In My Humble Opinion...

Sven Heads to Africa

Who’s bright idea was it to appoint Eriksson as the Cote d’Ivorian coach? Didier Drogba reckons Eriksson knows the game inside out, but if that’s the case – what happened in Mexico??? What happened at Manchester City? I’m not implying that the man shouldn’t be given a chance - but the timing seems a little off. Here’s hoping he knows what he’s doing.


The Hand of God?

While we are on the topic of managers, it seems Diego Maradona’s dogs have bitten off more than they can chew. He’s had to undergo surgery, but he’s apparently not in any serious danger. On the one hand I’m trying to figure out how his dogs managed to maul his face... but on the other hand I’m hoping he has a plastic surgeon on standby. The World Cup IS two months away after all.


School Sports Championships

The BBC thought it would be ‘news’ to report that

‘The Boys and Girls Athletics Championships in Jamaica attracts over 30,000 spectators and is shown live on television with over 100 schools battling it out for the overall title.’

Respect to Jamaica for understanding that athletic talent needs to be nurtured and developed as comprehensively as possible from a young age. Translated: An 11-year old that can deal with the pressure of running in front of 30,000 spectators has already learned to address some of the nerves that can accompany participation in popular competitive events. When he’s 21, running for his country will be a walk in the park.

There’s More Than One Way to Work up a Sweat!

Regular visits to a sauna should be in everyone's diary as they enhance your mental, emotional and physical health. Aside from reaping the benefits of simply calling a personal time out, spending as little as 10 – 20 minutes in the sauna can provide the same metabolic result as physical exercise. Furthermore, exposure to high heat creates an artificial fever state and fever is part of the body’s natural healing process.

One of my personal favourite saunas to visit is the infrared sauna at Kavala Day Spa & Beauty Salon in Chelmsford. They’ve got a bespoke infrared sauna where you can adjust the colour of the sauna to suit your mood, add aromatherapy oils and pop your ipod in the dock. Furthermore, infrared saunas emit dry heat so you can also read magazines or books without ruining the pages.

Rumour has it that one can burn up to 600 calories in these saunas in just 30 minutes so on those days when cardio and weight lifting don’t inspire me – you’ll probably find me hiding out in the Infrared Sauna in Chelmsford.

Check out www.kavalabeauty.co.uk for pricing and information

The Cost of Going to the Gym Just Got a Lot Cheaper

Spring is scheduled to arrive on the 20th March and I’d bet hard cash that half of the people who pledged to get in shale this year have don’t squat (no pun intended). Speaking of cash, the cost of going to the gym can leave a noticeable dent in your wallet – joining fees alone can cost what feels like an arm and a leg. However, if the cost of a gym membership is genuinely too much for you to factor into your budget this year – fear not. Thanks to the Outdoor Gym Company, finding a treadmill or cross trainer is literally a walk in the park. Free gyms can be found in 75 outdoor locations nationwide with more gyms sprouting up regularly.

Matt Delaney, Managing Director of The Great Outdoor Gym Company UK, said: ‘The credit crunch is making many people feel nervous about spending money on gym memberships or expensive fitness regimes. Innovative local authorities and private organisations recognise the value of providing free outdoor gyms to their community, especially in these times of financial difficulty.

The equipment is resistance based (no is electricity required), robust and weatherproof, so leave your excuses at the door and get training. People with disabilities can also participate as the equipment has been designed in accordance with guidelines from the Inclusive Fitness Initiative. And before you even think of using safety as an excuse, all outdoor gym equipment complies with the European safety standards.

For those who have always used the excuse of expense to wriggle out of a workout, The Great Outdoor Gym Company, have now made it next to impossible to use finance as a crutch.

To find a location near you go to www.tgogc.com

I say if it's good enough for Christine Ohuruogo...