Tech

Fitness: Dos and don'ts for your home workout – Standard Freeholder

Published

4 years ago

April 27, 2020

At best, poor execution leads to diminished results. At worst, you’ll find yourself nursing an injury.

Like many active Canadians with no access to the local fitness club, you’ve probably tried an online workout or set up your own makeshift home gym. Not only are both options viable for anyone trying to maintain a workout routine, they provide an opportunity to try new exercises. But without the watchful eye of a fitness professional to check your form, technique can suffer. At best, poor execution leads to diminished results. At worst, you’ll find yourself nursing an injury — which, with sport medicine clinics shut down, can mean an abrupt end to your home workout routine.

To help keep your technique on point, here are step-by-step how-tos for some of the more popular exercises used in home-based workouts. Film yourself doing each exercise and compare your form to the photos and directions below. Then move a full-length mirror to your workout space and use it to double-check your technique during a workout. Exercises done correctly make all that hard-earned sweat worthwhile.

Chelsea Privée demonstrates a properly executed lunge.

Allen McInnis /

Montreal Gazette

Lunge

Start position: Stand tall with feet hip-width apart. Hold a weight in each hand (optional) or slide a weighted backpack over your shoulders.

Action: Step one leg back, keeping the foot in line with the same-side hip. The core remains strong and upper body quiet. Lower the hips in a straight line until the front knee is bent to 90 degrees. The knee of the back leg should touch or almost touch the ground. Return the back leg to the start position. Repeat, stepping back with the other leg.

Easier: Lower and raise the hips without returning the back leg to the start position.

Tips: Keep your ears and shoulders lined up over the hips as the body lowers toward the floor.

Don’t:

Let your forward knee drift toward your midline as it bends.
Let your upper body drift forward during any phase of the exercise.

Burpee: the right way.

Allen McInnis /

Montreal Gazette

Burpee

Start position: Stand tall with feet shoulder-width apart.

Action: Bend the knees, lower the hips and place both hands on the floor, kicking both legs out behind until they are fully extended. As the legs are straightening, lower the chest to the floor. Push off the floor, straightening the arms, and hop both feet under the hips. Jump up to the start position.

Easier: Don’t lower the chest to the floor as the legs kick out behind the hips. Walk, don’t hop, the feet out and back.

Harder: Get some air under your feet as you hop from the floor to a standing position.

Don’t: Lead with the chest as you push off the floor.

Pushup

Start position: Place both hands on the floor, shoulder-width apart, arms fully extended. Balance on the toes with both legs straight, feet just wider than the hips.

Action: Lower the torso toward the floor, keeping the head, shoulders, hips and heels in a straight line, until the chest is hovering over the floor (elbows bent at 90 degrees). Push back up to the start position.

Easier: From the start position, balance on the knees, not the toes. Elevate the hands on a couch, bottom step or curb.

Harder: Start with the chest on the floor. Elevate the feet on a couch, bottom step or curb. Bring your hands closer together.

Tips: Exhale as you push back up to the start position.

Don’t: Break the body’s alignment by lifting the hips or letting the belly sag as you push off the floor.

Kettlebell swing

Start position: Stand tall, holding the kettlebell in both hands and resting it in front of the thighs, legs shoulder-distance apart.

Action: Bend from the hips and lower the upper body, swinging the kettlebell through the legs until the wrists scrape the inner thighs. Drive the hips forward, pushing from the heels, and swing the kettlebell to chest height, keeping the arms straight. The upper body follows the arc of the kettlebell until the body is standing tall back in the start position.

Easier: Choose a lighter kettlebell. Raise the kettlebell to the bottom of the rib cage.

Harder: Choose a heavier kettlebell. Swing the kettlebell with one arm.

Tips: Use the hamstrings and buttocks to thrust the hips forward and swing the kettlebell into its upward arc.

Don’t:

Curl the back and roll the shoulders inward as the kettlebell moves in its downward arc.
Use the upper body to lift the kettlebell.
Swing the kettlebell higher than shoulder height.
Arch the back as the kettlebell swings upward.

Plank

Start position: Place the forearms on the floor, elbows under the shoulders, legs extended, and balance on the toes.

Action: Tighten the core and hold your body in a straight line — head, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles in alignment.

Easier: Drop one knee (or both knees) to the floor.

Harder: Tap the right shoulder with the left hand and return the hand to the floor. Repeat with the right hand tapping the left shoulder. Lift one foot off the floor and raise it above the stationary leg.

Don’t:

Let your lower body sag or lift at the hips as fatigue sets in.
Drop the head and let the chin travel toward the chest.

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Tech

United Airlines will offer free internet on flights using service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX

Published

3 days ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

CHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines has struck a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer satellite-based Starlink WiFi service on flights within the next several years.

The airline said Friday the service will be free to passengers.

United said it will begin testing the service early next year and begin offering it on some flights by later in 2025.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

The announcement comes as airlines rush to offer more amenities as a way to stand out when passengers pick a carrier for a trip. United’s goal is to make sitting on a plane pretty much like being on the ground when it comes to browsing the internet, streaming entertainment and playing games.

“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do on board a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” CEO Scott Kirby said in announcing the deal.

The airline says Starlink will allow passengers to get internet access even over oceans and polar regions where traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals may be weak or missing.

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Tech

How to Preorder the PlayStation 5 Pro in Canada

Published

6 days ago

September 10, 2024

Harry Miller

Sony has made it easy for Canadian consumers to preorder the PlayStation 5 Pro in Canada directly from PlayStation’s official website. Here’s how:

Visit the Official Website: Go to direct.playstation.com and navigate to the PS5 Pro section once preorders go live on September 26, 2024.
Create or Log in to Your PlayStation Account: If you don’t have a PlayStation account, you will need to create one. Existing users can simply log in to proceed.
Place Your Preorder: Once logged in, follow the instructions to preorder your PS5 Pro. Ensure you have a valid payment method ready and double-check your shipping information for accuracy.

Preorder Through Major Canadian Retailers

While preordering directly from PlayStation is a popular option, you can also secure your PS5 Pro through trusted Canadian retailers. These retailers are expected to offer preorders on or after September 26:

Best Buy Canada
Walmart Canada
EB Games (GameStop)
Amazon Canada
The Source

Steps to Preorder via Canadian Retailers:

Visit Retailer Websites: Search for “PlayStation 5 Pro” on the website of your preferred retailer starting on September 26.
Create or Log in to Your Account: If you’re shopping online, having an account with the retailer can speed up the preorder process.
Preorder in Store: For those who prefer in-person shopping, check with local stores regarding availability and preorder policies.

3. Sign Up for Notifications

Many retailers and websites offer the option to sign up for notifications when the preorder goes live. If you’re worried about missing out due to high demand, this can be a useful option.

Visit Retailer Sites: Look for a “Notify Me” or “Email Alerts” option and enter your email to stay informed.
Use PlayStation Alerts: Sign up for notifications directly through Sony to be one of the first to know when preorders are available.

4. Prepare for High Demand

Preordering the PS5 Pro is expected to be competitive, with high demand likely to result in quick sellouts, just as with the initial release of the original PS5. To maximize your chances of securing a preorder:

Act Quickly: Be prepared to place your order as soon as preorders open. Timing is key, as stock can run out within minutes.
Double-Check Payment Information: Ensure your credit card or payment method is ready to go. Any delays during the checkout process could result in losing your spot.
Stay Informed: Monitor PlayStation and retailer websites for updates on restocks or additional preorder windows.

Final Thoughts

The PlayStation 5 Pro is set to take gaming to the next level with its enhanced performance, graphics, and new features. Canadian gamers should be ready to act fast when preorders open on September 26, 2024, to secure their console ahead of the holiday season. Whether you choose to preorder through PlayStation’s official website or your preferred retailer, following the steps outlined above will help ensure a smooth and successful preorder experience.

For more details on the PS5 Pro and to preorder, visit direct.playstation.com or stay tuned to updates from major Canadian retailers.

Tech

Introducing the PlayStation 5 Pro: The Next Evolution in Gaming

Published

6 days ago

September 10, 2024

Harry Miller

Since the PlayStation 5 (PS5) launched four years ago, PlayStation has continuously evolved to meet the demands of its players. Today, we are excited to announce the next step in this journey: the PlayStation 5 Pro. Designed for the most dedicated players and game creators, the PS5 Pro brings groundbreaking advancements in gaming hardware, raising the bar for what’s possible.

Key Features of the PS5 Pro

The PS5 Pro comes equipped with several key performance enhancements, addressing the requests of gamers for smoother, higher-quality graphics at a consistent 60 frames per second (FPS). The console’s standout features include:

Upgraded GPU: The PS5 Pro’s GPU boasts 67% more Compute Units than the current PS5, combined with 28% faster memory. This allows for up to 45% faster rendering speeds, ensuring a smoother gaming experience.
Advanced Ray Tracing: Ray tracing capabilities have been significantly enhanced, with reflections and refractions of light being processed at double or triple the speed of the current PS5, creating more dynamic visuals.
AI-Driven Upscaling: Introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-based upscaling technology that adds extraordinary detail to images, resulting in sharper image clarity.
Backward Compatibility & Game Boost: More than 8,500 PS4 games playable on PS5 Pro will benefit from PS5 Pro Game Boost, stabilizing or enhancing performance. PS4 games will also see improved resolution on select titles.
VRR & 8K Support: The PS5 Pro supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and 8K gaming for the ultimate visual experience, while also launching with the latest wireless technology, Wi-Fi 7, in supported regions.

Optimized Games & Patches

Game creators have quickly embraced the new technology that comes with the PS5 Pro. Many games will receive free updates to take full advantage of the console’s new features, labeled as PS5 Pro Enhanced. Some of the highly anticipated titles include:

Alan Wake 2
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
Demon’s Souls
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Gran Turismo 7
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Horizon Forbidden West

These updates will allow players to experience their favorite games at a higher fidelity, taking full advantage of the console’s improved graphics and performance.

Design & Compatibility

Maintaining consistency within the PS5 family, the PS5 Pro retains the same height and width as the original PS5 model. Players will also have the option to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive or swap console covers when available.

Additionally, the PS5 Pro is fully compatible with all existing PS5 accessories, including the PlayStation VR2, DualSense Edge, Pulse Elite, and Access controller. This ensures seamless integration into your current gaming setup.

Pricing & Availability

The PS5 Pro will be available starting November 7, 2024, at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of:

$699.99 USD
$949.99 CAD
£699.99 GBP
€799.99 EUR
¥119,980 JPY

Each PS5 Pro comes with a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom pre-installed. Pre-orders begin on September 26, 2024, and the console will be available at participating retailers and directly from PlayStation via direct.playstation.com.

The launch of the PS5 Pro marks a new chapter in PlayStation’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge gaming experiences. Whether players choose the standard PS5 or the PS5 Pro, PlayStation aims to provide the best possible gaming experience for everyone.

Preorder your PS5 Pro and step into the next generation of gaming this holiday season.