Category: Lifestyle

{Many Rwandans have complained about unwanted weight gain. Some even say that their size has become a serious burden to their wellbeing.}

Meanwhile, WAKA Fitness has been working tirelessly to develop a sustainable and effective solution for people who needs to lose weight or just want to transform their body. The program, called YOU 2.0, is a 90-day intensive weight-loss program that seeks to help each participant reach their individual health and fitness goals in a sustainable and innovative way.

According to the founder of WAKA Fitness, “each YOU 2.0 participant will receive fitness and health assessments, three days of personal training per week, diet consultations, meal plans, recipes and ongoing coaching from WAKA Fitness Managers.”

In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, WAKA Fitness Owner and Managing Director, Dennis Dybdal explained that “the YOU 2.0 program is only 90 days but we teach each participant the necessary lifestyle changes so that they will continue to follow the guidelines even after the program has ended.”

He further added that “based on the impressive results that each participant in last year’s YOU 2.0 achieved, we believe that 90 days is plenty of time to realize most realistic fitness goals. “

YOU 2.0 has produced real results

By way of example Dennis Dybdal told this website’s reporter that “one of participants lost 19.5 kg during the YOU 2.0 program. In addition, she gained confidence and developed a passion for fitness.”

Apart from the above mentioned participant, there was another participant, who had recurrent problems with ulcers, migraines and insomnia. A few weeks into the program, these problems decreased or completely disappeared.
It is true that some people wish to lose weight, but don’t know what to do.

WAKA Fitness assures us that YOU 2.0 teach all participants about the science of weight loss, gaining strength and improving general fitness.

“First of all, we know from previous participants that YOU 2.0 works. We can guarantee that if you follow our advice, you will lose weight. Additionally, the fundamental purpose of YOU 2.0 is to provide each participant with an individual guide through each step in their weight loss journey. The trainers are there to push and motivate participants to perform. This means that our personal trainers provide individual exercise programs based on each participant’s goals and health limitations. We provide easy to follow, nutritious and delicious adjustments to each participant’s diet through diet consultations and workshops.” Dennis Dybdal added.

Dennis Dybdal added that losing weight can be difficult. YOU 2.0 serves as a support system where participants adopt small adjustments in eating habits and learn how to make exercise more fun and exciting. These are key changes to ensure long lasting weight loss.

“This is where the personal coaching element of YOU 2.0 is very crucial. By the end of last year’s YOU 2.0, we had become close with each of the participants – serving as their personal mentors, cheerleaders and guides through the program. More importantly, members of the group bonded with each other during the program and continue to rely on each other today. With YOU 2.0, you are definitely not alone during your journey,” he concluded.

{IT CAN be frustrating when you’re working hard without seeing any results.
}

Chances are, the problem isn’t the exercise itself, but your habits before and after training. The fitness experts at Body + Soul have put together six common workout sabotages so you can make sure to avoid them.

{{1. You ‘reward’ yourself with food}}

You’ve just worked up a serious sweat, so you should get that choccie bar now right? We hate to tell, but wrong. Whether you’re doing this consciously or subconsciously, you’re not going to see any results if you’re just replacing all the calories you just worked off.

Even that smoothie or breakfast muffin you thought were healthy can be loaded with unwanted calories. The best way to know? Enter absolutely everything you eat and drink into a diary, like the body+soul revolution Online diary.

“Trail mixes, hummus with veggie sticks, low-fat cottage cheese on rice crackers, green smoothies, and low-fat yoghurt with fruit make excellent snacks,” suggests body+soul Nutritionist, Lisa Guy.

{{2. You’re not refuelling}}

On the other end of the eating spectrum, is not eating enough healthy snacks and meals often enough.

If you hit the gym on an empty stomach you’re not going to have enough energy to keep you going, so your body will turn to breaking down existing muscle tissue, which is pretty much the opposite of a trip to gym should help you achieve.

Again, if you wait to long to refuel after a workout, you’re not giving your body the nutrients it needs to recover. If you’re exercising for longer than 45 minutes, you should wait no longer than 30 to 40 minutes to replenish with a healthy meal or snack.

{{3. You’re not getting enough sleep}}

Sleep really is central to everything your body does. If you hit the gym when you’re overtired it can impact your ability to balance, focus, and burn calories efficiently. As a result you won’t be working as hard and you’ll be wasting a lot of your workout.

This doesn’t mean you have an excuse not to commit to your exercise every time you’re feeling a little sleepy, and a workout can actually help you wake up, but it does mean that you shouldn’t be skipping your essential sleeping hours.

It’s great if you’re waking up early to fit in exercise, but make sure you balance that out with an earlier bedtime. Or you might find a lunchtime or afternoon workout suits you better.

{{4. You’re not setting workout goals}}

How can you know if you’re improving if you don’t have anything to work towards? It could be as simple as wanting to be able to lift a certain weight, run a certain distance or make a Personal Best time.

Once you know what you want to achieve, break it down into smaller mini-goals and work out a plan to reach them. For example, if you’re trying to improve your running speed, you might include a small jog of a few hundred metres in a walk one week. Set a goal to jog maybe one kilometre straight the next week.

Whatever your goal is, keep track of your improvements.

{{5. You’re not challenging yourself}}

Your body gets used to the same movements over and over again. No matter how good your workout is, if it’s the same every time you’re going to stop seeing improvements.

Keep your body guessing by changing up the amount of time, intensity and type of exercise you’re doing. Try new things. Increase the weight you’re lifting. These changes will keep it more interesting for you too!

{{6. You’re not stretching}}

You only have a certain amount of time for your workout, so you shouldn’t waste any of it on stretching right? It might seem that way, but stretching is so important to ready the body for exercise by increasing the temperature and blood flow to your muscles. Stretching before and after a workout for about 5 minutes will help prevent an injury and let your body perform at its best.

Source: News.com

{{Leading food delivery service shares tips on how to ensure a joyful football season}}

{When it comes to the sacred sports “Football”, every second matters and as a football fanatic, there is nothing really as bad as missing a moment of a football match. Because you’ll beat yourself up if the second you happen to take your eyes off the ball is the moment your favorite player scores that record breaking goal!}

Football has always been an emotional sport. For both, viewers and participants, the adrenalin rush, the highs and the lows it gives and most of all the feeling of togetherness it brings when watched in an unfamiliar territory. Bonds are created during football, strangers become best of friends, feuds end and when it comes to ice-breaking conversations, the football topic is definitely high on the list.

As the Africa Cup of Nation commences and the excitement that comes with the tournament kicks in, hellofood shares tips on how to avoid distractions and make sure to enjoy the matches to ensure there is never a dull moment during our football viewing sessions.

1. Ensure you have some munchies: Have your drinks, snacks, finger foods ready before the game starts. For some reason, the mix of emotions we feel while watching football, stirs up our appetite. If you’re too busy or just got back from work, simply order delicacies from hellofood and have it ordered to wherever you are. Otherwise you may find yourself biting your nails out of nervousness.

2. Empty your bowels before the game begins: They say we can’t cheat nature and when you have to go, you have to go. However, we can try our best to take precautionary steps to ensure we can go 90minutes or 45mins at the very least before we have to use the bathroom. Emptying your bowels before the game means you get to enjoy every moment of the game without having to go.

3. Have friends over/ Go to a public viewing center: Watching football alone is never as much fun as when you watch it with a bunch of people. So invite family and friends over, go to a public viewing center or a sports bar and enjoy the togetherness.

{{About hellofood:}}

hellofood together with its affiliated brand foodpanda and Delivery Club, is the leading global online food delivery marketplace, active in more than 40 countries on five continents. The company enables restaurants to become visible in the online and mobile world and provides them with a constantly evolving online technology. For consumers, hellofood offer the convenience to order food online and the widest gastronomic range, from which they can choose their favorite meal on the web or via the app. Since October 2013, hellofood operates in Rwanda and is the first online food ordering marketplace in Kigali. Our mission is to satisfy the appetites of anyone, anywhere, anytime.

{{
About Africa Internet Group}}

Africa Internet Group introduces and accelerates the online shift in Africa – for its people and its culture. It is committed to running successful and vibrant internet companies which boost the evolution of African online culture. AIG is the parent group of nine successful and fast-growing companies in more than 26 African countries, accounting for over 3,500 staff. AIG cares about entrepreneurship and brings together all the key elements required to build great companies: team, concept, technology and capital. Its network of companies includes JUMIA, Kaymu, Hellofood, Lamudi, Carmudi, Zando, Jovago, Lendico and Easy Taxi.

For more information: Follow us on Twitter: @Hellofood_RW
Natasha UWASE Like us on Facebook: Hellofood RW
Public Relations
T: +250 783240771
Email: uwase.natasha@hellofood.rw

{This year while you’re celebrating the holidays, remember to practice safety when it comes to drinking alcohol.}

Excessive alcohol use causes 79,000 deaths each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and hundreds more are injured.

Ogden Regional Medical Center’s emergency department treats many alcohol related injuries each year, especially during the holiday season, said Deanna Wolfe, trauma coordinator for the hospital.

“Over consumption of alcohol can lead to alcohol toxicity or poisoning. This is a very dangerous condition that can lead to serious consequences including death,” Wolfe said. “Symptoms include extreme confusion, vomiting, blue or pale skin, unconsciousness, and slow or irregular breathing.”

Sandy Egbert, director of intensive medicine at McKay-Dee Hospital said drinking too much too fast can cause alcohol poisoning. This is a serious condition and should be treated immediately.

“People can even die from alcohol poisoning,” she said. “Key points to remember are to never drink alcohol and drive and understand the affects to your body if you decide to consume alcohol. Your liver can be damaged, your stomach lining can become irritated, your pancreas can be damaged and then digesting food becomes difficult, your immune system is weakened making you more susceptible to disease, and your judgment and reactions are altered when you drink alcohol. Long term drinking can cause permanent damage to your brain.”

Wolfe and Egbert said common alcohol related injuries that land people in the emergency department include automobile accidents, slips and falls, alcohol poisoning, cuts and lacerations, hanging Christmas lights and carving the ham or turkey.

“It’s frustrating because alcohol related injuries are almost always preventable,” Wolfe said. “Many of these injuries are very serious and unfortunately some are fatal.”

Egbert said there are always dangers to alcohol consumption, not just during the holiday season. Drinking even small amounts of alcohol from beer, wine, or hard liquor can affect a person’s thinking and coordination.

“When your coordination and balance is impaired, you have a greater chance of falling or getting into an accident,” she said. “If people are going to social events during the holidays where there is alcohol, drink responsibly and never drive. Plan ahead and find a designated driver, or plan on using a local taxi company for transportation.”

Wolfe also said it’s a myth that alcohol will keep you warm. You may feel warmer but when drinking, but it will actually lower your core body temperature and can lead to hyperthermia.

It’s also important not to combine alcohol with medications, even over-the-counter cold medications without consulting your doctor.

Standard Net

{In Season 2 of the popular VH1 original series “Single Ladies,” leading lady Raquel and her love interest interacted in a steamy love scene that, at the time, was the talk of social media. Open to new experiences and completely infatuated with the new man in her life, Raquel was presented with the idea of participating in tantric sex.}

A bit apprehensive at first, Raquel finally agreed and was lead by her partner in a series of breathing exercises, eye contact and intimate touching that eventually led to a heated scene of lovemaking. For many watching the show, the concept of tantric sex was foreign, leading many to wonder exactly what tantra is in the first place.

For many who are members of the ‘conscious community,’ the word and its philosophy isn’t a new concept, but for the average religion-bound individual the world of tantra is unknown.

Tantra is a style of meditation and ritual credited to the Indian culture over 6,000 years ago, and its basis is rooted in connecting with the divine through the use of spiritual energy. In the case of tantric sex, sexual energy is used to not only come into complete unity with a beloved but to also draw closer to a higher power.

Imagine being able to feel those euphoric moments over and over in the period of 30 minutes. Tantric sex allows couples to become multi-orgasmic and to use sex as a form of manifestation to not only improve their relationship but each individual’s overall health.

So how does one go about participating in tantric sex? It’s more simple than you would think.

The practice involves intimate touching, synchronized breathing and giving each other permission to touch or engage with the other. The key is to hold off on engaging in intercourse for as long as you can. Set aside a special time for this activity, create an intimate atmosphere, dress comfortably yet provocatively to entice desire, practice erotic massage, take a bath together and wash each other lovingly, and practice sitting in each other’s presence by staring into each other’s eyes intimately with legs crossed facing each other. Think of tantric sex as extended foreplay. Be comfortable, welcome love and enjoy embracing your partner by allowing the sexual energy between you to peak before engaging in actual intercourse.

Community Journal

{It’s not just the name of that risqué Kylie Minogue song. Science backs the idea of the bedroom workout being good for your health, so add some raunch to your fitness routine.}

Ever felt guilty for ditching the gym for a night of nooky with your other half? You shouldn’t. For years, experts have examined the act of sex, delving into people’s minds and bedrooms in a bid to understand all the ins and outs – pardon the pun – of humankind’s most basic desire.

Much has been assumed, imagined and proven wrong about the subject. But one recent study has shown that at least one “myth” about sex is true – it really does count as a legitimate form of exercise.

Of course, the idea of sex being good for you isn’t new. As far back as the 1800s, a participant in a survey by sex scholar and Stanford University professor Dr Clelia Duel Mosher wrote “a rational use of [sex] tends to keep people healthier”. Read on to find out how it can benefit your body and mind.

{{The best kind of workout}}

Researchers at the University of Quebec in Canada took 21 young heterosexual couples and monitored their vitals during a 30-minute treadmill run. Next, they kitted them out with armbands and sent them home with the instructions to have sex at least once a week for the following month.

The armbands recorded data such as calories burned and allowed the researchers to compare the results with those collected from the treadmill test. They found that during a session of moderate-intensity sex (which includes foreplay and doesn’t have to involve swinging from the rafters), men burnt 17.5 kilojoules per minute and women burnt about 13kJ. That’s on a par with activities such as hatha yoga, dancing and gymnastics (each 17kJ per minute) and brisk walking (19kJ per minute).

The 30-minute jogging session, in comparison, saw the men burn 38kJ per minute and the women burn almost 30kJ. So, yes – jogging will certainly help you get fitter, but we’re pretty sure it will be a lot less fun. Plus, when you compare sex with other everyday activities such as watching TV (3kJ per minute), cooking (10kJ per minute) and reading (5kJ per minute), it looks more like a workout worthy of an Olympic sport – which it could be if you were enthusiastic enough for long enough.

{{Flu fighter}}

When it comes to beating colds and flu, you should step away from the medicine and into your lover’s arms. According to a study from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, people who have sex a couple of times a week have higher levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody that fights bugs, than those who indulge less frequently. But don’t get too carried away – it also showed those who had sex more than twice a week had lower IgA levels.

{{Heart protector}}

A study at Queens University in Belfast found that having sex three times a week could halve the risk of heart attack. Likewise, a New England Research Institute study showed that men who have sex regularly are up to 45 per cent less likely to suffer serious heart conditions than the once-a-month (or less) group.

{{Anti-ager}}

Forget the elixir of life. The secret to longevity could simply be a regular, enjoyable sex life. A 25-year study from Duke University in North Carolina showed that the more often men had sex, the longer they lived, while women who enjoyed their sex life lived seven to eight years longer than those who didn’t.

The same goes for looking youthful, with a 10-year study from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland revealing those age-defying properties worked in regards to appearance, too – it found that couples who had sex three times a week or more looked up to 10 years younger than those who got it on twice a week. So maybe it should be “slip, slop, slap and tickle” from now on.

{{Headache helper}}

The old excuse of “Not tonight dear, I have a headache” doesn’t wash any more thanks to findings from several studies. Last year, researchers at the University of Münster in Germany found that up to one-third of migraine sufferers said having sex relieved their symptoms. Meanwhile, a study from the Southern Illinois University Headache Clinic revealed that almost half the female participants experienced complete relief from symptoms when they had an orgasm.

{{Stress buster}}

Have a stressful situation on your hands? Have sex. A study from the University of the West of Scotland found that having sex at least once in two weeks helped participants deal with anxiety and recover from stressful situations more quickly, with their blood pressure returning to normal faster than those who hadn’t had sex. But this didn’t seem to be the case with masturbation, which researchers believe is because the soothing effects come from your partner’s touch reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Websites

{With the New Year coming up fast, it’s time for you to start thinking about your goals and dreams for 2015. Focusing on things that make you happy should be a high priority. Unfortunately, some people don’t feel that they deserve to have a good life. Nothing could be further from the truth. You do deserve to be happy. Remember, happy people always choose happiness, so why not become one of them? Here are ten reasons why you deserve to be happy this new year.
}

{{1. You’ve dealt with a lot in life}}

Everyone has their own struggle and if you’re wondering if you should be happy, chances are yours is one of the tougher ones. While everyone should have a chance at happiness, those who have been through a rough time may not feel like they should. Maybe the current year is not successful, but the new year gives you a great chance to become happier and improve your life. Don’t miss this chance!

{{2. You are busy working}}

Life is anything but simple. Trying to balance work, school, family and more can be tough and frustrating. You deserve to find some happiness in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In the coming year, break the habit of spending your evenings at work. Money should never be your priority. I believe that people don’t need to earn lots of money to be happy. Your health, your family and your inner peace are those things that matter most.

{{3. It’s hard to keep going if you don’t motivate yourself}}

Working and pushing yourself constantly is usually motivated by a specific goal. In most cases, that goal is something that will make you happy. Whether you are aiming to run a marathon or get a raise, the hard work you put in will be worth it. Just make sure you set achievable goals and believe in yourself. Confidence is very important here.

{{4. You do things to make other people happy}}

We live in a cruel world full of rude and unhappy people. Don’t become one of them. Keep a positive attitude and be kind to everyone, even your enemies. Also, consider volunteering all year round. When you smile at a waiter, give change to the homeless or just help a friend move, you’re making other people’s lives better. It may be a small thing, but it makes a big difference. Why shouldn’t you have the same?

{{5. When you appreciate life, good things will come your way}}

Call it the Law of Attraction or just positive thinking, but appreciation goes a long way. When you live your life to the fullest, you will reap the benefits. The cycle continues, with positive reinforcement. If you will keep telling that you are the most miserable person in the world, you will never become happy. Nourish your positive attitude each day and stay grateful for all things you have in your life.

{{6. You need a boost}}

Life has its ups and downs and if you are coming out of a down, it’s high time you had a positive boost. This new year, you can be happy again. It may not be the easiest thing in the world, but happiness will take you a long ways. Keep a gratitude journal or read some inspirational quotes each day. This will help keep your spirits high and achieve more life-changing goals.

{{7. You’ll be more productive and successful}}

Studies have shown that happy people tend to do better in life and work. That makes sense if you consider that your attitude affects how people perceive you. The people who are watching could be the ones who are in a position to offer you a job or a raise. So if you want to get a promotion, you should definitely stay positive and happy no matter what.

{{8. You’ll live longer}}

Did you know that happiness is a factor in life expectancy? It may not be the only factor, but even if you die young, you will enjoy your life to the fullest until then. Make every day count and you’ll love your life, whether you live another eighty years or not. Don’t forget about healthy diet and regular workouts. They play a crucial role in your life expectancy too.

{{9. It will help your relationship}}

Whether you have a partner or not, you should be happy. No one really wants to be in a relationship with someone who is always down. When you’re happy, you’ll find that your relationships improve. If you have someone who has stuck by you through thick and thin, you both deserve to be happy. Spend more time together and enjoy every single day of your lives.

{{10. You are alive}}

It may not be the perfect life, but you have something that many people have been denied. For this reason alone, you should be happy. Life is a reason to be thankful. Be grateful for how lucky you are to enjoy this beautiful world. Enjoy every thing and opportunity that life offers you and be thankful for that.

Now that you know you deserve to be happy, what can you do to ensure that you really are? Start by smiling more and writing down the things you are grateful for each day. A daily gratitude journal can help you see the good in life. Make a point of doing things that make you happy, as well. Eventually, you’ll find that it is just the way you are.

Womanitely

{UACL-led study of 9,050 English people with an average age of 65 found that the people with the greatest wellbeing were 30% less likely to die during the average eight and a half year follow-up period than those with the least wellbeing.}

The study, published in The Lancet as part of a special series on ageing, was conducted by researchers from UCL, Princeton University and Stony Brook University. It used questionnaire answers to measure a type of wellbeing called ‘eudemonic wellbeing’, which relates to your sense of control, feeling that what you do is worthwhile, and your sense of purpose in life. People were divided into four categories based on their answers, ranked from highest wellbeing to lowest wellbeing.
The results were adjusted for age, sex, socio-economic status, physical health, depression, smoking, physical activity and alcohol intake, to rule out as many factors as possible that could influence both health and wellbeing. For example, terminal illnesses could reduce both wellbeing and life expectancy.

Over the next eight and a half years, 9% of people in the highest wellbeing category had died, compared with 29% in the lowest category. Once all the other factors had been taken into account, people with the highest wellbeing were 30% less likely to die over the study period, living on average two years longer than those in the lowest wellbeing group.

“We have previously found that happiness is associated with a lower risk of death,” says Professor Andrew Steptoe, Director of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, who led the study. “These analyses show that the meaningfulness and sense of purpose that older people have in their lives are also related to survival. We cannot be sure that higher wellbeing necessarily causes lower risk of death, since the relationship may not be causal. But the findings raise the intriguing possibility that increasing wellbeing could help to improve physical health.

There are several biological mechanisms that may link wellbeing to improved health, for example through hormonal changes or reduced blood pressure. Further research is now needed to see if such changes might contribute to the links between wellbeing and life expectancy in older people.”

As part of the Lancet paper, the researchers also examined data on ‘evaluative wellbeing’, a measure of life satisfaction, and ‘hedonic wellbeing’, related to feelings of happiness, sadness, anger, stress and pain. International data from the Gallup World Poll confirmed that in high-income English speaking countries, life satisfaction dips around middle age and rises in older age, but the pattern varied across the world.

In the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, older residents reported very low rankings of life satisfaction compared with younger residents in those regions. This same pattern is seen in Latin America and Caribbean countries, though life satisfaction does not decrease as sharply as in the Eastern European countries. And in sub-Saharan Africa, life satisfaction is very low at all ages.

“Economic theory can predict a dip in wellbeing among the middle age in high-income, English-speaking countries,” says co-author Professor Angus Deaton of Princeton University. “This is the period at which wage rates typically peak and is the best time to work and earn the most, even at the expense of present well-being, so as to have increased wealth and well-being later in life. What is interesting is that this pattern is not universal. Other regions, like the former Soviet Union, have been affected by the collapse of communism and other systems. Such events have affected the elderly who have lost a system that, however imperfect, gave meaning to their lives, and, in some cases, their pensions and health care.”

Science Daily

{Miss Rwanda has dismissed the process whereby a girl who is in her puberty stage gently pulls her inner labia outwards saying that such practice destroys Today’s Rwandan culture.
}

The process of labia elongation or in Kinyarwanda: Gukuna Imishino/ Guca Imyeyo, was practiced for a long time by young girls as a way to prepare them to become fully grown women.

Speaking to this site’s reporter Miss Rwanda 2014, Akiwacu Colombe said this practice nowadays adds nothing good rather than undermining the Rwandese culture.

She insisted that the practice is no longer important and calls it very primitive.

She says the practice has gradually disappeared due to social and cultural advance.

Akiwacu says “Labia elongation is the oldest culture in the Rwandan society, but I think as the development comes, culture also develops. For me this is not something we have to do because the practice can even cause some diseases. But everyone has a choice about this practice depending on how she is familiar with it.”

Meanwhile Akiwacu neither confirms nor denied whether she practiced her labia elongation but she knows many about the practice.

{{WATCH THIS VIDEO}}:

She says today Girls disrespect their virginity yet the later is something with the highest value that each girl should preserve to honor her husband once she marries.

The term Guca imyeyo literally means ‘to cut brooms’ – Rwandan girls used to go out in the bushes in a group, and when asked where they were going they would reply that they were going out in the bush to look for grass, which they would turn into brooms.

Although men know about the practice now, traditionally they were not meant to know, which is why they came up with a respectable name for Labia Elongation.

{US automaker Ford has launched its first vehicles under the luxury Lincoln brand in China, the company said, as it seeks to make inroads into a market dominated by German cars.
}

Ford announced in April that it would begin Lincoln sales in China in the autumn, adding to its other passenger car and commercial vehicle offerings in the country — the world’s largest auto market.

Lincoln on Thursday launched a mid-sized sedan, the MKZ, priced from 315,800 yuan to 395,800 yuan ($51,770 to $64,885), according to a news release.

It also started offering the MKC, a small utility vehicle, for 339,800 yuan to 438,800 yuan, the release said.

Both were designed for the Chinese market, it added.

Management consulting firm McKinsey has estimated that German automakers — including Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen — account for 80 percent of the “premium” market in China, which it defines as cars costing upwards of 200,000 yuan.

Chairman and chief executive officer of Ford China, John Lawler, said the start of Lincoln sales marked a “significant” step.

“We now will begin serving luxury customers in China,” he said in the release.

Lincoln will launch three more vehicles in China by 2016: a mid-sized utility vehicle, a full-size sedan and a large SUV, according to the statement.

Ford plans to open specialised Lincoln stores in Shanghai, Beijing and the eastern city of Hangzhou early next month, to be followed by five more locations by year-end, it said.

It aims to have 60 Lincoln stores in 50 Chinese cities by 2016.

Ford sold 813,412 vehicles in China during the first nine months of the year, up 26 percent from the same period last year, according to the company.

Its US rival General Motors (GM) is also trying to beef up luxury sales in China with its Cadillac brand.

GM launched a Chinese-produced luxury sedan, the XTS, in the country last year and is steadily adding more vehicles to its Cadillac range.

{{AFP, FRANCE 24 }}