IHPRA Newsletter
November 2002

Thousand of young girls across Australia practice Calisthenics.  
Take a look at some of their sites.  

 

What is calisthenics? "Calisthenics is a widely practiced sport and art form in Australia and is recognised as a fun and healthy way to keep fit for girls of all ages. It is a uniquely Australian sport that requires discipline of mind and body, teamwork, a competitive spirit and a sense of responsibility. Calisthenics, actually originated in Ancient Greece and is the combination of Gymnastics, Ballet, Folk Dance, Jazz Ballet, apparatus (Clubs, Rods) Figure Marching and Song. It has many assets, involving many thousands of young girls across Australia. Not only does it help to improve their posture and deportment, it also helps to maintain a healthy body, mind and widens their musical knowledge. The word "calisthenics" comes from the Greek words 'kallos' for beauty and 'thenos' for strength. The components of the sport aim at achieving those physical attributes, but the sport also influences the emotional and social development of girls through friendship and teamwork." http://www.girl.com.au/calisthenics.htm

Action Calisthenics Inc.

Calisthenics Victoria

Chelsea Girls Calisthenic Club

Many more Australian Calisthenic links

"When physical education takes the proper place in our schools, young girls will be trained in the class-rooms to move head, hands and arms gracefully; to sit, to stand, and to walk properly, and to pursue calisthenic exercises for physical development as a regular school duty as much as their studies. (Catherine Beecher, Educational reminiscences and suggestions, 1874, pp.85-86.)"

Catherine Beecher pioneered women's education in the USA that included calisthenic.

This is the month to consider those who served with honor, dignity and courage.

This is also the month we give thanks  for our bountiful lives.

After decades of discounting dynamic warm-ups in favor of static stretching,
researchers are still looking for the right answer.

Take a look at how school physical education in the USA rates in a world-wide evaluation.

"Sokol was almost liquidated three times. It was banned by all totalitarian regimes in Czechoslovak history. Firstly, Sokol was banned during the World War I., in 1915. Secondly, it happened during the Nazi occupation of Czech lands and finally, Sokol was banned by the communists after 1948. In 1968, struggles for Sokol revival were killed by normalization and so after 42 years of hibernation, Sokol was restored for the fourth time in 1990."

A study of Czechoslovakia's physical culture will lead you back to Sokol.
A journey well worth the time if you can find the roots.

This will take you to Sokol in Czechoslovakia today.

This will get you to the American Sokol.

Researchers report that spending too much time with your computer can make you sick

Image of the Month
Liverpool, England  1865

Click here for previous soft drink articles

More on the connection between soft drinks and obesity.

Are US troops losing battle of the bulge?

How long has military physical preparedness been declining?

Have we been ignoring the obvious?

Lawyers are going after the fast food industry.

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