Any wilting flowers with bad backs? It could be down to your posture as you slump over your keyboard and read this.

That’s it - straighten up!

The Alexander technique teaches patients how to sit, stand and walk in a way that relieves pain by focusing on their coordination and posture.

Until now there had been little evidence of the therapy’s long term effectiveness with latest findings published in the British Medical Journal.  About half the UK population suffers from back pain during a year with up to 15% going on to have chronic problems. The experiment, run by researchers at the universities of Southampton and Bristol, found that patients who were taught Alexander technique and combined it with exercise were significantly better by the end of a year.

GO! Put your back into it - any other tips or back issues welcomed here!

Anyone else in awe of the U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps?

As his gold medal hunt in Beijing ends he leaves the Water Cube eight golds heavier, breaking Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in one Olympics.

He’ll be netting a $1 million bonus from Speedo for his performance now that he’s one-upped Spitz’s record count, cementing his place as one of the best athletes of all time.

Superman. Magical. The King. The Dolphin. The Fish. The Phenomenon has a unique diet.  Let’s just say he eats well with his typical breakfast being:

‘three fried egg sandwiches, with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, fried onions and mayonnaise, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes; a five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast and a bowl of grits (a maize-based porridge), washed down with two cups of coffee.’

On it goes as he consumes 12,000 calories during a typical day! With no mention of John West tuna? Another endorsement on the way, perhaps? Whatever next, endorsing credit cards to pay for his food bill? 

Comments welcomed on this superhuman achievement, his calorie intake and other suitable swimming related sponsorship ideas, flipper.

Did anyone catch the fastest 100m sprint of all time as 6 foot 5 Jamaican Usain Bolt won the Beijing Olympics 100 meters gold medal in a world record 9.69 seconds, gesturing to the crowd and slapping his chest before crossing the line.

Word is 9.5 seconds for the 100m is well within his reach as he approaches his 22nd birthday. He only started running the 100m to help him train for his preferred event, the 200m!

How much faster can man GO!? Do tell…..

GSTF has learnt whilst browsing the guardian newspaper that an eating disorder charity reacted with dismay yesterday as London Fashion Week abandoned plans to force models to pass a health test before taking to the catwalk. The idea was basically that models would need a doctor’s certificate proving they were healthy and not suffering from an eating disorder before they were allowed to work at the twice-yearly event.

So much for banning the size zeros!

But yesterday the British Fashion Council, which drew up the initiative last year, said it was being abandoned after other fashion capitals refused to follow London’s lead. In an open letter to the industry, Hilary Riva, chief executive of the BFC, blamed impracticalities in the plan, along with a feeling among models that it discriminated against them, and a lack of support from Milan, Paris and New York.

Model Erin O’Connor said yesterday the idea was flawed. “I feel that to ask all models to produce a mandatory certificate of health compromises their dignity and potentially infringes their human rights,” she said, pictured recently on the cover of vogue:

What do you think of this health test U turn and the model / catwalk industry in general?

Do tell and feel free to strike a pose.

Mighty Morgan Here!

I have been a smoker since I was 15 years old; when I started smoking I had no understanding of how addictive this habit was and that it would be one that would still control me close to twenty years later.

I have been thinking a lot about the best way to finally quit and desperately trying to muster up the courage to begin a day without my favorite little friend. Monday was that day and today is three days without a cigarette.  I also decided that I would begin fasting this past Monday, beginning each day with a saltwater flush to help rid my body of the toxins that have built themselves up in my system through the years.

Amazingly enough I have found that the fasting aspect has made my transition to a non-smoker, dare I say “easy“. In the past few days I have found that the desire to eat has far outweighed any desire to smoke, helping me along the first few days of nicotine withdrawals.

As visions of steak sandwiches, smothered in caramelized onions and melted cheddar served on toasted garlic bread dance in my head, I find no room for the insane thoughts of smoking!

Anyone else ever kicked the “habit”? Any tips or tricks you can share from your own success?

How do you….

In terms of your mental clarity and your eyesight.

Do tell but stop squinting.

Isaac Hayes died this weekend -  found unconscious in his home located just east of Memphis, Tennessee on August 10, 2008 and is smelling his flowers elsewhere.

A Shelby County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Hayes’ home after his wife found him on the floor near a still-running treadmill.

In 1992, in recognition of his humanitarian work, he was crowned an honorary king of Ghana’s Ada district. From 1997 to 2006, he provided the voice for the character Chef on the Comedy Central animated TV series South Park.  Here’s some more of his work:

Anyone else feel like they’re on a treadmill in life and will you get off before it’s too late or ramp it up to the next level?  

Comments please and RIP Isaac!

Did anyone catch the opening ceremony of the 29th Olympics earlier today at 08.08 a.m on 08.08.2008? Two travelling Americans have been looking forward to the event:

As have google:

As the official opening ceremony website gets busier we wonder if the masses of people tuning in will do the same or will they drop off as the events GO! on.

Will you be tuning into the 2008 Olympics? Any events you’ll be paying particular attention to and will the games proceed without any more political hiccups? Do tell!

Hi all,

For the past three nights I’ve had terrible insomnia.  Blame it on stress or totally screwing up my sleep cycle with working late hours but it’s there and I just late in bed for hours.  Eyes closed, thinking about sleep until I’m numb on one side and roll over to lie on the other side.  I usually fall asleep about five or so giving me just enough time to experience many weird dreams before getting up for the day. 

So, I’m looking for tips to help me get to sleep cause counting sheep isn’t working, nor are more complicated kinds of math.  What do you guys do to get to sleep?  Bring me your tired, your weary, your fatigued stories…

Jim here checking in from Hampton Court, London, ramping up the health section here at GO! Smell the flowers. I’m wearing a new black tourmaline crystal bought from the Crystal Planet.

Here’s what they say about tourmaline

‘The energy of tourmaline relates to each of the chakras. It acts to clear, maintain and to stimulate each of the energy centres of the body. Used to attract inspiration and to encourage self-confidence, providing a balance of the male and female energies and the mind providing alignment of the mental processes and the chakras.’

Tourmaline also protects us from constant bombardment of waves from mobile phones, T.V’s and computers. I had my first crystal healing session in London in 1997 when I lived in Hampstead and felt wonderful for it despite my initial cynicism. Here’s a taster for you:

Crystal comments welcomed here and do share your thoughts & experiences! Without them communication wouldn’t be the same - on many levels. Cheers!