Study Shows Random Acts of Kindness May Prevent Bullying and Increase Happiness

Children who make an effort to perform acts of kindness are happier and experience greater acceptance from their peers, according to new research.
This could be a key to preventing bullying, said researchers Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, Ph.D.,  a professor at the University of British Columbia, and Kristin Layous of the University of California, Riverside.

For their study, the researchers asked 400 students in Vancouver elementary schools between the ages of 9 and 11 to report on their happiness and to identify which of their classmates they would like to work with on school activities.

Half of the students were asked by their teachers to perform acts of kindness — like sharing their lunch or giving their mom a hug when she felt stressed — and half were asked to keep track of pleasant places they visited, such as the playground or a grandparent’s house.

After four weeks, the students again reported on their happiness and identified classmates they would like to work with. While both groups said they were happier, kids that had performed acts of kindness selected higher numbers of classmates to work with on school activities.


“We show that kindness has some real benefits for the personal happiness of children, but also for the classroom community,” said Schonert-Reichl. She also noted that bullying tends to increase in grades four and five.

By simply asking students to think about how they can act kindly to those around them, “teachers can create a sense of connectedness in the classroom and reduce the likelihood of bullying.”

The Tiger-Rock A.L.L.Y.  (Academic Learning & Leadership for Youth) Program at Tiger-Rock Martial Arts of West Knoxville is asking students to complete  nine different random acts of kindness: three at home, three at school, and three in their community. The children that complete these tasks will earn their Kindness merit badge on their belt.





Source: University of British Columbia 
Source: Psych Central

How many calories does Tiger-Rock Martial Arts Burn per hour?

Tiger-Rock Martial arts is one of the most effective weight-loss activities around. It offers a full-body workout by employing movements that exercise all major muscle groups, as well as incorporate balance and dexterity. Using punching, kicking and fight stances, individuals work their arms, legs, glutes and core through an activity that is challenging and fun at the same time. Despite martial arts stereotypes, it is not strictly about fighting techniques. It’s about improving fitness levels, self-discipline and overall health.

The Winning Number

So the big question is how many calories does an hour’s worth of martial arts burn? Quite a lot actually. An average 145 pound person engaging in one hour’s worth of Tiger-Rock Martial Arts can expect to burn approximately 870 calories. In order to burn the same amount, a runner of the same weight would need to run an 8 minute mile for 60 minutes or bicycle at 14 miles per hour for 90 minutes.  Comparatively, martial arts is a hot calorie burner.

Healthy Benefits

Although there are many forms and variations of martial arts, they do share a few common traits, such as heritage and philosophy. Regardless of the type of martial arts that you choose to participate in - TaeKwonDo, Karate, Judo, Kenpo, Jiu-Jitsu - their physical activity levels offer many of the same benefits:

• Improved heart and lung function
• Strengthening and toning of all major muscle groups
• High calorie burn for a leaner, more svelte physique
• Better posture and balance
• Enhanced core strength and stability

What Can You Expect

Tiger-Rock Martial Arts is a fantastic fitness alternative for men, women and children of all ages. The great thing about martial arts is that it’s a departure from the gym or average aerobic class. Like any physical activity, mixing up your routine with something fresh and fun can give you a boost in reaching your fitness goals. This is especially true for individuals that may be experiencing a plateau in their goal cycle.

Visit our Tiger-Rock Internationall Franchised Academy at 266 North Peters Road, Knoxville, TN, visit www.WestKnoxTigerRock.com or call us at (865) 247-4437 to learn more about the different programs that we have available. We can help you choose a fitness plan to meet your needs and schedule.

High Intensity Training Cuts Heart Rate Disease Risk

You can walk for an hour a day, but that won’t necessarily affect your risk of heart disease or stroke. But walking fast or jogging is a different story, according to results of a newly published Danish study. Researchers at Bispebjerg University Hospital, in Copenhagen, followed more than 10,000 Danish adults, between the ages of 21 and 98, for 10 years looking at the amount of physical activity they performed as well as its duration and intensity. When they joined the study, one in five of the women and about one in four of the men had metabolic syndrome, a combination of conditions that when taken together dramatically increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. This disorder was most common among study participants who had a sedentary lifestyle. After 10 years, the researchers analyzed the data they collected on the study participants and found that walking fast cut the risk of heart disease and stroke in half; jogging cut it by 40 percent. Unfortunately, taking hour-long casual walks had no apparent effect at all. The study was published October 8, 2012 in the online journal BMJ Open.

Source: http://www.drweilblog.com/