Brenda Autry Journalism Blog

I don’t know if it is the way the strangler fig trees and creeping lichens seem to devour the massive stone walls of Ta Prohm. The mystical pink blush in the carvings of Banteay Srei. Or the humbling feeling of standing in the shadow cast for centuries by the towering spires of Angkor Wat that makes me want to return more. Banteay Srei But whether it’s something I remember, or something I know I’ve yet to discover, few places in the world have left me longing to return as much as Angkor Wat. Hidden in the jungles of Cambodia for centuries before being rediscovered, Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, but was soon converted to a Buddhist temple. It served as the capital for the ancient Khmer people until the 15th century, and today is the largest religious monument on Earth, receiving millions of visitors every year. Angkor Archaeological Park , often mistakenly called the Angkor Wat Temples (Angkor Wat, translated “Templ...

Exercise is an important part of maintaining physical and mental health. With gyms being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many people are looking for a way to work out at home. Currently, Physiq Fitness in Albany is offering several of their fitness classes online. The classes include yoga, cardio dance, core, and some QFit team training classes. They are offered online through Physiq’s Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Zoom links. You have to have a membership to access most of the workouts, so are they worth it? Physiq's Current online offerings. Image courtesy of Physiq Fitness. I tried a couple of their classes to find out. I really enjoyed the Cardio Dance class with Bethanie Gambardella. Cardio Dance, similar to Zumba, is a cardio class that incorporates choreographed dance moves to music. This type of workout works well online because it doesn’t require any equipment and you can do it in a relatively small space. This class is offered twice a week live on...