The Call of the Peaceful Warrior - Haka

Kia Ora Tatou (Hallo everyone) visitors to this site have asked for more information on the pictures of "The Haka" - performed at various Les Mills Events celebrating the 10th anniversary of BODYPUMP.

Origin of the Haka According to Maori ethos, Tama-nui-to-ra, the Sun God, had two wives, Hine-raumati, the Summer maid, and Hine takurua, the Winter maid. The child born to him and Hine-raumati was Tane-rore, who is credited with the origin of the dance. Tane-rore is the trembling of the air as seen on the hot days of summer, and represented by the quivering of the hands in the dance.Haka is the generic name for all Maori dance.

Today, haka is defined as that part of the Maori dance repertoire where the men are to the fore with the women lending vocal support in the rear. Most haka seen today are haka taparahi, haka without weapons.More than any aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race. Haka is not merely a past time of the Maori but was also a custom of high social importance in the welcoming and entertainment of visitors. Tribal reputation rose and fell on their ability to perform the haka (Hamana Mahuika).Haka reflected the concerns and issues of the time, of defiance and protest, of factual occurrences and events at any given time Haka History

The centrality of the haka within Les Mills tradition is not a recent development. Since the original "1997 IMT team " from New Zealand the haka has been closely associated with Les Mills Trainers. Its mystique has evolved along with the fierce determination, commitment and high level skill which has been the hallmark of Les Mills programs and people.

The haka adds a unique component, derived from the indigenous Maori of New Zealand, and which aligns with the wider Polynesian cultures of the Pacific. The Les Mills Trainers perform the haka with precision and intensity which underpin the Les Mills approach.

Train Smarter, Live Longer - Measure your Heart Rate

How do you train smarter and live longer?
According to industry colleague Simon Drabble from POLAR International, get yourself a heart rate monitor like the RS400. So I did. My training has picked up from a 10 year low and with better bio-feedback I estimate adding another 10 years to my life. That's a deal worth checking out. See http://www.polar.fi

By monitoring heart rate, the simple observation that the harder we exercise, the faster our heart beats is put to good use. Professional athletes and amateurs alike have for decades been relying on the information provided by their heart rate monitor for the following reasons:

1.A heart rate monitor is like a rev counter, giving a precise measurement of exercise intensity.
2.Training at your own ideal pace is made possible with a heart rate monitor.
3.Direct measurement of heart rate during exercise is the most accurate way to gauge performance.
4.Progress can be monitored and measured, increasing motivation.
5.It maximizes the benefits of exercise in a limited amount of time.
6.It introduces objective observation. Are you on the right track? Are you improving?
7.It is a tool for regulating frequency and intensity of workouts.
8.Because of the immediate feedback it provides, heart rate monitoring is an ideal training partner.

How does it work?

When you start training, your heart rate increases rapidly in proportion to the intensity of the training. In Polar Heart Rate Monitors, the transmitter belt detects the electrocardiogram (ECG - the electric signal originating from your heart) and sends an electromagnetic signal to the Polar wrist receiver where heart rate information appears.

The heart moves blood from the lungs (where the blood picks up oxygen) to the muscles (which burn the oxygen as fuel) and back to the lungs again. The harder the training, the more fuel the muscles need and the harder the heart has to work to pump oxygen-rich blood to the muscles.

As you get fitter, your heart is able to pump more blood with every beat. As a result, your heart doesn’t have to beat as often to get the needed oxygen to your muscles, decreasing resting heart rate and exercise heart rate on all exertion levels.

SPIRA - Hottest Fitness Shoe on the Market

The Future Is Now. Got a tip from European fitness shoe consultant Guy MacCullum. Tried on a new pair of Spira's Del Sol and stepped into the future.

Great for cardio or strength training this is a true advancement in shoewear. If you want the edge in 2008 check out www.spirafootwear.com

WaveSpring™ Technology is here and it is coming to a shoe near you! Spira's™ patented WaveSpring™ technology may be the most significant advancement ever achieved in the footwear industry.*


WaveSpring™ returns energy with every step.
Ray Fredericksen, president of Sports Biomechanics, Inc. compares typical midsole materials found in many athletic shoes to running in sand. While initially perceived as soft and comfortable, these shoes require the wearer to exert greater effort. Muscles must work harder, causing fatigue and increasing the risk of injury.

Unlike traditional shoe midsoles made primarily of foams, rubber compounds, or polymers, WaveSpring™ technology stores and disburses energy with every step. Testing performed by an independent source reports that 87% - 96% of the energy is returned from the WaveSpring™. This is the highest energy return score for any midsole material ever tested.**

WaveSpring™ is light and compact.
The WaveSpring™ is laterally stable, lightweight, compact, and can easily fit into a typical shoe midsole. The technology is in the heel and forefoot of the shoe. As such, it has the appearance of a normal shoe. Looking from the outside no one will know you have a spring in your step but you!

WaveSpring™ technology will not break down.
Traditional midsole materials work through compression and often breakdown quickly. The WaveSpring™ is mechanical. The spring will outlast the shoe. The wearer will have a "new shoe" feel from the first day it is worn to the last! "Unlike rubbers and polymers, the springs have an almost infinite fatigue life. The shoe will fall apart before the spring performance degrades."
Popular Mechanics magazine
Shoe Technology Review, July 2003

"I feel it is the first technological advance that has been truly meaningful in the shoe industry in many years."
Donald A. Chu Ph.D., PT, ATC CSCS
Director, Athletic Training & Rehabilitation
Stanford University

Experience the WaveSpring™ difference!