Are flip flops a flop for feet?

(NC)—Nothing says summer like a pair of fashionable, lightweight flips flops, but experts say we should think carefully when we reach for our summer footwear.

“We strongly recommend balancing style and ease with comfort and support,” says Ryan Robinson, a Canadian Certified Pedorthist and president of the Pedorthic Association of Canada. “If you are at the pool or sitting in the back yard, flip flops may be an appropriate choice. But if you are walking any distance, a pair of flimsy, ill-fitting footwear can cause a lot of harm.”

Basic flip flops, he says, lack support and often fit badly, which can lead to strains and pains in the feet, ankles, knees, hips and back. Unlike walking shoes, which are designed to meet the requirements of the foot and lower limbs, most flip flops do not provide the support, motion control and cushioning required by the foot during walking.

For the committed, however, not all flip flops are created equal. Unlike the bargain-basement brand, some footwear companies design them with the health of your feet in mind. To minimize injury, flip flop lovers should look for ones with supportive footbeds, adjustable straps, thicker soles and deep heel cups to provide the foot with much needed support and protection.

Although these more supportive styles should never be substituted for walking shoes when a long walk or rough terrain is involved, they are a suitable choice for short walks and may reduce the risk of injury compared to regular varieties.

More information on this topic can be found at www.pedorthic.ca .

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How to get your beach body back

(NC)—Warmer temperatures tell us that swimsuit season is just around the corner. Maybe you meant to start shaping up back in January, but it didn't happen. So now you're wondering how to get speedy results.

Luke Corey, a registered dietitian and host of the popular boot camp Achieving Your Summer Body, says, “The good news is that you can be confident on the beach and slim down and shape up in as little as four to eight weeks. By safely losing up to two pounds a week, you could significantly alter your summer body.”

To help you get the body you want this season, Corey offers the following five tips:

1. Write it down to drop a pound: Write your goals down and re-read them regularly. Keep them somewhere in plain view like on your bathroom mirror, on your fridge or as the screensaver on your phone.

2. Know your number: Be safe while losing weight. Understandably, you want fast results, but it's important to understand how many calories you need daily based on your age, sex, height and overall lifestyle. Cutting too many calories and losing too much weight too fast can undermine your health goals.

3. Don't restrict yourself: Allowing yourself to indulge from time to time can actually help you stay on track. If you like soda pop, for example, Corey suggests Coke mini cans, which offer a smaller portion sizes. Love burgers? Consider keeping calories in check by having a slider, skipping the cheese and loading it with your favourite vegetable toppings, like lettuce, onions and tomato.

4. Get moving: It's tempting to see quick results, but working out too intensely, particularly if you've gone from couch potato to fitness fanatic, could put you at risk for injury. If you are a beginner, start with less intense exercises such as brisk walks and go from there. For the more experienced athletes, try adding new activities to rev up results.

5. Start now: Confidence is key, says Corey: "Within one month of healthy eating and regular exercise, you can start to see an improvement in energy levels, a moderate amount of weight loss and some increases in muscle tone," he says. "Together, they will increase your confidence on the beach so it's definitely worth getting started now."

More health and wellness tips are available online at www.completehealthandnutrition.ca.

www.newscanada.com

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Beach Corner - Podcast - Dr. James Meschino

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Beach Booster Publication #62

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Wasaga Beach Drum Circle

A drum circle is any group of people playing (usually) hand-drums and percussion in a circle. They are distinct from a drumming group or troupe in that the drum circle is an end in itself rather than preparation for a performance. They can range in size from a handful of players to circles with thousands of participants.

In 1991, during testimony before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart stated:

Typically, people gather to drum in drum "circles" with others from the surrounding community. The drum circle offers equality because there is no head or tail. It includes people of all ages. The main objective is to share rhythm and get in tune with each other and themselves. To form a group consciousness. To entrain and resonate. By entrainment, I mean that a new voice, a collective voice, emerges from the group as they drum together.

The community drum circle

Community drum circles are informal gatherings of people who meet for the purpose of playing drums together. They often take place in public settings such as parks or at the beach, but may also be organized via a community center or similar body. Instrumentation centers around drums and percussion, but may include other instruments, such as flutes, didgeridoos, and other non-percussion instruments. Practically anything that can be banged on to make noise can be used as a percussion instrument such as cans, buckets, pipes, etc. One need not possess or purchase a drum to participate. Community drum circles differ from facilitated or conducted drum circles in that the music is entirely improvised through a process of group interaction. There may be a facilitator or moderator who acts to shape the experience through discrete actions, such as helping to maintain a steady beat, helping those who need it, and generally managing the environment to see that everyone is able to participate fully. The participants make up the music as they go along, using their listening and playing skills to make musical connections and express themselves in any and all ways that feel right. Participation is voluntary and often includes drumming, singing or chanting, dancing, and listening. Community drum circles often attract both regular and drop-in participants of all ages and can take place just about anywhere. Community drum circles are the original and most popular form of improvised community drumming.

Community - free-form drumming, often open to the public and entirely improvised in-the-moment.

Wouldn't that be amazing! An evening once a week. Gather your friends on the beach about an hour before sunset. It's a tribal 'feeling' - everyone welcome to join in. Here is a HOW TO list:

1. Get some drums and other percussion instruments. such as: Djembes, Dumbeks, Tablas, Congas, Tambores, Shakeres or any other hand drum. Don't forget frame drums! Another good idea is to have some sort of bass drum, such as a sangba or surdo.
2. 2
   Steer away from electronics. Drum circles are usually tribal in nature, so crazy electronic or technical instruments such as keyboards, drums sets, and electric guitars are not recommended.
3. 3
   Get enough instruments for one to five people, or more.
4. 4
   Don't forget the obvious: a "drum circle" is a circle! Set up in a real circle so that everybody may see and hear one another. Irregular blob shapes make for choppy or chaotic environments.
5. 5
   Create circles within circles once the circle is bigger than 20 participants. If it gets too spread out, you lose connection. For massive circles, create levels with center circle on the floor, next on chairs, outside standing.
6. 6
   Find a nice outdoor location for your drum circle, like a big backyard, or a nearby park so people from the public can join in.
7. 7
   Always welcome those who walk in and want to join the fun.
8. 8
   Go indoors if it is going to be chilly, or wet, or dark.
9. 9
   Have at least one person who has a little experience so he/she can start the beats and/or maintain a steady motion. This is not really necessary once you have some experience as a facilitator, beginners get the idea very quickly.
10. 10
    Understand that rhythms are spontaneous, one person starts a beat or a rhythm then someone else adds on to it, so on and so forth.
11. 11
    Start off with slow beats and vibes, eventually the drum circle will rise with adrenaline but you have to let it happen, don't force it.
12. 12
    Don't be shy or timid, drum circles are supposed to be fun. start off slow and wait for a good moment for you to come in.
13. 13
    Be friendly and admire each others' attempts and making music. good vibes = a great drum circle.
14. 14
    Play friendly and supportive, don't get involved in competitive or aggressive playing. One mutually supportive game is to play a few beats, and let others add beats to that, and keep adding a few beats until a whole new and unpredictable rhythm is created!
15. 15
    Remember that we all share the space with our neighbors! Playing too loud or too long will not endear your drum circle to the rest of the community. Think about what you REALLY want to accomplish.

MORE INFO here.

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2013 Beach Booster Print Ad Campaign

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Welcome Dr. James Meschino

BIG MESSAGE HERE

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Wasaga Beach NOW OPEN

Spring is officially here!  There are signs of people on the beach.  Time to boost your brand, promote your service, products and events!  Book your ad space and vendor booth!  We have it all. 

Tune In to Beach Booster Radio!

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Wasaga Beach Blues Festival Partners with Beach Booster

The Wasaga Beach Home and Leisure Show is pleased to partner with the ultra hip Wasaga Beach Blues Festival!

We are NOW seeking excited Vendors to join our amazing event! Please contact us soon!

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