Several American presidents have provided exemplary leadership in promoting rational physical culture, but no modern president has surpassed John F. Kennedy. For those who have never read his Sports Illustrated article "The Soft American," it is worth the time invested. Weigh President Kennedy's comments concerning the Kraus-Weber test with the information provided in Chapter 3 of Paradigm 21. Understanding American physical culture during the early 1960's makes it much easier to see clearly the situation we face today.

So forty years after JFK urged us to focus on fitness. . .

Ironically, Kraus and others in the 1960's urged us to master basic skills known as calisthenics.
Looks like there is still resistance.

In the IHPRA  April 2002 newsletter, we noted that critics of Hatha Yoga in the United States are saying that it has been reduced to something much less than it can and should be.  It is also interesting to watch as public schools attempt to introduce Hatha Yoga into the physical education curriculum.  The controversy now facing folks in  Aspen is familiar.  Such arguments have been common for decades.

As in the United States, epidemic obesity is eating away at other cultures.

Fat People are Not Jolly

Obesity is Changing Human Shape

Obesity Risk Outweighs Smoking

Obesity and Cancer

Fat Britain weighs in slightly below US

School cafeterias across the nation continue to serve junk food.  

In the October 2001 IHPRA newsletter, we discussed the issue of postural deformities and school furniture.  Fixing scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis and other postural malformations is not easy.  Take a look.