Schuetz

There is only one way to get asthma or a blocked nose and that is because you are breathing like an elephant. You are not an elephant, and your body will try to stop you from breathing so much.

Your nose may block up, and make your lungs get wheezy, and you may feel stuff in your lungs and want to cough.

If your child nose becomes completely blocked, then the Steps exercise should be done until it is clear enough to breathe through. Usually only one set is needed. The key is to ensure that breathing is only through the nose after the steps [like a mouse].

If the breathing is elephant-like the nose will just block up again. If it does, then repeat the steps. If it is only partially blocked, then ask the child to just breath like a mouse, and try to make it clear. With practice they will soon be able to unblock nose with just breathing.

If the symptoms of asthma occur, tightness, wheeze or cough occur remember the elephant and the mouse. Reinforce the statement with your child that the only way to get asthma is to first breathe like an........ [Elephant]. To make it go away you just breathe like a little mouse ..... [turn palm up] through your ........[point to nose!]

If your child begins to cough then you must teach them how to cough through their nose. Have a little practice with them. When they feel a tickle in their throat, instead of coughing with their mouth, they should firstly try to just ignore it, but if they have to then cough via nose. This is more like an 'AH-HRRM' or throat clearing before a speech.

At the same time reinforce again the mouse breathing. If you do not allow yourself to cough, then the urge to cough will simply go away. If you do allow the coughing cycle to start 'it will get worse and worse' as the deep breathing causes more and more CO2 to be lost will cause the production of more and more mucus.

To cough a lot you must breathe like a big..........Elephant. On occasions with smaller children, they may say to you that they cannot stop the cough. Here you must be firm if you want them to become free of the cycle. They are simply not allowed to cough. [Yell if you must, but it is usually better to do more closed mouth coughing practice.] Obviously also explain that they can cough if they are choking on something.

If you notice a post nasal drip, which is fluid running down the back of your throat, then the procedure is the same. Mouse breathing first, and if that does not stop it, then do steps until it has stopped.

Same applies to itchy nose and eyes. If you see your child doing the 'allergic salute', pushing on their nose because it is itchy, explains again that they have been breathing like a big ......elephant! Itchy eyes might be gently rinsed [eyes closed!] with cool clean water, followed by mouse breathing.

Finger Under the Nose

It is very useful to use your finger for feedback on the depth of your breathing. The more gentle and passive, the better. When you ask your child to check their breathing [even teenagers] ensure they use their finger under their noses. The other feedback is any noise created by breathing. If you or they can hear a 'wheeze' try and make it silent. If there is whistle because a nose is partially blocked, then they should breathe like a mouse so that it cannot be heard. In both of these cases if you reduce breathing depth you will soon stop the wheeze and unblock the nose. If it does not then a series of steps should be done.

For more information on Asthma and how the Butekyo Breathing Method can help improve your asthma visit our website. If you are looking for music to help you meditate and control your asthma Meditation Music.

BE SURE - Moving can be extremely stressful, be as certain as you can be that it's the right move for you before you go. If possible visit the country before you make up your mind, don't rely on other people's impressions. Ask yourself if the new culture will really suit you (and your family).

BE PREPARED - ...For anything and everything to go wrong. Don't assume that you'll be able to find the perfect job or house immediately. If possible make sure you've got enough money to see you through the first couple of months at the very least (preferably longer). And to do that you'll need to...

BUDGET - As unglamorous as it sounds, good budgeting could be what makes the difference between a successful relocation and a disaster. Before you go, work out what everything is going to cost during those crucial first months when you're trying to find your feet in a foreign land.

DON'T DELAY - Start preparing as early as possible, just getting all the necessary paperwork in order can take a long time. Make a checklist of everything you need to do!

CHECK YOUR BENEFITS - If your company has initiated your move you may be eligible for relocation benefits. Make sure you ask if they haven't told you already!

HEALTH - Make sure that the country you are moving to has adequate healthcare facilities and infrastructure to support you (and your family), especially if you suffer from a medical condition which requires treatment or medication.

YOUR HOME - Think about what you want to do with your current home (e.g. sell it, lease it, leave it empty) and what kind of accommodation will be most suitable in your new country. If you don't know anyone in the new country who can help find accommodation, consider the services of a relocation agent.

EMPLOYMENT - Will you be looking for work in your new country? If so, consider starting your job hunt before you go (use the Internet!) Will you be able to use your existing qualifications or will a period of retraining be necessary? If you're moving somewhere where they don't speak the same language as you then you should...

LEARN THE LANGUAGE - Few skills will have such a positive impact on your relocation experience as being able to speak, or at least understand, the local language. Getting to grips with the local lingo before you go is a great idea!

PAPERWORK - No matter how insignificant that old document at the back of the bottom drawer may seem now, take it with you, the chances are at some stage you'll have to show it to someone. Moving countries can be a bureaucratic nightmare at the best of times but if you come prepared with the necessary paperwork you stand the best chance of a stress free relocation. Things to think about include birth certificates, wedding certificates, educational certificates, medical certificates (including those for your pets!), etc.

FRIENDS & FAMILY - Don't forget to inform everyone of your new address and when you're going (unless you don't want them to find you, of course ;-) Seriously though, saying goodbye to friends and family can be the hardest thing about leaving, be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster ride as the day of departure draws near.

YOUR BELONGINGS - Will you be taking everything with you or leaving some items in storage (or even getting rid of them completely)? How will you move your belongings? Can you transport them yourself or do you need the services of a moving company? Set aside those things you need to take with you in person so they don't get packed accidentally (passports, tickets, etc.)

INSURANCE - Once you've decided what you're taking with you, insure it. If you haven't already arranged appropriate insurance (health/life/travel, etc.) for yourself and your family as well...DO SO!

BANKING - You may need to open a new bank account in your new country - look for information on the one which suits you best. Do you need to close your current bank account? At the very least you'll need to tell your current bank that you're moving.

CREDIT CARDS - Credit card companies need to be informed you're moving. Also, will the credit cards you're taking with you be widely accepted?

DRIVING - Depending on where you're going and how long you're going to be there you may need to apply for a new driving license or even take a driving test. Will you take your car with you or buy/rent/lease one when you get to your destination country?

UTILITIES etc - Gas, electricity, cable companies and so on will need to be informed of your departure and contracts terminated where appropriate. Make arrangements for final meter readings and bill payments.

POST REDIRECTION - Having your mail redirected after you leave can prevent you from missing something important.

ELECTRIC DEVICES AND MOBILE PHONES - Check whether or not your TV, video, hair dryer, alarm clock etc will work in the new country. You may need to take out a new network subscription for a mobile phone (or buy a new one with a subscription) - watch out for roaming charges with your current phone if you use it.

EMAIL - If moving means you can't keep your current email address, consider a free web based email account you can access from anywhere.

And finally, a couple of important tips for when you get to your new country...

MAKE FRIENDS - Whether locals or fellow expats, nothing will help you more than being able to rely on the assistance of your friends when you need it. Don't think that socialising is time wasted, it's what makes a new country feel like home.

DON'T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF - Moving to a new country is difficult. Even when everything goes according to plan it's still difficult. There will be times when you're physically and emotionally exhausted but try not to let things get on top of you. Don't be shy about asking for help or support, there are plenty of people who have been there before.

Good luck!

If you are about to buy a house that is a long distance away, you may have wondered the best way to get all of your stuff there. One of the best ways is to use one way truck rentals, this will allow you to rent a truck where you live, load it up and drive to where you are moving to. You then return the truck to the branch of the rental company that is closest to the new house.

1- Call around to rental companies that deal in truck rentals. You will need to know if they have any one way truck rentals available for the dates and destinations that you will require them. Be sure to ask about prices, mileage limits and costs and any extra fees associated with renting a one way vehicle.

2- The next step that needs to be completed before you can actually start moving your belongings is to figure out how much truck space you will actually need. You do not want to be caught in a situation where you don't have enough room on the truck for everything you want to take with you. However, you don't want too much space; this will cost more and allow your possessions to be damaged during transport. To decide on the size truck you will need, ask the rental company for their advice, they will have formulas that determine the size truck needed for the job.

3- Before you rent the truck, be sure to check it out for quality. Most rental companies pride themselves on having dependable transportation for rent; however, it will be in your best interest to check things like the door latches, locks and tires. This could only save you headaches later down the road.

4- Call your insurance agent to inquire whether your personal auto policy covers the use of rental trucks and vans for this purpose. While most insurance companies will cover the use of a rental car, most don't normally cover the use of a delivery vehicle. If your policy does not cover the rental truck, you will need to purchase the insurance policy that is offered by the rental company.

5- Given your need for the use of a one way truck rental, it is wise to ask about drop off destinations that are closest to where you will be arriving. Ask about pick up service for the truck, if this is available in the area you will be moving to, it could save you valuable time upon your arrival.

6- If you are moving at the end or at the beginning of a month, be sure to reserve your truck well in advance of the actual moving date. These times are the busiest for rental companies and if you wait to request a truck, they may not have any available for you.

7- Most rental companies will require that you reserve your vehicle with a credit or debit card. They will also, most likely require that you be at least 25 years old to rent a truck. If either of these items will be an issue for you, you will need to have an older relative or friend rent the truck for you.

John Mancini writes about truck rental online and offline. You can read more about moving trucks and truck rentals on his websites.

Karate has many benefits, but also has hidden bonuses.

For a child the benefits are numerous. Many pre-school age children are able to participate in karate where they couldn't in any other sport because of their age and ability. In karate pre-schoolers are able to enjoy the things that they like to do such as kicking, jumping, being able to punch on a bag. They get to learn balance, coordination, memory and discipline, things kids their age are needing as a basic foundation not only for karate but also for life. The hidden bonus is that children this age love doing it and will do their best to show it off at test time.

Kids ages 7-12 benefit from the physical activity, bully prevention that is often taught in classes and of course the self-defense. The hidden bonuses are the confidence that is built from the achievements earned along with focus that blends over into homework. All my Jr. Black Belts that are in this age range are either straight A students or A-B students. Karate has taught them the discipline to stick it out and to stay focused when it comes to school work.

Adults come to karate looking mostly for physical benefits and find out they receive much more than expected. Karate renews and adds to their confidence, helps them deal with anger management and many times helps them resolve issues in a more peaceful way. The hidden bonus is that karate teaches success management and goal achievement in a person's life in knowing that helping others get what they want is the first step to success in karate, as well as life. Karate's basic foundation is the belt system, but it is more than that, it is a goal system set up to help teach others how to set and achieve their own goals.

The benefits of karate are simple: physical fitness means better health, self-defense means safety, and belt levels mean goal setting and achievement for even the youngest of karateka.

The bonuses are many times hidden when you first start karate, but even after 1 month they start revealing themselves in so many positive ways that the practitioner didn't even realize when he first started. Karate: Benefits and hidden Bonuses that are well worth your time.

Mike Webb is the owner/head instructor of the Okinawan School of Karate and has 17 years of experience in Karate. For more information on Mike Webb go to http://karatebenefits.com

The above article may be published freely as long as all links are included and content is not changed. Copyright Mike Webb 2007

Satellite Radio is the future of broadcasting

Satellite Radio, in short, can be described as commercial-free music, news, sports and talk shows. Many of the biggest players and events are now available from Sirius radio and XM radio like Howard Stern, Fred Schneider (the B52s), NFL, English Soccer, NBA, NASCAR, NHL, Major League Baseball, INDY, and the PGA.

Satellite radio began in 1992, when the S spectrum was allocated by the FCC to four companies. The two main ones, Sirius and XM paid a pretty penny (in fact almost $80 million dollars worth) to buy a license. Satellite-based radio began on May 15th, 2001 when XM Radio completed their satellite system. Sirius followed shortly when they launched in July, 2001. Since then, expanded products and competition has changed the radio landscape.

While automobile manufacturers started installing satellite radio in 2001 and 2002, most new vehicles come equipped with one now. XM has two satellites (called Rock and Roll) in parallel orbits to cover the mainland US market, while Sirius has three. Both have recently been awarded licenses for the Canadian market.

So what are the differences between the two providers?

XM has a flat $9.99 a month fee with no contracts to sign. They have the latest portable equipment. XM offers some of the best varieties of programming available today. They offer 68 commercial-free music channels; 32 channels of News, Sports, Talk & Entertainment; and 21 channels of instant Traffic & Weather in major metro areas. Here's the latest information of channels:

15 channels of Rock music

11 News channels (Fox, CNN, ABC, CNBC, MSNBC, BBC, C-SPAN, Bloomberg)

11 Talk & Variety channels (Discovery, E!, Experts & advice, African American Talk, Christian Talk)

10 channels of Pop music & Top Hits

7 Country music choices

7 channels of Blues & Jazz music

7 Hip Hop and Urban music choices

6 different channels of music by the Decades (40's through 90's)

5 Sports channels (ESPN, Fox, Sporting News, NASCAR)

4 Dance music channels

4 World music choices

3 Christian music choices

3 Comedy entertainment channels (adult comedy, family comedy)

3 Classical music channels

2 Kids entertainment channels (Disney)

2 Latin music choices

Sirius offers a $12.95 per month fee and you can pre-pay for a full year for a discount (works out to $9.99 per month). They offer better sports coverage with play-by-play of the NBA, NHL, and NFL. Sirius has signed some great talent of celebrity DJs. Sirius offers 60 channels of music with no commercials, 50 channels of News, Sports, Talk and Entertainment; and 20 channels of 24/7 Traffic & Weather in major cities. Here's how Sirius stack up with their channel line up:

16 Talk & Variety channels (Discovery, E!, Talk for Women, CourtTV, Air America, Gay/Lesbian, Body/Mind/Spirit Talk)

14 channels of Rock music

12 channels of Pop music & Top Hits

10 News channels (CNN, CNBC, Fox, NPR, PRI, C-SPAN, BCC, World Radio, Bloomberg)

9 Hip Hop and Urban music choices

7 Sports channels (ESPN, play-by-play channels)

6 Country music choices

6 Jazz music channels

5 Dance music channels

4 different channels of music by the Decades (50's through 80's)

3 Classical music channels

2 Christian music choices (Catholic)

2 channels of Blues & Reggae

2 Latin music choices

2 Comedy entertainment channels (regular and uncensored)

2 World music choices

1 Kids entertainment channels (Disney)

To read more on Satellite TV and Radio, please visit my site: http://www.satellite-tv-and-radio.com