【推荐1】Pamela Simpson is 53,“not sporty” and has suffered from asthma(哮喘) all her life. Two years ago her son Jay-Teale, now 10, took up BMX(自行车越野赛).“I enjoyed watching him and thought I'd like to try it,” Simpson recalls. “But I didn't want to embarrass myself. I hadn't ridden for over 40 years.”

Then she noticed a session for women and girls at Burgess Park BMX Track in Peckham, south-east London, where Jay-Teale trained. This season Simpson raced at the London BMX series and finished third in her category.

“It was the most worrying experience of my life. But it was also exhilarating,” she says cheerfully. “My son is proud of me. We now share a real love for the sport. It has brought us closer together.”

Since becoming part of the Olympic Games in 2008, the popularity of BMX has risen. A program introduced in London in 2011 by the sports development charity Access Sport has seen tracks built in several London regions, backed up with investment in coaching, and the program is being rolled out to Bristol.

Mavolwane Wright's children Skye,11 and Xander,10 are sponsored riders who have represented Great Britain in every world championship since 2014. Mavolwane Wright says she was motivated to start BMX herself out of an interest aroused by watching so much of it. “It's an eye-opener to share your children's interests,” she explains. “You comprehend what they go through in a much more direct way. It adds another dimension to your relationship.”

It is also a high-impact sport and the risks are fairly obvious. “I totally get the fear,” says Emma Budgens, 51, a BMX exercise coach and cycling instructor. “It's the fear of doing something new, of getting hurt. But I say, ‘Come and give it a try.’ The chance of having an accident is slim, and you can spend time on the flat to improve your confidence.”

【推荐2】Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to afford all of that fancy equipment used in the gyms?     1     Now here are some effective exercises that you can do at home, without the need for any equipment.

Jumping Jacks (开合跳)—These are always fun, as they bring back memories of being a kid!     2    Well, surprise- they are also great aerobic exercise, and good for warming up, too.

Pushups—While they can be hard to do, you can find easier ways to do them. You don’t need to pretend you’re “Rocky”, and do them with one hand; just do what works for you.     3    Or, do them standing up against a wall. You will be building up arm strength and working out muscles(肌肉) in your chest area.

Light weight lifting—No, you don’t need to go out and buy expensive weights for this !Just use whatever you can find in your house. Start out with something lighter, such as a can of peas.     4    

Step exercises—Using the steps in your home, you can do repetitions which will strengthen your leg muscles. (Just remember to be careful! )

    5    You needn’t join a gym, paying a large amount in membership fees each month. You don’t even need the expensive equipment. Use what you have in your house, and work out in the comfort of your home. You will be more likely to keep up with the exercise when you’re comfortable, so just get up and start exercising !

【推荐3】Sometimes we are picturing what sport we might do: working out at the gym, playing on a competitive sports team, swimming, biking, or rock climbing. However, we don’t often think of martial arts as possible activities; instead, we rule them out because we think they’re dangerous, uncommon, and even, impossible. Martial arts aren’t considered a sport, right?

Well, here’s some good news:you’re wrong! Martial arts. aren’t much more common than people think, and you can start learning at any age. Practicing martial arts is a great way to keep in shape, both physically and mentally. They’re much less boring and much less arduous than they’re usually described as in movies, so do not worry that they need a lot of effort.

Martial arts generally require you to focus on the position and movement of every one of your legs and arms, sometimes even your breathing too. Think about it: when you leave the gym, your mental state has improved and you are much calmer. This is because you’ve only paid attention to one activity. It is a great way to clear your head. And practicing martial arts can help you lean to stay more focused, which is the greatest advantage of martial arts training.

Martial arts also improve your coordination (协调性), and greatly improve your posture. I have personally seen students go from slouching (没精打采) to walking tall with their shoulders back in just a couple of months.

There are many styles and countless kinds of martial arts. Whichever one you like better, know that all of them are good choices.

【推荐3】You may not know a lot of people when you start high school. Even if you know some freshmen (新生) , you still feel nervous that you don't know any upperclassmen or teachers. How are you going to make friends among this sea of unknown faces?

Most high schools hold a freshman orientation before school actually starts, which is helpful not only because you can know your way around the building and get to meet some of your teachers, but also because you get to meet fellow freshmen. That way, when you show up on your first day of school, you may already recognise a few familiar faces. When you talk to your new classmates, you'll probably find that a lot of them are feeling just like you are. They're all new to the school and don't know what to expect. Talking about a common concern with them can help you develop friendships.

The work in high school is something that freshmen are probably worried about. The work in high school builds on what you learnt in middle school, giving you a more advanced knowledge of many subjects. So you may find you have more work to do or that it's a bit more challenging. If you ever find your work too difficult, teachers can give you extra help.

High school also has more extracurricular activities than middle school does such as clubs, music and theatre groups and sports teams. This is a good time to explore your interests and try new things.

High school gives you the chance to learn how to manage your time, to develop your social skills and interests, and more importantly to be more independent and responsible.