Along a polluted riverside, smoking charred oil drums in Mathare are cooking up chang'aa, a potent liquor that's both a...

Have you always wanted to be able to do the splits or a backflip? Maybe you’ve watched your kids do a gymnastics class and thought, ‘Wow, that looks so fun’. Adult gymnastics is gaining some serious popularity online, with the TikTok hashtag #adultgymnastics getting over 209.5 million views. Influencers such as Anna Archer – who has over 300,000 followers on Instagram and creates content surrounding lots of different fitness experiments – and stunt woman Corinne Nicewick have shared clips of their experiences of trying out gymnastics as an adult. Nicewick, despite being a talented stuntwoman, has shared clips of how challenging she has found the sport, with viewers finding her attempts both funny and encouraging. Gymnastics has put some famous faces in good stead for other fitness-related challenges, with gymnast Beth Tweddle winning the 2103 series of Dancing on Ice and Ellie Downie, GB gymnast taking on the gruelling SAS: Who Dares Wins reality show in 2023.So, what do you need to know before you get involved? How does adult gymnastics work? Can anyone do it? Classes have been steadily cropping up across the UK encouraging adults of all abilities to get involved in gymnastics, and unless you have a health problem or injury that may restrict you from doing so, anyone can get involved. It is not so dissimilar to exercises you may already do like plyometrics (explosive body weight resistance exercises like box jumps), CrossFit or yoga. “Gymnastics is a series of different exercises that test your strength, mobility, flexibility and agility,” says Sofia Zolobova, instructor and gymnastics expert at Gymbox. “It’s also a lot of fun, incorporating lots of different floor, beam and hoop exercises,” she explains. This element of variety can bring a more fun, playful element to your workout routine. What are the health and wellbeing benefits of adult gymnastics? Gymnastics will give your body a really different workout and improve your strength, mobility and balance. “Strength and mobility are both very important as we grow older,” says Zolobova. “Gymnastics uses your own body weight, so not only do you get stronger, you move better. For example, to be able to execute a hand stand you need great shoulder mobility,” she explains. “With our modern tight shoulders, gymnastics can be helpful in improving our posture.” How do you get past being scared? As a kid, doing a cartwheel and taking a tumble doesn’t seem so threatening, but as adults we are all a bit more scared of getting hurt. Instead of falling into the trap of fear, embrace the playfulness of it. Zolobova says: “It’s a really fun way to exercise. It includes handstands, cartwheels and frog jumps, letting you unleash your inner child. It empowers you to do cool tricks as an adult and work up to a certain goal. It’s also a great fear fighter – sometimes you just have to let go and trust yourself.” What should we be careful of in adult gymnastics? Your fitness and flexibility may not progress as quickly as they might have done as a child. “Children are naturally more flexible than adults, so when undertaking gymnastics for the first time keep this in mind. Take things slow and one step at a time – you can always build up strength and flexibility with consistent practice,” explains Zolobova. How do we protect our backs and joints? Putting your back out or hurting your joints is a very real fear as an adult. Zolobova says: “Stretching should never be skimped on and should be thorough and dynamic [involving movement]. It’s also very important to make sure the body is warmed up before undertaking any gymnastic moves, a light jog and jumping jacks are great ways to get the muscles warm fast.”

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These days, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything at the store for under a dollar. But on Monday, in honor of National Cheeseburger Day, McDonald's customers will be able to get a double cheeseburger for just 50 cents, only 45 cents more than what the chain's original hamburger cost in 1948.

People in Edinburgh, Leicester and Glasgow are struggling the most with their mental health - due to the cost of living crisis. A poll of 2,000 adults found 27 per cent have really taken a hit when it comes to their wellbeing, because of a lack of finances. Newcastle, London and Leeds are other key cities where people are most affected. Cutting down on socialising, gym memberships and nutritious food to save money are reasons why so many feel disheartened and worried about their mental wellbeing. And 40 per cent are dreading the winter as they are unsure if they will be able to afford energy bills to heat their home. The survey was commissioned by British Gas, which is working with Professor Green to raise awareness of the struggles so many are facing and highlight the free support available in the new phase of the British Gas Post Office Pop-Ups. The musician and mental health advocate said: “As a parent your first instinct is to protect and provide, and when you’re doing everything you can, and that’s still not enough, it has a profound impact on your mental health. “Shame, stigma and fear can keep people from speaking up for help, but it’s the best thing you can do – for yourself, your family and your community. “Stress and anxiety breed in uncertainty so I really encourage you to visit a British Gas Post Office Pop-Up or contact the British Gas Energy Trust to help you gain confidence in, and control of, your future.“ The research found 14 per cent of adults are cutting back on how often they shower to lower their bills, and 21 per cent aren’t buying birthday gifts for loved ones. One in 20 (five per cent) say their kids are missing out on new toys. Just over half (55 per cent) believe their mental health would definitely improve if they were more financially stable. People in Manchester were found to be most likely to skip using heat or electricity to keep their homes warm. But those in Edinburgh were most likely to report that they have had issues with money that have led to incurring additional debt, like credit cards. Only 27 per cent of all adults polled via OnePoll are confident they are accessing all the benefits they may be entitled to when it comes to support with their energy bills. One in 10 also believe the rising cost of energy has caused them a great deal of additional stress. And 25 per cent baldly state they are expecting to struggle to pay their energy bills through the rest of the year. Nearly the same amount (24 per cent) said the current cost of living crisis has been just as bad for their mental health as the Covid-19 pandemic. British Gas Energy Trust CEO Jessica Taplin said: “Debt and money stresses are debilitating, which is why we are delighted to be offering money and energy advisors funded by us in Post Offices across the country. “Working with an artist like Professor Green can really help raise awareness, and let people know it’s good to talk about the things that are worrying them.” Read More Voguewashing London Fashion Week won’t pay the wages of Britain’s young fashion designers What is happening to local government finances and why are councils struggling? ‘School staff seeing more students who do not have enough dinner money’ Nearly a fifth of parents fear children will ignore health issues while at university How often should you wash your pyjamas? ‘My baby’s blue eyes drew praise – but their colour was a warning sign’

Since the NFL won't allow Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to promote beer, Coors Light found a loophole to include him in a commercial.Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the biggest star in the NFL, given his success through his first five years as a starter. H...

By Aishwarya Venugopal (Reuters) -Coach parent Tapestry will buy Michael Kors owner Capri Holdings in a deal valued at $8.5