Sports Then and Now

Retirement is weird, isn’t it? You’ve spent years dreaming about all this free time, and now that it’s here, you’re staring at your coffee cup thinking, Well… now what? You’re not alone in feeling this way. It’s a big adjustment! But here’s the good news: picking up a hobby can shake up your routine in the best possible way. Let’s chat about why hobbies matter and how to find one that makes you feel good. Really good.

The Benefits of Finding a New Hobby

Engaging Your Brain and Boosting Your Mood

Here’s the thing—your brain loves to be busy. Not work busy like spreadsheets or deadlines, but the fun, creative kind of busy. Learning something new keeps your mind sharp and gives you this little rush of accomplishment. It’s like a reward for simply trying. Painting, knitting, playing chess, even baking sourdough—these things aren’t just time fillers. They’re brain ticklers.

Have you ever tried something like Crown Green bowling? It’s relaxing but sneaky-good for focus too. And, I mean, getting yourself some proper crown green bowling supplies just feels like an official commitment to fun. Plus, it’s a great excuse to be outside, which always helps lighten the mood. Fresh air = free therapy.

Making New Friends Without the Awkward Small Talk

Listen, we’re all grown-ups here, and are we making friends as adults? Hard. But hobbies make it so much easier. You’re not stuck in one of those situations where everyone’s staring at their phones or trying to come up with “interesting” things to say. You’re all just… doing the thing. Whether it’s a pottery class or a walking club, hobbies create a space for real connections without all the pressure. And the best part? You’re bonding over something you both enjoy, which means way fewer awkward pauses.

Top-tier athletes are always in pursuit of novel ways to whet their skills, build endurance, and put in top performances. Pushing your body to and beyond its limits is practiced more and more by athletes. Take Dean Karnazes, for example, who claims to have never felt his muscles cramp or seize up – not even running 100 miles. Most people’s bodies build up the acidity in their muscles because they have reached their lactate threshold, causing their bodies to stop in their tracks. But Karnazes biggest obstacle is said to be his mind- proving the human body is capable of so much more than we have ever thought possible. The question is how to train your body to push harder and do better. There are a few lesser-known ways that help an athlete push beyond the limits to win that extra inch. From pushing the brain to perfecting unwinding, let’s take a deeper look at some unconventional means which can make all the difference. 

Brain Health: The Hidden Powerhouse

Athletic performance isn’t just about physical strength; it is about mental agility, focus, and decision-making. A sharp mind can make the difference between winning and losing, yet brain health is often overlooked.

Neuroplasticity and Skill Development

Neuroplasticity is really important in the course of learning new techniques in athletes or other game situations; the brain has the capability to change, develop new connections, and reorganize. Challenging the brain with activities such as puzzles or strategy games will enhance this process and improve hand-eye coordination and reaction times. Simple practices – like solving riddles – might spark neuroplasticity and maintain the adaptiveness and resilience of one’s brain.

There are many ways to make money as a fitness influencer. Some of them are more popular than others, but all of them have the potential to bring in a good income. This blog post will discuss different methods that you can use to make money as a fitness influencer. We will also provide some tips on how to get started in each field.

1) Sponsorships: 

This is one of the most common ways that fitness influencers make money. You can get sponsored by companies who want to promote their products through your social media channels. The amount of money you can make from sponsorships depends on your social media following and engagement rates.

To get started with sponsorships, you will need to reach out to companies that you think would be a good fit for your brand. Once you have established a relationship with them, you can start negotiating terms and conditions.

2) Sport management

If you are a successful fitness influencer, you can also use your influence to make money in the sports management industry. You can help athletes with their training and nutrition plans, and you can also promote products that they use.

To get started in this field, you will need to build up a good network of contacts within the industry. You can start by working with smaller athletes and then move on to bigger names once you have established yourself.

3) Become an instructor

Another way to make money as a fitness influencer is to become a Group Fitness and Bootcamp Instructor. You can teach classes in your local gym or studio or create your own online course.

To get started as an instructor, you will need to have a solid understanding of the fitness industry and be able to provide value to your students. Once you have built up a good reputation, you can start charging for your services.

Gravel bikes have become a common staple in the cycling world. Allowing cyclists to experience a wider range of riding – from forest roads, two-tracks, single track, and other forms of unpaved terrain – gravel bikes give ways to more freedom and more possibilities.

With the growing popularity of gravel bikes has come more gravel-centric races throughout the U.S. A unique cross between road cycling and mountain biking, these events provide participants with a greater sense of adventure. You don’t need a high-performance bike to get involved, either. Many cyclists, especially those who are beginners, find a budget gravel bike gets the job done.

If you’re keen to participate in a gravel event sometime in the near future, check out these top gravel bike races found all throughout the U.S.

1. Unbound Gravel

Formerly known as Dirty Kanza, Unbound Gravel is one of the most widely-known gravel bike races in the US offering a range of short-course options along with the coveted 200-mile course and XL version extending 350 miles. Navigation is key for this race, so it’s highly recommended to use a GPS-enabled multisport watch or bike computer to help guide your way.

Bringing amateur and professional cyclists from around the world, Unbound Gravel transforms the small town of Emporia, Kansas in early June. The long courses meander the rugged and remote roads of east-central Kansas’ Flint Hills region, which hosts the only remaining expanse of natural tallgrass prairie in North America.

Unbound Gravel attracts several thousand gravel cyclists every year, yet not all participants finish. The race is extremely challenging with considerable climbing, self-supported race dynamics, and hot conditions. Learn more about this world premiere gravel bike race at UnboundGravel.com.

There are many different methods for treating your sports injury from over-the-counter pills to physical therapy. Discovering regular treatment options can be especially helpful, such as anti-inflammatory medications, and alternative treatments, such as water spas. Below are a few treatments to improve your health.

Hot/Cold Packs

A hot or cold pack is the easiest, safest method used to reduce an injury’s pain and inflammation. Contrast therapy is the process of alternating heat with cold every few moments to improve the recovery process. The heat expands the blood vessels and increases circulation to the injured site while the coldness reduces the pain and swelling.

Massages

Sports massaging is recommended to relieve stress and tension in damaged muscles and joints. This is a treatment of physical therapy that is common for people with neck, back, and shoulder pain. Many injuries can cause inflammation, so it’s important to be delicate when treating muscle pain. Massaging relieves pain, reduces tension, and increases the range of motion. As a result, the injury heals faster and reduces scar tissue.

Thanks to Google, we can find all sorts of workout routines across countless disciplines. You could try your hand at pilates, martial arts, Peloton, or Sweating to the Oldies if you love Richard Simmons’ energy. But, when it comes to training on the same level as Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin (a member of the HomeLight-sponsored US Olympic team who’s earned 47 wins in 11 years), it’s going to take dedication and adopting particular habits.

To start your path toward training like an Olympian, here are five training habits that Shiffrin swears by. Although training habits are intense, you have to remember that she’s been doing this for years! Don’t feel like you have to dive in with the same level of intensity – you can dial things up slowly over time.

Stretching and light cardio

We all know that if we’re doing a tough workout, we need to warm up. To begin her workouts, Shiffrin takes a 10 minute ride on a stationary bike. She’ll also spend some time stretching her muscles so she’s good and limber for what’s to come.