Yoga to Help you Sleep

Yoga to Help you Sleep How to Relax Before Bed By Doing Yoga ChaptersSome Important Facts About SleepEastern Wisdom to Help You Sleep BetterYoga: the Ideal Solution for More Restful SleepWhat Yoga Poses Should You Practice Before Going to Sleep?Fall Asleep Faster Thanks To Six-Minute Yoga Poses and Meditation“Mens sano in corpore sano” - “a sound mind in a sound body” - is particularly true of practising yoga.One of yoga’s main goals is to bring mind and body into harmony and reduce stress.But sleeping troubles can upset this harmony.Even better than warm milk, camomile tea, counting sheep or sleeping pills, yoga is a true miracle cure for insomnia.Ready to try it? survey done by the Sleep Council, an independent organisation focused on improving sleep patterns among Britons, noted that in 2013, 22% of didn’t sleep well most nights.Insomnia is one of the principal causes of disturbed sleep patterns.Insomnia chases many out of bed - learn to spend time there again with simple yoga exercises. Photo via visualhuntWhat are the conseque nces of insufficient sleep?Constant tirednessA tendency to drop off during the day, often at inopportune moments (like that one important meeting)A drop in productivity due to difficulty concentratingDifficulties in making decisionsDepressionFew people get treatment for their sleep problems: only 10% of Britons with sleeping troubles consult a doctor, though 31% have taken some form of medication for it.How about searching yoga classes near me to find classes.Eastern Wisdom to Help You Sleep BetterChanging some of your habits might help you find sleep. Here are some simple tips to improve your sleep.Eat a light meal in the eveningTo fall asleep quickly, taoist doctors recommend you eat at least 3 hours before going to bed and keep your last meal of the day light.Indian doctors concur. According to Ayurveda traditions, our digestive systems are synched with the sun’s path across the sky: the higher the sun is in the sky, the better our digestive systems work. This means you shouldn ’t eat anything after sundown.Wash your feetA Chinese proverb states: “if you want to preserve a tree, tend to its roots; if you want to peserve a man, tend to his feet.”Soaking your feet in a basin of hot (30-40 °C) or cold water (depending on your preferences) encourages sleepiness and is more effective than sleeping pills!Forget counting sheep. Use these methods and do 6 minutes of yoga before going to bed and you can soon beat those sheep and fall asleep. Photo credit: tiny_tear via Visual HuntCheck the temperature of your bedroomThe body’s temperature varies according to its biological clock. It goes down during sleep periods and up again once the sun is shining.If your bedroom is too hot, it can perturb your body’s temperature regulating mechanism and influence the quality of your sleep.Though individual studies vary slightly on the acceptable range, somewhere around 18.5 °C is generally considered the ideal sleeping temperature - try putting a thermometre in your be droom to check!Put down your mobile and take up a book (on Yoga for Relaxation, for example)About 95% of people use some sort of electronic device in the hour preceding their bedtime. However, the light emanating from a television set, smartphone or computer disturbs your sleep patterns by holding back melatonin production.If you are a true addict, don’t hesitate to install apps that progressively dim your screen’s luminosity depending on the hour of day!The best solution, though, is to read a good book - why not take advantage and read up for your yoga course?6 minutes of yoga before going to sleepAnd here we are!If practising yoga can help you wake up in the mornings and kickstart your energy for the day, there are also very relaxing yoga poses that help you find a deep and refreshing sleep.Yoga is an excellent way to transition from a day‘s activity to a night’s repose. Holding a pose for 30 to 40 seconds can help you relax and shed tension.And having a pre-sleep routine helps prep the body for sleep by telling it when bedtimes is coming up. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsYoga: the Ideal Solution for More Restful SleepIn our Western societies, yoga is often viewed as a sort of relaxing gym class or an oriental stretching exercise.However, in India yoga is also a rich and spiritual philosophy. The benefits of yoga are numerous and varied, including encouraging a restful night’s sleep.Of the many types of yoga, the most common yoga style practised in the West is Hatha Yoga. “Ha” means “sun” and “tha” means “moon” - “Hatha Yoga” is the union of these two opposing energies.Our life consists of discovering the difficult balance between these positive and negative forces. Reconciliating these opposites is what the yoga poses are for.In yoga, our body is made up of vital energy. This is why breathing is so important in yoga: it nurtures the life force within us that circulates thanks to 7 chakras (or energy points) situated along our spinal cord.The chakras redistribute the energy ingested through every breath throughout the body. Yoga exercises reverses the effects of bad posture and allow the energy to flow freely through our bodies once more.This is, of course, a simplified explanation. The study of the benefits of yoga merits greater attention, for it is truly fascinating.Yoga lets you refocus your mind away from distressing thoughts such as work-related anger, heartbreak or budget calculations by giving so me of its suppleness back to the body and bringing peace of mind, both necessary for a good night’s sleep.Yoga is the perfect solution for improving the quality of your sleep and avoiding medication, as sleeping pills are bad for your organism and tend to be addictive.No matter where you are based in the UK, a quick Google search of yoga classes near me will be the easiest way to find a class.What Yoga Poses Should You Practice Before Going to Sleep?There are several poses that will help you relax and fill you with a sensation of well-being in order to sleep better. This encourages the production of sleep hormones and is even more beneficial than counting sheep!Remember not to go beyond your limits. Your goal is not to be as flexible as a Chinese circus contortionist but simply to stretch your stiff muscles and relax - no one is watching or judging you.The Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose (Parivrtta Janu Sirsana)Don’t worry: this works even if you aren’t very flexible!The revolved h ead-to-knee yoga pose will help you relax and fall asleep. Photo credit: ejmc via VisualHunt.comThis pose stretches your muscles and liberates endorphins (pleasure hormones) into your body.Sit down and stretch one leg before youFold the other leg and bring your heel to your thighGrasp your outstretched toe, heel or knee (according to your flexibility) with the hand on the same sideStretch your upper torso while rotating it outwards, opening your shouldersHold the pose for 5 to 10 full breathsChange legsThe Cat Stretch (Marjarasana)Counter-indications: lumbagoThis pose stretches the back and soothes accumulated muscle tensions in this zone.Go down on all foursWhile exhaling, round your back while tensing your abs, look toward the ground and tuck in your chinInhale while arching your back and looking straight aheadRepeat 15 times while being careful not to tense your trapezoids or your lower backDownward-facing Dog Pose (Ado Mukha Svanasana)The ideal pose for relieving back pain and s lowing down your heartbeat in preparation for sleep.Go down on all foursSpread your arms out to the breadth of your shoulders, raise your pelvis to stretch your back and form an inverted “V” shapeStraighten your legs and try to press your heels to the floorBreathe deeply for three full breaths, then come back to your initial positionChild’s Pose (Balasana)Good night, everyone!This pose is extremely relaxing, it allows you to re-centre yourself and relax all the muscles in your body.Kneel and sit on your heels, then lean forward with your upper body and place your forehead on the floor.Stretch your arms in front of you or keep them hanging loosely at your sidesBreathe slowly while emptying your mind for 5 to 10 full breathsThe Corpse Pose (Savasana)Despite its rather macabre name, this is the last yoga pose you should do before going to sleep. You can do it in your own bed, snuggled under a cosy comforter and ready to rest in the arms of Morpheus.Lie down with your feet spread to the width of your hipsPlace your hands on either side of your bodyMake sure your head is well-supportedBreathe in deeply through the nose while inflating your belly,but without moving your ribcage (abdominal breathing)Exhale slowly through your mouth until your stomach returns to its natural positionRelax your feet, then your calves, thighs, pelvis, up to the top of your head.Abdominal breathing calms the entire nervous system: digestion, breathing, blood circulation, lymphatic system…If your are looking for a video or online yoga course, here is one 20-minute flow sequence   you can do before bed.It’s ideal if you have just had a very stressful day or you need to empty your head before a test or you even simply have some time in front of you.Read our yoga teacher's top tips on de-stressing your life.To sum it up:Sleep problems affect a large percentage of the population. And though, in the short term, lack of sleep simply influences our humour and physical and intellectual c apacities, it can become dangerous in the long run, leading to cardiovascular problems, hypertension etc.If counting sheep is not enough to send you to sleep, practising yoga before bed is a wonderful way to fall asleep quickly and have a restful night.When practising home yoga, be careful not to hurt yourself. If you feel the need, a professional yoga tutor can help you do the poses properly and without injury.Find our yoga tutors throughout the UK (yoga London and other cities)!Fall Asleep Faster Thanks To Six-Minute Yoga Poses and MeditationWhatever reason you are low on sleep, here are some solutions.Lambs don't need yoga to fall asleep - but you might! Take yoga lessons and sleep like a lamb. Photo credit: Anguskirk via VisualhuntStudies have linked insomnia to a higher risk of grave health problems such as diabetes and strokes, as well as to depression, impaired judgement, memory deficiencies and other cognitive problems.Fortunately, there are some simple yoga-based techniques you can use every night to help you fall asleep and sleep through the night. Only six minutes suffice to help activate the natural processes that aid your body in finding sleep.An example exerciseClose your eyes and breathe through your nose.You should feel your lower ribcage expand outward while your thorax stays put.Exhale and concentrate on your lower ribcage falling inward.It is important that you be mindful of your ribcage freeing up toward the bottom and that you exhale to ensure your diaphragm is functioning correctly.Try to draw out your breathing and take deep breaths. Aim for the following pattern: 5 (count for inhaling)- 5 (exhaling) - 2 (pause between breaths). Note: these are counts, not seconds!Once breathing like this feels natural, try to count your breaths backwards from 20 to 1. Concentrate your mind on an picture of each number and the sensation of your breathing. If you haven’t freed your mind after 20 breaths (about 3 to 4 minutes), repeat the process, counti ng down from 30 or 40 breaths.This sequence promotes a long and rejuvenating sleep cycle by creating an optimal physical (relaxed muscles and comfortable position) and phsychological (parasympathetic nervous system and diaphragmic breathing) conditions. Practise this yoga programme about 6 minutes before going to bed to help you fall asleep quickly and sleep through the night.Good night and sleep well.Learn how yoga can help you lose weight  as well as help you conceive a child.

A Day in the Life at DePaul University

A Day in the Life at DePaul University Joseph is a current senior at DePaul University. He is majoring in computer software engineering, and specializes in C++ tutoring, study skills tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, he shares his experience at DePaul University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Joseph: DePaul has two campuses for students to take advantage of. The campus in downtown Chicago is only a 15-minute train ride from the more suburban campus located in Lincoln Park. Both are great campuses where students attend classes. How available are the professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants? Joseph:The professors are very available. They are all required to have a minimum amount of office hours weekly. I highly suggest seeing professors outside of class and getting to know them because, at the end of the day, those professors are the greatest assets the school offers. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students, etc.? Joseph:DePaul dorms are located at the Lincoln Park campus. Most school events take place at this campus, as well. While there arent university dorms at the downtown campus, students who live near this campus share housing with students from other area schoolsincluding Roosevelt University, Robert Morris University, and Columbia University. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Joseph:I came to DePaul to study game programming, though I feel other majors are better represented. The most common major at DePaul is business. Game programming, however, does fall under the computers and digital media school, which is generally well supported and a favorite among students. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Joseph:It was extremely easy to meet other students my freshman year. Theres a lot of diversity at DePaul, so it's easy to find where you fit in. There is Greek life, but it's not very large. How helpful are the Career Center and other student support services? Joseph:The student support centers are located at both campuses and serve both appointments and walk-ins. Those that staff these services are almost always very helpful and can point you in the right direction. The Career Center also has a website where students can post their resume and search for jobs. How are the various study areas, such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Joseph:By far a favorite of students is to go to the library located at the Lincoln Park campus. This library has spaces for both group study and quiet work. Describe the surrounding town. Joseph:Lincoln Park is a nice area for exploration. It's a quiet area, but there are plenty of things to do. During the warmer months, many students will walk about a mile to go to the beach and relax.The downtown campus is much more business oriented. This area has many large buildings and shops. Many tourist attractions are also in this area and lots of students love to spend time by the river. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Joseph:The student body is about 23,000 undergraduate students. Each class has about 25 students, while the large lecture classes have around 40 students. This way, students have a better opportunity to interact with their professors. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Joseph:I remember one class that really set the tone for me was a game engine class with one of my favorite professors. It was a time when I first felt that I was becoming a programmer, seeing how all I had learned was coming together into a large project that I was very proud of. Check out Josephs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

4 Things to Consider Before Dropping a College Class

4 Things to Consider Before Dropping a College Class Perhaps this scenario sounds familiar: a student registers for a college class, begins it, and then wishes to drop it before the term ends. This may happen because the course is not what the student expected or because the content is too difficult. Before you finalize your decision, here are four things to consider before dropping a college class: 1. Deadlines There are typically strict deadlines for dropping a college class. Oftentimes, there is a deadline for full tuition refunds, as well as a deadline for partial refunds. There are other deadlines that stipulate when you may drop a class without it appearing on your transcript, versus when you will receive a withdrawal or incomplete grade that could affect your academic status. Prior to making any major decisions, be sure to verify your schools deadlines for dropping classes. These deadlines can usually be found on your colleges website, but it is wise to talk to an adviser or the registrar before withdrawing from any classes. 2. Impact on financial aid Dropping a college class can potentially affect your financial aid. Many forms of financial aid include a particular award amount for full-time students and a smaller award amount for part-time students. If dropping a college class means that you would change from being a full-time student to a part-time student, you could end up receiving a smaller financial aid package. This could be especially problematic if you have already used your aid. Sometimes, students will accumulate debt with their university if they drop from full-time to part-time status. This could then create difficulties when trying to register for future terms. Additionally, some scholarships and other sources of financial aid require you to maintain a certain number of credits per term. If you fall below that amount, you could lose your funding. If you are receiving any form of financial aid, you should consult with your financial aid office prior to altering your class schedule. 3. Sequencing of classes It is also imperative to consider the specific class and how the withdrawal might affect your long-term academic schedule. Some college classes are only offered during certain terms, which means you might have to wait an entire academic year before you can enroll in that course again. While this may not present an issue for elective classes, dropping a course required for your degree could ultimately delay your graduation. If the class you wish to drop is a pre-requisite for other courses, or if it is part of a longer sequence of classes, withdrawing is likely to affect your long-term study plan. You might not be able to take subsequent classes until the one you drop is successfully completed. For this reason, it would be intelligent to talk to your academic adviser first. You may also want to take a look at these four myths about college classes. 4. Reasons for dropping It is helpful to consider the specific circumstances that are making you wish to take this route. Perhaps dropping seems like the easiest solution, but there are other ways to handle the situation. If you are doing poorly in the class, meet with your professor or seek out additional resources, such as study groups or tutors. These are great benefits to group study. If you do not have time for all of your general responsibilities, see if there are some activities you can eliminate to ease your load. Ask friends or family to help you with certain responsibilities so you can better manage your time. Fully consider all of your options prior to making your decision. If you are contemplating dropping a college class, ponder all of the possible consequences of doing so. If you make the decision to drop, it should be an informed decision. As always, remember that college instructors and staff are there to assist you during your academic career. Therefore, be sure to ask about deadlines, potential implications, and other resources available to you!

Excel at Music by Acting Like a Child

Excel at Music by Acting Like a Child Suzy S. Many of our students here at TakeLessons.com are older, hoping to fulfill a life goal they may have had for some time.   Its never too late to start learning an instrument, but it can definitely be a bit scary.   Dont let that stop you, though! The secret to success depends a lot on your attitude. Youre at a stage in life where you can just play for fun, so why not make the most of it?   By taking on some childlike traits, mastering the instrument of your choice can be a piece of cake.   The Lone Guitarist Blog has some great insight into these traits here are a few rules to follow: Rule #1: Forget about the master plan Children don’t have a grand plan in their heads, no roadmap with sub-goals and an ultimate goal â€" not consciously anyway. Adults have a tendency to plan things, map things out over time, consciously allocate time each day to practice, etc. Children don’t do this. They are a lot more pragmatic and as-it-happens with learning new things. Children live in the moment, and they don’t worry about the future. They take things in one step at a time. This is a very important thing as it basically prevents you from becoming overwhelmed.   If you ignore the bigger picture and ignore what you’ll be doing a week, a month or a year from now, you can focus on what is important to you today. Rule #2: Very focused, short learning bursts In the absence of a master plan, it comes down to being able to spot a missing piece in your existing knowledge and then focus your entire concentration on getting it right. When a child is presented with something new, say a single word, they will focus their entire energy on it: first by listening to it, then either trying to pronounce it, or remembering the word and what it is associated with. Children will focus their whole attention on this one word, but only for several seconds, and then move on when they feel they have absorbed the new piece of information or it has simply become boring. As a musician, you can adopt this approach into your own routine. When you learn something new, and you have trouble with a small part of it â€" maybe a bar or two in length, maximum â€" devote all your energy on improving this part. Try to get it exactly perfect, repeatedly. Do this until you feel satisfied that you have improved, and then move on. Rule #3: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, or to look foolish Children do things that they will be embarrassed about later on as adults. In fact, they do this all the time. You probably have a lot of these painful memories that you’d rather not talk about. Somehow, when you’re a kid, you don’t really mind or think about it all that much. And as a kid, you get away with these kind of things.   Therein lies the power, though, because it allows you to really experiment with things when you’re young. Adults are expected to behave properly.   But if you want to improve, go ahead and do that whacky thing that you’ve been too scared to do. If you do get a weird look, just laugh it off, but above all, don’t be scared to look foolish! So there you have it taking music lessons as an adult doesnt have to be scary!   Sometimes, you just have to go for it.     Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like 5 Key Benefits of Taking Music Lessons as an Adult How to Tune Into the Perfect Music Teacher for You Composing Life Lessons from Music Photo by kellyv, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.

Introduction to Embroidery

Introduction to Embroidery Everything You Need to Know About Embroidery ChaptersWhat Do You Need to Start Embroidery?Getting Started with Embroidery through Cross-stitchResources for Getting Started with EmbroideryHow Can You Learn to Embroider?“Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.” - Leo BurnettThere are hundreds of thousands of blogs dedicated to DIY and arts and crafts. They’re very popular amongst 30-somethings looking to make their houses a home with handicrafts and embroidery. These blogs can help you learn the basics of sewing and embroidery.Aside from blogs, how else can you learn to embroider?In this article, we'll be looking at what you need to get started with embroidery, how cross-stitch is a great place to start, some resources for learning how to embroider, and how you can learn more about embroidery. RaySewing Teacher 5.00 (6) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PrincessSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnaSewing Teacher 5.0 0 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArianwenSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ShaziaSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZanetaSewing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GianmariaSewing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JacquelineSewing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Do You Need to Start Embroidery?To get started with embroidery, it’s important to have the right equipment. Don’t get started with a toothpick and sewing thread. Embroidery is a creative pursuit that requires specific materials but (fortunately for you) doesn’t cost very much to get started.All you need is embroidery thread, needles, hoops, markers, and fabric. Don't forget an embroidery hoop! (Source: monicore)When it comes to fabric, you’ll have a few choices. You can use embroidery to customise dresses, t-shirts, jackets, cushions, etc. But before you start, I recommend you opt for some linen, which is great for beginners to work on. The fabrics used on most garments are often quite elastic, making them difficult to embroider so linen will make things a little easier when you’re first starting.You also need to choose your thread. You should know that a pack of threads will include several types of thread and you can choose the one with the right thickness. You can also buy packs of different colours and thicknesses. DMC thread is one of the most popular brands for embroidery.Next, you’ll need to buy some needles. Needles can be often bought in packs and come in plenty of different sizes. Make sure that the end of the needle is pointed (or hooked in the case of cross-stitch where the end can be rounded). In some cases, you’ll need to pass several threads through the fabric at once.To learn how to correctly embroider, you'll need to invest in an embroidery hoop (or tambour frame). This allows you to stretch the fabric, making it easier to embroider and is essential for beginners.Finally, a water-erasable fabric marker will allow you to clean the markings off the fabric once you’ve finished. This is useful to help you embroider.You can also invest in other materials if you’re serious about embroidery. You can, for example, buy a box to keep all your thread in or a stand for the hoop so you can free up both your hands as you embroider.You can get all of this equipment from an arts and crafts shop or a haberdashery. Specialist shops are full of stuff for sewing and embroidery and you can even get everyone you need together in a sewing or embroidery kits with needles, thread, etc.Get sewing classes near me here.Getting Started with Embroidery through Cross-stitchTo get started with embroidery, the easiest thi ng to do is learn how to cross-stitch. Cross-stitch, as the name indicates, is when you make a stitch in the shape of a cross. The final pattern will be made up of a series of little crosses. Cros-stitch is quite easy to learn. (Source: Pexels)Cross-stitch is also an activity in its own right but it’s also one of the stitches used in embroidery. This stitch is also good for beginners but some continue using it to create some impressive embroidered patterns with only cross-stitches.There are two techniques for making a cross-stitch:The English MethodThe Danish MethodThe English method involves making small crosses one after the other. This is often used for isolated stitches.The second technique is far more common. The Danish technique consists of making a line of diagonal lines with the thread before coming back across the line with perpendicular diagonal lines to create the second diagonal line of each unfinished cross. By the end, you’ll have an entire line of crosses. This technique allows you to cross-stitch much more quickly. It’s often used when you have lines of the same colour to do.Cross-stitches can be done on various fabrics. If you’re just starting, yo u should opt for Aida fabric or cloth. This is a type of cross-stitch fabric perforated with little holes in it so that the stitches are uniform. It’s even easier to start with Aida cloth than with linen. The latter tends to move more easily, making cross-stitching more complicated.If you want to embroider onto clothes, there’s a special fabric for doing the perfect cross-stitch. The cross-stitch canvas.Finally, if you need more help, you can opt for a pattern. You can get it printed onto the fabric and follow the instructions to make the perfect cross-stitch. These patterns are often sold with embroidery or cross-stitch kits or on their own in arts and crafts shops and haberdasheries. You can also find patterns online.Once you’ve mastered how to do cross-stitch, you can move onto the other stitches.Resources for Getting Started with EmbroideryEmbroidery isn’t just cross-stitch. There are several different types of stitches in traditional embroidery. The internet is a great resource for learning how to embroider. (Source: Free-Photos)Stem stitch, backstitch, etc., you need to take the time to learn each technique to become an expert embroiderer. Before all that, however, you should get started by following a few basic tutorials to build your confidence.  Here are a few sites with some great tutorials for you to follow:PintangleMary Corbet's Needle 'N ThreadSublime StitchingFeeling StitchyWith great sites and YouTube tutorials, you can easily get started with your first embroidery project. From getting all the materials (thread, needles, etc.) to making your first stem stitch, it’s quite easy to progress with all the resources available to you.  Of course, video tutorials aren’t the only way to get better at embroidery. You can also check out blogs, embroidery manuals, and books.You can refer to the latter whenever you want. Furthermore, it’s much easier to pick a project from a book that it is to scour the whole internet fo r them. That said, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to video tutorials and blogs.Similarly, you can also find cross-stitch patterns online. A cross-stitch pattern is effectively instructions on how to make certain images and patterns through cross-stitch. Luckily for budding embroiderers, there are plenty of free cross-stitch patterns online and you'll probably get a few in a beginner's cross-stitch kit.How Can You Learn to Embroider?You can learn to embroider on your own or in a class. Whatever your reasons for wanting to learn, you can find a way of learning that works for you, ensuring that embroidery remains enjoyable first and foremost. You might want to start with simpler patterns when you first get started. (Source: Bru-nO)Embroidery lessons might be the first thing you think of when you want to get started. Lessons can help you learn about the different stitches like the cross-stitch, chain stitch, etc. while getting advice from your embroidery teacher or tutor.Whether it’s weekly lessons, group classes, private tutorials, etc., there are plenty of ways to learn how to embroider.Firstly, you have to make sure that the sewing classes near me are available when you’re free and cover what you want to learn. The advantage of getting embroidery lessons from an experienced embroiderer is that they’ll stop you from picking up any bad habits. It’s a good idea to help right from the start. You’ll find that you learn how to embroider quickly and easily.You can also learn how to embroider by teaching yourself with online tutorials and guides, much like with other creative arts.  The advantage of this approach is t hat you can do it whenever you fancy. This is the main advantage of not having a teacher.To advance, you might want to get tips and advice from others. Their feedback can help you improve both in terms of technique and style.Finally, don’t forget to work methodically. Get all the material that you’ll need (scissors, thread, Aida cloth, etc.), learn the basic stitches, and practise with basic patterns at first.  The more you practise, the more you’ll progress!If you'd like to be a needlework master and embark on making an incredible tapestry, you might want to get help with embroidery and cross-stitch projects from a private tutor on Superprof. They'll also be able to advise you on which cross-stitch supplies to get.

Behaviour Management Theories You Need to Know

Behaviour Management Theories You Need to Know Why are Behaviour Management Theories Important for the Classroom? ChaptersWhat is Behavioural Management?Why Should You Learn about Behaviour Management Theory?Some of the Major Behaviour Management Theories â€" and Their TheoristsAs a teacher, tutor, or anyone else working with children in an educational context, you’ll probably have learned a thing or two about behaviour management. And you may well have learned it the hard way.Kids aren’t always going to be behaving in the way that you want them to behave. Misbehaviour â€" defined loosely as not following classroom rules â€" is something that is inevitable in children, just as it would be in the rest of us if we were still sat in the classroom. Undesirable behaviour is, in a way, contingent upon the nature of the rules in place â€" and is not some sort of fixed, universal category.The spectrum of behaviour in the classroom is something that you will, as a teacher, understand with time. Yet, something hugely beneficial to your understanding of classroom behaviour is a knowledge of the literat ure, as such, on the subject.There are heaps of it: studies on behaviour problems and behaviour change, reflections on the motivators behind good behaviour, and theories on what it is that makes people behave in the way that they do.It’s this last one that we are going to look at here: the behaviour management theories that educators, psychologists, and pedagogists have developed to understand what it is that motivates behaviour â€" and how we can best negotiate that. How do you do good behaviour management?there is much more to it than merely punishing those who misbehave.Rather, behavioural management is about the strategies and methods in which teachers can ensure that children make the most out of their schooling. It is about enabling all children â€" not just the ‘well-behaved’ ones â€" to strive for and obtain their own version of success.So, it is not about giving a child a sticker or a stamp as a consequence of good behaviour â€" nor a detention for bad behaviour. Rather, it is about understanding what makes kids tick and driving that towards achievement.As with any other subject in the history of psychology, education, or social science, not everyone agrees about what this actually means. And so, we see a massive proliferation of different theories, ideas, and interventions into what actually constitutes the behaviour at which we are looking.It’s these ideas that we are going to be looking at here â€" from some of the biggest names in education and pedagogy.Find out more in our introduction to behaviour management.Why Should You Learn about Behaviour Management Theory?But firstly, let’s consider why you, as an educator, might want to pay attention to these academic ideas.Throughout the history of academic social science, theory â€" in all subjects, not just in behaviour management â€" has been continually elaborated, continually superseded, and continually re-elaborated again.This fact might be a bit off-putting for readers coming in from the outside: academia can often feel like a long, eternal conversation with itself about itself.However, it is worth the effort to pursue it. Theories of learning, theories of personality, and the cognitive theories that underpin these ideas, are both super interesting and directly relevant and insightful for the work that you will be doing in the classroom.Find out more about why behaviour management is important.How Does the Theory Affect Teaching Practice?To demonstrate the use of classroom management theory for teachers and tutors, we can give a simple example.Some bad teachers â€" particularly those who have not been through adequate training â€" might see a classroom of children whom they haven’t quite clicked are people in the formative stages of life. Maybe they see bad behaviour but don’t necessarily link that up to the motivations, desires, and responses of the children themselves.Behaviour management theory has informed the best practices that guide teaching in classrooms across the world. And it has changed the way children are treated in classrooms â€" from things that should be quiet and may be caned, to a community of people who have their own wills, desires, and concerns.This simple change in the way that children are understood is the reason for the value of theory â€" and delving into yourself can lead you as an educator into even greater understandings of the kids you are working for. A well-behaved class?Some of the Major Behaviour Management Theories â€" and Their TheoristsWhilst this list is far from exhaustive, here are some of the most significant theories of behaviour management that you should know â€" alongside the thinkers whose names are most closely associated to them.Let’s take a look.B.F. Skinner and Operant ConditioningB.F. Skinner is one of the biggest names in the history of behaviour management theory â€" at least in the twentieth century. His big idea was what is known as operant conditioning â€" and it came as the development of and response to the more radical theory known as classical conditioning.In the latter theory, a neutral stimulus in the environment comes to provoke a conditioned response. In the classic example of Pavlov’s dog, a bell rings each time a dog is given food â€" and so the dog begins to salivate each time the bell rings, regardless of whether the food comes.There is, however, no real behaviour here â€" as this is an aut omatic response.Positive ReinforcementSkinner’s idea was based, rather than on this very biological theory, upon the idea of Edward Thorndike, known as the law of effect. This stated that when a behaviour is followed by a pleasant consequence, that consequence is likely to be repeated; when it is followed by something unpleasant, it probably isn’t.This led to Skinner’s most famous contributions to behaviour management: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the reward: you do your homework, so you get a fiver. Simple. Negative reinforcement, meanwhile, is the removal of a punishment: you do your homework so that you don’t have to pay your teacher a fiver.The importance of this idea was that punishment was not something recommended by Skinner. Rather, behaviour was managed through the management of the environment, to which children’s behaviours were the consequences.William Glasser and Choice TheoryThe ideas of William Glasser may well be equally influential. But where Skinner came out of a tradition of behaviourist natural science, Glasser was a psychiatrist â€" and it was his theories of psychology that he applied to the classroom context.His choice theory is a fascinating intervention into the field because it proposes that all behaviour is the result of choice. Sure, you can tell a child to do something, but all you are doing is passing information. Whether they do as you tell them is entirely their choice.Whilst the choice is theirs, people are motivated by five basic needs: fun, freedom, power, survival, and love and belonging. Classroom activities should satisfy these needs: teachers should convince that children that these activities are worth their while â€" whilst developing the feeling of belonging in the classroom.However, the children can’t be made to do anything; the young person has to reach that decision of their own free will.Alfie Kohn and Student Directed Learning TheoryAlfie Kohn has courted controversy for his ideas on behaviour management. However, his critiques of ideas such as Skinner’s positive and negative reinforcement have been hugely important interventions into the debate.Kohn’s ideas are student-directed â€" as in, the students’ ideas and contributions drive the programme of study. For Kohn, learning is more about making meaning than it is about receiving information â€" and it should be driven by curiosity and cooperation rather than a distant and standardised curriculum.Extrinsic motivation â€" those motivators which come externally, like positive reinforcement â€" is too common in the classroom, Kohn suggests. Kids learn to want the reinforcement itself, not the behaviour to which it should be associated.Intrinsic motivation â€" the motivators within the learning itself â€" are much more important. Cultivated correctly, punishments aren’t necessary. What is good behaviour?Albert Bandura and Social Learning TheoryAlbert Bandura’s work in a sense returns us to the beginning, bringing in elements of all three theorists.His theory â€" known as social learning theory â€" posits that people acquire behaviour through observation and imitation, through a cognitive process that is necessarily based in a social context.He returns to Skinner’s operant conditioning, suggesting that reinforcement can happen vicariously, through the rewarding or punishment of an observed other. Thus, if your mate is getting rewarded for something, you mate see that this is a good behaviour to follow.Check out some behaviour management strategies whilst you are here!

Reading The Saturday Newspaper With Help From Ted Danson

Reading The Saturday Newspaper With Help From Ted Danson Is there anything more enjoyable than reading the newspaper on a Saturday morning over a leisurely breakfast? Well actually there is â€" reading that newspaper in English and finding that you understand it.Let’s read the staple of the Saturday newspaper, the interview, and then answer the questions that follow it.Ted Danson: My greatest fear? Too hard to choose. I have so many. Photograph: John M Heller/GettyInterview with Ted Danson by Rosanna Greenstreet (The Guardian, April 17, 2010)Ted Danson, 62, was born in San Diego. He went to Stanford University and then moved to Los Angeles to study acting. In 1982, he was cast as barman Sam Malone in the TV series Cheers and in its 12-year run he received 11 Emmy nominations and won twice; he also won two Golden Globes. His films include Three Men And A Baby and Saving Private Ryan. Currently in the legal drama Damages, he lives in California with his third wife, actor Mary Steenburgen.When were you happiest? I am a bit of a Pollyanna †" I spend most of my day happy.What is your greatest fear? Too hard to choose. I have so many.What is your earliest memory? I was three. My father in jest said that hed tell the doctor to give me a shot if I didnt behave. Good heavens, I have a mental picture of the living room and the doctor approaching the door. I was terrified.Which living person do you most admire, and why? My wife, who has created our life and our happiness with me.What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Lack of consistency.What is the trait you most deplore in others? Cynicism.What was your most embarrassing moment? My day goes from one embarrassing moment to the next.Property aside, whats the most expensive thing youve bought? My childrens education.What would your super power be? Flying.What makes you unhappy? When my knee hurts â€" its an old basketball injury.If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose? My parents.What is your most unappealing habit? Forgetting peoples names.What is the worst thing anyones said to you? You have something in your nose.What do you owe your parents? Everything.What does love feel like? Like laughter.Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Heaven.What is the worst job youve  done? My first time on film, about 1973. It  was a commercial that took 45  takes.What has been your biggest disappointment? That I could not play college basketball due to lack of talent.If you could go back in time, where would you go? 1960s London.How do you relax? I nap.What is the closest youve come to  death? Falling out of a tree aged seven and  landing between a boulder and a metal stake.What single thing would improve the quality of your life? A couple of ibuprofen.What do you consider your greatest achievement? My family.What keeps you awake at night? Nothing.How would you like to be remembered? Fondly.What is the most important lesson life has taught you? That we create our own reality.QuestionsHow would you d efine Ted Danson’s personality after reading his answers?How would you consider his outlook on life?How does he appear to react in the face of life’s embarrassing situations?Danson says the trait he most deplores in others is cynicism. How would you define this word?What’s your opinion on his idea of an important life lesson?What words or phrases do you most overuse?Did you find this blog interesting? Please share it on Facebook and Twitter.

How to Get Teens to Read

How to Get Teens to Read There are lots of reasons teens stop reading as much as they did at a younger age. Nightly reading is often assigned by elementary teachers as homework, and many parents read to their children during those years. This changes in middle school, however, when it is assumed that students are independent readers who need to read to learnand not the other way around. Also, some teens never have grasped reading well, and would much rather do other things. How can you encourage your teen to read during middle and high school (and beyond)? Here are a few tips to help your teen get into (or back into) reading: Choose to read yourself. It can be hard to get teens off their smartphones, where the lure of instant access to games, social media and the internet is ever-present. If youre always scrolling through your phone, however, its going to be hard to convince your teen that he or she should not. Set the phone down, pick up something to read and let your teen see you doing so. Have your teen read to younger siblings. The benefits of reading aloud are well documented, both for the reader and the person listening. If your teen has younger brothers and/or sisters who are learning to read, ask him or her to do the out-loud reading sometimes. Visit the library and the bookstore. Continue to make regular library visits part of your family routine, and have your teen check out events and clubs that the library has going on. Talk about new releases that interest you and books that youve treasured, and reserve them for checkout. Give books as gifts. Try different genres and styles. Any reading is good reading. If your teen doesnt gravitate toward nonfiction, how about fiction? If novels arent capturing his or her interest, suggest comic books or graphic novels. Get the guidance of a librarian or bookstore employee, who are skilled at enticing readers of all ages with good book choices. Pick a family book to read. This works well at any age, but reading a book with your teen could give you something to talk about and bond overand why not make those chats into something fun like a coffee outing, a walk or a hike? Correct any problems. If reading is overly challenging for your teen, chances are, he or she will not choose to do it during any free time. Talk with teachers and get your teen the individualized assistance necessary to help him or her acquire and strengthen those reading building blocks. When reading becomes easier, your other efforts to promote it will be more successful. Dont force it. Be encouraging, but dont panic if your teen isnt a voracious reader. Many teens are busy, focusing on school, extracurricular activities and their social lives. Reading might temporarily take a backseat, but if you show your teen through your actions that reading has so much to offer, he or she might come back around later on. With so many other options competing for their time, many teens dont continue reading on their own. However, reading is integral to learning and will always be important while your teen is a studentplus, it is an activity that can bring your teen happiness for the rest of his or her life. Be persistent and patient with your support, which will make a difference in getting your teen to choose reading as an enjoyable pastime.