Latest news with #Santas
Epoch Times
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
The Secret to Ending Political Vitriol Is Found in Hallmark Movies
Hallmark movies are synonymous with snowflakes, Santas, and sweaters—in other words, all things Christmas. But as my cousin laughingly informed me last year, Hallmark movies no longer dwell solely in the realm of winter wonderlands. There are fall Hallmark movies, spring Hallmark movies, Christmas in July Hallmark movies, and Hallmark movies for just about any reason in between. Even other non-Hallmark companies produce knock-off Hallmark movies!
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Movement could help you live longer, studies show. Fit it into your day more easily with expert tips
You know the drill — exercise could help you feel better, prevent disease and live longer. But that knowledge may not always get you motivated enough to head to the gym. Whether you have 'gymtimidation' or working out isn't your thing — you can still start improving your health by making simple but powerful changes in how you move as you go about your usual routine. Optimizing movement in your daily activities is a practice based on the concept of non-exercise activity thermogenesis, or NEAT, said Dana Santas, a certified strength and conditioning specialist known as the 'Mobility Maker.' 'It includes all the movement we do throughout the day that isn't part of a formal workout — things like walking to the kitchen, doing chores, standing instead of sitting, or even fidgeting,' Santas, a mind-body coach in professional sports, said via email. 'These small actions can really add up and play a meaningful role in our daily energy expenditure and metabolic health.' 'But NEAT isn't just about burning more calories — it's also about how our bodies are built to move and function. From a mind-body perspective, all movement is significant,' said Santas, author of 'Practical Solutions for Back Pain Relief.' Americans spend around six to eight hours a day sitting, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Spending a lot of time sitting has been associated with a higher risk of premature death, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. But you can counter being sedentary by becoming more aware of the ways you're moving throughout your day and considering how to get more active in a way that works for you. 'Frequent, varied movement through the day supports joint mobility, muscle health, bone density, circulation, mental focus, and even sleep,' she added. That's why Santas often encourages people to incorporate 'movement snacks,' or short bouts of activity that break up long periods of sitting. 14 ways to move more The more vigorously you do some of these activities, the better, said Nicholas Rolnick, a physical therapist based in New York City. You can track that with an accelerometer (a wrist-worn motion sensor) since it measures your heart rate, or by using the equipment-free 'talk test,' which helps you gauge intensity according to your breathing and capacity for conversation during exercise. 1. While your food is heating up, do some squats or wall sits or take a lap around the office floor instead of just waiting there or scrolling through your phone. 'Working on your lower extremity strength, getting your heart rate up — those are all things that will improve your physical fitness,' Rolnick said. 'And when you get your heart rate up, your cardiovascular capacity (improves).' If you want to improve your strength and endurance over time, try doing one squat every eight seconds and then, in a couple weeks, a squat every four seconds, Rolnick said. You can also gradually increase your ability to do wall sits by starting out with a small knee bend then moving to a full 90-degree sit over time. 2. When you're running errands, park as far away from stores as possible. That can help add brief periods of activity to your schedule and increase your daily step count. 3. Better yet, walk or bike to nearby errands instead of driving. 'What also is a nice secret weapon in running errands and doing these is wearing a backpack and putting in a couple of books or things,' Rolnick said. 'That increases the workload that the legs and the heart have to do because the metabolic demands are going to be increasing.' 4. Skip the elevator and take the stairs. And if there is an escalator, walk up instead of letting it do all the work for you. Stair-climbing has been associated with improved body composition and lower levels of serum or blood lipids, including cholesterol and triglycerides, Rolnick said. You can maximize the benefits by skipping a stair or two, increasing your range of motion and the demand on your legs. The challenge improves strength and blood sugar control, he added. Climbing more than five flights of stairs at home per day has been associated with a 7% to 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with not climbing stairs. 5. When you're on the phone, walk around the block instead of sitting on the couch. Walking has been linked with a lower risk of diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia. 6. While enjoying your favorite show, get active at the same time. You can lift weights, squat, do other resistance exercises, or walk or run on a treadmill. 7. Invest in a standing desk and use it. Even if standing while working isn't active movement, it still engages more muscles than sitting does. Desk-bound workers have been found to have a 16% higher risk of premature death from all causes and a 34% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, according to a 2024 study. But you should still break up bouts of standing with movement breaks, a 2024 study based in Australia suggests. Standing for hours has been associated with greater odds of issues such as varicose veins or feeling lightheaded when standing. 8. Take your work meetings outside when possible. It's another way to counteract the health harms of sitting for too long. 9. Use a desk treadmill or walking pad during your workday. 10. While you're brushing your teeth, try some calf raises. If you have balance issues, practice the exercise on its own first and place your hand on the wall before attempting to multitask, Santas said. Alternatively, she likes doing squats or wall sits while brushing her teeth. 11. Carry your grocery purchases to your car instead of using a cart. 'When you accumulate volume at even low intensities, you're going to be able to improve your fitness,' Rolnick said. 12. If you already go on walks, increase your pace. A faster gait — defined in one study as more than 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) per hour — has been associated with a 40% lower risk of type 2 diabetes and improved cognitive health and mobility. You can also try adding a few walking lunges at various points during the walk, or step-ups on a curb or bench, Santas suggested. 13. Do your chores faster. By vacuuming more quickly, for example, you're increasing the demand on your arms and legs and upping your heart rate, Rolnick said. 14. Set a timer and walk for five to 10 minutes every hour. Over the course of an eight-hour day, those exercise snacks amount to 40 to 80 minutes of walking, 'even if it's just something as simple as walking fast around the office,' Rolnick said. Studies have shown that 60 to 75 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily can lower the risk of premature death associated with lots of time sitting, he added.
West Australian
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Talent agency Scene to Believe recruiting dozens of WA Santas in lead up to Christmas
Christmas may still be five months away, but the North Pole is already recruiting dozens of special helpers to spread magic in the lead up to the big day. Talent agency Scene to Believe is on the hunt for dozens of West Australians to spread the spirit of Christmas and dress up as Santa, Mrs Claus and their elves this festive season. Santa character manager Viviana Diaz said the demand for Santa's had skyrocketed and said she was looking to hire around 40 Santas this Christmas. 'Every year we have more and more bookings (for people to meet Santa), more people are looking for joy and hope,' she said. 'Everyone that is Santa is here because they have it in their heart, it's just lovely to work around kind people. 'You don't have to look like Santa, you have to have the personality to be Santa, so you have to be caring and sharing.' Ms Diaz said successful applicants were sent to 'Santa School' to learn the secrets of Christmas. 'At Santa School we learn about posture, we also learn how to approach different personalities and how to connect with people,' she said. 'You are going to (learn) how to walk and how to perform your 'ho ho ho's.'' Ray Sorensen has been donning the red suit for the past eight years and says it feels like being on holiday 'all year round.' 'I just love it,' he said. 'I keep coming back purely because of the children and the people that I meet. 'It's a joy to watch (the children) overcoming challenges like the frightened child ... sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. 'Generally children don't really understand (what's going on) until they (are told) three magic words: Christmas, Santa, presents.' Mr Sorensen said the secret to being the perfect Santa was to 'be yourself' and 'love the children.' 'Don't expect anything, just go with them and get the empathy that you have within yourself,' he said. 'You'll have times when it's going to be really sad ... the tears and the joy make it all wonderful.' His advice to young ones to stay on the nice list? 'Be kind, be helpful, tidy your room ... and pick up your clothes and toys,' Mr Sorensen said. 'It's just the little things that you do to make your parents and grandparents happy, it's those little things that make the difference.'
Perth Now
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Talent agency recruiting dozens of WA santas this Christmas
Christmas may still be five months away, but the North Pole is already recruiting dozens of special helpers to spread magic in the lead up to the big day. Talent agency Scene to Believe is on the hunt for dozens of West Australians to spread the spirit of Christmas and dress up as Santa, Mrs Claus and their elves this festive season. Santa character manager Viviana Diaz said the demand for Santa's had skyrocketed and said she was looking to hire around 40 Santas this Christmas. 'Every year we have more and more bookings (for people to meet Santa), more people are looking for joy and hope,' she said. 'Everyone that is Santa is here because they have it in their heart, it's just lovely to work around kind people. 'You don't have to look like Santa, you have to have the personality to be Santa, so you have to be caring and sharing.' Ms Diaz said successful applicants were sent to 'Santa School' to learn the secrets of Christmas. Peter Prestidge, Jeff Swayn and Norm Patison getting their Santa on Andrew Ritchie Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian 'At Santa School we learn about posture, we also learn how to approach different personalities and how to connect with people,' she said. 'You are going to (learn) how to walk and how to perform your 'ho ho ho's.'' Ray Sorensen has been donning the red suit for the past eight years and says it feels like being on holiday 'all year round.' 'I just love it,' he said. 'I keep coming back purely because of the children and the people that I meet. 'It's a joy to watch (the children) overcoming challenges like the frightened child ... sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. 'Generally children don't really understand (what's going on) until they (are told) three magic words: Christmas, Santa, presents.' Mr Sorensen said the secret to being the perfect Santa was to 'be yourself' and 'love the children.' 'Don't expect anything, just go with them and get the empathy that you have within yourself,' he said. 'You'll have times when it's going to be really sad ... the tears and the joy make it all wonderful.' His advice to young ones to stay on the nice list? 'Be kind, be helpful, tidy your room ... and pick up your clothes and toys,' Mr Sorensen said. 'It's just the little things that you do to make your parents and grandparents happy, it's those little things that make the difference.'
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Golfweek Father of the Year list of winners through the year
Golfweek Father of the Year list of winners through the year Other than Santas 'nice' list for those youngsters who have been well-behaved — avoid the naughty list at all cost — there may be no better list to be a part of than the winners of Golfweek's Father of the Year. The latest recipient of the award, which has been honored since 1983 annually at the Golfweek Father-Son championship (with a few years off due to COVID-19), is Murli Theegala, father of PGA TOUR winner Sahith Theegale. You can read all about him here. Here's the full list of winners of this prestigious award: Golfweek Father of the Year honorees 2025: Murli Theegala 2024: Ernie Els 2023: Gary Finau 2022: Mike Keiser 2019: Joe Bockerstette 2018: Kevin McKinley 2017: Dale Armstrong 2016: Johan Immelman 2015: Don Padgett II 2014: Craig Dolch 2013: Jackie Seawell 2012: Jerry Cozby 2011: Cliff Kresge 2010: Tom Nieporte 2009: Peter Compton 2008: Dave Adamonis 2007: Bob Nye 2006: Percy Hall 2005: Merle Marting Sr. 2004: Ken Morton Sr. 2003: Brian Code 2002: Carson Herron 2001: Earl Woods 2000: Fred Klauk 1999: Jay Loar 1998: King Martin 1997: Joe Jemsek 1996: Billy Casper 1995: Digger Smith 1994: Karsten Solheim 1993: Robert Trent Jones 1992: Robert MacNally 1991: Jesse Haddock 1990: Tony Gamez 1989: L.B. Floyd 1988: Jack Nicklaus 1987: Nick Beucher 1986: Laine Rinker 1985: Lacy McCumber 1984: Bill Hayes 1983: Bucky Walters
