Elevate the Life Style

  Yoga as a means of life, if incorportated, can and will be very life elevating in itself. But most people now a days are shying away from this ancient form of wisdom. The reason behind this is the initial difficulty they experience in incorporating this in their lives. There are various misconceptions about his form of living that has been built up over a period of time. Some of them being it is slow in terms of yielding results; another being it is, as I said, difficult to incorporate etc. Such misconceptions have made it difficult to make this popularize even in its native country.

It must be mentioned that yoga is not just limited to difficult postures etc. it is a way of life. The way you talk, the way you walk, sit, sleep, and even the way you think and work are all part of this ancient system of wisdom. Of course the obvious question that arises now is why should one incorporate this system in his or her life. Well the answer to this are many, the simplest being this will improve your and maintain your health and mental fitness. The benefits are tremendous and those who have benefitted are the ones from big businessmen to simple executives. The basic principle of yoga is to put your mind and body in such a state that they function in perfect harmony with each other. At the same time you are taught to discard and eventually totally eliminate the negative thoughts from your mind.

Well, the benefits of yoga seem many such as improving your health, improving concentration, cure or prevention of diseases, improving your immune system, etc. It is also worth mentioning the need of a proper teacher to teach this form of practice. It will be only then that this will yield its fruitful results to the student.

Today we live in an age when we are living longer than ever, even though there are more cases of disease, diabetes, cancer, heart attacks and obesity than ever before. Why is this happening and how is this happening. The Population of the world as I write this article is 6.8 billion if your reading this article at the end of the year 2011 the population of the world is predicted to be around 7billion!!

There is a divide happening in the world much like the rich and poor divide there is also a divide in health. The healthier are getting healthier and the ill are getting worse. This is why we are living longer than ever before whilst there is also a huge increase in the amount of diseases and illness than ever before. We really must address this Challenge as a global community if we are to live in a harmonious and fulfilled world.

To start with today we must focus as a nation on the growing epidemic of obesity. Many of the people within the world especially the developed worlds are witnessing and living in a time of increased obesity. Maybe it's an extra 50 pounds someone is carrying or even 100+ pounds. Perhaps many of these people have tried different diets and various exercises routine to no avail. This article is written for health practitioners, personal trainers to help their clients or even someone who just wants to reach their ideal weight limit.

There are solutions to people's weight issues and ideal body sizes. After all look around you there are numerous people who enjoy food and still have a fabulous figure and body. Anyone can be part of this and that is the main focal point of this article.

So how intense is the situation we are in as a global developed community when it comes to obesity. Well for example more than 67 percent of Americans are overweight and 33 percent are obese. In the UK a staggering 40 percent are overweight and 20 percent are obese! The trend here is on the growth and the growth curve is exponential. We are genuinely fighting a medical epidemic with obesity as there has been a 65 percent increase from 1990!!

So what the hell is going on and what must we do? Many people pin-point the sedentary lifestyle changes in the last 20 years or so such as fast food, convenience foods and processed foods. Other point out that technology, computers, and social media has drawn kids in from playing outside to playing inside and therefore become inactive. There isn't a simple one single factor cause is a collective of changes.

What's for sure is that awareness of health and exercise really must improve. Not just at school and university but at work and the corporate world also https://annmariejohn.com/. Surely a healthier employee will have less sick days off and also be more productive and energetic in the day than someone who is clinically obese. The weight epidemic we are living in right now is one of lifestyle and poor eating habits. This can only change when we as individual's and a nation make collective conscious changes in lifestyle that are life enhancing.

Corona Virus Disease and Duties of Citizens

Corona Virus is a large family of viruses responsible for causing illness in animals and humans. Many people name Corona virus as COVID-19 which is not exactly an abbreviation. As detailed by the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is a recent disease caused by the Corona virus and it started from China in December 2019. By the end of 1st week of April 2020, the disease or pandemic had a spread over more than 200 countries across the globe. Infected humans get cold, cough, fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, aches and pains while some other initially don't show these symptoms which helps the disease to spread even in a greater speed. As there is no medication available for COVID-19, Social Distance is the only preventive measure available to stop the spreading of this disease. All the country and state governments are focusing on how to maintain social distancing and contact. Now, in some countries, it has been observed that many people follow the regulations set by the govt. and some of them don't. This article is for all those citizens who really care about their family and country.

Social distancing:

As mentioned the WHO, there is no vaccine and medicine available for the disease. So, infected humans are to be given treatment and supportive care for symptoms. Possible vaccine and drugs are now under testing (by 1st week of April 2020). Now the question is how to stop infection? It is very clear that maintaining distance and contact is the only way.

Duties and responsibilities of citizen during Corona Virus pandemic:

As it is clear that social distancing is the only option, all the governments are focusing on lock downs and shut downs to reduce community infection and contact. People should not come outside of their house for certain period of time to avoid contact and infection. Being civilized, all the citizens should understand the emergency situation and should be alert. Here we have some of the important responsibilities to be followed.

Don't spread rumours regarding the spread like, statistics, drugs, patient, etc.

Avoid misuse of social media for spreading unnecessary panic

Don't purchase food and other grocery items in bulk. Leave some for others too.

Don't buy sanitizers and other hand wash liquids in bulk. Buy the right amount required for your family.

Follow advisories issued by govt.

Wear mask if you have symptoms and stay in isolation to avoid contact.

Don't travel during lock down or shut down.

Avoid gathering and meetings. Start working from home.

If you have travelled from abroad or from another state, keep yourself in isolation.

If you are going outside for essential needs, wear mask and maintain a distance of 1 meter (3 feet) form people.

Apart from these duties, you have to understand that lock down or shout down will not help administration gain anything. It only to keep citizens away from such a disease which has no medicine. So, it is advisable to obey rules and stay at home.For more than a month, Italians had heard of the 'Corona Virus' in China, having seen the stories on the news about how the Chinese Government was handling the epidemic. This news seemed like something that was from a far off land that could never hit the Italian peninsula because it was the kind of situation that only happened to 'others', quite a normal response, much like many other populations responded. Thus, people were slow to put any emergency plans into place. At one point in early January, it was suggested that an Italian manager come up with an emergency plan, but this had not been the first time this manager had been advised that establishing rules to protect people from the normal flu was in order. However, one had to think positively rather than to living in fear of the Corona Virus, which was considered 'unlikely' to spread beyond China.

People from all backgrounds, not just Italians, tend to be more favourable of looking at life from a positive point of view; however, planning for the best is sometimes the equivalent of kicking the bucket down the road to someone else. Politicians are now trying to find a solution to help small businesses that are facing difficulties during this trying period, and money is being allocated to help families with children who need to keep a mother or father at home to watch the children whose schools have recently been closed. On the surface, these seem to be the best solutions to problems facing the country, but the long-term effects could potentially bury the nation in outstanding debt, causing difficulties for future generations.

Not only have hugs, kisses, and handshakes been banned. Soccer games open to fans have also been banned for thirty days by the decreet of Giuseppe Conte, the Prime Minister of Italy. This has saddened the majority of Italians, although many argue that even soccer players should have the right to keep their distance from one another. Furthermore, all sports' events must be held behind closed doors until the third of April, something that remains incredible in the country known for kisses on the cheeks.

COVID-19 has interfered dramatically with the practice of religion, especially the Catholic religion, during February and March 2020. Yesterday, the author visited the Church of Santo Stefano in Borgomanero, where custodians had just cleaned the floors and disinfected the church. Not a living soul was to be found, neither a priest nor a tourist, which allowed the author to focus on the frescoes and the beautiful stained-glass windows in silence. If one travels across Italy this month, he or she will encounter numerous churches without parishioners because people are naturally afraid to meet one another in closed spaces no matter how large and accommodating they might be. It has been recommended that priests remove the holy water from Catholic Churches for fear of spreading the virus. Although citizens and tourists can visit holy shrines, church services have to be conducted via television and internet. Furthermore, churches have been closed because, in recent years, people have begun to steal religious artefacts from them when the churches and shrines are not guarded.

The author has been researching what is happening in the churches throughout Italy; however, there is much more information available about soccer games and the survival of the economy, which seems to be the main focus right now. For instance, in the news one finds much information about saving the reputation of 'Made in Italy', so low-level employees are forced to work even harder than before as they hope other countries will continue to demand their products in times of trouble. A company which had had to quit producing medical face masks for fifteen years (due to Chinese competition), suddenly had to reopen its doors to help meet the needs of the Italian population that did not have enough masks to protect citizens from COVID-19.

Not having enough masks was ironic in a country known for its Venetian Carnival celebration. Sadly, Venetian Carnival parades had to be cancelled this year for fear of contagion, causing the country to lose many tourist dollars and initiating the current crisis in Italian tourism. According to Assoturismo, ninety per cent of hotel bookings in Rome have been cancelled, and the United States has issued a level-3 warning to its citizens, stating that they should avoid travel to Italy in March. Travelers who visit Italy are required to stay home for 14 days after returning to the United States. A well-known leader of the Five Star Party was worried that such travel restrictions might lead to discrimination against Italians and 'Made in Italy'. Many members of La Lega believe in a bailout amounting to 50 billion euros.

Citizens who used to hate watching the news because they generally detest politics are now glued to the TV to see what will happen next, whether or not they should stock up on food and masks, whether or not they will go to work, and who will help them get over the crisis.

On a positive note, unlike most Americans who have to worry about paying much money to be treated for the Corona Virus, Italians know they will not take on a load of personal debt to pay for initial testing and further cures. The Sistema Sanitario Nazionale aims to heal all Italian citizens as well as those who have the appropriate visa to be in the country. Notwithstanding these good intentions, there is the likelihood that the health system will become overburdoned with too many patients to care for during the crisis. For example, in a message written at 12:30 on the third of March, the Piemonte Region announced that simple surgical procedures that utilize the operating rooms have had to be suspended (if they are not urgent procedures) in order to assure that the diffusion of the virus is contained.

On the fourth of March, the Government decreed that all schools and universities would be closed for a month until the fifteenth of March although they are allowed to give lessons online when possible with the goal of stopping the spread of the virus or at least slowing down its spread. Until now, most Italians have been suspicious of online education; therefore, most teachers have not had training in how to convert to the online platform; nor have most students been prepared for this new learning curve. Fortunately, this experience will change the Italian mindset, so that everyone will learn to utilize the internet for learning, telecommuting, and flexitime.

The Decree of the Prime Minister of the Council (DPCM) advises citizens to limit exiting the home if they are over the age of 65, to refrain from shaking hands, to refrain from kissing and hugging, and to avoid visiting family members in hospice or in assisted living. Citizens have been advised not to go directly to the emergency rooms, but that they should dial 112 before going in order to assure they are not positive with the Corona Virus.

The Lombardia Region, having closed the gyms and swimming pools, had also ordered its citizens not to go to the local health clubs. Many citizens living in Lombardia interpreted the orders differently, thus deciding to go to use the sport clubs in the nearby Piemonte Region. Therefore, the Mayor of Novara, one of the cities in Piemonte, had to order that all of the city's health clubs be closed. Likewise, some people have tried to escape the Red Zones of containment in Lombardia to reach their families elsewhere. One example was that of two public school teachers from the southern town of Irpinia who had been ordered not to leave Codogno, but who returned home to Irpinia near Naples as fast as they could where they were forced to be quarantined with their families, causing the entire condominium to have to be quarantined.

Whether museums should be kept open during the COVID-19 crisis remains a topic for debate amongst art enthusiasts. Museums take in much money while also attracting much-needed tourists from across the globe. Moreover, foreign tourists have to pay the much-needed tourist taxes, known as the tassa di soggiorno, which is going to be missed by the cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice (as well as many other cities) if tourism decreases, not to mention the tickets to museums which are sometimes higher for non-citizens. Italians themselves love to visit museums throughout their country, so they know they will be disappointed if they find museums closed for a month.

The movies, concert halls, and theaters have opened once again, but the Italian TV news has instructed people to leave space between themselves and others. One suggestion is to leave a vacant seat between every two seats, and this should be organized by the owners of the venue when they sell the tickets. According to TV reports, entertainment enthusiasts have been slow to get out once again. Whereas many Italians are not at all afraid of going to the cinema, there has been a humongous decrease in sales as evidenced by empty theaters and concert halls. Over the past weekend (March 1-2, 2020), according to the Associazione Generale Italiana Spettacolo (AGIS), there was a forty-four per cent decrease in ticket sales for various forms of entertainment.

Since Italians love to eat fresh food, they are less prone to stocking up on food for the crisis. While Americans typically stock up on canned vegetables, frozen foods, and food in glass jars, Italians prefer to buy fresh at all times--a great habit, but it might be useful in an emergency to have something with an extended expiration date. According to an Italian shopper, "It was weird that they were buying a lot of eggs and prosciutto." Italian shoppers focus on purchasing fresh vegetables, fruit, tomatoes, bread, pasta, and rice, the last two of which admittedly have long shelf lives.

Italians approach the COVID-19 crisis in numerous ways: Pro-active Italians help others face this crisis in an organized and dignified manner. They are the city planners who realistically present the crisis. Sergio Mattarella remains calm while giving suggestions about how to be unified as a nation. Counter-active Italians are those who remain stuck and who do not try to change their ways of doing business to meet the needs of the crisis. They are unrealistic and unwilling to sacrifice something to protect their employees, and many of them would like to borrow vast sums of money to solve the tourism, healthcare, and employment crisis. At the same time, some religious Italians (not all) want to put everything into the hands of God without trying to make efforts to avoid getting ill. Others are fatalistic, only seeing a negative outcome, really scared about having to exit the house, obsessive about cleaning everything around them. Those who are in-denial do not even believe in the existence of the dangerous Corona Virus; many of them think it is 'just the flu' and they are taking no precautions. Furthermore, others are simply relaxed about it all as they think they must go with the flow. These reactions are common even in other cultures.

One can still see people in the local coffee shops and bars at the time of Aperitif. Having a snack and drink with friends around 12:00 noon or having an Aperi-Cena in the evening is an enjoyable Italian tradition that is still being practised during these times of the COVID-19 crisis. There is going to be a Woman's Day party on the 8th of March. There should be a good turnout although it will be much smaller than in past years. Maybe many people over the age of 65, who always looked forward to it, will have to stay home this year until the Corona Virus has been conquered. People still have a good sense of humor, pleasant smiles, and the willingness to watch funny Italian TV shows in the evening, and especially I Soliti Ignoti with Amadeo Sebastiani. Italy remains a fun place to be. Mauro Corona, a famous Italian sculptor, author, and Alpinist, still retains his incredible sense of humor even though someone coined his surname, which made him feel like he was "beginning to hate his name."

Laura Gail Sweeney, Ed.D., is an author, a philosopher, a mentor, and a private English language teacher who has enjoyed making commentaries, creating art and writing for many decades. She has traveled across the world and educated thousands of students from more than 30 countries. She is fascinated by human interaction that is modulated by changes in the economy as well as by the social challenges created by businesses that need to both survive and thrive during the recent period of the COVID-19 crisis. Sweeney thinks that business leaders need to re-examine preparedness for unexpected occurrences such as the flu and epidemics in order to make workplaces safer for their employees and provide the best possible services. Effective communication is the key to facing future challenges effectively

A new and deadly virus has reared its ugly head causing grave concern among the international health community. hCov-EMC aka Human Coronavirus - Erasmus Medical Center was 1st recognized in mid 2012. This deadly mutated strain of coronavirus is apparently highly lethal - so far 5 of the 11 know victims of this deadly disease have died. This mutated virus is similar to a strain of coronavirus found in bat populations. Unfortunately it appears that this new and deadly virus has made the leap from animals to humans, and even more disturbing, recently a human to human transmission has occurred.

The first recorded victim was identified in June 012 when a 60 year old male appeared in a Jidda Saudi Arabia hospital with flu like symptoms and difficulty breathing. Within a few days of admission to the hospital, this patient died of kidney failure and severe pneumonia. In the past 7 months, 11 more cases have been identified, including one in England in early 2013. This particular case of hCov-EMC was particularly disturbing to international infectious disease researchers and WHO(World Health Organization) because the British victim apparently contracted the new and deadly coronavirus from his father who had recently traveled to the Middle East. The virus' apparent ability to leap from animal to human then quickly from human to human is very disturbing.

The symptoms of hCov-EMC infection are flu like, including fever, a cough and difficulty breathing, which quickly evolves to severe pneumonia and renal (kidney) failure. Public health official have sounded a warning to the international community advising all medical facilities and doctors to be aware of and to report any unusual respiratory infections. This new coronavirus is similar to SARS(severe acute respiratory syndrome) and possibly even more lethal and more infectious. While the low rate of infection so far indicates that hCov-EMC currently has a low transmission rate - health officials are very concerned that at any moment this deadly new strain of corona virus could further mutate into a highly contagious disease that could rapidly spread person-to-person internationally.

Only time will tell whether or not the hCov-EMC will or will not be our next plague and whether or not we will have developed the right antibiotics to stop it https://www.saudi-expatriates.com. The increase in the rate of disease transmission from animal to humans continues to alarm the worldwide health community. With the increase in international travel, we continue to see an increase in the mutation and spread of human to animal diseases(zoonoses) that originate in remote areas of the world (where close human/animal contact occurs more frequently). At any moment one of these new and deadly disease could trigger a deadly international plague. It is imperative that we are alert and prepared to confront what appears to be the inevitable.