitness routine due to the change in schedule, and maybe even time zone, so we figured some tips to stay fit while traveling would come in handy for you.
Having fun must be the rule when traveling, even if it’s for business purposes, so if you like gambling, what better way to de-stress than trying out some online games at the many online casinos available nowadays. If you’re new to the gambling world, we have good news for you – online games generally offer odds a bit higher than land-based casinos, so if you feel lucky, you should definitely wager at a poker table.
When it comes to your fitness routine, though, first of all, don’t lose your motivation and avoid the laid-back attitude where you think you’re on vacation so anything is permitted. Instead, try to think ahead and anticipate your workout needs for the duration of the trip.
In this regard, it would be advisable to make a little research before actually leaving on that trip and pack accordingly. If the hotel you’re staying at has a fitness center where you can actually work out, you will definitely need your exercise clothing. If not, some travel workout accessories would come in handy, like a jump rope, a resistance band or some weights, together with some lightweight sneakers and a yoga mat.
With enough determination you can turn your hotel room into your fitness center and fit in a quick 5-10 minute workout every day. And there are a lot of exercises you can practice in your hotel room. For instance, you can take advantage of your own body weight and try pushups, pull exercises, planks and squats.
If you brought a jump rope with you, don’t hesitate to use it in your hotel room. Alternatively, you can do a few jumping jack sets, as these are a great addition to any indoor cardio workout.
In case the space in your hotel room permits it, you could also put that yoga mat at good use in order to try aerobics or yoga. Just use your tablet or smartphone to find a workout routine on YouTube and follow along, just as you would do at home.
The resistance band or resistance tubes that you packed can also be of great help. These stretchy accessories can be used virtually anywhere and offer weight-like resistance when you pull on them. That’s why they are very effective to strengthen nearly any muscle group.
Additionally, you can try to walk as much as you can, instead of taking shuttle buses or driving, especially when you’re headed somewhere within walking distance. Also walk the hotel halls and visit the town on foot.
Another thing you could do is to ask the hotel staff about some nearby parks and trails where you could do some running.
So there you go, you have plenty of options to keep exercising while traveling and zero excuses to give up on your physical activity routine. Try to always keep in mind that regular exercise will help reduce stress and boost your energy, which might be just what you need to get down to business.