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5 Tips to Keep Your Car Looking Great

Some people made a wise decision in choosing car paint protection Adelaide, others are afraid of the risk will regret it. Having a car is convenient, but it takes a lot of responsibility to be a good owner. As with all material things, a car deteriorates over time. But if you know the proper way of taking care of it, you beloved vehicle will stay pretty and reliable much longer than an average car does. It takes some sacrifice, and a great deal of patience, but then you decide it’s time for a replacement, you will find that all your sacrifice will pay off when you try to resell it. So how do you keep your car looking great? Here are 5 tips.

Avoid scratches as much as possible. Are you the type who mindlessly drives against those bushes along your driveway? Then you should be reading this. Scratches are the biggest enemy to your car’s finish. Avoiding scratches is the best way to keep your car finish looking great. Although your paint is made to last some minor torture, that dirt and grime on the car’s surface needs to be rinsed off first with running water before you ever start washing it. Why because some of that dirt can be abrasive, and when rubbed against the surface, it may cause deep scratches. Anything that comes in contact with your car’s finish should be soft – like fresh clean water, wash mitt and chamois.

Protect your car against the elements. Where do you keep your car parked? To maintain its beauty, try to keep it parked in a garage or covered area. If you do not have a garage, then the use of a car cover is recommended. Exposing your car to direct sunlight all the time will cause significant fading of its paint. Sometimes, due to extreme changes in weather (extreme heat to rain to near-freezing temperatures) can make your car paint fade in severe cases the clear coat can fail and peel – and that’s the end of your beautiful car finish. One more thing you must remember – never park your car under a tree, where tree sap can drip on the surface, or under power lines where birds love to perch on. Tree sap and bird droppings, plus petrified bugs on the windshield can do much damage to the car’s paint and glass. Anything that was once organic will oxidize and leave a lasting mark on your car finish – so take it off asap, and don’t let it marinate on your car.

Always maintain a good coat of wax or paint sealant. Keeping a coat of wax on your car will prevent minor scratches, plus it also protects the car against the elements. Even if bird does their thing on top of your car, the paint is less likely to incur damage, since there is a coat of protection to prevent the preventable. Even too much sunlight will not affect a waxed as much as a non-waxed one. Think of it as some sort of sunscreen for your car. Wax your car every three to six months depending on the was/sealant (too much waxing is not recommended also) Cars that are parked under direct sunlight need to be waxed more often to maintain the shine and sheen of the car.

Keep the interior clean – always. Nothing is more pretentious than a car that is so shiny and clean outside, but extremely dirty inside! It’s like a woman who is so physically pretty but ugly deep inside. A car’s interior is just as important as a car’s exterior where appearance is concerned. Fabric covered car seats and car mats can be cleaned with an interior brush to remove dirt particles, then vacuumed. Vinyl or leather seats may be cleaned with a mild commercial detergent or leather cleanser. Clean the interior windows with a commercial glass cleanser. Keep the dashboard spic and span too by vacuuming the nooks and crannies, as well as wiping it with a mild cleanser. Some people even use leather conditioner for leather-lined dashboards. The dashboard takes the blunt of dirt and dust since it’s one of the most exposed and used parts of the car. Besides, all those crevices do have a tendency to gather plenty of dust and dirt. Keep the seats free from rubbish and food crumbs also, as these greatly diminish the beauty of your car.

Detail your car. By detailing, we mean extremely thorough cleaning, polishing and waxing of an automobile, both inside and out, to produce a show-quality level of detail. Besides improving appearance, detailing helps to preserve resale value of a car.When your car is subject to tough conditions, wash your car every 2 weeks – and this is the minimum. Never use dish washing detergent to wash your car with, as these remove the wax coating you spent hours putting on.. Use a PH Neutral car shampoo. Use clean water to rinse your car with, and then dry with a chamois to avoid smears or streaks. And don’t ignore the tires, because the true mark of a serious car owner is attention to all details. Scrub the tires with a brush, then give it a coat of tire shine to make it really stand out. The tire shine also prevents your tiers from going brown. Keep it looking new!

A clean car will be a sight to behold, so keep it looking shiny, bright and pretty. A beautiful-looking car says much about its owner.

Tim is the Owner of Northern Beaches Car Detailing [http://www.northernbeachescardetailing.com/]

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Online Ski Lessons – 7 Ski Techniques to Learn to Ski Well

This is why heli skiing Canada has become a popular thrill-seeking adventure, attracting more skiers and snowboarders every year, from first-timers to expert free-riders. The following fundamental drills are foundational to learn to ski well. While there are a variety of ski techniques, all use these 7 basics in one form or another. This is by no means an exhaustive list of exercises or drills, but they are the roots to learning to ski. Downhill skiing must of course be learned on the ski slopes. The following text will give you context, descriptions, and metaphors to give you a better understanding both before and after you actually ski.

ONE: Skiing On One Ski

If you’ve seen the Karate Kid, you’ll remember how Mr. Miyagi tells Daniel that he “must first learn balance!” Now, you won’t need to stand at the bow of a row boat or get pummeled by ocean waves (you can if you wish). You will, however, need to practice skiing on one ski. Start on easy terrain such as the beginner’s area, and slowly traverse across the hill lifting up one leg. Do this until you are comfortable with either leg raised. Practice both legs equally. Simply cross the hill back and forth, gently descending. Next, when you’re comfortable, start straightening out your turns more directly downhill. Practice this drill in small increments. It may be awkward at first, but you’ll improve rapidly.

TWO: Skating

This drill is exactly what it sounds like – skating. Just as in ice skating, you push off one inside edge of your skate to the other to move forward. You’ll just do this with skis on. On gentle terrain, push off the inside edges of your skis to propel/push yourself forward. You’ll notice that your skies with naturally form a V allowing you to push from the back (somewhat) to create the forward momentum.

Why do this? It will help your body position, which is critical in order to Ski Great! It will also help you feel the pressure and edge of your skis. You want your skis to become an extension of your body. Just as a tennis racket is an extension of Andre Agassi or a golf club of Tiger Woods, you need to feel, know, and trust your skis.

THREE: Side Slipping

This drill is also just as it sounds. You’ll be slipping down the hill sideways. Don’t worry – it’s not as scary as it sounds. Simply stand perpendicular on the hill (so you’re facing the woods or the side of the hill). The edges of your skis, which you can feel really well because you’ve practiced “Skating,” will hold you in place. While on gentle terrain, slowly flatten your skis by relaxing your ankles to the point where you start “slipping” sideways downhill. Let yourself slip side away. Tighten your ankles to stop. Then start again. Practice this exercise facing both ways. Next – have a little fun and try slipping slightly forward by pressing your toes down while you flatten your skis. To slip backwards, lift your toes up. Once comfortable with this, try it on steeper terrain.

FOUR: Stepping

We do this every day when we walk down the street. We put one foot in front of the other. We don’t lean too far forward or tilt backward – we walk in perfect balance. With this drill, you’ll just be walking with skis on. On gentle terrain, try stepping through a turn. Traverse slowly across the slope and prepare to step through another turn. What you’re doing in this exercise in training your body to lean forward (just like you do when you take a step). Just as you lean forward to begin walking down the street in perfect balance, you need to lean forward to get your body down the hill, while maintaining balance. Not an easy exercise to illustrate, but imagine taking tiny baby steps around a corner. You want your skis to stay parallel – avoid the “snow plow.” While the snow plow turn (also known as the wedge) may be helpful to brand new, or nervous skiers, stepping is “just as easy to learn.” The stepping exercise has the added benefits of not encouraging bad habits and helps you to learn to ski better faster.

FIVE: Shuffling Skis

This lesson is similar to “Stepping,” except your skis are kept on the snow. Start by sliding one ski forward and the other back. It will be similar to Cross-Country skiing or using a NordicTrack Skier. On gentle terrain, shuffle your skis back and forth as you traverse the slope. You want to train your body (your hips specifically) to stay directly above your feet.

When your hips are positioned above your feet, you have optimum control of your body and skis.

SIX: Rail Road Tracks

This is a bit more of an advanced drill that will take your skiing to new heights. Essentially you want to ski on the edges of your skis (by shifting your ankles) so you leave rail-road-track-like marks in the snow. Start with wide a parallel stance tipping both ankles and knees while simultaneously engaging your ski edges. Traverse gentle across the slope, back and forth. This should be done on gentle terrain.

SEVEN: Pivot Flat Ski

This is the most difficult exercise, but has the greatest rewards for you. Master this and your skiing will skyrocket! Start perpendicular on the hill (like you do with the “Side Slipping” technique), but release the edge of your skis by leaning your upper body across and over your skis – rather than relaxing your ankles. This body positioning will force your skis to flatten naturally. Once you feel your skis start to move, steer your feet so you swivel and face the opposite direction. Repeat and turn in the other direction. Try doing this with as little forward momentum as possible. It takes practice, but will give you the skills to ski virtually any terrain – trees, bumps, powder…etc. Own it!

For photos of the above exercises visit Online Ski Lessons

Theodore P. Olson
Editor-in-Chief, http://www.SkiGreat.com
Learn to Ski – Online

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Theodore_Olson/52325

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What’s In The Future For Electronics Recycling?

We identified an opportunity to develop a company that turns up on time every time, and that provides friendly and personable, cost effective and reliable electrician Brisbane Southside services. Electronics recycling in the U.S. is growing as the industry consolidates and matures. The future of electronics recycling – at least in the U.S., and perhaps globally – will be driven by electronics technology, precious metals, and industry structure, in particular. Although there are other things that can influence the industry – such as consumer electronics collections, legislation and regulations and export issues – I believe that these 3 factors will have a more profound impact on the future of electronics recycling.

The most recent data on the industry – from a survey conducted by the International Data Corporation (IDC) and sponsored by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) – found that the industry (in 2010) handled approximately 3.5 million tons of electronics with revenues of $5 billion and directly employed 30,000 people – and that it has been growing at about 20% annually for the past decade. But will this growth continue?

Electronics Technology
Personal computer equipment has dominated volumes handled by the electronics recycling industry. The IDC study reported that over 60% by weight of industry input volumes was “computer equipment” (including PCs and monitors). But recent reports by IDC and Gartner show that shipments of desktop and laptop computers have declined by more than 10% and that the shipments of smartphones and tablets now each exceed that of PCs. About 1 billion smart phones will be shipped in 2013 – and for the first time exceed the volumes of conventional cell phones. And shipments of ultra-light laptops and laptop-tablet hybrids are increasing rapidly. So, we are entering the “Post-PC Era”.

In addition, CRT TVs and monitors have been a significant portion of the input volumes (by weight) in the recycling stream – up to 75% of the “consumer electronics” stream. And the demise of the CRT means that fewer CRT TVs and monitors will be entering the recycling stream – replaced by smaller/lighter flat screens.

So, what do these technology trends mean to the electronics recycling industry? Do these advances in technology, which lead to size reduction, result in a “smaller materials footprint” and less total volume (by weight)? Since mobile devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets) already represent larger volumes than PCs – and probably turn over faster – they will probably dominate the future volumes entering the recycling stream. And they are not only much smaller, but typically cost less than PCs. And, traditional laptops are being replaced by ultra-books as well as tablets – which means that the laptop equivalent is a lot smaller and weighs less.

So, even with continually increasing quantities of electronics, the weight volume entering the recycling stream may begin decreasing. Typical desktop computer processors weigh 15-20 lbs. Traditional laptop computers weigh 5-7 lbs. But the new “ultra-books” weigh 3-4 lbs. So, if “computers” (including monitors) have comprised about 60% of the total industry input volume by weight and TVs have comprised a large portion of the volume of “consumer electronics” (about 15% of the industry input volume) – then up to 75% of the input volume may be subject to the weight reduction of new technologies – perhaps as much as a 50% reduction. And, similar technology change and size reduction is occurring in other markets – e.g., telecommunications, industrial, medical, etc.

However, the inherent value of these devices may be higher than PCs and CRTs (for resale as well as scrap – per unit weight). So, industry weight volumes may decrease, but revenues could continue to increase (with resale, materials recovery value and services). And, since mobile devices are expected to turn over more rapidly than PCs (which have typically turned over in 3-5 years), these changes in the electronics recycling stream may happen within 5 years or less.

Another factor for the industry to consider, as recently reported by E-Scrap News – “The overall portability trend in computing devices, including traditional form-factors, is characterized by integrated batteries, components and non-repairable parts. With repair and refurbishment increasingly difficult for these types of devices, e-scrap processors will face significant challenges in determining the best way to manage these devices responsibly, as they gradually compose an increasing share of the end-of-life management stream.” So, does that mean that the resale potential for these smaller devices may be less?

The electronics recycling industry has traditionally focused on PCs and consumer electronics, but what about infrastructure equipment? – such as servers/data centers/cloud computing, telecom systems, cable network systems, satellite/navigation systems, defense/military systems. These sectors generally use larger, higher value equipment and have significant (and growing?) volumes. They are not generally visible or thought of when considering the electronics recycling industry, but may be an increasingly important and larger share of the volumes that it handles. And some, if not much, of this infrastructure is due to change in technology – which will result in a large volume turnover of equipment. GreenBiz.com reports that “… as the industry overhauls and replaces… servers, storage and networking gear to accommodate massive consolidation and virtualization projects and prepare for the age of cloud computing… the build-out of cloud computing, the inventory of physical IT assets will shift from the consumer to the data center… While the number of consumer devices is increasing, they are also getting smaller in size. Meanwhile, data centers are being upgraded and expanded, potentially creating a large amount of future e-waste.”

But, outside the U.S. – and in developing countries in particular – the input volume weight to the electronics recycling stream will increase significantly – as the usage of electronic devices spreads to a broader market and an infrastructure for recycling is developed. In addition, developing countries will continue to be attractive markets for the resale of used electronics.

Precious Metals
In the IDC study, over 75% by weight of industry output volumes was found to be “commodity grade scrap”. And more than half of that was “metals”. Precious metals represent a small portion of the volume – the average concentration of precious metals in electronics scrap is measured in grams per ton. But their recovery value is a significant portion of the total value of commodity grade scrap from electronics.

Precious metals prices have increased significantly in recent years. The market prices for gold, silver, palladium and platinum have each more than doubled over the past five years. However, gold and silver have historically been very volatile since their prices are driven primarily by investors. Their prices seem to have peaked – and are now significantly below their high points last year. Whereas, platinum and palladium prices have traditionally been driven by demand (e.g., manufacturing – like electronics and automotive applications) and generally more stable.

Telecommunications equipment and cell phones generally have the highest precious metals content – up to 10 times the average of scrap electronics based on per unit weight. As technology advances, the precious metals content of electronics equipment generally decreases – due to cost reduction learning. However, the smaller, newer devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets) have higher precious metals content per unit weight than conventional electronics equipment – such as PCs. So, if the weight volume of electronics equipment handled by the electronics industry decreases, and the market prices for precious metals decreases – or at least does not increase – will the recovery value of precious metals from electronics scrap decrease? Probably the recovery value of precious metals from electronics scrap per unit weight will increase since more electronics products are getting smaller/lighter, but have a higher concentration of precious metals (e.g., cell phones) than traditional e-scrap in total. So, this aspect of the industry may actually become more cost efficient. But the total industry revenue from commodity scrap – and especially precious metals – may not continue to increase.

Industry Structure
The electronics recycling industry in the U.S. can be thought of as comprising 4 tiers of companies. From the very largest – that process well in excess of 20 up to more than 200 million lbs. per year – to medium, small and the very smallest companies – that process less than 1 million lbs. per year. The top 2 tiers (which represent about 35% of the companies) process approximately 75% of the industry volume. The number of companies in “Tier 1” has already decreased due to consolidation – and continued industry consolidation will probably drive it more towards the familiar 80/20 model. Although there are over 1000 companies operating in the electronics recycling industry in the U.S., I estimate that the “Top 50” companies process almost half of the total industry volume.

What will happen to the smaller companies? The mid-size companies will either merge, acquire, get acquired or partner to compete with the larger companies. The small and smallest companies will either find a niche or disappear. So, the total number of companies in the electronics recycling industry will probably decrease. And more of the volumes will be handled by the largest companies. As with any maturing industry, the most cost efficient and profitable companies will survive and grow.

Outlook
What are the implications of these trends?
• The total weight of input volumes will probably not continue to grow (as it has at 20% annually) – and may actually decrease in the U.S.
• The electronics recycling industry will continue to consolidate – and the largest companies will handle most of the industry volumes.
• The inherent value for resale and materials recovery will probably increase per unit volume.
• Reuse and services may become a more significant part of the total industry revenue than recycling and materials recovery.

Conclusion:
In an environment of consolidation and potentially decreasing volumes, developing additional capacity or starting a new facility for electronics recycling in the U.S. could be very risky. Acquiring the most cost efficient existing capacity available would be more prudent.

All rights reserved © 2013 John Powers

For more information on electronics recycling – visit the Electronics Recycling Directory at: http://www.electronicsrecyclingdirectory.com – the most comprehensive website on electronics recycling – with searchable listings, articles, events, blogs and more – as well as a bi-weekly newsletter.

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Artists Take Advantage of Distance Learning

Concept board frames artist Sydney are artists who create illustrations of ideas, whether it’s of characters, scenes, or machinery. Artists today are continually learning new applications and are required to stay ahead of the curve as to what is up and coming and the newest ways of doing things. Most production artists have completed their formal education years ago and what they learned may now be obsolete. They must aggressively find alternative ways to learn their industry’s most popular applications, processes of using them like new workflows, and continue to improve on what they currently do.

Here are some of the more popular ways to learn:

  • On the job experience – This is the most common way that we’ve all learned a thing or two. It is probably the most effective way to learn what you need for your job. However, you may eventually be limited by what your coworkers can share with you and may find that there is a lot of information you’ll still need to know in order to move up or get another job. This way takes lots of time and patience and requires a good group of people willing to help you learn.
  • Conferences – They are fun and you get to meet a lot of people doing what you do or want to do. Most conferences foster an environment of sharing and helping. A lot can be gained from attending a conference for networking and its break-out sessions. However, they can be expensive (like traveling to South Korea!). With tightening budgets, they may not be cost-effective.
  • Onsite training – Many companies utilize this form of training to get specific information in an area that they are focused on. This is a great way to learn if you can afford it. Learners will have direct access to the instructor and can have the training catered directly to their environment. Specific questions can be asked and addressed instantly in a collaborative way.
  • Night classes – Many local Junior Colleges now offer digital art classes in the evening. These are usually general classes and you may find that you are above the level they are teaching unless you know nothing about the subject. These classes can be somewhat expensive and be very broad in the information delivered. In addition, these teachers (not in all cases) are not in the industry and may not be able to help you with specific questions to your liking.
  • Networking – Using social networking and forums is a good way to get answers and research how to accomplish certain tasks. However, there can be a delay in feedback which will motivate you to find answers in other places. But, there tends to be some good people giving back and willing to help you and stick it out until they are able to help resolve your question.
  • Webcasts – These are a slightly less formal means of training. The instructor usually has a loose idea of what is to be presented but it can change if needed. The lack of formality may cause some live viewers to be dissatisfied with the level of training and the lack of the instructor’s attention to detail. Webcasts are live and there isn’t time for editing and polishing. Sometimes these trainings can cost more than the more refined DVD trainings.
  • Web videos and DVDs – These tools are a great way to learn. You may have a specific topic you wish to learn like Model Rigging or Storyboarding and need to know it right now for a project or job. These trainings are or are near instant gratification. Usually, they require less commitment and are much cheaper than other means of learning.

There is a boom going on now in the creative education fields and there are many schools stepping up to fill that need. With the competition and strict requirements in place from their industries, schools are doing their very best to offer real-world training. However, as students, there is always a chance for there to be questions or the hunger for more information on a particular subject. This is the very nature of being a student. Inexpensive distance learning like Web and DVD training can fill in those gaps and answer those questions. Students should use these tools to supplement their education. School tends to be required to cover a large variety of subjects and as a student; you may want to take a little more time in one area. This type of training allows you to do just that.

For those of us who have already completed all the formal education we would ever like to do, we are still required to stay competitive. Already being in the “field”, many of us may have a certain level of understanding in a subject area but need to dig deeper or learn new and more efficient ways of completing common tasks. Learning from industry professionals will help busy creatives to learn more rapidly in a wide variety of subjects at their own pace.

Distance learning allows artists the ability to access hard to find, low-cost education that can begin to get them up to speed and production-ready in no time. Meaning, they’ll be able to jump right into a job or add the new knowledge gained in a short period of time to their artistic arsenal immediately.

Here are some interesting stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook

  • Employment of artists and related workers is projected to grow 16% through 2016, faster than the national average for other fields.
  • Multi-media artists and animators will be most in demand through 2016 — that profession will see a 26% increase in employment.
  • Fine artists will see a 10% increase in employment.
  • Multi-media artists and animators earn roughly $52,000 (this does not include figures from self-employed animators).

Best of luck and happy animating!

Frank Freeman is a freelance artist, trainer and CEO of Artistic Gurus, Inc. a creative training company that focuses on how-to videos in the 2D, 3D, Traditional Arts, Comics, and Manga fields. Read more about him today from http://www.ArtisticGurus.com or [http://www.RentArtVideos.com]

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Yoga Or Pilates – Which is Better For Me?

KX pilates dee why is a revolutionary, fast paced, high intensity, body-toning workout that fuses the core strengthening elements of traditional reformer pilates with circuit, cardio and endurance training. Good questions. From my own experiences and research, it would be like asking:

Drum machines Vs. Drums, which do I use?

Well, a quick observation will depict that one must have come from the other. In this case, pilates is derived from yoga or at best yoga-esque principles and methods, so suffice it to say that for which may be a the BETTER CHOICE it may be a matter of needs, time, preference and fitness levels.

Now to compare the both:

What is Pilates?

This is an exercise system developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility and improve overall health. Primarily, the workout is usually performed on a mat and on specially designed equipment. The Pilates system includes exercises for every part of the body and applications for every kind of activity.

It is noteworthy of mention that Pilates focuses mainly on cultivating core strength in the body and lengthening the spine. Furthermore, a lot of dancers practice this exercise and it does deserve a lot of credit for having become very well knows (especially in the last few decades) for its effect on sculpting the body. Needless to say, in partnership with Yoga, it does go a long way towards increasing physical fitness all around.

NOW…

What is yoga?

Boy, ol’ Boy?

I think it should be, in terms of body-weight only exercises, What ISN’T yoga or at least yoga-esque, should be the question. Alright, you got me, yeah I lean more towards this system of exercise. Well Foras, can you tell us why?

Sure…

Folks, Yoga is a scientific system of physical and mental practices that originated in India more than three thousand years ago. However, the word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as “union” or a method of discipline. Its ultimate goal is the union of man with God or the universe in one breath. Furthermore, it aims to liberate the spirit as the mind and spirit are equally involved in its practice.

Needless to say, yoga is indeed the oldest existing physical-culture system in the world. Besides being a systematic and scientifically proven path to attaining physical fitness, it delays ageing, rejuvenates and improves appearance, maintains suppleness and increases vitality and the creative part of life. Still, after all is said and done, like drums and drum machines, in terms of Yoga and Pilates, both can stand independent of each other, work dependent on each other or when the need arises can be interchanged in their exclusive or combined uses.

That’s not to say one isn’t better than the other, to me, I think it’s more preference. However like drums which will never go out of style, Yoga does have more of a human and authentic feel to it. The emphasis on breath, relaxation etc is something that seems to be absent or less prevalent in Pilates, although that’s not to overlook the ease, quickness and efficiency of doing the art form.

This article did mention that Pilates is often used by dancers, just like Yoga is often used even by Basketball players, Boxers etc, so it means just like drums are oft times needed or used in a song and do form the foundation of music and dance, the use of either or both would be a wise choice. But, I do lean more towards Yoga, just from my experience, besides, when doing Pilates, it almost feels like I’m doing Yoga either way, so, I guess, why not just do it.

I guess that reminds me of my audio recording teachers who insist to this day to use live drums over drum machines for the ‘authentic’ feel. So yeah, left to me, I’ll go with Yoga, it works for me, does what pilates can do and more, but for variety, being the spice of life as is often said, doing Pilates here and there won’t hurt and may in fact help a lot. Still, owing to the obvious similarities between both exercises, suffice it to say that some guidelines need to be observed when executing them.

For the Interested persons, such helpful aids are herewith provided:

• Yoga postures should not be done on a full stomach. Wait at least 3 hours after a meal BEFORE practice. Personally, I think it’s best to do yoga first thing in the morning.
• If you can, (and you probably should) try to do Yoga barefoot. Or at the very worst with socks or those non-slip footwear they have advertised. Me, I’m old school…barefoot!
• Okay, Nude Yoga has the right idea. Will I go that far…hmm, no! However, as little clothing as possible should be the ‘dress-code’ when doing yoga so you can move freely.
• As the Father of Naturopathy, Prof Ehret recommended in his books, always try to exercise in front of an OPEN window. So please make sure the room is ventilated.
• You are not competing with anyone so take it slowly and safely. So no straining, no holding the poses beyond your physical strength levels; okay…buddy!

*Try to have fun with both; with everything in life.

Well, if you decide to use “drum machines” (Pilates) or “drums” (Yoga) as long as you’re getting the sound (fitness) you want, hey an exclusive, combination or interchangeable use of them would do just fine.

In Friendship,
Foras Aje

PS: I prefer “drums”!!!

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and author of Fitness: Inside and out, a book on improving physical and mental health naturally. For more information on the latest health news and breakthroughs visit his site at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Foras_Aje/575671

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Planning a Wedding That Doesn’t Kill Your Budget or Your Relationship

If you’re planning a wedding and you’re concerned about your wedding budget, there are several ways to save. The keys to successfully planning a budget-conscious wedding are having the abilities to be creative, flexible, and opportunistic. Less than an hour’s drive from Sydney CBD, Jonah’s unique Whale Beach small wedding reception venues Melbourne feels like it’s a million miles away.

Think of this scenario: You wake up in the middle of the night with a craving for ice cream. All grocery stores are closed, so you run through the options in your head. You can go to the all-night convenience store or coffee shop and pay a premium price for this craving or you can settle for the granola bar in the back of your pantry. Then the thought occurs that you could have planned ahead while grocery shopping earlier that week and had your ice cream at a fair price. The same shopping options exist for every part of your wedding. Do you pay premium prices? Do you plan ahead? Or do you simply do without? There are no wrong answers, but planning ahead can almost always offer the most bang for the bucks.

The key trick in saving money for your wedding is flexibility. Think about your wedding date. It’s probably a mild Saturday evening in late Spring or early Fall. I’m no Nostradamus, it’s just a fact that the vast majority of couples choose the same dates for their weddings. You can slash your overall wedding costs significantly by changing your wedding date away from Saturday evenings in May, June, September, or October. Go crazy and avoid Saturdays altogether and have a raging Friday night wedding or a relaxing Sunday afternoon wedding. You might not think these date/time adjustments matter, but vendors’ schedules are much less likely to be full on a Sunday afternoon in August or a Friday night in March. This availability can translate into staggering deals if you shop around. I’ve seen $10,000-$15,000 weddings (combined vendor cost) reduced to $2,000-$3,000 with every component of the wedding staying exactly the same, including the venue. The difference? An 11am ceremony time on a Saturday in June versus a 5pm wedding the EXACT SAME DAY. An unexpected perk to avoiding Saturday evenings goes to your guests who can now plan a weekend after your Friday night bash or before the Sunday nuptials. That Saturday night wedding breaks everyone’s weekend in half. Having schedule flexibility is huge for all vendors, but specific savings can also be found for each part of your big day.

Wedding venues: The venue is usually the costliest of the wedding investments, but that only means it is also the biggest opportunity to save money. If you want elegance, maybe avoid the country clubs and golf courses and find a shady park or beach and spend a fraction of your budget on elegant tables, string lighting, and candle-lit centerpieces. If you’re quirky and fun, bypass a regular venue and rent an old theater or local art gallery. Think outside the box. Depending on the size of your guest list, you can find venues that aren’t considered traditional, but will more than fit your needs. Private residences and local restaurants might fit your needs perfectly. With any non-traditional venue, be sure to get all the details. Some places may require additional insurance or have restrictions on attendance, food/drink, etc, so be sure to be thorough in your interviews. If you are looking for a traditional venue, many times finding a location that can host both the wedding and reception is ideal. For both convenience and cost, this option almost always is preferable to separate locations. If you opt for a church wedding, keep in mind that some churches offer weddings a low or even no cost. Call around and you might find a great deal

Caterer: The ideal way to cut food/drink costs is to time your wedding between traditional meal times. Having a 11am or 2pm wedding allows you to escape providing full meals and instead serve small appetizers, sandwiches, desserts, etc. If you opt for this cost-cutting schedule choice, be sure to indicate to guests when type of food/refreshments will be served. Most people will grab a bite to eat before or after the wedding if they know in advance that only snacks will be available at the wedding. If you must serve food, shop around. Some venues require you to use their preferred caterers, so know this in advance. Sample each caterer’s menus and ask them how savings can be found. Many times a limited menu with more appetizer options works well. If you decide to serve a meal, buffet style usually costs less than plated meals. And keep this question in mind: How was the food at the last wedding you attended? Most people don’t remember. Find a balance between quality, service, and price.

Cake: There are reality TV shows dedicated to cakes. Amazing, beautiful cakes are everywhere. Now for the life-changing reality: Its still just dessert. I know, that sounds harsh and emotionless. But its sugar and eggs and flour, and you’re in a market than can charge thousands of dollars for a, yes, dessert. Think about your reasoning behind the cake. Its fun and you want photos of the cake-cutting and subsequent cake-smashing. You can accomplish the same thing with a small but still elegant cake. The photos look the same, and the crowd still gathers around. And when the smashed cake is wiped from the groom’s face, all the guests are served cute little wedding cupcakes or pieces of sheet cake that have been cut and are ready to serve immediately. Buy a pretty little cake for the two of you, or for the bridal party, and ask your baker to make a sheet cake or two, or cupcakes, of the same flavor as yours. Everyone enjoys the cake and you enjoy cutting your cake budget by 50% or more.

Photographer: Many couples make the mistake of forgoing a professional wedding photographer and hiring Uncle Harry because he always has a camera, and he’ll be at the wedding anyway. Or a niece in high school just bought a really expensive camera and took photography in high school. Remember that your photographs are likely going to be the only tangible reminders of your wedding. When the cake and songs and flowers are long gone, you’ll have your photography to enjoy and share for years to come. You want a photographer with wedding experience to ensure all angles are covered and all poses are ideal. This doesn’t mean you have to blow your entire budget on photography, however. Search photographers’ websites, and only contact those whose photos fit your style. When speaking with the photographer, request a quote that excludes prints, albums, or other photo products. Get the edited photography on a disc or flash drive with a copyright release that allows you to print your photos. Most photographers’ profit lies in the printing, so you can save that money and print economically at your own convenience. If a photographer doesn’t offer this, move along. There are plenty that will offer a no-prints option.

DJ: The DJ is the vendor that some deem unnecessary and others regard as invaluable. I think both are true depending on the type of wedding and reception you want. If you want a quiet, relaxed ceremony and reception with soft music in the background throughout, just find a venue with a sound system and plug in an ipod playlist of soft grooves. If you want your reception to be a party, then hire a DJ. DJ’s styles and levels of interaction vary, so keep this in mind. If you want someone to keep the guests dancing, get someone outgoing and fun. Like the photographer, don’t skimp too much and hire the high school tech geek down the street with the loud sound system. Weddings are unique, and you want experience. Ask for deals and compare prices. No real tricks here other than shopping in advance.

Florist: Flowers are beautiful and can enhance any wedding. They also sit in vases and soak up water. Each couple needs to decide whether a little color is pretty or more elaborate floral arrangements are necessary. If you find a venue that is attractive on its own, consider skipping or reducing the floral decorations. Many florists advise boosting the greenery in arrangement and using the actual flowers strategically, which makes a lot of sense both artistically and financially. Some couples are now opting for artificial flowers in lieu of actual flowers. This can be cheaper and offer the advantage of preparing months in advance. They also last forever, so your investment doesn’t end up in the compost pile the next day. If you decide to go with real flowers, check independent florists first, as they can often work with your budget with more flexibility than a larger retail chain.

Videographer: Have you ever visited a friend and been subjected to watching their wedding video? It’s painful. Now, with the development of high-def and superior editing, today’s wedding videos are more like Hollywood features than handheld camcorders of the 80’s. they can also be very expensive. The real question is need. After the first few weeks of being married, will your wedding DVD ever be seen? Aside from distant relatives visiting or an anniversary viewing, it likely sits on the shelf. Most budget-minded couples skip the videographer, but if you really want video then find a company that uses multiple cameras and edits in a style you enjoy. Be sure they know the style you want and ask them to work with your budget.

Other: There are several other ways to save that simply didn’t fit the other categories:

Wedding favors are cute, but often sit in the backseat of your guests’ cars and ultimately get tossed. If you have a budget for them, find something personal (a small framed photo of the wedding couple, a small package of candy or mints, etc). Find something fun or quirky, but cheap. Search online for many creative options.

With any wedding, avoid placing disposable cameras at guest tables. The idea is great, but the execution is horrible. You’ll spend hundreds on these outdated cameras, and hundreds more to develops photos of kids’ feet and empty plates. Don’t even consider this for your wedding!

Limousines: Beautiful and elegant, but really only use if transportation is needed. Hiring a limo to drive you three blocks doesn’t allow you to relax or save money. If you’re travelling across town and want to splurge, go for it. Ask for wedding specials, and find a service that will allow you to use the minimum amount you need. Don’t get locked into a six-hour minimum when you only need three.

Honeymoon: If you’re wanting a honeymoon but don’t have a big budget, consider registering for your wedding with a travel agent instead of a retailer. Your guests may gift you a vacation instead of cutlery! If you’re considering a small wedding, think about a destination wedding for the two of you (or small family), and combine your wedding and honeymoon instead of a reception. Sometimes this is more economical than couples think and provides a romantic and less expensive wedding option.

Craigslist: OK, this isn’t a wedding component. But Craigslist can be your best friend. You can find vendors, dresses, wedding locations, and much more in one convenient site. If you have a particular skill, service, or item, consider using the site’s barter section to trade for wedding services. Trading your unused timeshare for a wedding photographer or bartering your automotive repair business to obtain catering can be empowering and budget-saving. Read through the section and find ideas that may help you save.

Hopefully a few of these suggestions give you ideas on stretching your wedding budget. Weddings are beautiful, amazing events and should be celebrated, not agonized. Enjoy the process, and remember that this is YOUR big day. Build the wedding you want, and let your guests enjoy the ride with you.

Shaun Baland Sacramento Wedding Photographer

916.316.1377

shaunbaland@gmail.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shaun_Baland/975970

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