By stretching just a little bit every day, you can develop a routine that will help keep your entire body loose and limber. But in addition to improving your flexibility, you’ll actually be improving your life by promoting better health and wellness.

How exactly can having a flexible body actually improve other areas of your health? Continue reading to learn more.

Improve Your Strength and Balance

When your body is flexible, you’re able to balance better and you’re also able to increase your strength, especially if you’re already an active individual. Many martial artists, for example, take the time to stretch their bodies in order to improve range of motion and put more power behind their self-defense moves.

Improve Your Posture

Another way that flexibility can help you in your everyday life is by allowing you to naturally enjoy better posture, whether you’re sitting or standing. Poor posture can lead to stiff muscles and aches, and it’s also unattractive. By standing up tall and straight, you’ll feel and look more confident. Having a flexible spine and abdominals is one of the best ways to improve your posture, so stretch for a few minutes each day if this is an area of your life that you’d like to improve.

Prevent Injuries

Having more flexibility throughout your body can also help prevent injuries. This is important for everyone, including athletes and active individuals, because even mundane everyday movements can result in injuries.

Flexibility can help prevent disc and muscle strains that can happen when you turn over in your bed or even when you get out of bed. Everyday tasks at work that have you reaching and lifting can also injure your shoulders, but you can prevent these problems if your joints are more flexible. And you can even prevent backaches that would otherwise occur as a result of standing up after sitting for a long period of time, going down or up a flight of stairs, or bending over and lifting something off the floor.

Stretch the Right Way

Make sure that your body is properly aligned whenever you stretch, and never overstretch or push yourself beyond your limits, as this can also result in injuries. If you are uncertain of what stretches you should do, you can ask a personal trainer, purchase a home stretching DVD, take a yoga class, or speak with a doctor.

Maintaining Flexibility

The key to maintaining flexibility is doing stretching exercises regularly. If you fail to do so, your body will stiffen up right away again, even if you are naturally quite flexible to begin with. Take about 10 minutes out of every day to perform your favourite stretches. These may include stretches that are focused on lengthening your back, opening up the chest and shoulders, or stretching out the thighs and hips.

You can also visit a spa regularly and receive treatments and massages that will help keep your muscles loose and limber. Spas that use the highest quality equipment, such as therapy couches by therapyessentials.co.uk, are a great option.

The idea of a wood burning stove is a seductive one: comforting flames roaring away and something that gives a pleasing, comforting focal point to your living space. There’s nothing like traditional flames – even better if it’s minus the inconvenience of the traditional open fire.

Another major attraction is the fact you’re using renewable fuel sources to provide heat as opposed to resources such as gas and oil. You’re also being kind to the planet – burning wood is carbon neutral so you’re not adding to your carbon footprint.

It’s possible to go beyond just heating one main living area. You can use your wood burner to supply heat and water for the whole house. If you do this you’re being very eco friendly and removing yourself from the concerns of rising fossil fuel costs at the same time.

There are various points to consider before taking the plunge, however.

Assess your needs. This is vital – are you going to use the stove to heat just one room or the whole house? Make sure you select a model with the right heat output for your requirements.

Routine maintenance. With some types, you’ll need to clear away ash and relight it regularly. Will you find this a hassle? You’ll need your chimney swept at least once a year, too.

Fuel type. Wood is the eco friendly option, but check on your sources of supply. Is there a suitable supplier nearby? If you think you may need or wish to burn coal or a smokeless fuel, then you’ll need to buy a multi fuel burner.

To help decide whether a wood or multi fuel burner is best, this piece from Which? has some useful information.

Fuel storage. Have you enough room to store your fuel? Keeping plenty of wood close at hand takes up plenty of space.

Smoke controlled areas. Do you live in or near one? If so, you’d need to consider buying a multi fuel stove and burn smokeless fuels such as anthracite.

Building regulations. Make sure you’d conform to them. There are regulations concerning aspects such as the flue type, hearth dimensions and distance from other combustible materials.

Wood burner not a viable option?

If you think a wood burner isn’t such a good idea after all, is there an alternative for creating that homely atmosphere only flames can provide?

There may well be in the form of a bioethanol fire option. Using a smokeless, odourless and deposits-free eco friendly liquid fuel, these fires can provide heat and atmosphere. Take a look at internet sites to see what options are available. There are many types of fire ranging from the ornate type that can be sited on walls and surfaces to the wood burner-style varieties.

With no need to worry about chimneys, building regulations and fuel types and storage, a bioethanol fire just might be worth considering if a wood burner is too much of an undertaking.

If you’re really hoping to get away from it all by taking a much-needed holiday from work and seeing a brand new place, you may be ready to book your next trip right away. But you may also be reluctant to do so if you have pets and you’re worried about leaving them alone or putting them in a boarding facility. As a great pet parent, you may be concerned about abuse, or you may be worried about your pet getting the right medications each day if he’s older or has a chronic condition. In these cases, it may be best to take your pet on holiday with you.

Below are a few things you should consider before you decide to take your pets with you on your next adventure. Should you really take your pet along, or is it best to leave him at home?

Can Your Pet Handle the Stress of Travel?

Many animals, particularly cats, become easily frightened and stressed by the simple act of riding in a car. While there are natural and veterinarian-prescribed remedies that you can use to try to calm your pets down as best as possible, you need to ask yourself whether the stress of travel is really worth it.

Are you taking your pet on holiday with you for yourself or for their wellbeing? Cats, for example, are creatures of habit and will often prefer just staying home and being taken care of by a reputable pet sitter than going on the trip with you.

You’ll Need Extra Supplies and Paperwork

Packing for a holiday is stressful enough, but when you’re travelling with pets, you need to take along even more supplies to keep them happy and healthy. These include any medications that they’re on, the food and treats that they eat daily, and, of course, things like litter boxes for cats and leashes for dogs.

Whenever you travel with animals, you should always carry a health certificate, as well as medical records, with you as well. Also, make sure that your pets are up-to-date on any required vaccinations for the destination that you’re travelling to. Additionally, keeping your pet insured is also a good idea.

Expect Extra Legwork for Booking You Trip

When it comes to booking a hotel, resort, or a rental home, you’ll need to be absolutely certain that the facilities are pet-friendly. This will require more legwork on your part because these establishments can be difficult to locate quickly.

Plus, you should also be sure that your accommodation is located near outdoor areas that are pet-friendly as well so you can give your pets the exercise they need. Save time and make your search easier by visiting websites like Dog Friendly Hotels by My Pawson.

You also need to look into airline requirements for travelling with pets, as many have restrictions set upon the number of pets that they can take aboard, especially if you want your pet to be in the cabin with you, which is always the better option. Remember that there are risks involved with putting your pets in cargo during a flight, so avoid this if you can.

Kitchen design is one of the most hotly discussed elements of interior design, largely because of the massive scope for design choices and stylish outcomes. With every passing season, let alone year, new design trends emerge and older ones waste away into obscurity. For those chasing a modern, contemporary feel to their home, it can be tricky to even keep up with the latest developments. While these design features might not perfectly suit everyone, there are clear, simple ways of giving your kitchen a distinctive 2015 look.

Spaced Shelving

One of the top themes for kitchen design in 2015 is spaced shelving, allowing plenty of room for storage and easy access. Door-less units and floating shelves are expected to be an increasingly prominent part of kitchen design as the year wears on, tying in with wider themes of minimalism in contemporary kitchen design.

Mike Taylor of miketaylorbespokekitchens.co.uk says “expect backless storage units, design-light boxes and open spaces – themes that can be reflected more broadly throughout your kitchen design, providing the practicality you need for a kitchen design to work without sacrificing overall style.”

Another hot theme emerging for 2015 is furniture and cabinetry. At the cutting edge of kitchen design, it is now becoming more common to see standalone cabinets, storage units and work surfaces – rather than the more traditional built-in designs we have become accustomed to. This doesn’t work as well with smaller rooms and awkwardly shaped spaces, but if you have the excess floor space, it could be a good way to ensure you are maximizing both style and functionality in your kitchen.

For those in the know about interior design, 2015 kitchens are all about wallpaper – bold, striking, colourful patterned wallpaper, with feature walls still a major part of the design landscape. There are a number of wallpaper types catering specifically to the needs of your kitchen, both stylish and practically easy to maintain, so there is plenty to choose from in terms of getting the right finish for your room. A well-chosen wallpaper can actually enhance other elements of the design, and pick out themes and design features to provide that perfect finish.

Kitchen trends are fast-paced, and ever-changing to reflect social taste and preference over time. Whatever you design today will no doubt be superseded by the next wave of interior fashion, and if you’re determined to keep pace you can expect a lot of ongoing renovation and decorating. However, by basing your design on the emerging 2015 look, you can secure a stylish, modern design that will set you up for the foreseeable future, bang on today and tomorrow’s trends.

If you live in the UK, buying presents for the man in your life can be a difficult task, especially if he is the type who never talks about what he wants! The internet is full of great websites with many suggestions and ideas, but most of them their suggestions are just awful. Then, when you do finally find cool stuff that your man would like, you find out that the website only sells to the US! Outrageous.

Fortunately, for those of us who didn’t move across the pond, we still have plenty of options available to source the perfect present for your husband, boyfriend, or brother. You just need to know where to look! Here are some great ideas for men with different interests.

The Adventurer: Easybreath Snorkeling Mask

This mask is doing to snorkelling what the iPod did to the music industry – it will revolutionise the hobby completely. The concept of the snorkel has barely changed since its conception, until now. A 180° viewing angle, a valve that prevents water ingress and the ability to breathe without a rubber tube in your mouth make this an incredible piece of kit at a very affordable price.

The History Fanatic D-Day Normandy Landings Tour

World War II enthusiasts and fans of Saving Private Ryan will love this 3-day tour that takes in the beaches of the famous D-Day landings in Normandyby British, American, and Canadian forces. Discover the incredible battles and see how the fighting panned out over the rugged landscape. The tour also visits the sights of the airborne assaults that took place behind enemy lines, immortalised in the famous Band of Brothers Series.

The Science Nerd: Home Planetarium

In Britain there aren’t too many nights a year that are optimal for stargazing, especially if you live in the city. Plus it’s probably cold outside… do you really want to risk leaving the coziness of your home? Well you don’t have to… because you can now simply set up a planetarium in your own home! The Home Planetarium creates an astronomically accurate projection of either the northern or southern hemisphere (you choose!), complete with shooting stars!

The gadget lover: App Controlled WiFi Bulb

With technology and innovation progressing at lightning fast speeds, it was always going to be only a matter of time before the humble light bulb received a complete makeover. This modern bulb is controllable from your phone or tablet.

Of course you can turn it on and off remotely, but what really makes it great are the other things you can do with it: change colour, set a timer or alarm to wake you up, a dimmer switch, and several different modes to set the right mood at the right time. This is the future people, and its here now!

It is not a secret that every child needs to be motivated in order to achieve its full potential. You cannot just leave your child be and hope for the best. As a Christian parent, you need to do your part and make sure that your child has inner motivation to do the things that are right to do.

I know way too many parents who are tired of constantly telling their children to do house chores or of telling them to stop fighting with their siblings. They simply don’t know how to motivate their kids to behave like Christians, but I would like them to know that there is hope and help in the form of a book that can completely revolutionize their concept of parenting.

This is one of my favorite books on Christian parenting and it is completely based on Biblical principles that are never outdated. If you are tired of telling your children the same things over and over again, you will be relieved to know that things don’t have always to be like that. It is possible to have happy and motivated children without too much struggle.

The book is written in such a way so that parents are aware of all the things they can do in order to make their children motivated and happy. This way they will be prepared for life and they will be ready to face the challenges of life with open arms. They will have a way of discovering that life is fun and that there are many ways to handle every situation and emerge victorious after it.

Pre-order or purchase a copy of Motivate Your Child from any retailer.  Once you’re made your purchase, follow the instructions below. Click here for some common retail options.

INSTRUCTIONS: Purchase the book. Send an email with MYC150 Promo in the subject line with a receipt of purchase to [email protected]. Biblical Parenting will send you the link and a special code to access these downloadable video, audio and written products.

If you know me in person, you know that I always like to stay fit and that I am sort of an “exercise addict” (in a good way of course). Let me tell you a few words about who I am and what I do in order to stay fit because exercising is a huge part of my life and what steps I take in order to stay fit on a daily basis.

I began my adventures with jogging when I was about 13 years old. At that time I noticed that there was something about the activity that was making me feel good. When I was 24 years old, I decided to start training and preparing for a local marathon. I was very eager about it and because of this I permanently damaged my left ankle. Because of this, every time I tried to jog I felt this pain in my ankle that just wouldn’t go away. I thought that my adventures with fitness were over, but fortunately this wasn’t the case as I was able to discover something that would change my life forever.

Several years later I was introduced to an idea of an elliptical by a friend of mine. He told me that he bought his own elliptical on a website like this http://yourellipticals.com/ and he has been happy with it ever since. He told me that when you exercise on a treadmill you put a lot less stress on your joints and this is why it is so much better to exercise on an elliptical and give your joints a break. To my surprise, it turns out that the effectiveness of exercising on an elliptical is almost identical to that of a treadmill. The only difference is that you don’t put so much pressure on your joints, which is something I have been looking for.

Your groomsmen took the time and trouble to rent a tux and be in your wedding, so you want to be sure to get them gifts that show how much you appreciate it. Check out these five ideas for great groomsman gifts:

1.        Get guy gear. A silver or leather flask is a classic. Not only can it actually be useful but it’s perfect for male bonding sessions. Your groomsman isn’t a drinker? A good bet is a baseball cap with the groomsman’s favorite team logo. It’s always a cool gift for a sports fan. Another useful guy gadget is a pocket knife – the more features, the better!
2.       Wish fulfillment. Get them something you’ve always wanted but just never bought for yourself such as a pocket watch, velvet smoking jacket – fun to wear, even if you don’t smoke – or an extremely high quality cigar. The gift should be luxurious but not so over the top that you break the bank or even worse, your groomsmen never use it.
3.        Make it personal. You can put your groomsmen’s names or initials on just about anything from cuff links to gym bags. Personalization is a great touch and makes each groomsman gift unique.
4.      Make it an experience. The best groomsmen gifts aren’t always the ones you can hold in your hands. Tickets to sporting events or, if you’re feeling extravagant, tickets for sporting experiences like racecar driving are always appreciated.
5.       Save the best for your best man. Every groomsman gift you give should be something personal. However, make sure you show your best man some love by giving him something that truly shows your gratitude. Courtside seats or tickets to Vegas would not be out of line.

No matter what you choose, the important thing is that the gift is meaningful for you and your groomsmen.

All across Sydney, from the CBD to the Harbour, everyone is talking about the latest trend in freelance work: Mystery shopping. Everyone has had their fair share of negative and positive shopping experiences, but mystery shoppers get to do something about it!

Mystery shopping is fun for many reasons. First, it gives you the chance to make purchases with money from the company you work for. Second, you have the opportunity to make shopping something more interesting and active than it usually is. Third, you will be able to make observations that could improve customer service for other shoppers.

Though lots of people are looking for mystery shopper jobs, there are still plenty of openings for you to take advantage of. These tips will help you land the right mystery shopping position:

1) Study the Company’s Pay Schedule
One of the best perks to mystery shopping in Australia is the chance to make sure you get paid on your schedule. You’ll be acting as an independent consultant, not a full-time employee, so you should be aware of the pay policies. Different companies pay weekly, monthly or two times monthly. You should try to find a company whose schedule works with your needs.

2) Be Aware of Your Own Hours
The effort you spend on mystery shopping is precisely what you get back from it. Many people use mystery shopping in Sydney as a way of increasing their income on top of their usual nine-to-five job. Parents can also enjoy mystery shopping and use the extra income for all kinds of purchases. Make sure your contract specifies you can set your own hours!

3) Look for “Tough” Hiring Requirements
It might seem odd to say at first, but you benefit most from getting involved with mystery shopping companies that have strict requirements. They are more likely to be around longer and to champion high standards that you will be proud to attach your name to. Plus, they’ll also be much more likely to pay you accurately and on time!

A good mystery shopping job will give you access to an easy payday around your schedule. If you want an Australia-based company with terrific growth prospects and great earning potential, try Above Benchmark. It has an amazing reputation for high standards. Learn more at http://abovebenchmark.com.au