Hot Yoga - Bikram's Twenty Six

Even though the world population has shifted from mainly rural to mainly urban in the last decade, there are still lots of folks like me who live in the sticks. Doing things like taking a yoga class becomes a different thing in our case from driving to the neighborhood gym. Since I live 40 miles from the nearest town large enough for yoga studios, when I decided to take a class, I was more interested in the schedule than I was the type of yoga. I couldn't afford to be picky if I preferred not to wait around for a couple hours after getting off work. So I looked in the phone book, and didn't pay attention to anything but the schedule. There it was: M-W-F at 4:00. Perfect. I don't know what rock I'd been living under, but the word "Bikram" writ large across the ad in the yellow pages didn't trigger the term 'hot yoga' in my mind, and that left me in for a big surprise.

I showed up with a comfy pair of sweatpants and a long- sleeved t-shirt. As the woman at the desk was giving me a little orientation information - explaining that the room was heated to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit - I realized that my concept of yoga clothes weren't going to work here. Apparently, I wasn't the first to make this error. Susie told me they had loaners. Now, it's been a while since the last time I wore hot-pants, so when she handed me the little scrap of shorts, I thought, "No way." She said, "Trust me, you'll fit right in."

Susie continued, giving a few more orientation tips, which started to seem like a set of warnings. "Our first-time students are encouraged to rest whenever you feel you should - kind of take it gradually. The instructors just ask that you do your best to stay in the room for the entire time." What? Were we still talking yoga here? I'd seen pictures. Sure, I might not be able to balance on one leg while holding the other one over my head at my first try, but come on. How hard could it be to stretch as far as I could go and stop there? Why would I get desperate to leave the room?

Her next suggestion: "OK, I see you brought a bottle of water. That's good, but you'll be tempted to drink a lot, and I recommend you just drink sips - not too much at a time." Hmm. What was I getting into here? It sounded like I was facing some kind of ordeal - not what I had in mind at all since I was thinking of yoga as a peaceful, low- impact way just to stretch and keep my aging body flexible and strong.

Once I was dressed in the little bit of shorts, I opened the door to the yoga studio and was met with a rush of hot, stultifying air. Oh goody. I walked to an open space, spread my mat, lay on my back, and understood exactly what she meant by asking me to at least stay in the room. I was already dripping sweat, and we hadn't even begun the class.

Ninety minutes and twice through the 26 poses later, I was indeed still in the room. In the non-competitive, supportive atmosphere I had been completely guided to go to my edge, but not so far that I would be turned off by struggle. In fact, I was exhilarated. I lay on my back at the end, eyes closed in the peaceful, very hot room, and knew I'd be back for more.

Carina Snowden is a contributing author to Apex Yoga News the leading resource for yoga information. Visit Carina's archive of articles at http://www.apexyoga.com/

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What Exactly Is MP4?

You know most of the time you find yourself downloading all kinds of stuff, including mp4s, mp3s and the like, but what about the technical end of it. What is MP4?

Mp4s or rather the term mpeg-4 was developed by ISO (International Organization for Standardization). It is a format specific for multimedia, the most common uses are for digital audio and video, and it is a certain type of container that holds all this information. It can contain other data as well such as subtitles and still images. You should also note that mpeg-4 is identical to QuickTime MOV format. In fact any kind of data can be inserted into MP4.

MP4 is getting more and more popular. In fact, it is now very popular to people who use the latest iPod players and PSP owners. This type of file compression is now providing a way to store dvd quality movies at a very small size. This type of file compression is known as the MPEG4 format.

Because most users may get confused at the initial concept of what MP4 is, it is what is in the MP4 that is even more confusing since the extension has been used primarily for music tunes and not movies. Therefore, what is stored in an MP4 is more than you can imagine for the most part. In addition, those other extensions have been used for MP4s, (which is audio from an iTunes store), to m4a (which includes such things as chapter markers, images, and hyperlinks). In addition, of course m4b (which has the ability to work with IPODs, where m4a files cannot. So most of the time when you find a file with the extension of mp4 or m4v, then they have both the audio and video aspects.

Let us not forget of course that they can contain codecs as well. Therefore, as you can see there is much to learn about what MP4 is, so let's summarize;

MP4 Can include and contain audio, video and also still images (like pictures), and all kinds of other data, making it a diverse file to use.

MP4 can contain other types of competing technology e.g. ogg, vob, ratdvd, divx media format, Matroska (mkv) and others to name a few.

In addition, how about some of the compatible hardware or software that mp4s can work with? Such as in software: Amarok, Banshee music player, 3ivx, foobar2000, GOM player, iTunes, media player classic, QuickTime player, Realplayer, VLC media player, and so forth, as for hardware: Kiss 1600, apple iPod, PSP (playstation portable), Playstation 3, xbox 360, Nokia.

Therefore, to answer the question what MP4 is, well, it is technology at its best!

Indeed, the MP4 technology can now make entertainment much more convenient than ever before. So, next time you think of downloading your favorite movies to your computer to transfer to your portable multimedia device, try thinking of MP4. just make sure that your multimedia devices are capable of reading the MP4 format.

Sandra Stammberger owns and operates http://www.mp4pros.com MP4

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Why Not Stay On A Golf Resort For Your Holiday?

many people that look for holidays in Spain are now booking it all themselves. Flight, apartment, villa or farmhouse and car hire. There has been an increase in this type of holidaymaker in recent years; almost 30% of all holidays to Spain are now DIY. Too many visitors are fed up with returning home from their package holiday with illness and complaints about the hotel or the package holiday company.

So what sort of property is being sought after by this growing multitude of DIY holidaymakers? The range is massive. Depending on size of the group travelling they could be staying in 4 or 5 bedroom villas, 3 bedroom apartments or in rustic farmhouses that have been renovated.

But what has all this got to do with golf resorts? For some reason non-golfers tend to stay away from booking a holiday on a golf resort. Yet they offer a great selection of accommodation; from villas and townhouses to apartments; from one bedroom to 6 bedrooms. many of the resorts are not far from the beaches. The vast majority of people that book a DIY holiday also rent a car so getting around is much easier. Most of the golf courses are within a ten minute drive from the beach. many of the properties are cheaper than beach-side properties. Some of course are more expensive, particularly penthouse apartments in the Marbella and Puerto Banus area. But like anywhere, generally speaking the more you pay the higher the quality of the accommodation and the golf resort.

Listed here are just a few of the numerous golf resorts in Southern Spain. Stretching from near Gibraltar in the west to Denia in the east. Most offer facilities other than golf so the non golfer can have an equally great stay as the golfer. To the west of the costa del Sol is costa Esuri Golf Resort. A magnificent new resort that offers a host of activities. With the Portuguese and spanish Algarve close by what a great place to stay.

Los Arqueros Golf Resort is only 10 minutes from Marbella. It was the first golf course to be designed by Severiano Ballesteros. They offer a whole range of activities other than golf. Including saunas, gym, tennis, swimming pools, restaurant etc. Los Naranjos in Nuevas Andalucia near Marbella is one of Spains best golf courses. World famous golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. Los Naranjos offers very similar facilities to Los Arqueros. Some properties can be viewed via the other links.

Further along the coast in Almeria and the costa Blanca prices can be a little less, both in terms of green fees for the golfer and property rates for the general holidaymaker. Again most of the resorts in this area are only a short drive to the beaches. Almeria, Valle del Este Golf Resort costa Blanca, Mosa Trojectum - Villa.

Villamartin and Las Ramblas golf resorts are well established resorts catering for everyone not just golfers.

Staying on a golf resort also opens up many others opportunities to do things apart from the beach every day. As many of them are a little inland they offer incite into life away from the beach. A short drive in any direction apart from towards the sea will find you in a small village with its quant little bars. Staying on a golf resort can offer an opportunity explore parts of Spain that far too many are unfamiliar with. Remember you DO NOT have to be a golfer to stay on a golf resort. BUT if you are, many of the owners can arrange your golf for you, sometimes at reduced rates.

I hope that this short article will offer some of you considering a DIY holiday to Spain to perhaps consider staying on a golf resort for a change. You never know you might even give golf a try! Enjoy your stay where ever you visit.

There are many properties available if you want to look for something just click on one of the above links. Golf resorts covered on the web site: Los Arqueros, Los Naranjos, Mijas, Alhaurin, Miraflores, Esuri, Sotogrande, La Qunita, La Reserva de Marbella, Riviera del Sol, La Cala, Los Jardines de Santa Maria Golf, Selwo hills, Aloha Gardens Resort, Valderama, Ribera del rio, El Saladillo, Valle del Este, Alboran, Los Altos, Playa Gol, La Finca, La Manga, Mosa Trajectum, Las Ramblas, Villamartin, Playa Serena, La Torre, Oliva Nova Golf, La Sella

My business is an internet based property rental site. Running for 6 years now it is one of the more popular rental sites for Southern Spain advertisers. I am always seeking ways of advising owners on how best to market their property here in Spain. It is in my interests as well as theirs that their property does well on my web site. Please take time out to look at it http://www.rentinspain.co.uk

And there are some excellent photos on this blog photos

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