Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a sport training apparatus and more specifically, the present invention is concerned with an apparatus for training a person in doing body movements for various sports or activities, such as for example body rotations in figure skating. For a new learner or for a performer wanting to enhance his/her rotation techniques, the steps in performing such body movements and the subtleties in the techniques may need intensive monitoring from a teacher and require repetitions to develop good reflexes in achieving the body movements. The apparatus of the present invention includes an elongated body for the positioning of each hand in the vicinity of each other to help perfect the body rotation of the performer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,430,049, filed May 29, 2003, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to sport training apparatuses. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with an apparatus for training a person in doing body rotations.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In many sports such as for example figure skating, gymnastics, diving or acrobatic ski, the positioning of the body and of the body members is crucial to the quality of execution of a specific movement or required figures in a routine.  
         [0004]     Amongst those movements, the rotation of the body upon itself is generally preformed along the vertical body axis of the performer. Various parameters may affect the quality and the speed of the rotation, such as, for example, the position and the momentum of the body upon entry into the rotation and the position of the body members during the execution of the rotation.  
         [0005]     The different steps of the movement of rotation will be briefly described as used in figure skating, for a counter clockwise direction. Of course, the same principles would apply in the clockwise direction using the opposite side of the body and rotating in the opposite direction. There are many different factors involved in the creation of rotation but the following description will be specifically concentrated on the arm movements as it is the arms and the upper body that are mainly implicated in every steps of the jump and spins from entry into the rotation to finish or landing of the rotation.  
         [heading-0006]     Initiation of the Rotation  
         [0007]     The rotation is generally initiated by the right side of the body doing a half circle, starting from the back of the body and coming to the front of the left side of the body. Therefore, the right arm will be doing a half circle starting from the back of the body and coming to the front of the body. Meanwhile the left arm is doing a one quarter of a circle, starting from the left side of the body and coming to the front. The rotation is mainly initiated by the right side of the body going in the same direction as the rotation.  
         [heading-0008]     Rotation Position  
         [0009]     As both hands arrive in front of the body, generally at shoulder&#39;s height, the arms form a circle, which is more or less ellipsoidal, depending on the desired technique.  
         [heading-0010]     Acceleration of the Rotation  
         [0011]     The acceleration of the rotation is generally induced by the arms, being in the above-described rotation position, which go from being far from the body to being close to the body. The acceleration principle may be explained by the fact that the overall body inertia is brought closer to the axis of rotation of the rotation performer as his/her arms are brought closer to his/her body.  
         [heading-0012]     Deceleration of the Rotation  
         [0013]     The deceleration of the rotation generally happens when the movements of the arms go from being close to the body to being far from the body.  
         [heading-0014]     Landing or Finish  
         [0015]     The landing or finish of spin will result in a complete stop or exit of the rotation. One way to achieve this step is to have the right hand, the right arm and the right side of the body go in the opposite direction of the rotation. The right arm may therefore have to do a one quarter of a circle, going from the front of the body to the side of the body. To help position and balance the body over the landing side, the figure skaters generally use a movement of arms that will help transfer the weight from being centered to being over the landing side.  
         [0016]     For an apprentice or for a performer wanting to enhance his/her rotation techniques, the supervision of a professional trainer or teacher may be sought. However, due to the fact that some movements, such as for example body rotations, are often executed at high speeds and that for at least some time during the execution of the movements, the performer is not in front of the teacher, it may be difficult for a teacher to properly monitor every subtlety in the movement and thus properly guide the performer.  
         [0017]     It may also be important for some apprentices or performers to visualize the movements that are taught, such that with time and practice, the position of the body members become reflexes imprinted in their mental and physical memory, which may therefore help enhance body movement precision, speed, pace, repetition and duration of the movement.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus which helps a performer in executing body movements requiring precise positioning of the hands, such as for example body rotations.  
         [0019]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of using an apparatus which integrates sensorial markers, such as for example visual, auditive and/or tactile markers, to help train, teach or develop the body movement techniques.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Generally stated, the present invention concerns a sports training apparatus for training a person in performing body movements such as for example body rotations. The apparatus is also generally used with a method helping to teach and learn a body position which may be used in many sports that require performance of such body movements, such as for example figure skating, diving, gymnastics and acrobatic skiing.  
         [0021]     More specifically, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a apparatus for training a person in doing rotations; the apparatus comprising a body having a first handle portion for receiving a first hand of the person and a second handle portion positioned adjacent said first handle portion for receiving a second hand of the person adjacent the first hand; whereby, in operation, the person holds said first handle portion of the apparatus with said first hand before initiating a rotation and then holds both the first and second handle portions using both hands after initiating the rotation, to force both hands to being adjacent, thereby contributing to perfecting the rotation.  
         [0022]     An apparatus for positioning both hands of a person while performing a body movement, said apparatus comprising: 
        a body including a first handle portion and a second handle portion which is movably mounted to said first handle portion; and     a stopper radially extending from said body near one end of said first handle portion;     whereby upon performing the body movement, a first hand is positioned on said first handle portion and in contact with said stopper, and the other hand is positioned on said second handle portion adjacent to the first hand.        
 
         [0026]     A method for teaching a person in doing rotations, said method: 
        a) providing to the person a body having a first handle portion and a second handle portion positioned adjacent said first handle portion; 
 
 the person: 
    b) positioning a first hand on said first handle portion of said body;     c) generating the momentum to create the rotation along a rotation direction;     d) positioning a second hand on said second handle portion of said body and positioning both hands adjacent to one another in front of him;     e) bringing the hands holding said body close to him;     f) moving the arms from being generally in front of him in an opposite direction to said rotation direction; and     g) releasing the second hand from said second handle portion.        
 
         [0035]     It is to be noted that the in the present description and in the appended claims, references to the terms “first” and “second” are only used herein for clarity and are interchangeable with respect to the drawings.  
         [0036]     Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]     In the appended drawings:  
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a sports training apparatus according to a first embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view showing a second embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view showing a third embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view showing a fourth embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view showing a fifth embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view showing an angled configuration of the apparatus of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a rotated configuration of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary sectional side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0047]      FIG. 10  is fragmentary sectional side view showing an assembled configuration of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0048]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary sectional side view showing a seventh embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0049]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary sectional side view showing an eight embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0050]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view showing a ninth embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0051]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0052]      FIG. 15A  is a side elevation view showing a first step in a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to an embodiment of a second aspect of the invention;  
         [0053]      FIG. 15B  is a side elevation view showing an alternative to the first step of  FIG. 15A ;  
         [0054]      FIG. 16A  is a top view showing a second step in a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to the second aspect of the invention;  
         [0055]      FIG. 16B  is a side elevation view showing the second step of  FIG. 16A ;  
         [0056]      FIG. 17  is a side elevation view showing a third step in a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to the second aspect of the invention;  
         [0057]      FIG. 18  is a side elevation view showing a fourth step in a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to the second aspect of the invention;  
         [0058]      FIG. 19  is a top view showing the fourth step of  FIG. 18 ;  
         [0059]      FIG. 20  is a top view showing a fifth step in a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to the second aspect of the invention;  
         [0060]      FIG. 21  is a top view showing a sixth step in a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to the second aspect of the invention;  
         [0061]      FIG. 22A  is a top view showing an seventh step in a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to the second aspect of the invention;  
         [0062]      FIG. 22B  is a side elevation view showing the seventh step of  FIG. 22A ; and  
         [0063]      FIG. 23  is a top view showing an eight step in a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to the second aspect of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0064]     An apparatus  10  for training a person in performing rotations according to a first illustrative embodiment will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0065]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  comprises a cylindrical body  12  having first and second longitudinal ends  14  and  16 , each provided with a circumferential protrusion defining first and second stoppers  18  and  20 .  
         [0066]     The first half of the body  12  extending from the first longitudinal end  14  and including the first stopper  18  defines a first handle portion  22  for receiving a first hand of a user and the second half of the body  12  extending from the second longitudinal end  16  and including the second stopper  20  defines a second handle portion  24  for receiving a second hand of a user.  
         [0067]     Moreover, the cylindrical body  12  is configured and sized so that when a user closes its hands on the cylindrical body  12  in such a way that each of its two hands abuts a respective stopper  18 - 20 , the two hands are positioned adjacent to each other.  
         [0068]     The apparatus  10  further comprises a strap  26  secured to the body  12  near its first longitudinal end  14 . More specifically, the strap  26  is mounted in an aperture (not shown) in the stopper  18  via a fastener (not shown). The strap  26  is so configured as to be positioned around the wrist of the first hand when positioned on the second handle portion  24 .  
         [0069]     The strap  26  includes an adjuster  28  to adjust the length of the strap  26  around the wrist of the hand to handle the second handle portion  24 . Such an adjuster  28  is believe to be well known in the art and will not be described herein in more detail for concision purposes. The form of the adjuster  28  can modified without departing from the spirit and nature of the present invention. Also, the apparatus  10  can be provided with a strap  26  having a predetermined fixed length.  
         [0070]     As will become more apparent from further reading of the present description, the stoppers  16  and  18  help positioning the hands of a user on the body  12 , while contributing to preventing slippage of the hands onto the body  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the stoppers  18  and  20  can have different shapes.  
         [0071]     Alternatively to being cylindrical, the body  12  can have other constant or varying cross-sections.  
         [0072]     The body  12  can also be made of any rigid or partially deformable materials such as: plastic, rubber, wood, metal, etc. and may be made hollow to be lighter.  
         [0073]     The operation of the apparatus  10  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 15A-23  illustrating a method for teaching a person in doing rotations according to an illustrative embodiment of a second aspect of the present invention. Even though such rotations are performed in various sports and activities, the method will be described for a person executing counter-clockwise body rotations in figure skating.  
         [heading-0074]     One Hand Holding the Apparatus  
         [0075]     As seen in  FIG. 15A and 15B , a first hand  30  of the person holds the first handle portion  22  of the apparatus  10  with the strap  26  positioned around the wrist  31 . In  FIG. 15A , the thumb  32  and the index  33  of the hand  30  are positioned adjacent to the stopper  18 . In  FIG. 15B , which illustrates and alternative handling of the apparatus  10  by the first hand  30 , the little finger  34  of the hand  30  is positioned adjacent to the stopper  18 . Using the adjuster  28 , the length of the strap  26  is adjusted around the wrist  31 .  
         [0076]     It is to be noted that for the remainder of the description of the operation of the apparatus  10 , the alternative handling of the apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 15B  will be used. It is also to be noted that the strap  26  is not illustrated on all the appended figures, for clarity purposes.  
         [heading-0077]     Initiating the Rotation  
         [0078]     At the beginning of the initiation of the rotation by the person using its body  35 , the hands  30 ,  36  are generally apart as shown in  FIGS. 16A and 16B , but one hand  30  is holding the apparatus  10 .  
         [0079]     The angle in which the apparatus  10  is held generally helps determine the direction of the movement of the arm holding the apparatus  10 , such that when held in the right hand  30 , the angle will help direct the movement of the right arm  37 .  
         [0080]     As shown in  FIG. 16B , the apparatus  10  is pointed up with the palm of the hand  30  facing forward. This position generally induces a rotation of the right shoulder  38  toward the back. This opening of the right shoulder  38  generally helps to guide the right arm  37  toward the front to favor a movement of the right arm  37  in a generally upward direction, from the back of the front of the body  35 .  
         [0081]     Various angles in holding the apparatus  10  may also help have various directions of movements for the right and left arms. For example, the apparatus  10  may also be held pointing forward with the palm of the hand facing down. This configuration generally helps to place the right shoulder  38  parallel with the body  35  such that the right arm  37  is also parallel to the body  35 .  
         [0082]     The apparatus  10  may also be held pointing downward with the palm of the hand  30  facing backward. This configuration generally helps to induce a rotation of the right shoulder  38  toward the front to favor a movement of the right arm  37  in a downward direction, from the back of the body  35  to the front of the body  35 .  
         [0083]     The same principle applies to the left arm  39  regarding the direction of the movement from the side of the body and coming to the front of body.  
         [0084]     The user then brings both hands in front of him to begin the rotation.  
         [heading-0085]     Two Hands Hold the Apparatus  
         [0086]     As seen in  FIG. 17 , both hands  30  and  36  are joined together in front of the body  35  as the second hand  36  grabs the second handle portion  24 . The user is now in a rotation position.  
         [heading-0087]     The Open Rotation Position  
         [0088]     The rotation position illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19  is an open rotation position, which involves having both hands  30  and  36  being joined together on the apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  is held in front of the body  35 , generally at the shoulders  38  height and at a distance of about 35 cm (about 14 inches) of the body  35 . However, the distance and height of the apparatus  10  may vary according to the desired open rotation position or according to the size and age of the person using the apparatus  10 .  
         [0089]     As can be better seen from  FIG. 19 , the arms  37 ,  39  generally form a circle more or less ellipsoidal, depending on the desired technique. The apparatus  10  helps to have both hands  30 ,  36  generally aligned one above the other and at a generally equal distance of the body  35 , in order to have an optimized symmetric rotation position. The apparatus  10  also help to generally maintain the same rotation position throughout the performance of the rotation.  
         [0090]     It is to be noted that during the performance of a jump or an exercise that requires faster execution or faster rotation, this step may be avoided.  
         [heading-0091]     The Acceleration of Rotation  
         [0092]     The acceleration of the rotation generally occurs when the arms  37 ,  39 , which are in the open rotation position of  FIG. 19 , generally go from being far from the body  35  to being close to the body  35  (see arrow  41  in  FIG. 20 ). The apparatus  10  helps synchronously bring both arms  37 ,  39  closer to the body  35  by keeping the arms  37 ,  39  generally aligned and symmetric one to the other. The apparatus  10  also generally helps determine and control the speed and the direction of the movement of the arms  37 ,  39  during the acceleration of the rotation.  
         [0093]     As seen in  FIG. 20 , the second rotation position is a closed rotation position, involving both hands  30 ,  36  being joined together on the apparatus  10 . At that stage, the apparatus  10  is generally held in front of the body  35 , at the shoulders  38  height and at a distance of about 0 to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) from the body  35 . However, the distance and height of the apparatus  10  generally varies according to the desired closed rotation position.  
         [0094]     The apparatus  10  generally helps determine and control the desired distance between the arms  37 ,  39  and the body  35  during the performance of the rotation. The apparatus  10  is generally held in the center of the body  35 , at a generally equal distance of the shoulders  38 . The apparatus  10  generally helps to have a symmetric rotation position.  
         [0095]     An alternative to the closed rotation position involves the apparatus  10  being generally aligned over the landing side. In the case of a rotation in the counter clockwise direction, the apparatus  10  is held closer to the right shoulder than the left shoulder.  
         [heading-0096]     The Deceleration of Rotation  
         [0097]     The deceleration of the rotation is illustrated in  FIG. 21  and generally happens with the movement of the arms  37 ,  39  go from being close to the body  35  to being far from the body  35  (see arrow  43  in  FIG. 21 ). The apparatus  10  generally helps the symmetry and the synchronization of both arms  37 ,  39  and also helps control the speed and the direction of the movement of the arms  37 ,  39  during the deceleration of the rotation.  
         [heading-0098]     The Ending of the Rotation  
         [0099]     As seen in  FIGS. 22A and 22B , the ending of the rotation generally happens with the movement of the arms  37 ,  39  going from being generally centered in front of the body  35  (as seen in  FIG. 21 ) to going it the opposite direction of the rotation.  
         [0100]     If the body  35  rotates in the counter clockwise direction, then both hands  30 ,  36  move the apparatus  10  in the clockwise direction in order to stop the rotation (as can be seen in  FIGS. 22A and 22B ). The apparatus  10  generally helps both hands  30 ,  36  move generally strongly and symmetrically in the opposite direction of the rotation. During the ending of rotation movement, the apparatus  10  generally helps the synchronization of both arms  37 ,  39  and also helps control the speed of that movement.  
         [0101]     In the landing of jumps and finish of spins, the apparatus  10  also helps to transfer the weight of the body  35  over the landing side. For instance, if the rotation is in the counter clock wise direction, the landing side will be the right side. Therefore, the user may move the apparatus  10  from being in front of the body  35  to be in front of the right shoulder to help transfer the weight of the body  35  from being generally centered to being over the right side which is in this example, the landing side.  
         [heading-0102]     The Ending Movement  
         [0103]     The ending movement generally happens when the second hand holding the second handle portion  24  release the apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  generally remains held by the hand  30  holding the first handle portion  22 , as can be seen in  FIG. 23 .  
         [0104]     Apparatuses according to various embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention will now be described with respect to FIGS.  2  to  14 . For concision purposes, only the differences between the apparatuses of the various embodiments of  FIG. 2  to  14  and the apparatus  10  illustrated in will be described hereinbelow.  
         [0105]     An apparatus  110  according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0106]     In this embodiment, the strap  26  is mounted to the stopper  20  at the second end of the apparatus  110 . Furthermore, the apparatus  110  includes an articulation  140  which allows a pivotal connection between the handle portion  122  and the handle portion  124 . The handle portion  122  generally extends along a first axis  142  and the handle portion  124  generally extends along a second axis  144  such that the first and second axis  142 ,  144  may be angled, generally parallel, or concurrent depending on the articulation  140 . The articulation  140  allows different angles of grips between the first hand and the second hand when positioned on the apparatus  10 .  
         [0107]     In operation, the apparatus  110  which is provided with the articulation  140  may be integrated to the method for teaching a person in doing rotations which was described hereinabove and more specifically shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , such that when the performer of the rotation joins his two hands  30 ,  36 , on the apparatus  110 , both of his elbows are generally aligned.  
         [0108]     An apparatus  210  according to a third embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0109]     In this embodiment, the articulation  240  of the apparatus  210  includes a pivot pin  246  and a position selector assembly  248 . The pivot pin  246  pivotally connects the handle portion  222  and the handle portion  224  (see arrow  254 ). The position selector assembly  248  projection  250  extending from the handle portion  224  which selectively cooperates with one of a plurality of notches  252  on the handle portion  222 .  
         [0110]     Various angular orientations between the handle portion  222  and the handle portion  224  are therefore available, by pivoting either or both the handle portion  222  and the handle portion  224  about the pivot pin  246 , such that the projection  250  is selectively engaging the notch  252  that corresponds to the desired apparatus  210  configuration. The projection  250  and the selected notch  252  are so configured as to generally remain engaged in cooperation during the use of the apparatus  210 .  
         [0111]     An apparatus  310  according to a fourth embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0112]     In this embodiment, the articulation  340  includes a rotational body  354  which is rotatably mounted on one end to the handle portion  322  and on the other end, pivotally mounted to the handle portion  324  via the pivot pin  346 .  
         [0113]     On one end, the rotational body  354  includes the plurality of notches  352  cooperating with the projection  350  of the handle portion  324 . On the other end, the rotational body  354  includes a mounting assembly (not shown) which allows to angularly position the rotational body  354  along the first axis  342  of the first handle portion  322 . The mounting assembly (not shown) may be selected from a plurality of assemblies, such as for example, a similar pin and notch arrangement as described hereinabove.  
         [0114]     The articulation  340  provides various angular orientations about the pivot pin  346 , between the handle portion  322  and the handle portion  324  (see arrow  356 ). The presence of the rotational body  354  therefore allows a second degree of liberty between the handle portion  322  and the handle portion  324  by providing them with a second set of respective angular orientations about the first axis  342  (see arrow  358 ).  
         [0115]     An apparatus  410  according to a fifth embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0116]     In this embodiment, the handle portion  422  and the handle portion  424  are articulated by the articulation  440  which includes a deformable bar  456  embedded in the body  412  and which deforms under a predetermined level of force. In this embodiment, the body  412  of the apparatus  410  is generally malleable such that it follows the contour configuration defined by the deformable bar  456 .  
         [0117]     In  FIG. 5 , the apparatus  410  is shown with a generally rectilinear configuration, i.e. when no bending force is applied thereto. In  FIG. 6 , the handle portion  424  is angled with respect to the handle portion  422  at a bend  458  a force exerted to the articulation  440 .  
         [0118]     As seen in  FIG. 6 , it is easily understood to one skilled in the art that it is possible to generate more than one angle to the deformable bar  456 , such that the handle portion  422  and the handle portion  424  may be relatively positioned at different angular positions.  
         [0119]     For instance, the handle portion  422  and the handle portion  424  may be positioned in a horseshoe configuration, in a S-shape configuration or any other configurations allowing the positioning of a first hand on the first handle portion  422  and a second hand to a second handle portion  424 , such that they are either closer or farther from each other to suit various uses of the apparatus  410 . The deformation of the deformable bar  456  may be either elastic or plastic, depending on the material used to make the bar  456 .  
         [0120]     An apparatus  510  according to a sixth embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.  7  to  10 .  
         [0121]     In  FIG. 7  and  8 , it is shown that the handle portion  522  and the handle portion  524  are made from two separate parts, one fitting in the other and kept together by the articulation  540  which, in this embodiment, involves a connection between the handle portion  522  and the handle portion  524 . The articulation  540  is so configured as to generate a removable attachment between both handle portions  522  and  524  and yet allow movement between the two.  
         [0122]     The handle portion  522  and the handle portion  524  have generally ellipsoidal cross sections which are aligned or not, depending on the use of the apparatus  510 . The articulation  540  generally extends from one end of the handle portion  522  and includes a body  560  supporting a gear  562  and a plurality of annular rings  564 .  
         [0123]     The gear  562  includes a plurality of teeth  566  and the annular rings  564  are made from a mechanically compliant material which elastically deforms under a force while generally keeping its physical and functional integrity.  
         [0124]     As illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  10 , the handle portion  524  includes on one end a female portion  568  so configured as to receive the articulation  540 . The female portion  568  includes a teeth receiving portion  570  and a ring receiving portion  572 .  
         [0125]     The teeth receiving portion  570  includes a succession of grooves  574  adapted to mesh with the teeth  566  of the articulation  540 , such that a plurality of angular positions between the handle portion  522  and the handle portion  524  are defined around the first axis  542 , as shown by the arrow  543  in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0126]     The ring receiving portion  572  includes a succession of grooves  576  adapted to receive the rings  564  of the articulation  540 , such that a plurality of axial positions between the first handle portion  522  and the second handle portion  524  are defined along the first axis  542 , as shown by the arrow  545  in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0127]     The rings  564  are first inserted in the female portion  568  toward the ring receiving portion  572 . At one point after the insertion of the articulation  540  in the female portion  568 , the teeth  566  engage the grooves  574 , corresponding to the selected relative angular orientation around the first axis  542  and between the first handle portion  522  and the second handle portion  524 . The rings  564  then selectively engage the ring receiving portion  572  until the desired length of the apparatus  510  is obtained.  
         [0128]     An apparatus  610  according to a seventh embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0129]     In this embodiment, the handle portion  622  and the handle portion  624  include identical stoppers  618 ,  620 . Also, the second stopper  620  is positioned adjacent to the first handle portion  622 . The articulation  540  of the embodiment of FIGS.  7  to  10  is also used.  
         [0130]     An apparatus  710  according to an eight embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0131]     In this embodiment, only the handle portion  724  includes a stopper  720 . Also, only one tooth  766  is fixedly mounted on the articulation  740 , to engage one of the grooves  774  corresponding to the selected relative orientation between the first handle portion  722  and the second handle portion  724 .  
         [0132]     An apparatus  810  according to a ninth embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 .  
         [0133]     In this embodiment, the articulation  840  includes a telescopic body  878  variable in length to allow the hands of the user of the apparatus  810  to be close or far from each other, by varying the distance between the handle portion  822  and the handle portion  824 .  
         [0134]     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the handle portion  822  has a generally oval cross-section having its greater axis  880  generally in the same plane as the smaller axis  882  of the generally oval cross-section of the handle portion  824 . The generally oval cross-section of the handle portion  822  has its smaller axis  884  in the same plane as the greater axis  886  of the generally oval cross-section of the handle portion  824 , as shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0135]     Since the cross-sections of the handle portion  822  and the handle portion  824  have different axis  880 ,  884  and  882 ,  886 , the handle portions  822 ,  824  are so configured as to align the hands along a desired angular alignment with respect to each other. In the shown embodiment, the hands are to be respectively aligned at a relative 90 degree angle on the handle portions  822 ,  824 .  
         [0136]     Also, a sensor  888  trigger a sound, light or a signal from an emitter (not shown) to inform the user that his/her hands are properly positioned on the apparatus  810  when in contact with the sensor  888 . The sensor  888  is generally positioned on the handle portions  822 ,  824 , in the area where the hands are usually located when holding the apparatus  810 .  
         [0137]     In operation, the apparatus  810  provided with a sensor  888  may be integrated to the method for teaching a person in doing rotations which was described hereinabove. The sensor  888  is generally activated to help confirm to the user or an observer of the user that both hands  30 ,  36  are well positioned on the apparatus  810 .  
         [0138]     More specifically, the positioning of the second hand  36  on the handle portion  824  activates the sensor  888 . At that time, the sensor  888  indicates via a signal that both hands are holding the apparatus  810 . When the hand  36  holding the handle portion  824  releases the apparatus  810 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the sensor is deactivated and stops emitting the signal.  
         [0139]     A prototype of the apparatus  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , was designed according to the following specifications: 
        The apparatus  10  includes in a diameter of about 2 centimeters and an overall length of about 15 to 20 centimeters;     A first handle portion  22  has an ellipsoidal cylinder shape of about 2 centimeters large, 1.5 centimeters thick and 8 centimeters long;     A second handle portion  24  has a an ellipsoidal cylinder shape of about 2 centimeters large, 1.5 centimeters thick and 8 centimeters long;     An articulation  40  having a cylinder shape of about 2 centimeters in diameter and of about 0.5 to 5 centimeters long;     A stopper  18  has an ellipsoidal shape of about 5 centimeters wide, 4.5 centimeters thick and 1.5 centimeters long;     A stopper  20  has a 2.5 centimeters diameter and being 2 centimeters long.        
 
         [0146]     It is to be noted that the hereinabove sizes and proportion of the different components and portions are approximate and may vary accordingly, for example, to the size of the person using it.  
         [0147]     Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of various embodiments thereof, it can be modified at will, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.