Types of yoga

Shoulderstand is all about alignment, alignment, alignment. Sure, you could say that about any yoga pose (and I do), but it's particularly important here since incorrect alignment can put too much pressure on your neck. In my opinion, using a blanket under the shoulders but with the head and neck off the blanket is essential. I often see students in shoulderstand with their legs too far forward, in almost a pike instead of perpendicular to the floor. This can be hard to judge at first, so have a friend or teacher adjust your legs to the correct position so you can get a feel for it.

How to Make Love Last

In June, during the first warm days of summer, we behold the most popular month to get married, while in the frosty winter month of January, we witness the most divorces. Throughout the wedding season, many of us are filled with feelings of optimism and hope for lasting romance. Yet, weather aside, by the time a colder season sets in, many people are left asking themselves what causes a marriage (or any serious relationship for that matter) to turn icy and warm feelings of love to freeze over.

Often, when a couple comes to therapy dissatisfied with or worried about their relationship, there are certain patterns that can be observed. A shift has often taken place within the couple that has left them estranged from their early feelings of tenderness and attraction. This shift involves a slow movement away from the romance and closeness they originally experienced toward a more routine and conventional style of relating. The initial allure or desire that drew them together and allowed them to appreciate one another for their unique qualities and attributes has been replaced by an illusion of connection, or what psychologist Robert Firestone refers to as the "Fantasy Bond.

The fantasy bond is a mode of relating in which couples interact in a manner of form that enables them to imagine that they are close while maintaining emotional distance. Individuals in these realtionships are acting on an unconscious fear of intimacy that influences them to not be vulnerable to their partners. Couples in a fantasy bond are often impersonal, treating one another as though they are extensions of themselves. Within this imagined connection, people no longer exhibit the attributes that once drew them to their partners. Eventually, they are no longer the independent individuals who once respected and admired each other. They are acting on old, destructive defenses that keep them at an emotional distance, even as they share the same activities, responsibilities or beds.

So what formulates a fantasy bond? How does it interfere with real feelings of love and affection for a partner? How can people escape the trap of this relationship hazard? To see if a relationship has taken the form of a fantasy bond, it is helpful to ask certain questions about the ways a couple relates.

You can start by looking at how the two partners communicate. You can ask: Can you speak honestly to your partner? And how honestly do you allow them to speak to you? When you offer feedback, is your partner open or closed to your opinions and perceptions? How open are you to their communication? Do you intimidate them by acting defensive? Or silence them by using their words to be victimized, overly apologetic or self-hating?

It is important to understand that being truly honest does not mean relaying and acting on irrational, negative or excessively critical reactions toward a partner. Rather, honesty means that each member of the couple knows their self and what's really going on with them personally. When a person is upset or angry, it is valuable to consider: Does this reaction reflect how they really feel or is it more based on negative programming from their past? Is it based on what is going on in the here and now or on old emotions that have been triggered? By thinking about their reactions, people can weed out the rational from the irrational, separate the present from the past, and distinguish the real from the distorted.

When a person approaches their partner from a realistic perspective they are more likely to have a compassionate and accurate view of their loved one and to be less phony or destructive in their style of relating. They care if their behavior or reactions hurt their partner in any way. They are also interested in and curious about any feedback their partner would have for them.

It is also advisable to investigate how a couple behaves. This can be challenging because people who have substituted a fantasy bond for real relating often fail to notice the ways they have begun acting out of habit. It is helpful to ask: in what ways has a person's behavior with their mate become routine? What loving behaviors are they withholding? What are the activities that they once enjoyed that they have given up since becoming involved in a relationship?

As a relationship becomes more serious, it is advisable to ask the following questions: Has this couple come to rely on each other to make up for any inadequacies in the other one; are they using each other to complete themselves? Is each one maintaining their independence and individuality or is either succumbing to just going along with activities that the other one is interested in? Are they being supportive of each other's interests and individuality, or are they, more often than not, doing things together out of obligation?

Most important, does what is being said within the couple correspond with what is being done? Honesty and integrity are crucial to long lasting relationships. When a person's words don't match their actions, their partner's sense of reality is distorted. In that sense, what is done matters much more than what is said. The perfect example of this is the couple who incessantly argues with or complains about each other but then continually say "I love you" in spite of the tension and anger that comes across in their behavior. When both members of a couple make their words and actions an honest reflection of how they feel, a real sense of trust is established in their relationship.

A good rule for staying together is to live a fulfilling life as an individual and to support your partner in doing the same. A union based on equality and respect is the perfect environment for love, romance and spontaneity to flourish, while a connection based on neediness and dependence creates an atmosphere of suppression, resentment and defensiveness. It is the difference between expressing genuine love and living an illusion of love, between creating a new life by continuing to develop your ability to love and recreating an old life by reliving past hurts, between accepting warmth and acting cold... and sometimes e

New Mineral Make-Up Turns Cosmetics World on its Head

A California cosmetic company has introduced a breakthrough in mineral makeup. Formulated with natural, finely ground minerals and powerful peptides, this new high-performance makeup created by RAW Natural Minerals provides flawless coverage while actually improving the condition of skin over time.

Makeup with a purpose

Founder Christina Marcaccini, who has been featured in Lucky, W, and SELF Magazine, created RAWMinerals to fill a gap in the cosmetics market. She aimed to formulate a line that delivered beautiful color and youthful radiance while refining skin's texture, smoothing fine lines and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

RAW Natural Minerals has proven to be a highly-effective makeup with major skincare benefits. In an independent, 6-week clinical study of RAW Natural Minerals,

80% said their skin appeared more luminous
79% said their skin appeared healthier and renewed
74% saw improvement in lines and wrinkles within the first 5 minutes of application
74% experienced an improvement in skin moisture
71% said their skin appeared clearer
The key to younger-looking skin

The key to RAW Natural Minerals' advanced performance is VitaFirm Complex. Rich in natural botanical peptides that have been proven to dramatically minimize the signs of aging, this innovative complex helps protect collagen to keep skin firm and tight. Pure plant extracts combine with these peptides to fill in facial lines, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and absorb excess oils.

According to the company, VitaFirm's moisture-boosting ingredients also give RAW Natural Minerals a distinct advantage over liquid makeup and powders. The lightweight minerals work to improve skin's elasticity and boost radiance with an ultra-hydrating texture that won't cake, crease or dry skin out.

The solution for all skin types and tones

RAW Natural Minerals' natural, botanically-infused formula makes it ideal for all skin types. Mineral makeup is recommended by dermatologists for people with sensitive skin, rosacea and acne because the ultra-fine powders allow skin to breath and won't clog pores. Many users say that RAW Natural Minerals is the first makeup to ever improve the condition of their skin.

Unlike some brands, RAW Natural Minerals comes with a shade match guarantee, delivering seamless coverage to all skin tones. The company's website features an easy-to-use color-matching system that makes choosing the right shade simple.

Try it before you buy it

To introduce the line to customers, the company is offering a free trial of its 4-piece Discovery Kit for a limited time. You can try the kit out for free to make sure it works for you before you commit to buying it.

The free trial includes:

2 Customizable Mineral Foundations

Richly-pigmented, natural tones designed for seamless blending
Provides even coverage of imperfections and discolorations
1 Mineral Glow

Bronzer, eyeshadow and highlighter all in one
Delivers a luminous, sun-kissed glow to all skin tones
1 Active Veil SPF 18

Sheer, translucent minerals help set foundation
Provides an all-day flawless finish
You also get 3 free high-performance brushes with the kit.

Sex up the missionary position

pening your mind and second, by following a few of our super sexy tips. Oh, and you will probably have to undo your pants as well!

So, if The Missionary is your favourite sex position, try these simple steps to enhance the pleasure.
Raise your legs

Get your legs over your guy's shoulders. Remember, the higher you lift your legs, the deeper the penetration. So, in order to make it more pleasurable for you, get your legs over his shoulders instead of the usual around-his-body position.
Use a pillow

A pillow under your bum will alter the angle at which your guy is penetrating you, making it a new and enjoyable experience. Also, it’s good if you’re lazy because you won’t be able to move much. He’ll end up doing most of the work and you can lie back and enjoy.
Stay face-to-face

The main reason a woman prefers the missionary sex position is because she feels connected and emotionally closer to her partner as she can see him face-to-face. So, make use of this position to talk to your partner. Tell him what you like and how you’re feeling. Use the opportunity to get as much mouth-to-mouth action as you can as well!
Change positions

Change things around a bit. Take turns with your partner to be on top. The constant switching will have you both thrashing about in bed, which is bound to add to the excitement.
Wear fancy footwear

You also can spice the sex up by adding a few visual treats. Put on a pair of stilettos or even some raunchy stockings to add extra zing to the act. The texture of the material on his back and seeing you not quite clothed will be a huge turn-on.

A lot of people slam the missionary position because it’s so standard. But, with a few variations it can be as exciting and satisfying as any other sex position. So go on, add some spice to the act!

THE CORRECT WAY TO APPLY THE BLUSH MAKEUP

Mineral pigments can give your skin a healthy glow that looks natural and, unlike traditional makeup, adheres to your skin all day without the need for touch ups, even if you perspire or go in the water. Mineral makeup blushers are used primarily to give the cheeks color, whereas mineral bronzers can be applied anywhere on the face and body that would normally develop color from being in the sun.

Steps for Applying Mineral Makeup Blushes and Bronzers
Step 1: If Your Skin Is Dry, Use Moisturizer before Applying Mineral Makeup - Minerals will best adhere to skin that is well moisturized. Whether starting with a base foundation or merely using blush or bronzer to enhance the tone of your skin, if you have dry skin, apply lotion to your face and neck a few minutes before you begin applying the mineral makeup.

Step 2: Prepare Your Brush - Mineral blushes and bronzers come in powdered form and are best applied using a high-quality brush. Angled or flat top brushes both work well.

You don't want to use a lot of product, so carefully pour just a bit of mineral powder into the lid of your jar of blush or bronzer. Then swirl your brush in the lid. Make sure that the mineral powder adheres evenly to the brush, and then gently tap the brush on the edge of the lid to remove any excess.

It can take a few moments for the minerals to warm up and blend onto your skin, so be very careful not to over apply. Minerals are highly concentrated pure pigments, and a little bit goes a long way.

Step 3a: Applying Mineral Blush - After the blush is loaded onto the brush, buff the minerals into the apples of your cheeks using an out-and-up circular motion. Buffing the blush onto the skin with a repeated circular motion helps the pigment blend.

If you want a natural look, avoid applying blush all the way to the hairline or in the hollows of you cheeks. If you are not sure where to put your blush, just smile, and the apples of your cheeks, usually directly below the center of you eyes, will become more apparent.

Step 3b: Applying Mineral Bronzer - Bronzer can be applied either before or after blush. The order you choose for your makeup routine, should be based on what you personally prefer. Choose a bronzer that is just a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. And, remember that you only need a very tiny amount to start with. You can always add more bronzer later.

After the bronzer is properly loaded on the brush, so that it evenly adheres to the bristles (Step 2), apply it to the areas of your face, or your body that would normally tan when exposed to sun-your cheeks, forehead, nose, chin, shoulders, even a little on your ears (ears usually get quite tanned, but are often missed when people apply mineral bronzers).

Use a repeated swirling motion to smoothly blend and set the mineral bronzer. When your brush has just a little mineral left, and is just about ready to be reloaded, work from your face to your neck to help the color blend and look more natural.

Step 4: Double-check Your Application to Ensure That It Looks Natural - When you are done applying mineral blush and bronzer, your skin should still look like your skin, only better. The color should be evenly applied and blended so that it appears natural, not made-up. If you have applied too much mineral or applied it unevenly, don't worry.

Just take a clean cosmetic cotton square or puff and blot your face wherever you see excess product. Once you've removed the excess, resume buffing and blending with your brush until you have achieve the right look.