The Health Benefits of Gardening

 

Gardening
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A two-time graduate of Monmouth University, John F. Abate is a New Jersey resident whose professional work centers on the ownership and operation of the websites Marketforce, Wintrack, and Success Publishers, LLC. When he is offline, John F. Abate enjoys spending his free time engaging in hobbies like gardening.

Beyond its value as a relaxing pastime, recent studies have shown that gardening may actually have a number of important health benefits. One study conducted by researchers in the Netherlands found that gardening outside was particularly useful for lowering stress. Those who participated in the activity had lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and displayed more elevated mood levels than study participants who engaged in a session of reading indoors.

Another study from 2013 indicates that people who garden regularly may reduce the likelihood of both stroke and heart disease. Spending time in a garden has also been shown to have a positive effect on immune regulation, symptoms of depression, and may even help reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Additionally, when performed in a social setting, such as a community garden, this dynamic hobby has also been proven to deter loneliness. It allows gardeners to bond and connect with others who share common interests.

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Exercises for Improving Timing for Guitarists

 

Guitarists
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A graduate of Monmouth University’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business administration, John F. Abate owns companies including Marketforce and Win-Track. In his spare time, John F. Abate enjoys playing guitar.

For guitarists, a sense of timing forms the foundation for all other skills. Though it is easier to work on timing when you have accompaniment, you can also build your skills through solo exercises.

One exercise for building timing involves tapping: Rather than play the guitar, the guitarist simply uses his or her hand to tap the beat on a hard surface. This eliminates distractions and draws all focus toward timing.

To enhance the exercise, nod your head or tap your feet at the same time. Using multiple body parts improves internalization of the beat.

A more advanced timing exercise focuses on switching between rhythms. Tap quarter notes, then eighth, then sixteenth, switching between them with as little hesitation as possible. By building the ability to shift between these rhythms, guitarists can improve their overall sense of timing.

What Is Horse Race Handicapping?

 

Horse Race
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John F. Abate has operated multiple businesses offering printed guides to gambling topics since 1988. Among the topics John F. Abate covers is horse race handicapping, a practice that makes horse racing less predictable and more competitive.

A handicap race assigns weights to horses based on an assessment of their overall performance. Horses that outperform their peers are given more weight, which reduces the ability gulf and in theory gives each participating horse an equal chance of winning. Horses receive their handicaps based on an initial three runs, with further adjustments if these handicaps prove insufficient to keep races close.

While this system strives for closeness in races, there are ways to cause a temporary, significant change in a horse’s performance, racking up a brief streak of wins. For instance, young horses that complete their initial runs near the end of a season will retain their handicaps at the start of the following season, even though training and growth have significantly improved their overall athleticism. This leads to an extremely powerful performance early in the season.

Those interested in betting on handicap races should pay close attention to the potential to profit from handicapping, and use it to their advantage.