Is lack of time, money, or convenience impeding your weight-loss or fitness regime? If so, Pilates or yoga may be the answer. With today’s busy schedules, most of us may find it difficult to set aside time for fitness and exercise, especially at a costly gym. Pilates and yoga equipment and accessories will save you time and money in achieving your weight-loss and fitness goals with just a few minutes, a few times a week, at your convenience and in the privacy of your home.Frequently referred to as mind-body exercises, Pilates and yoga aid in increasing flexibility and joint movement; improving balance, while toning, firming, and sculpting your body. Both of these exercise techniques have a proven track record of helping people recover their full range of motion and improve flexibility and strength. In addition to improving overall health and well-being, and combined with a proper diet, Pilates and yoga exercises can accelerate and enhance your weight-loss and fitness program.What is Pilates? Pilates is a system of exercises designed to improve flexibility and strength. Joseph Pilates created this system of exercises during the First World War to improve the rehabilitation program of returning veterans. Believing that mental health and physical health are inter-related, Joseph Pilates suggested a few specific movements emphasizing control and form to help injured soldiers in regaining their healthy bodies. Out of this was born “The Pilates Principles”, a method for conditioning the entire body by strengthening, stretching, and stabilizing key muscles.The main difference between Pilates and yoga: yoga is more spiritual than physical. Both disciplines use a specific set of exercises that work the body as a whole, from the middle or “core” of the body. As with yoga, the Pilates method also teaches breath awareness and concentration to enhance its stress reduction benefits, but it has less of the spiritual and meditative components involved with yoga.Because Pilates’ history started with physical therapy, there are numerous exercises for people suffering from medical conditions such as scoliosis, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. No longer confined to physiotherapy rooms, Pilates can be found in exercise studios and gyms, or can be practiced in the privacy of your home or office. As the low impact exercises emphasize stretching and are not as physically demanding or time consuming most workouts, Pilates appeals to busy adults, especially women, with variable and hectic schedules. Pilates is accommodating enough to challenge everyone, from someone starting to get into shape to someone in their best physical condition.Luckily, practicing both or switching from one method to the other is not a problem, as nearly all the equipment and accessories are used in both Pilates and yoga exercises, making them interchangeable; a cost-savings and convenience. With the help of instructional books and DVDs, Pilates and yoga can be practiced anywhere and at your convenience.Yoga Balance/Fitness balls enhance yoga, Pilates and fusion exercise programs to firm and strengthen abs, back and buttocks.For faster, more targeted toning, Circles (rings) and discs provide resistance for improving muscle strength throughout the body; especially in problem areas such as inner and outer thighs, upper arms, and chest.Yoga and Pilates mats provide cushioning and traction and are used in most classes. Although most studios have mats you can rent to use during class, it makes more sense to purchase your own mat, for both financial and hygienic reasons.Tone, firm and shape every muscle group with resistance tubes and bands. They are good for all ages, and all fitness levels will see results in just minutes a day. It is the best way to warm-up and cool-down, as well as an excellent relief for arthritis sufferers. Resistance tubes and bands are lightweight and compact enough to go anywhere.Yoga and Pilates kits are the perfect way to get started on a great routine. These kits equip you with the right tools required to understand, learn and practice your routine effectively, and realize its powerful benefits.Which method is the best for you? That depends on your individual needs, desires, and personal preferences. If you are not looking for a spiritual workout, Pilates may be more to your liking. If you are looking for more than exercise alone, yoga may be the ticket. Regardless, both disciplines can be done in the privacy and convenience of your home or office, saving the cost of an expensive gym membership. Pilates and yoga equipment and accessories are compact, lightweight, and portable, making any room, anywhere, a potential gym. No longer are we limited to specific gym hours or locations; we don’t need to finance big, bulky fitness equipment to obtain and maintain healthy bodies. Pilates and yoga provides fitness in minutes, a few times a week, for only a few bucks.
Photography Marketing – Getting Free Displays of Your Photography is the Best Way to Advertise
Trying to make a great living with your photography business without becoming a “Master Marketer” is like trying to start your car without the keys. I suppose you could eventually do it – but it would take a lot of hard work and time.Most master marketers agree that it takes 5 positive impressions before someone will actually pick up the phone and call you, or will go to their computer and email you. So, unless you have an enormous marketing budget, you need effective but inexpensive ways to make those 5 positive impressions on your target market and get her to take action.There is NOTHING – not the Internet, not direct mail, not television, not radio, not referrals, not anything – that can beat exhibits of your photography all over your community, for bringing in highly qualified potential clients to your photography business. I have proven this to be true in my portrait and wedding photography business, and it will be true for you, as well.Here’s how it works: People start seeing your photography proudly displayed around the community. They see it displayed at their favorite restaurant when they go out to eat. Then they see it when they go to the movies. Then the wife sees it when she has her hair done. Then she sees it again when she does her banking. These impressions keep stacking up, until she just can’t stand it anymore. She HAS to contact you.Here’s why having exhibits around your community is such an effective marketing method – much more effective than the paid advertising most photographers do:1. Every exhibit of your photography carries with it the IMPLIED ENDORSEMENT of the place where your exhibit is located. This is totally the opposite of most advertising you do. You see, if you place an ad in the Yellow Pages, for example, everyone knows you wrote it, or hired someone to write it. It doesn’t have much credibility.But with exhibits of your photography, you are there by “invitation” – or at least that’s what most people believe to be the case. This means the location where you are exhibiting is giving their approval of, and respect for what you do. This is a very powerful psychological marketing tool.2. It’s the single most artistic way to present your photography. It’s like a “one person art show.” It speaks very highly of your artistic prowess as well as your professionalism. Just be sure you only display your best images, and be sure they are up to your finest artistic requirements.3. Exhibits of your photography allow people to closely examine and scrutinize your images with no “salesperson” or other distraction. They can “scratch and sniff it.” They can look at your photography really close up and personal. They can touch it. They can study the composition. They can scrutinize the framing. They can talk openly with their friends who are with them about what they really feel about your photography. No sales person is there. No pressure.4. Exhibits allow you to present your photography the way it should be presented – in appropriate sizes which truly show off your wonderful style. (Key point: never display any of your images without having them beautifully framed, and having them be appropriate sizes for the space they are in.) For example, I prefer to display 24 x 30′s and 30 x 40′s if at all possible.5. Since you sell what you show, by showing beautiful wall portraits around the community, you are much more likely to have your paying clients actually invest in those sizes. Wall portraits are extremely profitable, and clients love them, because they can enjoy them from across the room in their home.So think about who you know. Your friends and acquaintances who own or run local businesses. Think about the other businesses people in the community who would maybe be interested in exhibiting your photography in their business. Think about who you have photographed in the past. Do any of those people own or run a local business? Think about who your spouse knows in the community. All these people are potential exhibit locations.The true key to building the photography business of your dreams is to create a huge demand for your limited supply, and then control the volume of work you do with the price. Getting free exhibits all over town is the best, fastest, and one of the least expensive ways to create that huge demand.
Free Online Car Insurance Quote – Simple Ways of Making Good Savings
There are very simple ways to achieve huge savings in your auto insurance coverage. This is apart from comparing free online car insurance quote which surely is a good way to start. Let us see more ways to save. These tips are very simple and do not need any serious brain work to achieve.Before picking up a policy, do a comparison shopping. Just get free online car insurance quote for comparison. This is one tool that can set you on the right track. Increase your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you have to pay before your insurer would honour your claim. Raising your deductible by 150% can save you up to 30% in rates. The higher your deductible, the lower your rates.For owners of older cars whose value has greatly reduced, you may need to drop your collision and comprehensive coverages as these cost a lot of money which for you may just be a waste of funds. There are many discounts you can qualify for which would result in more savings for you. The sad truth is that insurers may not be eager to let you know of these discounts so you may need to ask them to become aware of them. Here a few such discounts.Safety discount. Every action to take towards making your car safer also works towards making it more unlikely that you would make a claim. This results in discounts from the insurer. Things like air bags, automatic seat belts etc make your car safer.Security discounts. Improve the security of your car by installing anti theft devices, car alarms etc and earn discounts. Get more than one policy from your insurer and you may qualify for a discount. Be sure however to confirm that the savings you would make doing this is worth it.The more you use your car, the more you are likely to pay in rates. Reduce your mileage by either joining a car pool, using the public transport or other means that would not involve frequent use of your car.Paying your rates yearly and not monthly should also earn you a discount. You can also earn a discount for automating your payment. Sign up for a direct debit of your account when your rates are due. This makes sure that your payments are on time and can therefore earn you a discount.Remember, ask your insurer about the possible discounts so you can make the most of them. One thing you also need to note is that the cost of your car is major thing that affects your rate. The more expensive your car is your rates would automatically be more. Get your low rates started by getting and comparing free online car insurance quote. You can get a free online car insurance quote from quotes comparison sites. Get these quick auto insurance quotes and begin to really save.