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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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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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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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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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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Want others to join your quest toward health and wellness? By framing healthy habits positively and avoiding criticism of others’ lifestyles, you can advance your own eating habits and get others interested in eating healthy, too. Darya Rose, author and creator of Summer Tomato, reveals the best ways to talk to friends, family members, and kids about healthy choices.
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Installing Mountain Lion OS X needn't be as hard as wrestling a real mountain lion! This lesson from Mac and Computer Help gives you step-by-step instructions on updating your Mac's operating system. Learn how to check if your computer is compatible with Mountain Lion, and see a list of hardware requirements. See where and how to buy the system, complete the installation, and set up iCloud. You’ll be using great new features in no time!
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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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Frog in your throat but a song in your heart? In this lesson from Vocal Edge, learn some emergency quick tips to soothe your throat and rescue your voice when you're sick before singing. Find out what's happening to your body when you have a cold and how it affects your larynx and vocal cords. Take an expectorant and anti-inflammatory, and drink a gallon of water each day. Try a sinus rinse, humidifier, or menthol-free cough drops. Should you be drinking black tea or herbal? Watch to find out!
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Stir-frying is one of the simplest and most versatile methods of cooking. The technique does require planning and preparation, but each successive stir-fry you create will increase your confidence and improve your timing when it comes to cooking ingredients. In this lesson, learn what the five main components of a stir-fry are, and how they can be used to create infinite flavor combinations. Heavy on vegetables, stir-fries are some of the healthiest, quickest, and most delicious meals to make.
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Hitting a tennis ball may seem pretty straightforward, but there is more to the technique than meets the eye! In this lesson, learn the four ways not to hit a tennis ball, before learning the correct method: using a half grip on your racket while compressing and rolling a tennis ball away from you upon impact. When you are conscious of how your racket interacts with the ball, you will have more control over where the ball goes, and more control is always a good thing in tennis.
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Get a forehand tennis swing like just the pros! In this lesson, Rachael from Full Swing Tennis teaches you all about the modern forehand in four easy steps. Learn about the semi-western grip, which can allow for extra topspin. The lesson also covers dropping your racket for the backswing, rotating your waist and shoulders, and swinging through with your non-hitting hand. Be sure to keep your weight on your inside foot as you step out for the swing.
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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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Knitting is an excellent way to make your own clothing or craft elegant gifts for loved ones. It allows you to express yourself artistically through the stitches and designs you use in your piece. In this lesson from Fabin BC, watch and learn how to knit a cable cast on. Start by learning how to do a slip stitch and how to hold your needles. Lynne shows you how to knit the cast on stitch and then demonstrates what to do when you get to the last stitch, to create a lovely cabled edge.
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Before you set out on your next adventure in the great outdoors, make sure you have the right food—and enough of it! Elaine Johnson, associate food editor at Sunset magazine, reveals what to prep ahead, why you should use a grocery list, how to pack a cooler to keep fragile foods safe and secure, and more. With all of the meals squared away in advance, you can spend less time hovering over the grill and more time enjoying the fresh air.
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Amaze your friends and confound your foes with this mystifying card trick! In this lesson from TAGS Magic, Tom demonstrates and then explains the "Slap the Cards" trick. Make a few wrong guesses, then smack the stack of cards in a spectator's hand to reveal their chosen card. The moves you need to pull off this trick (like the false cut) are useful to practice for any number of card tricks, so it's a great place to start.
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With just a cooking grate, sand, aluminum foil, and bricks, you can build your own barbecue pit in minutes. Margo True, food editor at Sunset magazine, shares the blueprint (courtesy of celebrity chef Michael Fiorello). Gather some fire-building materials and invite your friends over to test out your DIY creation.
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Cycling is an environmentally friendly way to get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and even save on gas money. The first step to getting started cycling is getting the right bike; the second step is getting the right fit. In this lesson from Art’s Cyclery, Luke demonstrates how to get the correct saddle height, and the right saddle fore and aft positions. Finally, to take pressure off of your back and wrists, learn how to flip the stem for a more comfortable angle on your handlebars.
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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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Fashion magazines can provide wonderful ideas for your wardrobe. But these fashions often cost more than you can spend. Learn how to make them for yourself, at home! You’ll save on cash, and each time someone compliments you on your good taste, you’ll have the personal satisfaction of knowing you designed and created your one-of-a-kind jewelry. In this lesson, get the hang of making wirework jewelry— familiarize yourself with the tools, materials, and learn how to design your own pieces.
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Grab your bike and hit the trail - without biting the dirt - by making use of these tips for cornering on a mountain bike. Art's Cyclery will teach you the tricks of the trade, including: how to tilt your bike into turns, how to keep your body vertical, how to maintain a low attack position and center of gravity, how to drop your heels, and how to look through your turns. With these tips you'll be racing up (and better yet, down!) mountains in no time!
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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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So you want to create a mixed media video, combining raw film footage with animated characters (think Angry Birds in real life). It might take a lot of time and work, but it is worth the effort to do it the right way. Take the time, and you can create a compelling, realistic yet fantastical effect. In this lesson Tom Antos, provides a basic overview of what it takes (time, skill, commitment, and more) to integrate a cartoon style animation with video footage.
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Learn to take beautiful abstract photos of smoke. This lesson explains how to light smoke and set the correct exposure settings for great pictures - all without the use of a tripod. Phillip also teaches you how to process photos of smoke using Adobe Photoshop to create beautiful frameable photographs.
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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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