Latest news with #instructor
New York Times
5 days ago
- New York Times
He Was Lost. Could He Find Himself in a Shoot House?
Kyle Hay thought he had no one to save. In his hands was a 9-millimeter carbine. In front of him was a labyrinth of targets and corridors he'd have to maneuver through as part of the firearms training course he hoped would add something to his life beyond the mundane day-to-day. He shifted his weight. An instructor, trying to provide direction, asked his question again: Who in this scenario are you fighting to rescue? Your wife? Girlfriend? Mr. Hay, 37, had spent his adult life wrestling with some version of that question: Who, or what, in his life was worth risking it all for? After nearly a decade working as an occupational therapist, a divorce, cross-country moves and hobbies that offered only fleeting escapes from his day job, Mr. Hay was reckoning with how to define himself as he approached middle age. That's how he found himself, carbine in hand, racking his brain to think of a human he would be desperate to save in this fictional scenario. Quiet, with an easygoing gait and a mop of brown hair tucked under a ball cap, Mr. Hay stood just inside the entrance of a shoot house, a live-fire range modeled after a home. The exercise would train participants on what to do in case they confronted an armed intruder — an existential worry on the minds of those who had signed up. It was the final day of a rifle course at Thunder Ranch, a firearms skills training outfit in eastern Oregon. The sun was out and snow melted on the surrounding hills. Spotted clouds touched the horizon. Thunder Ranch is where you go to understand close combat with a rifle. But after three days and close to 1,000 spent rounds of ammunition, it was clear that for Mr. Hay, shooting was less of an educational opportunity and more of a realization that he still needed something more. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Daily Mail
British mother, 52, 'is sexually assaulted in the air by parasail instructor' during holiday in Tunisia
A British mother says she was sexually assaulted while parasailing during a holiday in Tunisia. She claims a male instructor groped her and pressed his body against hers while they were strapped together in the air above the resort town of Sousse. In an interview, the woman, from Merseyside, described how the alleged ordeal left her feeling 'violated and dirty and scared'. She had booked a tandem parasailing flight with a friend, but the staff told them it was too windy for them to go up together. Instead, they would each fly with an operator. Her friend went first and had no issues. Watching from the beach, she noted that there was clearly a significant distance between her friend and the male guide. But she said her own flight was a completely different experience. 'I could feel the back of my bikini bottoms being pulled, and he was pulling the strap. He must have been tightening the harness to get me closer,' she told The Sun. 'His legs straddled around me, he had one hand up on the parachute, the other wasn't. Then I felt him touch my leg. 'He was groping me and moving back and forth into me and talking to me in Arabic. I felt him pressing against me. I kept arching my back. I felt violated and dirty and was scared. He was only a young lad, maybe around 20. 'It was a horrible experience and I was really scared. I felt helpless hanging in the air.' The woman says she burst into tears as soon as she landed and immediately reported the incident to the water sports centre's manager. She then went to the local police. The divorcee had booked the £6,000 easyJet package holiday with her children and was unable to enjoy the rest of the trip. She added: 'As women, you expect a bit of banter from men in these countries, but this wasn't banter, it was a sexual assault.' She says her alleged attacker has since been arrested, and her insurance company, as well as the Foreign Office, is helping her. EasyJet said 'the safety and wellbeing of our customers is a priority, and we are continuing to support' the woman. 'We are also liaising closely with our hotel partner to look into the reports.'
Fast Company
03-08-2025
- Science
- Fast Company
Want to get smarter? Neuroscience says 5 simple steps significantly boost memory, learning, and cognition
BY Since no one ever does anything worthwhile on their own, who you know is important. But what you know — and what you do with what you know — is crucial. Learning, memory, and cognitive skills are a competitive advantage. Here are five neuroscience-based ways to learn more quickly, and even more importantly, better retain what you learn. Best of all, each takes a couple of minutes at most, and one requires no effort at all. Say it out loud. We took the grandkids to surf lessons. They wanted to go back for another session, the instructor was great, so I asked him his name. Problem is, I'm terrible at remembering names. So I said it aloud three or four times. Why? A study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that saying words out loud (or even just mouthing the words) makes them more memorable. While the underlying mechanism is unclear, neuroscientists theorize saying something out loud separates and distinguishes it from 'mere' thoughts. (You didn't just think it. You also heard it.) That makes the information, idea, or plan you want to remember even more memorable. When you need to remember something, say it aloud, or mouth it to yourself. Your cerebral cortex will help you retain it longer. Then… Do a 40-second replay. Remembering a name is fairly simple. Remembering something more complex requires memory consolidation, the process of transforming temporary memories into more stable, long-lasting memories. Even though memory consolidation can be sped up, storing a memory in a lasting way takes time. A good way to increase the odds is to mentally replay whatever you want to remember for 40 seconds. A 2015 study published in Journal of Neuroscience found that a brief period of rehearsal — replaying an event in your mind, going over what someone said in a meeting, mentally mapping out a series of steps, etc. — makes it significantly more likely you will remember what you replayed. As the researchers write: A brief period of rehearsal has a huge effect on our ability to remember complex, lifelike events over periods of one to two weeks. We have also linked this rehearsal effect to processing in a particular part of the brain, the posterior cingulate. A week or two? That should be long enough for you to actually do something with whatever you wanted to remember. Then… Make a prediction. While it sounds odd, a study published in the Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology shows the act of asking yourself whether you will remember something significantly improves the odds that you will remember, in some cases by as much as 50 percent. That's especially true for prospective memories, or remembering to perform a planned action or intention at some point in the future. Following up with a customer. Checking on a vendor's status. After you deal with a problem, determining the the root cause. Why playing the prediction game works is also somewhat unclear. Possibly the act of predicting is a little like testing yourself; as research shows, quizzing yourself is a highly effective way to speed up the learning process. What is clear is that the act of predicting helps your hippocampus better form and index those episodic memories for later access. Want to remember to do something in the future? Take a second and predict whether you will remember. That act alone makes it more likely you will. Then… Zone out for two minutes. According to a study published in Nature Reviews Psychology, 'even a few minutes of rest with your eyes closed can improve memory, perhaps to the same degree as a full night of sleep.' Psychologists call it 'offline waking rest.' In its purest form, offline waking rest can be closing your eyes and zoning out for a couple of minutes. But you can also daydream. Meditate. Clear your mind and think happy thoughts. While none of those sound productive — should you really be wasting time you could be learning? — intermittent lack of focus improves memory consolidation; in simple terms, constantly going from one thing to the next makes it hard for your brain to keep up. As the researchers write: Periods of reduced attention to the external world are a universal feature of human experience, which suggests that spending a portion of time disengaged from the sensory environment … permit the reactivation of recently formed memory traces. This iterative reactivation of memory could strengthen and stabilize newly formed memories over time, contributing to early stages of memory consolidation during the first few minutes following encoding. The key is to be intentional about it. First, replay what you want to remember for 40 seconds or so. Then, predict whether you will remember it. Then, close your eyes, zone out, and engage in a minute or two of offline waking rest. As the researchers write, 'Moments of unoccupied rest should be recognized as a critical contributor to human waking cognitive functions.' And finally… Get a good night's sleep. Here's the effortless aspect of improving your memory. According to a study published in Psychological Science, people who studied before bed, slept, and then did a quick review the next morning spent less time studying — and increased their long-term retention by 50 percent. The underlying mechanism is what psychologists call sleep-dependent memory consolidation: 'Converging evidence, from the molecular to the phenomenological, leaves little doubt that offline memory reprocessing during sleep is an important component of how our memories are formed and ultimately shaped.' In simple terms, sleeping on it helps your brain file away what you've learned, and makes it easier to access when you need it. That's also true where longer-term memory is concerned. Learning, then getting a good night's sleep, and then learning again is an extremely effective way to boost intelligence and skill. As the researchers write: We found that interleaving sleep between learning sessions not only reduced the amount of practice needed by half but also ensured much better long-term retention. Sleeping after learning is definitely a good strategy, but sleeping between two learning sessions is a better strategy. Say you're learning a new sales demo. After a practice session, say the main bullets of your presentation out loud. Then mentally replay key elements of your presentation. Then predict whether you'll remember what you've learned. Then take a minute or two to zone out. Then get a good night's sleep, do a quick review the next day, and work on the next chunk of information. Rinse and repeat, and neuroscience says you'll spend less time learning — and you'll remember a lot more. Which means you'll be able to do more.
CNA
31-07-2025
- CNA
Uniformed group instructor in 'romantic relationship' with 15-year-old student jailed for sexual offences
SINGAPORE: An instructor of a co-curricular activity (CCA) involving a uniformed group became involved in a "romantic relationship" with a 15-year-old student. Another student who learnt of the inappropriate relationship reported it to the school's teacher in charge of the uniformed group, leading to a police report. The 33-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' jail on Thursday (Jul 31). He pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual penetration of a minor, with another eight charges taken into consideration. The offender cannot be named due to a gag order protecting the identity of the victim. WHAT HAPPENED The court heard that the man was a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer at the time of the offences. He was posted to be a field instructor at the National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC), a national uniformed group for youth in Singapore. He got to know the victim, a Secondary 4 student, when he was her instructor for the NCDCC's National Day Parade marching contingent in June 2023. The victim "developed a crush" on him and would find chances to interact with him, the prosecution said. For instance, she would take photos with him at rehearsals, send him messages on his personal social media account and wait at train stations that were on his route home. She confessed her feelings to the man multiple times, describing him as a "role model" and "motivator" whom she looked up to. The man was aware of the girl's infatuation with him. Initially, he rejected her flirtatious messages and attempts to ask him out, said the prosecutor. PROGRESSION OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP In early August 2023, the pair began exchanging personal messages on social media. By September, they were texting every day. They began talking about sex by the following month. In November 2023, they went out on "a date" for the first time, the prosecutor said. They held hands, and the girl told the instructor that she loved him. Later that month, she confided in him, saying she had been sexually assaulted by a relative. The man developed feelings for the girl between August and December 2023, and the girl was aware of this. On 10 occasions from Dec 20, 2023, to Apr 5, 2024, the pair engaged in sexual activities, many of them unprotected. In one instance during the school holidays, the man invited the girl to his house, knowing that his wife would be at work. They created a new Instagram account in January 2024 for the specific purpose of corresponding with each other, using the function where messages disappear. The girl later told her close friends about the relationship. They had exchanged sexually explicit photos, videos and messages of themselves, some of which the girl's friends saw. They felt that the relationship was inappropriate, given the man's role, his age and married status. VICTIM'S FRIEND REPORTS IT On Apr 5, 2024, one of the girl's friends learnt from her that the man was driving her to school. The friend decided to approach the teacher in charge, who made a police report on Apr 8, 2024. During investigations, the man initially denied being in a romantic or sexual relationship with the victim. However, he later confessed and assisted with investigations. In May 2024, he breached the conditions of his bail by contacting the victim. Concerned that the victim may engage in self-harm, the man texted her again for a day. He later reported this, admitting to the investigation officer that he had contacted the victim. The prosecution sought 30 to 36 months' jail for the offender, saying that their relationship was that of trainer and cadet in the NCDCC. The victim looked up to him and had confided in him, while the man was "a mature adult in his 30s who was married", said the prosecutors. "He ought to have distanced himself from the victim. Instead, he reciprocated the victim's romantic advances and eventually began a romantic - then sexual - relationship with the victim," said the prosecution. However, they added that the man did not abuse his position to obtain sex acts nor coerce or pressure her. The victim was also close to 16 years old, had initiated the relationship and "was not particularly vulnerable". In sentencing, the judge accepted that the man had initially rejected the victim's advances. However, as the minor's CCA instructor, he was in a position of trust to guide and lead her, she said.
News.com.au
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Common pilates act that everyone is guilty of doing at some point
An Aussie pilates instructor has called out an all too common exercise act that most of us are guilty of. Adelle Petropoulos, 30, teaches pilates full time and does four classes a week. After a recent class, the Melbourne woman took to TikTok to rant about something she sees in the studio all the time. 'If this ever happens in your pilates class, just stop moving. You've done your class, everyone's worked their little tushies off. The instructor's put on harmonious music,' she said. 'Find your quiet, still space — that is not instructions for you to get up, take your straps off and start cleaning your reformer.' She said all that can be heard throughout the quiet time at the end of the class are the sounds of cleaning spray and noisy personal items being bundled up. Ms Petropoulos advised people to either leave before the quiet music, or don't come to the class at all as it interrupts others who choose to stay. Speaking to Ms Petropoulos said as an instructor her job is to create the best 45-minute experience for every person in the room. 'When people start packing up before class ends, it disrupts that shared energy. It sends a message — intentionally or not — that the last few minutes don't matter, when in fact, they're often the most important: the wind-down, the breath work, the integration. Those moments are where the magic happens,' she told 'It's not just about etiquette, it's about respect — for the practice, the instructor, and most importantly, for the people around you who are still trying to be present. Everyone deserves that full experience.' She said she understood that most people didn't mean any harm by it, as they're just busy, but it can be incredibly 'disruptive' and 'pulls others out of the moment'. Ms Petropoulos said most people agreed with what she said in the social media rant. Another action, from her perspective, that causes similar issues is using your phone in class. She mentioned that most people come in with a great energy and respect for the space. 'Just a reminder that we're all human — no one's perfect! But if we can all stay present, support each other, and treat the space with care, it makes a huge difference. Pilates is about more than movement — it's a shared community lead experience, and when we all show up fully, the energy in the room becomes something really special,' Ms Petropoulos said. Simon Ngo, from Flow Athletic, described Ms Petropoulos' video as 'spot on and accurate'. He said while leaving during the cool down portion of the class at Flow Athletic, due to the relative intensity of the classes, is quite rare it seems to be a fairly common occurrence in pilates in general. 'I just feel like it's a 'what a shame' moment. It's as though you've gone to the effort of checking out the dessert menu but not ordered anything,' he said. 'Or more accurately, like you've ordered the dessert, it's arrived and you've decided to leave.' He said people should stick around for that part of the class, as it's part of it for a reason. 'If you don't start a class without a warm up, why would you not finish with a cool down,' he said. 'Otherwise, a class would have been advertised 5 mins shorter. Plus, your instructors probably would have gone above and beyond to plan these Zen closing out moments. 'As much as people are time poor and, rather because of it, these few minutes of slowing down and reconnecting with ourselves are the stress-buster and self-care everyone needs in these of world of being busy today.' He said in 2025, securing a spot in a pilates class almost rivals getting into the housing market so, if you land a spot, 'stay for the full experience'.
