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Posture ranks right up at the top of the list when you are talking about good health. Posture is as important as eating right, exercising, getting a good night's sleep and avoiding potentially harmful substances like alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Good posture means your bones are properly aligned and your muscles, joints and ligaments can work as nature intended. Good posture means your vital organs are in the right position and can function at peak efficiency. Posture also helps contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system. Without good posture, you can't really be physically fit.

Surprised? Well, you're not alone. The importance of good posture in an overall fitness program is often overlooked by fitness advisers and fitness seekers alike. In fact, the benefits of good posture may be among the best kept secrets of the current fitness movement. The good news is that most everyone can avoid the problems caused by bad posture...and you can make improvements at any age.

Know Your Curves

The natural state of your back has three curves which form an S.

The first curve of your spine is the cervical (neck) curve. Consisting of seven small, flexible vertebrae that support your skull and the cervical curve tilts slightly forward.

The second curve of your spine is the thoracic (mid back) curve. This curve has 12 vertebrae which are larger and more rigid than the cervical vertebrae. The thoracic curve has a prominent backward curvature.

The third curve of your spine is the lumbar (low back) curve. This curve consists of five massive vertebrae that carry most of the weight of your body. The lumbar curve has a forward tilt.

To keep your spine well-aligned and healthy, you must maintain the balance of these three curves. By maintaining this alignment you minimize stress on the spine, which helps prevent back pain and injury.

Yoga Can Help

Yoga helps improve your posture in the following ways:

1)Strengthens the muscles that support your spine easier to maintain good posture.
2)Improves the flexibility of your spine, enabling you to maintain good posture throughout different movements.
3)Improves the flexibility of your shoulders, hips and hamstrings, allowing you to maintain good posture without strain.
4)Enhances your body awareness, so you are more conscious of your posture throughout the day.

Better Posture made Simple

Follow these simple steps to quickly improve your posture.
1)Bring your feet parallel, not turned out, and about hip width apart. Bringing your feet parallel engages the muscles in the front of your thighs and keeps your hips, knees and ankles in proper alignment.
2)Reach up through the top of your head, feeling your spine lengthen, getting tall.
3)Bring your pelvis to a neutral position. To find this neutral position, place your hands around your hips, then tuck your tailbone slightly until your pelvis is directly over your thighs, so there is no bend in your hip joints, and theres less sway in your low back. As you tuck your tailbone, you should feel your abdominal muscles engage a bit.
4)Draw your shoulders back and relax them down, bringing your hands in line with the seams of your pants.
5)Level your chin, keeping your head directly over the spot between your shoulders, not forward or back.

here are some easy ways to check your posture at home:

stand facing a full length mirror and check the following:

1) Your shoulders are level,
2) Your head is straight, not tilted to the side,
3) The spaces between your arms and your sides seem equal on both sides,
4) Your hips are level, not sloped to one side, and
5) Your ankles are straight and not turned in or out.

You can also have someone look at you from the side and check the following:

1) Your head is stacked over your body, not jutting forward or pulled back
2) Your chin is parallel to the floor, not tilting up or down,
3) Shoulders are in line with ears, not drooping forward or pulled back too far,
4) Your hands are in line with hips, not forward or back
5) Your knees are straight, not bent or hyper-extended
6) Your lower back is slightly curved forward, not too flat or curved too much, (creating a swayback)

Do your best to practice these points of posture everyday, and before you know it, your posture will be perfect. To learn more about improving your posture and developing a strong and healthy back, visit: www.yogaforbackhealth.com.

Nancy Wile, Ed.D. is the founder of Yoga To Go a yoga organization that provides simple and effective yoga programs for busy people around the world. You can subscribe to her free yoga and fitness newsletter at: www.YogaTG.com.

posted by 46124  # 9:50 PM 0 comments

One of the most basic problems with the ongoing improvements in gaming console technology is the issue of backwards compatibility. In the past, games from its predecessor would not be compatible with the latest version of the game console. Xbox360 games have this feature. There are ways so that you can play your Xbox games using the 360 console.

One way of allowing you to play both versions of the said games is via updating your game console through the live system. However, it is required in this method that a broadband internet connection is present. The simple process of connecting your game unit to an available broadband connection will allow you to update your system. After connecting, all that you really have to do is to wait for the process to finish. Afterwards, you can start playing your original Xbox360 games! By doing this, you remain updated about the latest addition to the games that are being supported by the system. Of course you would be needing a live account, which could either be a silver or the gold membership package.

Another method that would to allow you to play Xbox games on your 360 console is by CD or DVD burning. This is for those who do not have a broadband internet connection. A simple dial-up connection would be sufficient for the download to complete. Using this method, one could simply go to Xbox.com and download a copy of the game and simply burn it on a disc. This is especially useful for people whose consoles are not connected to a broadband internet connection. It also adds that you could get a supported copy of the game some place else, where an internet connection and a CD or DVD burner is present. This saves you from the task of having to bring the whole game console just to get the supported games. The process is just as simple as creating an audio cd. This should not prove to be that difficult even for beginners.

The last of the methods which would allow gamers to play Xbox360 games in a 360 console would be to order it directly from Xbox.com. However, this method would only be available by Early December to some people. But then again, it may seem as the most viable option. The disc includes all the necessary updates needed by the system to enable it to have backwards compatibility. It will be updating the program for the backwards compatibility, which would of course also update the operating system for your game console.

I should say that this backwards compatibility feature is really ingenious. First of all, it saves gamers all that money that would either go to waste. Waste of money happens because they cannot use their old games or they purchase new games. Although this feature only allows your Xbox360 and Xbox games to be played on the 360 console, it will definitely be a feature that would dictate future technological developments in the gaming industry.

posted by 46124  # 1:02 PM 0 comments

If you're a golfer and play on a regular basis it is inevitable that you are going to get caught out in the rain. The way to be prepared for this inevitability is by having a golf umbrella handy and ready to press into service. In fact many seasoned golfers consider a golf umbrella to be essential equipment. Their reasoning being that golfing when soaking wet from the rain is no fun at all.

For this reason here is a short list of things to consider when selecting which golf umbrella you will add to your golfing tool box:

Wind Resistance
You definitely want to make sure that the umbrella you choose can resist the strong winds you are likely to encounter out on the course. To be sure, see that it has what is known as a double canopy or some other form of open air slots. This design is desired because it prevents the flow of air from reversing. Which is what causes the annoying phenomenon in which the wind turns your umbrella inside out.

Color and imprinted Patterns
You should of course find and choose the umbrella that is in keeping with your own style and tastes but this should be as colorful and eye catching as you are comfortable with. You may look for an imprinted golf umbrella with a favorite logo or your favorite sports team. The reason for choosing an umbrella that it is brightly colored and easily noticed is that it ensures that it and you are visible to other golfers during dark overcast weather conditions.

shaft Flexibility
The material that the umbrellas shaft is made from is very important. It is key to find one that allows a little flexibility or movement during windy weather. If possible the umbrella you purchase should have a fiberglass shaft. This is the safer alternative in case there is lightening in the area when you're forced to put your umbrella in to service.

Size Matters
You should obtain the largest umbrella you can find and comfortably handle out on the golf course. This is for obvious reasons. The larger your umbrella the more area you have to shield yourself from the weather. This is particularly important for those which carry their own bag while out on the course. You'll want to also use your umbrella to shield your equipment from the weather keeping it dry as much as possible.

Umbrellas
Umbrella Society is your home for fashion umbrellas. hand selected from around the world, umbrella Society umbrellas are the cutest you will ever see! need a clear umbrella or a dome umbrella? No problem, look to umbrella Society. And if you need rain boots or a rain coat, umbrella Society has those too!

posted by 46124  # 3:32 AM 0 comments