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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Pesto is a versatile Italian sauce—traditionally used on pizzas or pasta, it makes an excellent spread on sandwiches, potatoes or even fish (Chef Pesto prefers his on salmon). While there are many other ways to incorporate this sauce into your food, pesto itself is easy and quick to make. Chef Pesto prepares a basic recipe that can be augmented to satisfy your flavor cravings. Simple enough for a child to make, but delicious enough for everyone, enjoy some fresh pesto with dinner tonight!
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The night sky is a place of unfathomable size, home to nearly infinite stars and planets, most of which are invisible to the naked eye. But don’t just ponder the infinite beauty—become acquainted with the celestial bodies and constellations in this star gazing lesson by David Fuller. Learn how to locate features in the sky using coordinates similar to the longitude and latitude applied to the earth, how a star’s brightness (or magnitude) is measured, and finally how to measure distances using your own hand.
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A thesis statement is the first and most important piece of any essay—whether you call it a controlling idea or a unifying concept, your paper must have one. But a thesis doesn’t just state your position on whatever matter you are writing about; it also provides a road map for constructing the body of your essay, an outline for you to follow. In this lesson from David Taylor, learn a simple formula to create a thesis; once you have a solid thesis, your paper will be a delight to write.
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Interested in the art history of ancient Greece? Explore the story and secrets of the frequently copied statue of Apollo Sauroktonos, the Lizard Slayer. Sculpted by the famous Greek artist Praxiteles, this classic nude depicts a youthful Apollo poised to kill a lizard climbing a tree. In this lesson, Lucas Livingston, historian at the Art Institute of Chicago, explores the Lizard Slayer sculpture as a metaphor for the struggle between the Greek gods of Mount Olympus and the primordial race of titans.
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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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Show off your slideshow skills with this tutorial in the basics of PowerPoint! In this beginner lesson from Motion Training, learn to create professional and engaging slideshows. See how to: add slides; create bullet points; write and edit text make custom slide layouts; format your presentation with themes; add images, animate your presentation; and much more. Although this lesson is specific to PowerPoint 2010, the concepts presented here can be applied to any edition of PowerPoint.
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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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Tired of failing to capitalize on your self-improvement kicks? In this lesson from Darya Rose, creator of Summer Tomato, learn how to take advantage of natural habit-building tendencies and enhance your daily routine. Once you identify your bad habits, rewire them without losing the rewards. Whether you want to start eating healthier or focus on physical fitness, these tips will help you achieve your goals.
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Some people like sports, some people like reading books. What do you like? In this lesson from Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids, follow along with Eli, Andy, Parker as they talk about their hobbies in Spanish. With the help of fun graphics and examples, you’ll learn how to talk about a few of your own favorite things and pick up a few new words and phrases along the way! Perfect for kids (and kids at heart)!
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How do you determine right from wrong when human lives are on the line? Follow along with Professor Massimo Pigliucci as he considers the philosophical and neurobiological answers to this question. This lesson offers a review of Aristotle's virtue ethics, Kant's deontology, and Bentham and Mill's utilitarianism, and then analyzes the classic philosophical thought experiment, the Trolley Dilemma. Learn how different parts of the brain are used for making rational versus emotional moral judgments.
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Drawing can be difficult and intimidating if you weren’t born with the hand of an artist, but like every other skill, it can be learned through exercise and repetition. In this lesson from Drawing Teachers, Michael teaches about 3D elements such as the vanishing point and horizon line while showing you step-by-step how to draw a 3D house. For this exercise, you’ll need a paper, ruler, pencil, and pen. Once you master this lesson, you’ll be able to draw any boxy design in 3D.
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Want to improve your running in a way that doesn’t involve grueling exercises? Setting goals is a wonderful way to become a better runner, but Coach Tief is here to tell you that the quality of the goal matters. Often, goals are not attainable or not specific enough. But with Coach Tief’s SMART goals sheet, you will be running better, and increasing your confidence and sense of self worth. Start setting and achieving your goals today (link to SMART goal sheet available)!
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Add a splash of color to your life (and your walls) by painting the perfect accent stripe! Part 1 of 3, this lesson from painter Russ Olinatz shows you how to prepare the wall for painting by measuring and taping off your horizontal stripe with the help of a ruler, laser level, and colored pencil. Learn to line your stripe with tape - like the pros - for nice crisp edges.
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Missing your play dough days? Try the grown-up version: clay sculpting! The third in a series of four, this lesson teaches you to condition your clay using a roller and your hands so that it won't dry out or crack. Once it’s ready, learn to cut your clay safely with a blade, and then blend different clays and inclusions (such as glitter) to create the perfect shade for your art project.
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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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Your time is priceless; so make the most of it with these quick interval drills from Kacie Fischer! In this workout lesson, learn how to use an interval timer for rapid-fire exercising using only a jump rope and a bar for overhead squats (Kacie improvises by using a broom handle). Using an interval timer will allow you to move through multiple rounds of these five drills in a matter of minutes! Added bonus: an interval timer beeps, so you don’t have to watch the clock.
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Do you dream of building robots, or at least digitally controlling your home’s appliances? The applications of microcontrollers are limitless! In this lesson, Jeremy Blum introduces you to Arduino—an open source platform microcontroller that is programmed with its own language (which is easier to learn than C). Learn what you’ll need to begin a project with Arduino (Jeremy uses Arduino Uno), how to install the software and update drivers, and how to create your first program.
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Pack a lunch that packs a punch using these reusable snack bags! Crafty Gemini teaches you how to make a sandwich bag that is easily cleaned and environmentally friendly using only basic sewing skills. All you'll need is an 18 by 7 inch piece of laminated cotton and a sewing machine. While laminated cotton has the advantage of being waterproofed and easy to wipe clean, you also can use plain old cotton fabric for this project and just toss it in the washing machine between uses.
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Do you love the film, characters, and soundtrack of “Frozen”? Then try learning Idina Menzel’s version of “Let It Go” on guitar, taught by Smiley Mo! This intermediate guitar lesson covers all the chords you need to know to play this song through and through, from the intro to the last note. Practice the strumming patterns and perform your new song for friends and family!
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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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