Let's Do the Electric Slide !!

July is the month of more fitness madness for me :)

I am into line dancing. Yes, enjoying the light workout from my weekly class ... after I got through to myself that it is okay to be feel clumsy, like I am having 2 left feet. 

Things should be less chaotic for me at the dance floor soon. Hopefully. Thanks to the wonderful people who had uploaded their dance videos to YouTube so that I (& fellow newbies) can view again and again and practise, practise and practise our moves. 


ELECTRIC SLIDE 
This is my fav cos it is the simplest to remember. I managed to catch on the moves quite quickly on Lesson 1. Yoohoo!!

Video: Instructions with Dancing starting 3:46

1-4 Vine RIGHT with a touch on the final step,
4-8 Vine LEFT with a touch on the final step,
9-12 Step backwards (R,L,R,L) with a touch on the final step,
13-16 Step forward with LEFT and touch with RIGHT, Step back with RIGHT and touch with LEFT
17-18 Step forwards on LEFT, touch RIGHT and 1/4 turn to LEFT
Detailed Step Sheet - Electric Slide


ZIGGY

Video: Dancing only
Found only 3 videos featuring this dance. How come, huh?

MAMMA MARIA

Video: Dancing with Instructions starting 2:18

1-4 Walk forward right diagonal stepping R, L, R, kick L forward 

5-8 Walk back left diagonal stepping L, R, L, touch R next to L as you square up with front wall 
1-4 Walk forward left diagonal stepping R, L, R, kick L forward
5-8 Walk back right diagonal stepping L, R, L, touch R next to L as you square up with front wall 
1-4 Step R forward, kick L forward, step L back, touch R back 
5-8 Step R forward, kick L forward, step L back, touch R back 
1-4 Step R to right side, step L behind R, step R to right side, touch L next to R 
5-8 Step L to left side, step R behind L, turning 1/4 left step on L, touch R next to L 
Detailed Step Sheet - Mamma Maria


HONKY TONK STOMP

Video #1: Instructions with Dancing starting 0.50

Video #2: Dancing only - include this video cos love the song 

& watching the ladies dancing in unison!

* Fan right, fan right, tap right heel forward x2, back x2

* Touch right heel forward, together, stomp left x2; repeat with other foot

* Vine right, vine left with 1/2 turn

* Vine right, vine left

Detailed Step Sheet - Honky Tonk Stomp

CHEERIO

Video: Dancing only by our Florence & Richard :)

This is the only video on the variation being taught. Others 
are with more complex moves!

RED HOT SALSA

Video: Dancing only

1-4 Bounce RIGHT heel forward 4 times,
5-8 Bounce LEFT heel forward 4 times,
9-12 Bump hips LEFT, LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT,
13-16 Bump hips LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT,
17-20 Rock/step forward onto RIGHT, replace weight onto LEFT, rock/step back on RIGHT, replace weight onto LEFT,
21-24 Rock/step forward onto RIGHT, replace weight onto LEFT, rock/step back on RIGHT, replace weight onto LEFT,
25-28 Vine RIGHT (R,L,R), touch LEFT beside RIGHT,
29 Long step to LEFT with LEFT,
30-31 Slowly slide RIGHT beside LEFT,
32 Hold & clap
Continue => Detailed Step Sheet - Red Hot Salsa

TAKE THESE CHAINS
So far, this dance has my vote for the most challenging dance steps. Planning to watch the video many more times ...

Video: Dancing with Instructions starting 1:18

1-8 Vine Right with 3 kicks

9-16 Vine Left with 3 kicks

17-24 Right Lock step back kick, Left lock step back kick

25-32 Step touches with 1/4 turn Left

Detailed Step Sheet - Take These Chains

What those Extra Shoelace Holes are For

Today, I had an interesting discovery. Found out that those “extra” shoe lace holes at the top of my sports shoes actually have a useful purpose! ... to tie a lace lock, sometimes known as heel lock or runners loop. Yup, those seemingly redundant shoelace holes which you may have noticed but have forgotten after the shoes were laced.

The purpose of the lace lock to keep the ankle and heel area tight and snug, to prevent slipping in and out of the shoes when brisk walking, running or hiking. I guess, no more chaffing or blisters, at least not in those areas, for many of the 33 million (wow!!) people who watched this shoe lacing technique since the video was published in April 2015! :b

Definitely a must-view for my son who is taking part in his first marathon run, 2XU Compression Run 2015, in August.

Something Interesting - A Speaking Avatar!

I cannot resist sharing this interesting find. This interactive, speaking avator (called a Voki) is a fun thing to create and post on Facebook, twitter, website or blog like this. Can create for free at www.voki.com. 

UPDATE: 

The avatar does not show up on your Andriod smartphone or tablet? 
It needs a Flash Player and I too just discovered that Adobe Flash Player is not available on Android. I found some suggestions on how to install Adobe Flash Player on Android  on the internet and installed FlashFox-Flash Browser from Google Play. Yup, the Flash works in Flashfox browser for my Samsung phone - the avatar responses with head and eyes movements and speech. Woo hoo!

Better still, take it a step further to use it to make learning fun for your child(ren). Your child may use it to record his reading and will enjoy having it re-played by his very own personalized character. The text-to-speech converter option will surely motivate your child (or even you!) to practise sounding out difficult words aided by the self-created avatar. 

There are many possible character combinations with many more choices of hair styles, colors and accessories – just let the imagination run wild! And of course, there are even more choices for paid products, Voki Classroom and Voki Presenter. 

Source: www.voki.com

There are 4 ways to give your Voki a voice: Record by Phone (US numbers Only - not sure how this works ;b), Text to Speech (with over 25 languages selections in male/ female voice), Record by Microphone, or Upload an Audio File.

Source: www.voki.com

Voki can be shared on over social media sites, embedded in a blog/ website or emailed to friends with the  the URL that links directly to your Voki’s own webpage. 

Source: www.voki.com

I am excited to explore this discovery further and see how it can be used to facilitate teaching of Phonics to preschoolers.  

Step-by-Step to Good Health with Dayan Qigong

Three weeks into the exercise and I just realised that there are many types (not just 4 or 5) of Qigong (qi gong, chi kung, or chi gung) that are practised worldwide : b.

At the time of writing this post (20 April 2015), I am into mid way of the 1st 64 forms of Dayan Qigong, also known as Wild Goose Qigong. As the name suggests, these graceful movement forms mimic the wild goose’s activities so that there are lots of wings flapping and body turning.

Still struggling to remember the steps ... so many aspects to look out for ... what to do with fingers/ hands/ arms/ legs/ head, when to turn, when to breathe in/ out. 

Can you imagine how excited I was when I came across a YouTube video which demonstrates the Dayan Qigong 1^st 64 forms with instructions in English displayed  on the screen! Also, the quality of the video is superb – not shaky, not fuzzy, not intermittent – so that I have been using it often to recall and practise the Dayan Qigong movements.

The website, Wild Goose Qigong – UK, is a wonderful resource as well. It has useful tips for me (beginner), especially on the Correct Principles of Wild Goose Qigong, and offers suggestion on which areas to work on as one progress to next level. Better still, it lists the step-by-step instructions in English on the website. Love it - for my easy reference. Yay!

Swinging to Good Health, The Ping Shuai Gong Way

I am so into Qi Gong (Chi Kung) workouts these past weeks. No jumping, kicking. Just smooth, purposeful movements ... and I am loving them!

At this time last year, I would never have imagined myself taking up this form of "old folks" exercise. Now? I am picking up not one but two Qi Gong exercises! Ping Shuai Gong and Dayan Qigong.

What is Ping Shuai Gong? It is a basic Qi Gong exercise, also known as Swinging Hands Exercise. It is easy to learn and practise – I have progressed from initial 10-minute session (beginner) to a full 30-minute workout (ideal) within a week of my first try. Woo hoo!

Thanks to Taiwanese Wushu & Qigong Master Lee Feng San, Ping Shuai Gong is being practised in many parts of the world, including Singapore.

In the video, Master Lee explained, in Mandarin, the mechanics and benefits of the exercise. The video is a bit “messy”, crowded with subtitles of several languages (thank goodness, including English) as it attempts to reach out to wider audiences but definitely worth watching. 

I went over this Ping Shuai Gong video a couple of times to look out for the correct fingers/ hands/ legs positioning and movements. Very helpful.

I should be doing Ping Shuai Gong for 30 minutes every day. No excuses. Here is why...

Every 10 minutes is a phase. In the 1^st 10 minutes, it will activate your basic circulation. In the 2^nd 10 minutes, it will start the work inside your internal organs & will also bear some effects on your brain. In the 3^rd 10 minutes, or about ½ hour, you will discover that some of the hidden sickness inside your body will be uncovered. This kind of circulation will bring balance and harmony inside your body. And the hidden old sickness will naturally be cured & you will feel very comfortable.

~ Master Lee

Still need more convincing? Get more details on the health benefits of this Swinging Hands Exercise, including testimonials of cancer survivors, from these sites:

http://swinghandexercisepingshuaigong.blogspot.sg/

http://www.atanone.net/ping-shuai-gong-a-simple-but-powerful-qigong/

On the other hand, I am still at a loss with Dayan Qigong, also known as Wild Goose Breathing Exercise. It is so much harder to pick up. The exercise has 64 forms with more complex finger/ hand/ arm/ legs movements! And then, there is the breathing. *Sigh*

My TV Just Got Smarter!

My Sharp digital TV just got smarter! I am so proud to post (hehe .. boast) that I did it, all by myself. Woo hoo!!
After many months of deliberating to buy/ not to buy from Qoo10, I finally got one last Saturday. Google Chromecast.

Since I got my Chromecast set up 3 days ago, I have been enjoying watching YouTube videos on the largest screen at home - my TV!

Huh, what is this Chromecast thingy? That was the reaction from my usually tech-savvy friend, Bee. Well, it looks like a giant thumb drive that needs to be plugged in to the TV via HDMI port (yup, the one that looks like an oversized USB port).

Source: Chromecast.com

After I did the set up, I can now project whatever is on the Chrome browser on the screen of my computer or Samsung tablet to the TV. Meaning I can now surf the internet, read emails and of course, watching movies and videos from the big screen. Pretty smart and cool, right?

However, for some reason, this did not work for my Samsung Note 2. It can only cast from Chromecast ready apps like YouTube, TED and Viki. Had to Google for help and found out that it is not one of the supported Andriod devices. Mmmm ...

For SGD65, I have upgraded my browsing experience big time. The downside is that I run the risk of being a YouTube junkie. Soon.

I got my Chromecast from a Singtel Retail Shop in Causeway Point. Just wouldn't wait any longer for deals from Groupon or Deal.com.sg which sold it for around SGD50 last year.

Sharing the videos that got me excited about Chromecast.

Good Bye, Crocs Singapore

Making a last call before calling it a day - on my last day at Crocs Singapore. This day, 20 March 2015, marked a close to one of the wonderful chapters of my life story. 

When I Joined Crocs, a shoe company famous for its chunky, colorful clogs then, in Crocs Asia Regional Office in 2007, little did I expect it would turn out to be a 7-year+ love affair!

Crocs Singapore HR (including adopted member - KK), you rock! 

We had our moments of craziness ... voluminous hiring (of 200 temps!), needed-it-yesterday deadlines, heated disagreements. What I cherish most is the friend(fun)ship we develop over team bonding sessions (aka gossip cum makan time!!). 

Catch up with you all on WatsApp, Skype, Line, Facebook ... or over Teh-C and Roti Prata.