Yoga makes you feel     1    (relax). Smith Farm is now offering people the chance     2    (do) their daily yoga with goats. In fact, the goats don’t actually take part in the yoga. They are more for moral support (精神支持), preventing you from getting bored. “It is a wonderful experience,” says Smith, “It may sound silly but it’s truly getting outside in nature with beautiful scenery and lovely animals around you. Animals can     3    (real) help humans deal with stress, illness or sadness.”

3 . How Much Exercise Do I Need?

When it comes to exercise, less is not more — but it’s certainly better than none. Physical inactivity account for (占比) as many as 23% of all deaths from major chronic (慢性的) diseases, yet almost one of every three Americans is sedentary (spending a lot of time sitting down). According to the Centers for Disease Control, 29.4% of those surveyed say they have no free-time physical activity at all. City people tend to be more active than country people, with 27.4% saying they are sedentary, compared with 36.6% of those in the country.

Light activity can increase physical and mental health. While light activity is good, moderate (not very large or very small) activity is even better, and health experts encourage everyone to have at least 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity. But you don’t have to go to a gym. As recent studies show, “lifestyle” activities, such as walking, house cleaning and gardening, work as well as a structured (特意制定的) exercise program in improving heart function, lowering blood pressure and keeping or losing weight.

In one study, overweight, sedentary middle-aged men and women who are trying to make them more physically active by walking around reduced their body fat and improved their blood pressure and heart function as much as those going to structured programs at a gym. In another study, fat women aged from 21 to 60 who chose a more active lifestyle lost as much weight as women in a low-impact aerobics (有氧健身) program —and got fewer pounds back again in the following year.

Noticing the value of different levels and types of activity, the American College of Sports Medicine accept that several short periods of exercise during the day are nearly as good as one long period of exercise.

4 . A poem competition has been started for pupils aged 4 to 18 around UK. It invites young people to focus on (关注) the “many ways we are connected to the universe”. The competition is part of a national celebration of creativity in the UK.

The winning entries (参赛作品) will be presented in a projection show, which will visit some places around the UK from March to May 2023. This outdoor show will include entries from the competition and run for a week in each place. Winners will also receive other prizes, including books and chocolate, plus continued development.

The rules are as follows:

The competition is free to enter. If you are aged 4-12, your parent will need to allow for you to enter.

Your entry must be original (原创的). Your work is accepted only if this will be its first appearance anywhere in the world.

Poems must be written in English or Welsh and not be longer than 20 lines. You are free to write in any style or form.

You may enter either online through the website or by post to the Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London. All online entries must be received by 23:59 GMT on 19 December 2022. All poems entered by post must be post-dated on or before 19 December 2022.

If you would like to enter online, please continue through the online system on this website. Email AboutUs@poetrysociety. Org if you have any problem.

Yours,

Li Hua

7 .

                                                                                             Yours,

                                                                                                 LiHua