Parkour is a free-style method of exercise and exploration, in which an individual propels him- or herself through a urban landscape using only their surroundings and their own body—it requires agility and good form in order to prevent injury. In this lesson from Zoic Nation, learn how to do a parkour cat grab. Andy starts by outlining baby steps to get started with, as well as the often-injurious mistakes that people often make, before demonstrating a perfect cat grab.
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Both a “punch” and a “plyo” are two-footed jumps in the sport of parkour. But a plyo is not a punch. In this lesson from Zoic Nation, learn how to do a plyometric jump, safely. Andy demonstrates how to step into a plyo (instead of hopping or hurdling into it) for a quiet landing on the balls of your feet, as well as how to swing your arms forward into your jump for momentum. Finally, he illustrates common mistakes that people make and shows what a well-executed plyo should look like.
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One fundamental movement of both Parkour and Freerunning is the Vault. The Vault is a basic maneuver that you can use to safely hurdle over obstacles, including low walls, railings and fences. If you are looking for a movement that will allow you to navigate the landscape while maintaining your forward momentum, this is it! In this fun and quick lesson, you learn how to do the Speed, Reverse and Monkey Vaults.
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Somewhere between gymnastics and martial arts is Parkour, a challenging, physical discipline requiring speed, body control, and flexibility. In this essential lesson for Parkour and freerunning novices, review two essential skills: warm ups and landings. If you want to start practicing Parkour and freerunning safely as a beginner, this lesson is a great place to start.
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Ready to learn how to do a side flip? In this lesson, teacher Christopher Tung uses stop-action footage to show you exactly how to take off and jump higher. You'll see how to position your arms to generate torque when spinning, control your tuck, and spot the ground for a smooth landing. With some practice, you'll be able to add this trick to your free running and parkour moves!
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When it burst on the scene, the mini skirt was the height of fashion as well as a demonstration of women’s liberation. The 1960s may have been the most popular decade for the skirt, but it has remained a staple of the female wardrobe ever since. In this lesson from Stitchless TV, learn how to make an easy and attractive mini skirt. All you need is a piece of fabric, a sewing machine, and a measuring tape to make sure your skirt fits you like a glove (and helps shape all the right places).
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Learn how to do your first 50/50—from the proper stance, to how much edge to use. Begin by drawing a box on the snow, and graduate to real boxes and rails when you are ready. Snowboard Addiction also gives suggestions for which types of features to attempt your first 50/50 on. Once a 50/50 is no big deal, learn how to ollie onto features or throw a 180 on the end of the trick. The key to mastering the 50/50 is the “solid riding stance”. Note: this lesson is geared towards regular foot riders.
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Are you not content to just fill a scrapbook? Make your own scrapbook from scratch! In this exclusive Curious lesson, crafting expert Erin Bassett teaches you how to fold, cut, and glue paper to make a colorful and original tiny book. You'll need a 12-inch square piece of paper, a scoring board or ruler, scissors, and glue. You can even paint or decorate your paper before making your book to add a specific color or design.
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Have you been looking for healthy vegetarian meals that taste good? Korean recipes might be the way to go. Learn how to make a simple and mild soybean sprout soup that beautifully complements this colorful bibimbap recipe with a side of namul, or cooked vegetables. This vegetarian dish still packs plenty of protein, and its colors will make your mouth water. Watch this lesson to learn about Korean foods, ingredients, and culture!
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Time-lapse is a great way to show the passage of time in a matter of seconds. As it turns out, there are two methods to shoot DSLR time-lapse sequences - the easy way and the hard way. The fast and easy technique speeds up recorded video - while the method professionals use requires making a sequence out of still photos. In this lesson, learn both methods - and the pros and cons of each. Hint: to show the blur of rapidly moving objects, you’ll need to use the professional technique.
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You want to play golf, but your friend wants go surfing, and you'd both rather be together than not. It is in your best interest to make the same decision, but you have a few options, and you have to decide without knowing your friend's decision. Learn how to run a mixed strategy algorithm to determine if there is a mixed strategy equilibria. Once you can calculate the payoffs for a mixed strategy, you can make an educated decision and choose the option with the highest probability of success.
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April showers are finally coming up in May flowers! Learn to make gorgeous three-layered paper flowers that are sparkly and colorful. You'll need cardstock, paint and a brush, glitter glue, scissors, glue, and beads or buttons to ornament your flower. The lesson includes a great trick for giving any old paint the consistency of watercolor paint. These versatile paper flowers are great for decorating scrapbooks, cards, treasure boxes, or gifts.
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As the saying goes, you can't know where you are going without knowing where you’ve been. Preserve the past while making it accessible in an online scrapbook that can be printed at your convenience. In this lesson Amy Ulen of Studio Scrapping teaches you how to use Photoshop Elements to create titles for your scrapbook pages (Amy creates her scrapbook using Studio J, but the Photoshop principles she teaches can be applied to any project). Scrapbooking was never faster, easier, or so beautiful.
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Your favorite jeans may be expensive, or maybe they just fit perfectly. But just because a hole appears in your favorite Levis or Lucky’s doesn’t mean that you need to retire them. Extend the life of your jeans (and save some cash while you are at it) by learning how to repair them. All you need is a thick piece of cloth, scissors, straight pins, thread and the zig zag stitch on your sewing machine. They may not last forever, but your favorite jeans just got a new lease on life.
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Take a picture to show off your new sewing skills! Don't have a pair of jeans to repair? Try using a scrap piece of fabric instead!
Though the creation of art is not formulaic, it does require more than luck and raw talent. In this photography tutorial, Ted Forbes discusses the elements required to create art, focusing on composition and the guideline known as the Rule of Thirds. Forbes illustrates the “golden mean” with examples by famous photographer Arnold Newman.
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Indulge your inner mad scientist by experimenting with and creating shapes out of magnets and ferrofluid, a black liquid present in the earth's crust. Discover the science behind this magnetic rare earth, hear how to make your own ferrofluid at home (including a portable version encased in water), learn how to alter and complicate your ferrofluid designs, and get tips on how to tidy up after your project (as every good mad scientist should).
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Running may seem easy and natural, but it does requires proper technique if you wish to not injure or harm your body along the way. In this fifth and final lesson on improving running form, Oliver Henzler explains how you can avoid overstriding. Some people overstride because of a shortened Achilles tendon; regardless of why you overstride, minimalist running shoes or zero drop shoes naturally help you improve your form. Learn how to run correctly, and your body will thank you later.
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Did you know that transplanting plants at the wrong time of day or into dry soil conditions can send them into shock? For many plants, the trip from the nursery to your container garden can be a stressful experience. Sunset Magazine shows you how and when to transplant so that your plants thrive in their new home.
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Sometimes all it takes to turn a bad habit into a good one is a bit of mindfulness. In this lesson, learn several techniques for eating healthy by paying attention to the food on your plate. Darya Rose, author and creator of Summer Tomato, explains how even small environmental tweaks like low light and soft, slow music can improve your eating habits.
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Want to wow the world with the quality HD video you could be shooting with that iPhone in your pocket? This lesson will teach you the basics of shooting video on your iPhone 4, 4s, or 5. Once you are familiar with the camera app, learn how to hold and focus the camera, and how to view an accurate display of your video. Ready to shoot? Finish this lesson by learning ways to stabilize your camera to make your online video or tutorial appear smooth and fluid.
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Labor needn't be scary if you practice and prepare. This lesson from Oh Baby! Fitness can help women get ready for childbirth by teaching coordinated breathing and pushing. Learn which muscles to tense and which to relax when pushing a child during labor - how to engage the abdominals and relax the pelvic floor (push with your gut, not with your butt!). This video also includes a breathing exercise to practice controlling the right muscles.
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Why wile away your days when you can tile them away? Part 1 of 3, this lesson from Tommy's Trade Secrets teaches you how to tile a bathroom or kitchen floor. Learn how to plan your tile arrangement and mark your room accordingly - and the best practices for sealing your floor with PVA glue, spacing your tiles, and laying tile on an uneven surface. Continue with the series to learn how to cut tile for corners, edges, and doorways - and how to grout and finish your tiling project.
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Create an elegant clutch to match any outfit! This lesson from Professor Pincushion takes you through every step of transferring the pattern, cutting, lining, and sewing a silk purse with a metal frame (no sow's ear required). Learn how to embellish your external fabric with a folded design, and then embroider the lazy daisy stitch on the corner of your purse. The lesson comes with a downloadable pattern for the purse, and the video includes handy tips for stitching corners.
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Holidays and birthdays often mean expensive travel plans and gifts. If you are working to pay down your debt and are on a strict budget, you may be tempted to call the occasional birthday meal out or housewarming gift an “emergency,” justifying the use of a credit card to make the purchase. Instead of digging yourself deeper in debt, create a “sinking fund”! Learn how to plan all year for expected expenses, so that you don’t find yourself in a financial crisis come the holidays.
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Whether you are starting from seed or seedling, Sunset Magazine shows you how to choose, grow, and harvest edible plants. Pick the right container, sow seeds, and transplant your crops without damaging the roots; before you know it, you’ll be feeding your family healthy veggies straight from the garden. This lesson features chard, beet greens, and lettuce.
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