Hey, there! TGIF! Graças a Deus que é sexta-feira!

Summer’s around the corner and I’m sure many of you would like to be in shape, right? Well, this post is all about getting and being in shape, so let’s learn some useful vocabulary on this topic.

Correr – to run, to go running, to go jogging.
Adoro correr de manhã. [I love running in the morning.]
Ele vai correr todos os dias de tardezinha. [He goes jogging every day in the late afternoon.]

Malhar – to work out
Eu adoro nadar, mas tenho muita preguiça de malhar. [I love swimming, but I'm so lazy to work out.]
Que horas você vai malhar todos os dias? [What time do you work out every day?]

Malhação – workout
Uma boa malhação regular faria bem a você. Já pensou nisso? [A good regular workout would do you good. Have you thought about it?]
Some people love morning workouts. [Algumas pessoas adoram atividade física de manhã.]

Treino – practice
Treinar – to practice
O Rafael tem treino de futebol todas as sextas. [Rafael has soccer practice every Friday.]
How long do you practice basketball every day? [Quanto tempo você treina basquete todos os dias?]

Treinador, técnico – coach
Meu treinador disse que ser um bom jogador requer muito treino e dedicação. [My coach said that being a good player takes a lot of practice and dedication.]
Que horas chega o treinador? [What time does the coach arrive?]

Tênis – sneakers
Você deve usar tênis confortáveis para correr. [You should wear comfortable shoes to go running.]
Comprei tênis novo. Quer ver? [I've bought a new pair of sneakers. Wanna see them?]

Em (boa) forma – in (good) shape
Você parece estar em boa forma. O que você faz para mantê-la? [You look like you are in good shape. What do you do to keep it?]
She’s in pretty good shape, isn’t she? [Ela está em ótima forma, não é?]

Boa forma, preparo físico – fitness
Você tem feito exercícios para melhorar o preparo físico? [Have you been doing any exercises to improve your fitness?]
Você conhece algum programa de exercícios para melhorar o preparo físico? [Do you know any good exercise program designed to improve fitness?]

Flexão – push-up
Abdominal – sit-up
Um bom programa de exercícios deve incluir uma série de flexões e abdominais. [A good exercise program should include a series of push-ups and sit-ups.]

Por hoje é só! Tenha um ótimo fim de semana e aproveite muito!

Um abraço grande!

Did you know that Rambo lives in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas?

Well, not really, but there is a metalworker in Manaus who idolizes Sylvester Stallone and likes to make amateur movies. This short documentary tells his story:

Try to answer the questions now that you’ve watched the video.

1. When did Aldenir first get into Rambo?

2. What was the first movie he made with his friends?

3. What’s the word in Portuguese for film script?

Read More…

If you’ve ever been to Brazil, it’s likely you’ve seen or bought a fita do Bomfim, or a Bomfim ribbon. They’re also sometimes called fitinhas do Bomfim (little Bomfim ribbons). But do you really know where they come from?

The fita do Bomfim comes from the Senhor do Bomfim Church in Salvador, Bahia. These ribbons originated in Portugal and were made with silk with the name of the saint embroidered on them. It was worn around the neck and hung with medals. The first fitas in Bahia date back to the early 1800s and were known as medidas, since each one was 47 centimeters long–the same length as the arm of statue of Jesus at the church.

These ribbons are symbolic of the mixture between African beliefs and Catholicism. Fitas do Bomfim come in different colors, and each one represents an orixá, or a god from the syncretic Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé. Dark green is for Oxossi, bright blue for Iemanjá, and yellow for Oxum.

When you get a fita, you tie three knots to fasten it to your wrist, and make a wish for each knot. You are supposed to keep a secret about your three wishes, and the wishes are supposed to come true once the fita falls off on its own. You’re not supposed to cut it or tear it off, or you’ll have bad luck.

Learn more about the fitas in this video: