Wednesday, March 12, 2008 

Mindful Manners on the Road

Years ago, road rage did not exist, not in theory and not in definition. People took Sunday drives, drivers let others cut in front of them at intersections, and people reserved honking for times when safety was compromised. However, as the population continued to boom and peoples' lives became increasingly hurried and stressful, road rage went from being nonexistent to plaguing our city streets. Having been given its own encyclopedia entry, road rage can now be found as an explanation used in courtrooms, news desks, and hospitals.

By definition, road rage is the term used to describe criminally violent behavior by the driver of a vehicle. It's a term that is usually synonymous with "aggressive driving" and one that often results in car accidents. While many people assume that road rage behavior is limited to driving, those who possess it often have underlying issues, a hidden problem that prevents them from remaining under control in stressful situations.

With the recent announcement that the US population has reached 300 million people, it's easy to assume that roads are going to become even more subject to grid lock.. As more and more cars fill up lanes of traffic, road rage will likely continue to fester, making itself an epidemic plaguing our nation's highways.

While road rage can be the reason for accidents, tickets, hospital stays and, in worst case scenarios, death, there is some good news about it: road rage is preventable.. In a world filled with epidemics that have no cures, we have the ability to eradicate road rage - in the form of a steering wheel - literally in our hands: all it takes are some mindful manners on the road.

yoga and Road Rage

You may think that yoga has little to do with road rage, with both entities residing on separate sides of the cool, calm and collected spectrum. But, yoga greatly has the ability to influence road rage by helping you to minimize stress and practice self control. Yoga provides a vehicle for relaxation, taking away the vehicle filled with rage.

Just Breathe

The term "Just Breathe" has been used throughout the ages, establishing itself as an act used to calm people down. It is a term that has built a reputation based on effectiveness: breathing does facilitate calmness. This is because it helps to remove negative energy and stale air out of the body, replacing them with positive energy and rejuvenating oxygen. Breathing also facilitates circulation, helping the body to rid itself of tension and become more relaxed, less rigid, and far less likely to succumb to the stress of a traffic jam.

A major part of yoga is breathing; it is as essential to yoga as it is to human life.. Because yoga teaches you how to get the most out of each breath, it helps the body to utilize the benefits of oxygen, leaving people naturally more calm and refreshed.. Through conscious breathing, a practice taught in yoga, you learn to focus on the characteristics of each breath you take, helping to remove external stress factors, including that car honking in the background.

Be Self Aware

yoga is a practice that allows you to know yourself, getting in touch with who you are and your capabilities. While this kind of life lesson can help in all walks of life, it can also be helpful in thwarting road rage. When you know yourself well, you are better able to understand when you may be on the brink of losing control, allowing yourself to work at calming down or, if need be, pulling over and letting the stress subside. When you are self aware, along these lines, you are better able to put things into perspective, grasping onto the concept that a traffic jam is just a traffic jam and not the end of the world.

In addition to helping you become self aware, yoga also helps you to become more aware of your surroundings. When on the road, being aware of those around you is essential to safety and driving defensively can save your car and your life. By knowing your surroundings, and anticipating the moves of your fellow drivers, you may be further able to avoid overly aggressive drivers, drivers who probably don't practice yoga regularly.

Plan Ahead

Yoga is an activity that transcends several parts of life, making those who practice it more efficient on all sorts of levels. Because it is an empowering activity, those who take yoga are benefited with a new level of control, proactivity, and productivity. These all work together to help you plan ahead, giving yourself enough time to reach your destination.

A main cause of road rage is people rushing to get somewhere and becoming irritated at slow moving traffic or slow drivers. Some people may never experience road rage unless they are at risk for being late for something. Because of this, planning ahead, and giving yourself enough time to get where you need to go can greatly decrease the rage you may feel when traffic rolls to an unwanted stop.

Some road rage may be unavoidable; when drivers around you are driving aggressively, you may become a victim of road rage from no fault of your own. However, for the road rage incidents that lie within, you have the key to turn off the ignition. By practicing yoga, and applying the principles you learn in yoga to life on the every day road, you can do your part at making road rage pull over for good.

about us: TWISTED is a medical yoga studio at the Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado. Twisted integrates osteopathic medicine, hatha yoga and mindfulness practices to teach optimal balance between physical, mental, and emotional health. It aims to educate and help people to live a healthy life from the inside out. Rehabilitation programs offer a comprehensive treatment regime for the whole being, empowering each person one breath at a time to stimulate the bodys natural healing potential.

Jennifer Jordan is senior editor of http://www.yogatwisted.com. Specializing in articles that not only teach yoga techniques, but also teach techniques on fulfillment and enrichment, she aims to educate students proudly enrolled in the school of life.

Registered Yoga Teacher

 

Superman Parties are High-Flying Fun

superman is the single most recognizable comic book figure of all time. Hes been thwarting bad guys since 1932, but hes certainly still relevant today. A blockbuster movie in 2006 put superman back into the forefront of American pop culture. So, now is the perfect time to host a superman themed party and these superman games will keep your guests thriving under the Earths yellow sun.

Follow superman Everyone wants to be like superman and what better way for a birthday boy to take chare than this version of follow-the-leader. Have the birthday boy put on a cape, which can be a red towel tied around his neck. Line the other party guests behind superman and tell them that they must do whatever superman does. If superman flies, they must fly; if superman runs they must run. If a child is caught not doing what superman does then they must be pulled from the line. The last child left in line wins and gets to be first in line behind the birthday boy when the cake is served!

Kryptonite Capture Divide the guests into two teams. Each team is in charge of guarding a piece of Kryptonite while the other team tries to steal it. Draw a line in the back yard, once the players cross the line they are to run as fast as they can to the Kryptonite and bring it back across the line. If, at any time, a player is tagged by a member of the team protecting their Kryptonite they are sent to jail and may only be freed by a member of their own team tagging them out. Once the Kryptonite has safely made it across the line the game starts and round two begins. This game may have as many rounds as you choose!

superman is hot right now and with these party games, your next superman party can really sizzle.

Earings Yoga Hunting Online Stuffcom

 

Affordable Family Holidays On The Beach!

A great beach holiday doesnt have to mean an expensive beach holiday. If you choose the right destination and the right accommodation, you could be staying just yards from the sea and sand, in comfortable accommodation.

Its this combination of comfort and location and price that makes a luxury static caravan the perfect holiday for many families. Todays caravans are modern and fully-fitted, with mains drainage, hot and cold water, fitted bathrooms and kitchens and gas heating. They make the perfect base for a lazy beach holiday for all the best reasons:

Location

luxury static caravans are usually situated on a dedicated park. These parks can be limited to a few caravans, or they can be larger sites, with full shopping and entertainment facilities. The one thing they have in common is access to the beach. parks are usually set only a few hundred yards from the sand and often have private access to the beach, away from the general parking areas that are open to the public. This means that you have 24 hour access to the beach, and your holiday home is just a short walk away.

cost

A static caravan holiday is an affordable way to take your family on holiday. Costing much less than a holiday cottage and providing more space, privacy and luxury than a hotel room of the same price, a caravan lets you have flexibility and independence without having to pay a fortune. If your children are under school age, try taking your trip outside the school holidays when the beach is quieter, and the cost of renting a caravan is less.

comfort

Theres no point saving money on your accommodation if its badly fitted and uncomfortable. For a really memorable family holiday, you need to find somewhere to stay thats within your budget, but will give you the space and comfort you and your family need. A large static caravan fulfils all these requirements. It is properly floored and carpeted, has plenty of storage, a fitted bathroom and kitchen and comfortable beds and seating areas. most caravan companies provide bed linen and towels, so your caravan is ready to use the moment you walk in.

If its an affordable beach holiday youre after, explore the UKs best beaches from the comfort of a static caravan.

Sherwood Caravans has been hiring static caravans to holiday makers for over 40 years. To find out more, visit our website by clicking on http://www.sherwoodcaravans.co.uk

Music For Yoga Meditation And Other Joys

 

The Do's and Dont's of Pregnancy

With so many people giving their opinion on what to do and what not to do during pregnancy, it becomes hard to determine what is fact and what is fiction. Below is a list of some of the more important factors to consider in regards to pregnancy do's and dont's.

food during pregnancy
Certain foods need to be avoided during pregnancy. Listeria, which is caused by uncooked meats, some seafood, unpasterized milk and soft cheeses, can cause birth defects, miscarriages and stillbirth.

cat litter
Toxoplasmosis, is a disease which is contracted by contact with cat feces. It is spread by a parasite which can lead to miscarriages, stillbirth and birth defects.

smoking
smoking during pregnancy is definitely a no no. It has been linked to a low birth weight, miscarriage and premature birth in many different studies. Second hand smoke poses the same dangers during pregnancy, and should be avoided at all costs.

Caffeine
Some studies on caffeine during pregnancy have led to the conclusion that the two do not mix well together, as caffeine may increase the possibility of miscarriage and low birth weight. On the other hand, other studies have shown no link between the two. Obviously an excessive amount of caffeine is a bad idea regardless of pregnancy. An excessive amount of caffeine is generally regarded as over 300 milligrams per day. If you stay well clear of this figure, caffeine during pregnancy is less likely to cause problems.

Safety around the house
There are many hazards around the house for pregnant women, but almost all can be easily avoided. If you still insist on doing all the house work yourself, try to stay clear of aerosol cans, industrial strength cleaners and fumes from paint, solvents and strippers. All of the above have been linked to birth defects and other pregnancy complications. It also pays to take it a little easier around certain parts of the house such as stair cases.

body temperature
Keeping a moderate body temperature during pregnancy (especially during first trimester) is important as it may lead to birth defects. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your temperature during exercise and keep your fluids up. Things such as saunas and hot baths are not recommended during pregnancy.

Alcohol and drugs
To be safe with alcohol during pregnancy it is probably best to avoid it altogether, as there is no safe level of consumption. It can have detrimental affects on an unborn child. In comparison to a fully grown woman, a baby is very small, so you could imagine the potential damage to the baby if the mother was drunk or even tipsy. drugs during pregnancy have been shown to have a negative effect. drugs such as cocaine have been shown to hinder the development of a babys vital oxygen and nourishment, leading to complications such as birth defects and even an addiction in the child itself.

exercise
exercise during pregnancy is recommended for most women, but only at a moderate pace. women who participated in high impact exercise, weight lifting, contact sports, high altitude training or scuba diving before pregnancy, will have to readjust their routines. walking is highly recommended for at least the first two trimesters, as it can help your body withstand the rigors of labor and delivery more easily.

The do's and donts of pregnancy are different for each woman and each pregnancy. The above information is not a medical opinion and should not substitute a professional medical opinion. Always consult your doctor or care provider before making any major decisions before, during and even after pregnancy.

Article written by Sarah Mitchell of NamesToBe.com. over 10,000 baby names and meanings. Read this article and hundreds more: Baby articles database or The do's and dont's of pregnancy.
Article free for reprint as long as this author bio is present and all hyperlinks remain active.

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