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How To Add A Touch Of Magic To Leisure Through Family Yoga Travel

June 13, 2017 by admin

Travelling is a wonderful time for laughter, bonding and festivities. An opportunity to learn new things, see different cultures and connect with different people. Whether it be on the beach, a new city, trekking on the mountains or star gazing in the wild, traveling is one of the best de-stressors when you need to take a time out. And what better way to spend it with your family.

No matter how far you are away from home, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a must, and yoga is proof that exercise on-the-go is not difficult. Here are simple ways to do just that:

1. Bring your props with you

Yoga props don’t consume too much space in your luggage, just bring your mat with you! A big travel mat rolled on your bag would indeed serve as a reminder that it’s time to squeeze in some exercise hours on your vacation but it might just add up a wee amount of weighing.

One Lululemon yoga mat review from a renowned yogi indicated that lightweight travel mat fits perfectly in her travel bag and added only about 1 kg. Add that to the fantastic view of your beach or the mountainside and you have an instant inspiration as you execute your downward-facing dog pose. Take in a deep, deep breath of fresh breeze while you’re at it.

2. Know the local Yoga scene

As with any travel bit, exploring the local yoga studios are part of the vacation itself. Your hotel might just have their own yoga studio for you to enjoy. Perhaps, you will find a Yogi instructor giving free classes on the town’s plaza where you can meet other families practicing yoga themselves. Or maybe there’s a studio beside the famous restaurant you are dying to try. In any case, search for Yoga practice opportunities before you travel.

3. Make an itinerary and make yoga part of it

So, your youngest wants to go to the waterpark and your eldest wants to check out the museum; your hair is thinning out at the thought of having not enough time to go to all of these places but you want everyone to be happy, too. Well, the best plan is to make a plan. Find time before your travel to search for the noteworthy tourist’s spots, find the perfect schedule and you’re good to go. While you’re at it, keep an eye out for opportunities to practice yoga as well.

4. Equip Yourself with the Perfect YOGA APP for your needs

If you find yourself on vacation in the woods, make sure you pack light and bring your mobile phone with you in the case of emergencies and in the case of yoga. Your family does not need to skip your Yoga sessions just because you guys are in the middle of the forest or midway into a mountain. Relax and breathe the fresh air, hold your hands up high for your Sun Salutations and slowly, gently breathe out while going back down. For the next pose, pull out your phone and open your newly-downloaded Yoga App. Yoga Studio is one of the best apps you may download, it costs only 3.99 and is available on both Android and Apple OS. You can also get YogaGlo, tagged as one of the top Apple apps of 2016

5. Yoga Retreat

Have you ever considered going on a retreat? How about a yoga retreat for your next vacation? Morocco, Thailand, and Cambodia offer yoga retreats all year round. Some even offer a family yoga retreat which teaches you poses that can practice your little kid. Not only is this a good husband and wife quiet time, but it can also be one of the most memorable bonding experiences you will have with your children. Do not be intimidated by silent yoga retreats as this is a whole new level of experience altogether.

6. Meditate

Travelling, though enjoyable for everyone, can also be quite tiring. Take a few minutes out of your day to just practice your breathing. The best times are when you are waiting for your flight, aboard your plane and while traveling on land to your destination. It need not be a complicated practice as you can just sit there, block the surroundings and just breathe. You can turn it into a game for your kids, everyone will enjoy it.

7. Do not forget to cleanse

Yoga is a cleansing of the mind, spirit and the body. Make sure you get your daily, if not weekly, dose of it. And while you’re at it, take advantage of your time while on vacation; reset your body by getting that 8 hours of sleep. Pick your food thoroughly– an option you don’t usually have when you only have an hour for lunch at work. Do some light reading. Anything that would help you reach that state of relaxation where both your mind and body is at rest.
Be it on vacation or at the comfort of your own home, there’s plenty of yoga to go around. Share the experiences with your family and new friends, ask them to join and eventually, build a community of yogis eager to practice even when they’re away from home.

4 Child-Friendly Asian Cities to Visit

June 9, 2017 by admin

Family vacations are one of the best things to look forward to. It is the ideal time to relax, bond with one another, and have fun even for a short while. You will surely enjoy this moment and treasure it for a lifetime, for it is not every day you can have this kind of journey with the most important people in your life.

However, planning your family vacation can be frustrating and at the same time exhausting. There are plenty of things you have to consider first before deciding where to spend your vacation. You have to keep in mind that everyone should enjoy during this trip, so choose a destination that you can all have the best time ever.

Listed below are the child-friendly cities you can visit in Asia:

Singapore

Although known as a costly city, Singapore is still one of the best Asian cities to explore with your family, significant other, or alone. It is a multicultural region that makes it easy and hassle-free to roam around, even with your entire family. There are also a lot of attractions you can visit while here, including the Singapore Flyer, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Botanic Gardens, and Sentosa Island. More so, before traveling to this wonderful country, make sure to have a cheap travel insurance in Singapore first. This will ensure that you are all protected when overseas.

Hong Kong

One of the most popular Asian cities perfect for every family is Hong Kong. This metropolitan city boasts its two main attractions for travelers – Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park. All kids, as well as kids-at-heart, will truly be delighted going here. Aside from these two attractions, you can also visit the Po Lin Monastery and Big Buddha in Lantau Island, Peak Tower, or Hong Kong Ferris Wheel. There are tons of family-friendly tourist spots around Hong Kong, so better plan your trip here properly and ahead of time.

Malaysia

A friendly and relaxing country, Malaysia is a must-visit travel destination, too. There are numerous cities around this beautiful country that you can explore, especially Kuala Lumpur. You can check out Legoland and Hello Kitty Land as well, in order for the kids to enjoy your Malaysia trip. With its outstanding cuisine, amiable local people, and diverse culture, you will truly feel Asia while here.

Japan

Another Asian country you should not miss when traveling with the whole family is Japan. This amazing country has one of the best tourist attractions in the world, especially its capital city, Tokyo. Once you are in Tokyo, make sure to add Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland on your itinerary. These amusement parks will definitely be a hit to you and your children.

Asia is absolutely a family-friendly travel destination. It offers a ton of great cities perfect for family vacations or solo travels. In case you are planning a getaway with your family, then make sure to consider these travel destinations specified above and you will all experience the ultimate Asian tour like no other.

You Should Know More About Autism

May 14, 2017 by admin

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Autism is one of the fastest growing and prevalent child developmental disabilities in the US today. It affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys. The prevalence of the disease has launched several amazing charities including Autism Speaks and California based Special Needs Network, and Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center of Phoenix that are supported by amazing donors like Lloyd Claycomb who are dedicated to informing parents and assisting with information that can get them vital services for their autistic children. Here is some information about Autism that you will find helpful in understanding the disorder.

What is Autism?

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a lifelong developmental disability that is characterized by an individual having challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences.

The term spectrum is related to the wide variation in challenges and strengths defined by people who have autism. There is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. There are four main sub-types of autism recognized within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Autistic Disorder, also known as autism, childhood autism, early infantile autism, Kanner’s syndrome or infantile psychosis.
Asperger Syndrome, also known as Asperger’s disorder or simply Asperger’s.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, also known as CDD, dementia infantalis, disintegrative psychosis or Heller’s syndrome.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified), also known as PDD (NOS) or atypical autism.

Individuals on the autism spectrum may vary enormously from each other but they all share the two core features of autism:

Persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction. This will manifest itself as the individual have difficulty beginning or carrying on a conversation. They may not understand or be able to follow social rules such as how far to stand from someone when communicating or moderating the level of their voice. They may also find it difficult to make and keep friends.
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Autistic people often develop an overwhelming interest in something. They may also create and follow inflexible routines or rituals, make repetitive body movements. They can also be hypersensitive to certain sounds.

It is commonly acknowledged that autistic people see, hear and feel the world differently than typical people. Often people feel being autistic is a fundamental aspect of their identity.

Autism has an onset during the earliest ages of childhood with its most-obvious signs usually appearing between the ages of 2 and 3. And manifests itself as developmental delays in the child. Although its exact onset time is vague, what is not is that the earlier the intervention, the better the outcomes for the autistic person.

If you suspect that your child or a child you know has autism spectrum disorder, you should contact a doctor or clinic in your area and have the child tested. It is important to go to a facility that understands the disorder so you can get the right testing and information about what should be done if the child is diagnosed with autism. Stay calm and know that there is support for you and your family.

Pool Safety for Kids 2017 – Infographic

May 10, 2017 by admin

A swimming pool instantly transforms the backyard into the go-to hangout for outdoor family fun. But pool owners with young children need to take extra precautions.

Though swimming pools are fun, they present a serious hazard for young children who can accidentally wander in unsupervised. The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found drowning to be the leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 4. Sadly, the majority of these incidents happen in home swimming pools.

Thankfully drowning accidents are preventable with a water safety plan that includes multiple layers of protection. May is National Water Safety Month, and the it’s perfect time to develop your family’s water safety plan. The first step is making sure your pool area is secured with proper fencing. In addition to pool fencing, parents should employ layers of protection such as careful adult supervision and alarms to ensure little ones are kept safe.

As the industry leader in glass pool fencing, Aquaview Fencing merges proven safety with modern style. Check out their infographic below to learn the facts on child drowning and simple tips to keep your family safe this summer.

Ways to Best Care For Your Autistic Child

May 4, 2017 by admin

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In the United States alone, one in every 68 children are born with ADS or autism spectrum disorder, a condition which can put a great deal of pressure on both parent and child. Thankfully, as a result of the hard work done by people like Chris Manente, there is more support out there for autism than there has ever been before and more charities who are dedicated to helping those with autism than have ever been registered in the past.

With this additional support for parents of children with ADS, living with a child who is suffering is not as complicated as it once was and research has given us lots of great information for how best to manage children with ADS. If you have a child who suffers from autism then here are some top tips on best caring for them.

Create a Safe Zone

Such is the nature of autism that there will be times when your child needs to go to a safe space in order to relax and calm themselves down. You should try and have a bit of fun with this and include your child in the design of their ‘safety zone’. Experts say that having a tranquil and calming environment for your child will help with the child and the parent when things get a little fraught.

Watch For Triggers

It is important as a parent that you keep an eye out for triggers which could cause your child to feel under pressure or bewildered which could result in a tantrum. Over the years you will be able to spot these triggers and intervene before things get out of control. Often it can be something as simple as hunger which your child feels that could cause them to get frustrated and watching out for non-verbal signs will help to ensure that you can avoid problems before they arise.

Keep It Routine

Experts often describe those suffering from autism as perceiving the World to be in chaos, your job as parent is to do your best to add some normality to this chaos. You can best do this with a strict daily routine that you will stick to each day. Don’t consider any part of the day to unimportant, whether it is the time that your child goes to bed, watches a program or takes a bath, ensure that each day, they do the same as the day before, this will greatly help your child to stay in control of their emotions.

Treat Them As A Child

Many professionals in the industry have been speaking recently about the importance of still treating your child as a child and not as a patient. You will of course need to treat them differently in some aspects but over and above everything else, they are a child who likes to have fun and learn just like any other child. It can be easier said than done, but try your best to avoid treating your child as anything other than what they are.