Stopping smoking isn't necessarily something that a person just does. It's something that you have to learn to do. I should know, I smoked cigarettes for more than 15 years and finally walked away from them forever. I did it without the aid of gum, patches, pills, or anything else outside of myself, and in the process, learned a few things. I'll pass those things on in this article with the hopes of helping you as well. I'm not going to try to sell you ant kind of stop smoking aid either, which as you will find out is a rarity. Most everything you see about the subject of quitting smoking is designed to sell you something that will supposedly help you.
I realized something during my process of quitting smoking that I think may be beneficial to you. I smoked for the better part of 15 years. That meant that smoking had become "normal" to me. If you engage in anything every hour or so for fifteen years, it's going to become normal to you, there's no way around that fact. Seeing as how smoking was so normal to me, I realized that I literally had to learn how to not smoke.
Learning how to not smoke is the same as learning a new skill, just in reverse. If I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle, the only way to do it is to get on a motorcycle and practice, until I'm comfortable. It's the same for not smoking. You've got to teach yourself that not smoking isn't going to be that bad. You see, everything you read, see, and hear tells you how difficult stopping smoking is going to be. You must block this kind of crap out, because it's not true. The truth is, it's not that difficult to quit smoking. So begin telling yourself that it's not that hard to quit, even while you're still smoking. Every time you have a cigarette, think about how easy it's going to be to stop.
You see, by doing this, you're teaching yourself that stopping is going to be easy, rather than difficult. As you do this, your thoughts about cigarettes will begin to change. You'll begin to notice how much they stink and how much your hands stink after smoking. You'll begin to notice how out of shape you are. You'll begin to truly notice the destructive qualities rather that the supposedly "good" quality's of smoking.
Before long, you'll simply stop. For me, I opened my pack to grab a cigarette one day, and there was only 1 left. I looked at it, and knew it was going to be my last cigarette. I smoked it, and haven't smoked since. Were there times that I wanted a cigarette? Sure, but I didn't want to smoke any longer, so I didn't. It was truly as simple as that. Remember, Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change. Change the way you look at smoking, and the act of smoking will change.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com. He has more than 15 years of business experience and 25 years of fishing experience. He currently raises his 3 year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana.
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Learn How To Apply Wing Chun as an Effective Form of Self Defense
Learn How To Apply Wing Chun as an Effective Form of Self Defense

One of the ongoing things were trying at the dojo is broadening our student base. Lots of students get a little upset at punches flying at them, and the like, so were evaluating some of the softer styles for an introductory class. Im looking at turning Wing Chun forms into the basis for a practical martial arts style, and helping with the instructions with it.
First, I learned Wing Chun as a recuperative style I needed some time off to let my feet heal from doing stupid things with a wooden sparring dummy and inadequate footwear. My Dad had taken to Wing Chun for joint ailments as hes gotten older, and had showed me some of the basics, and I asked permission of his teacher, Greg Pool, if I could record his opening lecture for his introductory class. This is what I got.
Wing Chun is a balanced style, and Im planning on doing the following forms with it: The open stance, which is fairly high, keeps the elbows close to the body, and keeps the balance over the knees, is a good one for getting pupils into, particularly if they dont have a lot of martial arts training. The initial lessons will focus on relaxation techniques, and fluid movements. Wing Chun is a style that emphasizes relaxed motions extra muscle tension slows down the speed of reactions, and builds up fatigue. While were going to focus on Wing Chun as, in some ways, an animated relaxation technique, this will be giving you the baseline for learning other martial arts, going to whatever styles you prefer.
The basic stance will have your feet at slightly less than shoulder width part, with your knees bent at about a 20 degree angle, and your toes pointed in. From this stance, breath in through the nose, and out through the mouth, and try to relax youll feel a sense of dynamic tension in your hamstrings and quadriceps when youre done.
For motions, well start with the circular blocks from the left side going to the right. Again, redirection and smooth flow is the key to this. Watch what I dobreathe in through the nose, out through the mouth.
Now, my experiences with Wing Chun are that its more like the Northern Chinese styles Im familiar with its a whole body style, emphasizing economy of motion and blocks. Its got a lot of good footwork in its basic forms, and its used a lot in martial arts movies, most notably those starring Jet Li.
One of the oddities of the Wing Chun forms is that it really de-emphasizes kicks and throws and power moves. This is ultimately because its meant to be a defensive style first. Breaking the lines of the basic form for more power gives your opponent defensive opportunities. However, just because its a softer style, dont think its a snap. Like all of the opening martial arts forms, itll leave you with a healthy sweat before youre done, and your knees and hips will absolutely feel it.
The upper body workout focuses on delivering power through the sternum to the shoulder you try to keep your arms relaxed before throwing a block or a strike, because relaxed muscles respond faster, and get more speed. Trying to power through a block or a punch is almost always slower.
Because the Wing Chun stance is higher than Im used to, it takes some adjustment for me, not to sink too low. Fortunately, for most beginning students, a higher stance is more familiar to them from every day life. After all, very few people walk around in the Tiger Crouch when going to the super market.

Yoshi E Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the
mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on Ultimate Fighting Championship Vol 1 UFC Hits visit his blog.


Reliable and Respected: Hawthorn as A High Blood Pressure Treatment
When President Franklin D. Roosevelt died from a stroke, his blood pressure was 240/180 mmHg, twice as high as the upper limit usually defined as hypertensive. During that time, the symptoms of high blood pressure (or hypertension) were largely unknown, and FDR’s doctor very likely did not know what makes an effective high blood pressure treatment. Now we know that the higher the blood pressure, the greater the likelihood of stroke, heart failure or heart attack. Treating the symptoms of high blood pressure is therefore crucial. But what do we know now about high blood pressure treatment that might have helped keep FDR in the White House for longer?
Hawthorn for the Treatment of High Blood Pressure Symptoms(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Blood-Pressure.html)
Hawthorn is today widely used by natural health practitioners as a high blood pressure treatment. The herb hawthorn (Crataegus orycantholdes) is one of the most frequently used high blood pressure treatments in Europe and Asia, and has been for many centuries. It is only recently however, that hawthorn’s effectiveness and safety was backed up by several scientific studies.
Worldwide, there is a new recognition that herbs and other heart-healthy supplements can assist Western medicine’s array of high blood pressure treatments. Hawthorn isn’t known to interfere with standard treatments, since there are no documented herb-drug interactions with this supplement.
Hawthorn is used not only as a high blood pressure treatment and prevention; it also treats congestive heart failure, lowers rapid pulse, improves arrhythmias, lowers cholesterol levels, and treats hardening of the arteries. Clinical and laboratory research have shown repeatedly the heart-health benefits of Hawthorn.
How does Hawthorn Lower Blood Pressure?
Hawthorn dilates blood vessels by blocking an enzyme called ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme). This blocking action improves circulation and reduces blood pressure. Hawthorn is also a mild diuretic, which lowers blood volume, and this is another way hawthorn functions as a high blood pressure treatment.
If your blood pressure is between 140/90 to 160/100mmHg, and otherwise healthy and free of risk factors, it is possible your doctor may hold off on standard high blood pressure treatment to give you a chance to make some try natural herbs like hawthorn instead.
Other Ways To Treat High Blood Pressure(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Blood-Pressure.html)
There are many natural ways to treat the symptoms of high blood pressure - and to prevent it in the first place. Besides hawthorn, natural high blood pressure treatments, and heart-healthy tips include:
1. - Take a 30 to 60-minute walk every day.
2. - Quit smoking.
3. - Limit drinking.
4. - Actively manage stress. Add a stress-reducer, such as meditation, to your daily routine.
5. - Maintain a diet with a variety of legumes, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy and lean meat.
6. - Reduce sodium as well as saturated and trans fats.
7. - Lose weight if obese.
8. - Get plenty of sleep.
9. - Check your blood pressure regularly!
Early treatment of mildly elevated blood pressure may reduce the risk of more severe symptoms of high blood pressure in the futire. Natural blood pressure treatment and prevention can help you live a long, productive life, especially for mild to moderate high blood pressure. Even patients with chronic Stage II high blood pressure, especially those who are not responding to allopathic high blood pressure treatment(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Blood-Pressure.html), can benefit from natural means.

How common is hypertension? Today, 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from the symptoms of high blood pressure, something that is highly preventable. Men, postmenopausal women, people with a family history of heart disease, and the elderly in general are at greatest risk from heart disease.
Now’s the time to make the commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Hawthorn is yet another way to improve heart health.