June Campbell : Writing from Vancouver

Woodworkers understand the special joy that comes from handling wood. There is something lovely, something alive about the feel of a piece of wood in your hands. It’s a feeling you’ll never get from working with Arborite or other composite materials. At its best, woodworking is an art form. Woodworkers are skilled artisans who can turn a piece of lumber into a functional or ornamental object.

Like all craftpersons, woodworkers use special tools to create their projects. The following list describes most of the main tools in a woodworker’s arsenal.

Woodworking Hand Tools

As any beginner woodworker soon discovers, it is possible to amass a considerable collection of hand tools. But what if money or space is in short supply? Which ones are the must haves? Which are the ones you can leave for later and which are the ones you absolutely can’t do without?

Block Plane : Block planes are hand held tools that the woodworker uses to shave off a thin layer of wood. They are simple devices consisting of a piece of metal with a blade cantered in the underside. You might liken them in some ways to a pencil sharpener. As you might guess, block planes are invaluable for making wooden pieces just a little bit smaller – often a critical action if you need a good fit. Planes are so important that you might want to purchase two – a larger one for your workshop and a smaller one for your woodworking kit.

Chisel : Chisels are versatile tools and they belong to the “must have” class of hand tools. You will use the chisel to carve certain woods into the shape you want. You can also use a chisel when making joints, cutting grooves and finishing off a woodworking project.

Chisels are available in various sizes and weights. Most woodworkers have a compete set for the workshop and carry around a small set in the toolkit. Chisels are described in more detail later on.

Screwdrivers : As you know, screwdrivers are standard equipment for most homes so it is fairly obvious that you need them in your woodwork shop and tool kit as well. Make sure you have Philips head and flat head screwdrivers in both places.

Stanley Knife : A Stanley Knife is a utility knife. Although the Stanley is a brand name, it is so well known that the term “Stanley knife” has almost become a generic name for this type of tool. Woodworking professionals shy away from the ones with retractable blades, preferring the kind with the blade screwed in place.

Saws : What would a woodwork shop be without a number of quality saws?

The pros say that the best saws to get are a regular hacksaw (a saw with a special blade used for cutting metal) and a coping saw. The latter is a saw that permits you to cut detailed, complex shapes readily. Saws are covered in more detail later.

Mitre Saw

No woodworking shop is complete without a good mitre saw. This piece of equipment allows the craftsperson to make any number of fascinating joints and special cuts.

The attraction of a mitre saw is that you can use it to make angled cross cuts. As an example, let’s say you are making an ordinary picture frame. As you would suspect, you need to cut a length of wood into four pieces. If you want, you could simply join the four pieces together at an ordinary ninety degree angle. But perhaps you want something a little more elaborate than that. Instead of the ninety degree angle design, you want to create a mitre joint . In fact, most picture frames you encounter will have mitre joints.

A metre joint is a joint in which the two attached pieces have been beveled together so they meet at an angle. Picture frames usually join with a 45 degree angle.

Mitre joints are usually chosen because they are more aesthetically pleasing than a straight joint. However, for deeper joints, the woodworker might opt to use a stronger joining technique, perhaps a dovetail. In a dovetail joint , pieces of wood shaped like a bird’s tail are fitted together and perhaps glued. With or without glue, dovetail joints are sturdy and do not readily fall apart.

In some instances, a builder might join pipes using a joint created with a mitre saw. There are occasions when a mire joint is the only possible solution.

There are two types of mitre saws: manual and powered.

Manual mitre saws are best used for small items like picture frames. A manual mitre saw consists of a backsaw that is positioned onto a metal base in such a way that it rotates freely. A backsaw is used for precision cutting. It is a saw with many teeth and with a metal strip along the back of the blade.

The base of the manual mitre saw has clamps to secure the wood and guiding rods to stabilize the wood at the angle to be sawed.

A manual mitre saw uses much the same design as a mitre box . A mitre box is another hand tool that woodworkers sometimes use to guide handsaws when they are making crosscuts or mitre joints. Quite simply, it is a wood or plastic box that is open at the ends and the top, and has slots cut in it. The woodworker places the wood in the box and situates the saw through the cutting guides. Various angles are possible, but 45 and 90 degree angles are more often used.

Clamping the wood to a bench before cutting is usually a wise idea.

Powered Mitre Saw Powered mitre saws are more efficient if you are making large projects. Although they were once quite costly, the price has reduced considerably in recent years.

Most powered mitre saws consist of a circular saw mounted on an aluminium base. You can rotate the saw around the base and fasten it into position to cut at any angle you wish.

Powered mitre saws come in various makes and models. The simplest ones feature a sliding saw that can move along a rail and therefore can cut larger than its own diameter. Compound saws , another slightly more complex type, allow the woodworker to tilt the blade as well as angling the cut. There is more about powered mitre saws later on.

Woodworking Power Tools

Although once a major expenditure, woodworking power tools are now much more affordable than they were a couple of decades ago. At one time, only professional woodworking shops invested in these costly tools; they are now within the realm of the hobbyist or do-it-yourself woodworker.

You’ll find a wide range of tools available, each with their own set of features.

Band Saw

Band saws have largely taken the place of jig saws, which were infamous for problems with stuck blades. The modern band saw is much less prone to sticking in this way. These saws consist of a base on which the wood is placed, and a high-speed, rotating continuous blade. Much of the blade is hidden from view, but the exposed part cuts in a downward motion. The blade’s speed is so fast that we see it as simply a blur. It cuts through almost any kind of wood quickly and easily. It is good for making both straight and curved cuts on thin pieces of wood.

A power band saw may be an extravagance if you only do occasional projects, or if you always make small projects. However, if you do larger woodworking designs often, you’ll find a band saw to be a real boon.

Circular Saw

A band saw works best for thinly sliced wood. For making straight cuts on thicker wood, you are better off with a circular saw. As you might guess from the name, a circular saw is a rotating blade. The saw teeth are located around the circle’s circumference or outer border.

The mitre saw, described earlier, is a circular saw.

The table saw is another type of circular saw. A table saw sits on a base that is approximately the same height as a table. The saw sticks up from the base.

A guide edge holds the wood in place as individual pieces of wood move towards and through the blade. One word of caution here: the circular saw has the well deserved reputation of being the most dangerous power tool. Always observe all safety precautions when using one.

Power Drill

The power drill (hand held electric drill) is used with removable bits to drill holes of different sizes. Today’s power drill can do double duty as a screwdriver, and most models of power drills are now cordless.

It’s difficult to imagine a woodworking shop without a power drill. In fact, many woodworkers have taken things a step further and invested in a bench drill. Bench drills allow the artisan to fasten the wood in place then lower the spinning drill via a lever. This eliminates “wobble” and ensures a clean, perpendicular cut. Bench drills do take up space in the shop, however. If the area is small, this could be a consideration.

Woodworking Chisels

Chisels are tools with specially-shaped blades that are used for cutting or carving the wood. If you have a complete set of chisels, you can sculpt a piece of wood into any shape you desire. There are various types of chisels: each has its own particular function.

Bevel-edged Chisel : If you can afford only one type of chisel, this should be it Try to get a set of four bevel-edged chisels. These versatile tools are great for finishing joints and they let you can access corners readily.

Corner Chisel : This tool has two cutting edges that are set together in an L shape. As the name suggests, it is used for chiseling in corners.

Paring Chisel : You use these tools when you need to do precise work in small spaces. The tools are long and thin in shape.

Dovetail Chisel : You can use a bevel-edged chisel for making dovetail joints. However, a dovetail chisel, with its triangular cross-section is easier to work with.

Firmer Chisel : This chisel has a rectangular cross section. It is stronger than the other chisels and therefore useful for taking out larger pieces of waste. Woodworkers sometimes use a mallet to drive a firmer chisel.

Mortise Chisel : Like the firmer chisel, you use the strong mortise chisel to pare away large amounts of wood. This tool is designed to be pounded with a mallet. Its sides are straight but one edge is beveled. As the name suggests, you use this tool to make a mortise joint. Mortise joints are formed when a hole or mortise is cut into a piece of wood and a second piece of wood, known as a tenon, is fitted into it. Accurate measuring and marking is crucial.

Skew Chisel : Skew chisels are used for planing and finishing wood surfaces, especially surfaces that are shaped like a cylinder. Most skew chisels are rectangular, but oval shaped ones are available as well. Their cutting edge is set at an angle of sixty degrees.

Selecting a Good Set of Chisels

High quality chisels are fashioned from high quality steel. If you purchase a good set of quality chisels, you should never need to replace them. From time to time, they will need sharpening but should not break.

Although the good ones cost more, it is a wise investment, because they are less likely to break and will require less frequent sharpening. Japanese chisels have an excellent reputation of good quality and longevity. Some woodworkers insist they are better made than their western counterparts. Japanese chisels are often constructed out of two pieces of laminated steel. This means they keep sharp long, but are also more prone to chipping.

Woodworking Plans

Some woodworkers prefer to draw their own set of plans. Others would rather save time and use plans that have already been tried and tested by someone else. This link contains additional information about woodworking plans.

If every houseplant you tried to grow has turned brown and withered away, I want you to know something. The problem isn’t you. It’s the fussy, persnickety potted plants you’ve been trying to grow. Forget about them and get yourself a few rough and tough selections from the list below. These easy houseplants are virtually indestructible. They’re the Mixed Martial Arts fighters of the plant world.

With no further ado, here are the plants that even forgetful, negligent plant moms (like me) won’t kill. I’ll also give you the botanical names just in case you want to research them and find out what the good plant moms have to say about our little green friends.

Devil’s Ivy or Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) It’s almost impossible to destroy this plant from the Solomon Islands. It produces long vines filled with lush green leaves, which makes it suitable for either a hanging basket or a pot. It will grow almost anywhere, but it is happiest if you give a bright, warm place. Remember to water it now and again. It’s quite okay to let this plant dry out between waterings and no harm will be done. In time, the vines can become very long and the leaves become sparse. This is called “leggy”. When the plant goes leggy, grab a pair of scissors and cut the vines to a reasonable length. New leaves will start appearing before long. It’s like your hair. You have to trim it from time to time. If you think of it, give your Devil’s Ivy some fertilizer come spring. Oh, and one word of caution. Devil’s Ivy is toxic so don’t chomp on it or rub it in your eyes.

Cactus (CactaceaeUn) You’ll find many varieties of these plants that grow in the desert. Knowing their natural location tells you they are happy in full sun. Put them in your south window and don’t get carried away with waterings. Cacti actually thrive on benign neglect. Water your cactus perhaps once a month in the wintertime and once a week during the summer. Make sure it dries out completely in between watering. Oh, and if you don’t have a south window, put it against almost any window. It’ll survive for a long time even in north light. If you want to get experimental, try giving your cactus long dark nights and short, bright days during the winter. This replicates growing conditions in the desert and if you are lucky, it may force your prickly little friend to produce flowers. One caution: the popular Christmas cactus is a different breed of cat. They grow in a rain forest. This means they’re fussier and need more water and humidity than the regular type of cactus.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) These hardy plants look great when hung from a hanger or basket. The leaves branch out from the top and in time, your spider will produce little plantlets that plant moms gush about and call “babies.” If you take a “baby” and tuck its bottom into a pot of moist earth or water, it’ll turn into a whole new spider plant. How cool is that? Spider plants don’t need much care but they do best if you don’t give them a southern exposure. Remember to water a couple of times a week, and give the plant some fertilizer during the summer months. The tips of the leaves tend to turn brown, which is normal, but not all that attractive. Trim the brown off with your scissors. If you want to be artistic, shape the cut so it tapers out the way the leaf does naturally.

Umbrella Tree (Schefflera) The Umbrella Tree should not be confused with the Umbrella Plant, which is a different kettle of fish altogether. In fact, plant people are starting to refer to our Umbrella Tree as Schefflera to avoid the confusion. Schefflera hails from Australia and it in no way resembles an umbrella. It is, in fact, quite an attractive plant, with lovely glossy deep green leaves and a height that can reach four or six feet if you give it the slightest encouragement. Naturally, you will not permit this sort of thing and will chop the top off when it starts to get too big. To make your Umbrella Tree happy, put it in a bright light and try to keep it away from cold windows in the wintertime. Water the plant perhaps once a week. Check it mid week and if it’s still damp, forget about it for a few days. Give it some fertilizer come spring. Schefflera is toxic, so no using it as a salad garnish.

Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium) If you don’t have a sunny window but you do have a dim, dark corner, this houseplant from Central America is your guy! Stick it in your dim corner and water it a couple of times a week. Don’t make it too soggy, though. It’s almost impossible to kill this plant, and it’s quite attractive with nice green leaves shaped like arrowheads. You can let the leaves hang down or you can train then to climb a trellis or the cords on your Venetian blinds if you are so inclined. Training is not an onerous chore, in this case. It’s far easier to train your Arrowhead Plant than to paper train a pup. Just provide the trellis and twist a leaf or stem around it. The plant gets the idea right away and off it goes.

Philodendron (Philodendron scadens) Philodendrons hail from Jamaica, and hey Mon, they are durable and rugged indoor plants. Philodendrons come in many varieties, but this one under discussion has green heart-shaped leaves that trail and love to climb up a trellis or your curtain cord or anything they can grasp on to. You can also let your philodendron hang from a plant stand or hanger. This plant is happy almost any place you want to put it, but it doesn’t do well in full sun. I’d try to keep it away from the south window if I were you. Water it a couple of times a week if you think about it. No great harm occurs if you let the soil dry out, so long as you do remember to water it eventually. Fertilize during the spring and summer if you want, and should you get really ambitious, trim the plant to make it grow bushier. This is another toxic one, so no nibbling.

And finally, if by any chance your thumb is so brown that it’s BLACK and even these plants cannot survive you, then I have one word: PLASTIC

A good set of woodworking plans means the difference between a beautiful, functional project or one that just doesn’t measure up. I’m not a woodworker myself, but I know a bit about working with wood because my father was a skilled woodworker, albeit a hobbyist. My dad drew his own plans. It was a long time ago. I’m not sure you could even get woodworking plans back in those days.

Today is a different story. Those who don’t want to start from scratch and create their own plans can find an array of ready-made guides to use. There are advantages to this, of course. Most obviously, when you obtain a set of plans developed by someone else, you benefit from their mistakes. They have discovered and eliminated the errors, so you are getting a set of plans that is tried and tested.

Secondly, you save time, if that is important to you. Why re-invent the wheel, after all?

When you obtain your woodworking plans, you need to take certain things into account.

Metric System or Imperial System of Measurement

The US uses the Imperial system of measurement. Tools and woodworking plans created in the US are therefore likely to use Imperial measurement – ie inches, feet, yards, pounds, ounces, and so on. Most other countries in the world use the Metric System of Measurement, meaning lengths based on meters and weights based on kilograms.

You may save yourself some grief, and certainly some inconvenience, if you look for woodworking plans that use the same system of measurement as your tools. Measurements can be converted, of course, and you will find many good conversion sites online. Nevertheless, the need to convert from one system to the other makes it more likely that errors can occur.

Free Woodworking Plans or Paid Woodworking Plans

Who doesn’t like free? We all do. It’s true you can find a good many plans and guides that are freely available online. The flip side of this is that you have no idea about the quality of the plan that you find. Although a good many free woodworking plans are of excellent quality, there are those that are not. You may be challenged to find any sort of plans that are well organized.

Many experienced woodworkers consider quality woodworking plans to be a crucial part of the project, and a good investment. You are, after all, investing a considerable sum of money in lumber and other supplies. Why risk that by starting out with questionable plans?

In fact, if you are looking for specific woodworking plans, such as plans to build chicken coops in keeping with the currently popular trend of raising chickens in cities, then you could be well advised to look for a product designed by people who specialize in that sort of building.

A good reference book is also a handy item to keep in a woodworking shop. Computers are great for many things, but they will not appreciate the amount of dust they will encounter in most well-used workshops. A good reference book is handy when you realize you have forgotten exactly how to make a seldom-used technique, and such a book will last for many years.

Two excellent reference books are the Collins Complete Woodworker’s Manual or The Complete Manual Of Woodworking.

Printing Woodworking Plans

As mentioned earlier, you will find an array of quality woodworking plants available online. As I said earlier, a computer does not thrive in a woodwork shop, so your best bet would be to print the plans out and take the paper copies to your shop. Many of the plans you find are available as Adobe PDF files, which are easy to print and which give you an accurate representation of the image. PDF files end with the three letter extension of .pdf. You can also find plans that are image files. They are likely to end with the three letter extension of .jpg (or .jpeg), .gif, .bmp or .png. The problem with image files is that your computer may rescale the image to print it, meaning you end up with a distorted image.

Photos, Diagrams and Video

Many of the woodworking plans that you come across are photographs with annotations. (hopefully converted to PDF format, as mentioned earlier). In most cases, these annotated photos are sufficient.

Less common, but often more helpful, are plans that include drawings with full dimensions. These plans are seldom available for free.

In recent years, thanks to the proliferation of online video, you can often find woodworking plants available in video format. If you intend to go that route, be sure you have a high speed broadband connection to the Internet. You may also find free woodworking plans on YouTube and other video sharing web sites. The quality of these free videos tends to be low.

When today’s parents are faced with the need to arrange childcare for their kids, they may well be facing one of the most troublesome tasks that families encounter. Every parent hopes for a wonderful arrangement in which their child or children receives nurturing, love, cuddling and stimulating playtime. Finding such an arrangement may turn out to be more difficult than expected.

Manuela Gruber Hersch, the general manager of International Nannies & Homecare Ltd. has some advice to offer on finding the best childcare arrangement for your family. International Nannies is Canada’s premier nanny agency. However, much of Gruber Hersch’s information is equally valid for families living in other countries as well.

When to Start Your Search

According to Gruber Hersch, if you believe you will need childcare at some point, it is smart to start exploring options shortly after your baby comes into the world.

If you live in a large city, or a location where there is a heavy demand for daycare spaces, you might want to start investigating options even during pregnancy.

Assessing Your Needs

“Combining full-time employment and care for one’s children is not easy, and requires a great deal of thought and organization,” said Gruber Hersch. “First, decide what kind of care you want for your child,” she advises.

Begin by determining your specific childcare requirements. Ask yourself these questions and record the answers in a notebook:

1. How many hours of childcare are needed each day?
2. What time must your leave your home each morning and what time will you return at the end of the day?
3. How does weather effect your situation? Do you live in a location where cold or inclement weather necessitates bundling up the children well when you drive them to their childcare location?
4. Do any of your children have special needs or medical conditions such as allergies?
5. What do you see as the ideal childcare arrangement for your children? Is it important to you that each child receive individualized attention? What are your views on parenting practices such as safety, playtime, television, activities and discipline?
6. How much can you afford to pay for childcare each month?

Once you have reached a clear understanding of your childcare requirements, it is time to begin exploring options.

The Daycare Option

As you may guess, daycare is usually the first option to explore. For some families, daycare may turn out to be both available and acceptable. This is more likely to be true in the case of families with only one child requiring care.

Parents with multiple children in need of care often discover that due to space limitations, the children cannot attend the same daycare. Instead, provisions may have to be made to enroll the children in two or even more centers. As you can imagine, this is not good news for busy parents who are faced with the need to transport children to a variety of locations every day, and pick them up later on from the same diverse locations.

Perhaps even more importantly, this separation can be traumatic for young children who are accustomed to being with their brothers and sisters. And, since many daycare centers limit the enrollment of infants and toddlers, the situation becomes even more troublesome for parents of multiple birth children (such as twins and triplets).

Parents with only one child needing care may discover that daycare is the most cost effective option. Rates per day vary, depending on location. Availability is another factor. Again, this will differ according to location, but in some large Canadian cities, the waiting list can be up to a year. Planning ahead is crucial.

Pros and Cons to Daycare

The Pros

There are advantages to the daycare option. You do not have to negotiate pay as you would with a nanny. Your daycare won’t quit because it wants to work for your neighbor instead. Care is available when you need it.

“For these reasons, and more, daycare is often a great way to go,” Gruber Hersch pointed out. Providing your child with the opportunity to socialize with other children is another benefit, as is your privacy. With daycare, you are not opening your home to a third party the way you will if you opt to employ a nanny.

The Cons

The cons to using a daycare include sickness and the spread of childhood contagious illnesses. Children in daycare tend to become ill more often than those who are cared for at home. If your child is quite ill, he or she will not be permitted to attend daycare, so you will be faced with the need to arrange backup childcare.

Moreover, if your work hours fall outside of the daycare center’s hours of operation, you must find another family member or childcare provider to pick the children up and tend to them until you finish work.

Transporting your child or children to the daycare center can be less than ideal. All too often, parents are saddened by the need to awaken a sleeping child so as to get him to the daycare center on time. This time crunch is heightened by the need to bundle children up to accommodate winter weather along with the need to pack diapers, formula, food and extra clothing – all on top of the need to get yourself ready for the workplace.

Picking the Right Daycare

Not all daycare centers are identical. You will need to do your homework and find one that matches your needs and requirements.

For example, some daycare providers adhere to particular schedules regarding ages when a child should be weaned from the bottle, give up pacifiers, forgo nap times, etc. You must be flexible with these matters – although if you are like some parents, you may consider it a pro that the daycare is looking after the sometimes unpleasant aspects of potty training, weaning your child, etc.

The best daycare centers have a low child to teacher ratio. That is, there are fewer children per staff member or teacher. Depending on the country you live in, licensing regulations may govern the child to teacher ratio as well as the ECE training (early childhood education) that each daycare provider must have.

When you start the search for daycare, Gruber Hersch suggests taking the time to assess the daycares in your area and pick the one that works best for you. Your assessment should include such matters as staff morale, staff training and expertise and safety issues. Your goal is find affordable, quality daycare for your child or children.

The Nanny Option

Increasing numbers of parents are opting to hire a nanny to provide childcare in the home. Although there is a tendency to believe that a nanny is a luxury only available to the rich and famous, the reality is that the costs of a nanny are similar to the price of daycare, especially if you have more than one child.

Some multiple child households find that the cost of a nanny is less than the costs of daycare for all children.

In other cases, two families may agree to a shared-nanny arrangement. In this situation, the costs and the administrative functions are cut in half for each. This could be a particularly good solution for one-child families.

Live-in or Live-Out

Nannies can be live-in or live-out. A nanny’s role is to provide quality, individualized childcare in your home along with performing light housekeeping tasks.

To many families, a live-in nanny is the most convenient option, particularly while the children are very young. A live-in nanny affords more flexibility in terms of hours, schedules and availability. Live-in nannies, who in Canada are paid a weekly salary in addition to room and board, are often more economical than a live-out nanny. Live-out nannies receive a higher weekly salary than live-in nannies given that room and board is not a consideration.

Live-out nannies are suitable for families that lack the space for a live-in caregiver or that work unchangeable, set hours. Live out nannies tend to be less flexible regarding availability and duties, plus they may be difficult to locate in some areas.

“Most importantly,” says Gruber Hersch, “Be sure you don’t hire a woman who views the role as a bridge between unemployment and getting a real job.”

Pros and Cons to Hiring a Nanny

The Pros

Many parents view quality, one-on-one childcare as the top benefit to having a nanny. This one-on-one care is particularly beneficial during infancy. With individualized care, your crying baby is certain to be comforted and held more often – and will receive that care in the familiar environment of your home.

Other benefits stem from the stress relief that comes with no longer struggling to get a sleeping child dressed and transported to a daycare. Not only is this arrangement more enjoyable for parent and child, it also frees up time that can be spent in other ways. Also, since nannies perform light housekeeping duties, moms and dads are relieved of some of that burden.

The amount of housekeeping your nanny does will be determined by the number of children in her care. The more children there are the less household tasks you can expect to be undertaken. In some cases, the nanny might also cook and help prepare meals, but again, this depends on the number of children.

A third benefit to a nanny is that you can expect the nanny to observe your parenting preferences regarding such matters as nutrition, discipline, activities, the amount of time spent watching television and playing video games, etc. In a daycare, you must be flexible with regards to the center’s policies.

The Cons

Hiring a nanny is like any other employer-employee arrangement. It may work out well and it may not. There is no guarantee. You may go through several nannies before you find the one that’s right for you. This inconsistent approach can present its own set of challenges for families, especially the children involved.

However, the chances of making a hiring mistake can be minimized if you take great care with the initial nanny selection, and if you engage in ongoing, open, respectful communication with your nanny. “Address small problems before they become big ones,” Gruber Hersch advises.

To some families, the hassles involved with hiring a nanny are among the cons. In Canada, and undoubtedly in many other countries as well, a nanny is an employee. You, the employer, are responsible for administrative tasks which include computing payroll taxes, providing employee benefits such as paid vacation and so on. Nanny payroll services are available to take care of these tasks for those who want to simplify life.

Also, keep in mind that the nanny is entitled to paid vacation and will undoubtedly have some sick days when she cannot work. You will need backup childcare for these occasions.

The loss of privacy is another con to hiring a nanny, at least to some families. When you hire a nanny, you are allowing a third person into your home, either as a live-in member or as a live-out caregiver. You must weigh the loss of privacy against the gaining of convenience and decide which is more important to you.

Canada Specific Information

In Canada, most nannies come from foreign countries via the Live-in Caregiver Program. At this time, acquiring a live-in nanny can take three to five months, depending on the country of origin. The search for a live-out nanny is usually shorter, since they are already in the country.

Foreign nannies coming through the Life-In Caregiver Program are well trained and experienced. They are subject to background, medical and security checks with Canada Immigration. They are required to have a good grasp of either English or French and have the equivalent to a Canadian grade twelve education.

As mentioned earlier, it can take up to half a year to arrange for a foreign, live-in nanny. Think ahead if you are considering this route. Nanny agencies, such as International Nannies & Homecare Ltd. can help with that process.

I am NOT an accomplished golfer. These golf tips for beginners are the result of research both online and offline. I’m going to be spending a lot of time at the driving range and putting greens putting these suggestions to work.

If you spend more time cursing than laughing when you’re on the links, you might find some help here too.

Golf Putting Tips

Putting is my biggest golf challenge. Even if by some miracle I manage to get to the putting green with a reasonably acceptable score, you can bet I’ll blow it here. From what I read, even the pros have problems with putting, so I’m not alone. I saw Tiger Woods on TV awhile back, cursing under his breath when the ball rolled passed the hole. That should be some minor consolation for the rest of us.

Allegedly, these putting tips are going to help:

1. Square Up

The experts say you have to align the putter blade square on to the ball. In other words, no angles. With an angle, you will create a slice or swerve. If you are lined up square, only the angles and curves of the green itself will interfere with your ball’s path.

2. Be Smooth as a Baby’s Butt

Have patience, say the experts. It takes time to develop this brilliant and smooth style that you so require. However jerky things may be now, take comfort in knowing you will improve. The goal Is to develop smooth action, which in turn leads to having more control over the ball. The better your control, the better you will be able to produce the acceleration and distance that you want. You will also develop consistency, they say, which to be honest, I already have. Just not in a good way.

3. Striking With Upstroke

This sounds more like a martial art than golf, doesn’t it? Perhaps there isn’t that much difference between the two.

Anyhow, according to the pros, you probably didn’t have a clue that you needed to learn how to “produce the correct type and magnitude of upstroke” when your putter connects with the golf ball. I suppose that means you attempt to make the ball go upwards off the ground a wee bit when you putt.

Swing as One Unit

I recall some frustrated pro once reminding me that I wasn’t playing hockey. He was trying to get it across to me that my shoulders, arms and hands should be moving like one smooth unit, not flapping around at the elbows and wrists. In other words, make your arms, elbows and wrists BE a hockey stick, but don’t SWING like a hockey stick. Okay?

And keep your head still. Do not move your head the instant your putter hits the ball. Follow through is just as important at this time as it is when you are driving. Should you bob your head around prematurely, your motion directly before hitting the ball will be off kilter.

How to Improve My Golf Swing

Most of the time my golf swing, should I connect with the ball at all, results in the ball rolling across the grass rather than soaring high in the sky. Perhaps I would do better at croquet.

The pros tell us that improving our golf swing will result in hitting the ball farther and landing it closer to where we wanted to be. In other words, a better golf swing means you get from tee to tee with fewer strokes, and that’s the point of the whole thing. Well, that and the 19th hole, of course.

Improving your swing also means more consistency. Allegedly these tips will help:

1. Baby, You’ve got Rhythm

Yes, rhythm, they say, is key to a good golf swing. Apparently, according to my research, beginners and sometimes even intermediate golfers may have a good technique but their swing is poor because of no rhythm.

They point out that a good swing should not be like a sneeze. With a sneeze, you store up this huge amount of energy and then whoosh it out in a gigantic release. That’s good for sneezing, but bad for golf.

With a good golf swing, your intent is for a good back swing, a brief pause at the end and then another smooth motion directed towards the ball. The energy is constant throughout.

2. The Pivot

Improving the pivot maneuver will improve your golf swing. The pivot is the backward and forward motion – which in a perfect world will be fluid.

To accomplish this coveted fluidity, the pros recommend that you visualize your golf club following the path of an inclined circle. In other words, try not to swing the club straight up and down at any point, and try not to swing it horizontally. Instead, imagine the circle is slightly inclined, or moving at a slight angle from the vertical.

If you can imagine that, my hat’s off to you.

Next, they say, remember that during the back swing your shoulders pivot around your spine. At the extreme end of the backswing, your back should be facing the target. I recommend doing some flexibility exercises if you hope to get anywhere close to this. Yoga’s good.

Now when it comes time for the forward swing, you reverse this movement. Your shoulders pivot around your spine so you end up looking behind you while the ball soars off somewhere in the front. As you are doing this movement, you put more force into the swing by shifting your weight from the backward leg onto the front leg (or the leg facing the target). In other words, you end up with your navel facing the target and your face facing whatever is behind you. Your weight is all on your front foot. You can lift your back heel off the grass so only your toe touches down gracefully, if you want a little added flourish.

A good swing is a matter of physics. Understanding the mechanics of it helps you improve.
3. Gripping the Golf Club

There are a variety of acceptable methods of gripping a golf club. If you understand the basic grips, you will be off to a good start.

The grips known as the overlapping and the interlocking grips are the most common. In both cases, you achieve a strong grip on the club by holding the little finger of your right hand in place with your left hand. If you’re a southpaw like I am when I play golf, then reverse hands.

The pros say that many new golfers have learned to hold the club incorrectly, and the incorrect grip has begun to feel natural. In most cases, this incorrect grip will hold you back. Even though it is a bit of a challenge to un-learn something, your game will improve if you make the effort to change your grip.

Golf Slice Correction

A golf slice is an undesirable event in which the ball unexpectedly veers off to the right or the left after you have hit it. I am more than familiar with the slice, having spent considerable time hunting for my golf balls in the bushes alongside the fairway.

It seems that I am not alone. The golf slice is among the most prevalent of all golf problems that golfers try to correct. The frustrating thing about a slice is that initially, it feels and looks good. You get that good solid thump that happens when you’ve hit the ball square on. The ball soars along beautiful for a few seconds. Then, just as you’re getting ready to crack a Guinness to celebrate, it heads off on a path of its own – usually to the right.

There are a few things you can try to correct this. Slices are caused by a variety of errors so you will have to determine which one is the culprit in your situation.

1. First, Check Your Grip

As mentioned earlier, an incorrect grip can cause many golf woes, including the dreaded slice. Ensure that your grip is a recognized grip method. If you’re used an incorrect grip for years, well, then, you’ve been holding your game back for years.

Be sure your grip is not too tight on your reward arm. If your grip is too tight, your back swing is likely to be more vertical instead of following that inclined circle we heard about earlier. If the swing path is too close to the vertical, then your downward swing may cross your body and create a slice.

2.Speed of the Strike

If you are going to slice, the slice will be more extreme if the strike was a fast one. This takes us back to good rhythm. Aim for smooth and swift and try to avoid jerkiness.
3. Addressing the Ball

If you don’t strike the ball correctly, you are likely to deliver a slice. Beginning golfers usually have difficulty hitting the ball correctly, which is called addressing the ball. The pros assure us that this improves over time and the golfer becomes more consistent.

However, hitting the ball in the wrong spot is the cause of most slices. Your goal is to connect with the ball a wee bit below the ball’s center. Imagine that the ball has a ring around the middle, much like the planet Jupiter. Try to hit it just below that ring.

4. About your General Swing

You have to be making a good swing in the first place, or all of these tips for improving your slice will be of no value. It is tempting to think that the slice is the problem, but it is also possible that the problem lies with the swing itself.

Many golfers use a video camera to capture their swing – and analyze where they are getting off track.
Try these tips to improve your putting, your swing and to get rid of your slice. Master these techniques and you will be well on your way to a better golf game. If not, professional help is available online or at your golf course.

You might want to check out the Simple Golf Swing. It’s helped many people improve their game by approximately seven points.

Often a subject for laughter in movies and sitcoms, snoring is no joke to those who suffer from it or for those who sleep with a snorer. Furthermore, snoring is more than just a nuisance to those involved. Untreated, it can lead to sleep apnea, a potentially life threatening condition.

There are various reasons why people snore and many approaches to treating it.

Why do People Snore?

Snoring is a common condition but it can be a major source of stress for couples or for those who sleep in the vicinity of a snorer.

However, it can be more than an irritation. If not treated, over time it can turn into sleep apnea, a condition that can be life threatening in that it contributes to cardiovascular disease, obesity and accidents.

There are several types of snoring, and each type has a different cause. When the type of snoring is determined, an appropriate treatment or remedy is likely to prove effective.

To understand how treatments for snoring work, we need to first understand the cause of the noise that occurs when someone snores. In most cases, this sound is produced by vibrations from the small tissues located at the back of the throat. The back of the throat has constricted or tightened, causing the air to move through at a higher pressure than we normally find.

Risk Factors

The throat area constricts for a number of reasons. In some situations, the person may have been born that way. However, there are various risk factors which increase the likelihood that the soft tissues will constrict. The most common of these risk factors include overweight. When a person has excess fat, there will be excess fat in the neck area as well as elsewhere. This is particularly true for men, and this excess fat constricts the area, leading to snoring.

Obesity is but one risk factor of snoring. Other risk factors include age. Snoring increases with the number of birthdays under your belt. Alcohol consumption also contributes to snoring. Smokers are more at risk of snoring than are non-smokers.

Various Types of Snoring

Before looking for a way to stop snoring, it is wise to identify the type of snoring that affects you.

Mouth Snoring

People who are mouth snorers often tend to breath through the mouth at all times. There are a few things you can do to decide if you are a mouth snorer. The easiest approach is to make a snoring sound with your mouth open. Now try to make it again with your mouth shut. If you are unable to make the sound with your mouth shut, there is a good chance you are a mouth snorer.

If this is the case, one obvious solution involves keeping your mouth closed when sleeping. You can get mouth guards and chin strips to help with this.

Nose Snoring

Nose snorers, like mouth snorers, snore through their mouths. However, the cause is different. These people have challenges breathing through their noses, and this leads to snoring. As no doubt you are aware, people who are not typically snorers will often snore when they have a head cold and the nasal passages are blocked. With people who snore regularly, nose snoring can be a matter of anatomy. Their airways are constricted during sleep so they breathe through the mouth.

Allergies can also be the culprit if you snore through your nose. For example, snoring caused by an allergy to dust may be alleviated by regular and frequent washing of pillows and bedding.

Nasal strips often provide a remedy to nose snoring. You use two layers of strips and an adhesive which pulls out the skin on both side of the nose. This opens your nasal airways and the snoring ceases.

Tongue Snoring or Throat Snoring

In come cases, people who snore do so because their tongue lies far back in the throat during sleep. To test for tongue snoring, try making a snoring noise as usual. Then place your tongue between your teeth and try again. If you cannot make the sound when your tongue is between your teeth, chances are that you are a tongue snorer.

Tongue snoring can be remedied by finding a way to keep the tongue away from the back of the throat. Natural treatments for tongue snoring include using a gum shield that holds your jaw in a certain position and stops the tongue from falling too far back.

It is also possible that tongue snoring is related to dental problems. You may want to discuss this (and the solution) with your dentist

Treatments and Remedies to Stop Snoring

There are various solutions to help people stop snoring – ranging from natural remedies to surgical solutions. Obviously, the first approach is to address any lifestyle factors that may be contributing. This would include weight management, smoking cessation and limiting or eliminating alcohol consumption. If these issues are not addressed your efforts to stop snoring will be greatly hindered.

Next, understand that some solutions work equally well regardless of what type of snoring you are experiencing. Stop snoring exercises are perhaps the easiest and most natural thing to try. They have proven effective for many people.

If that is not effective, you might try a number of aids that are intended to help people stop smoking . These anti-smoking aids will often help reduce or eliminate snoring as well.

If exercise, lifestyle modification and smoking aids do not work, there are many other things you can try.

Although some solutions work for all snoring types, it is usually helpful to identify your type of snoring and find an aid that is intended for that type. You risk making your snoring worse if you use the wrong aid.

For example, if you breathe through your mouth due to nasal congestion, you would not be helped by wearing a device that holds the mouth shut. In this case, your snoring could get worse.

More about the Stop Snoring Mouthpiece

As its name suggests, a stop snoring mouthpiece is an item that you wear in the mouth during sleep.

Various brands of mouthpieces are available on the marketplace. Each manufacturer’s device is different and has a somewhat different design. Most of them are similar, however, in that they resemble a two-piece gum shield.

These stop snoring mouthpieces work by holding your jaw in a certain position. This prevents the constriction of the airway discussed earlier. When you keep the airway open, the pressure is lessened. In turn, the soft tissues do not rub together or vibrate. Since this vibration causes the snoring sound, the snoring does not occur.

Stop snoring mouthpieces have proven to be quite effective for most people. However, it will depend on the make that you use. Some makes lock the jaw firmly in place. Others permit some mobility. Some makes completely prevent mouth breathing while others have small holes for breathing. Some models are rigid and some are flexible. What works for one person may be less effective for another. Comfort will be a factor as well.

You may have to do some experimenting to discover if a mouthpiece will work for you, and what make of mouthpiece is best.

At one time, stop snoring mouthpieces had to be obtained from a dentist. Today, home use models are available in many locations. If you can buy a home use model, you may want to try that first. The cost saving is substantial.

There are people who dislike using mouthpieces because they feel unnatural or uncomfortable in the mouth. Some worry that they might swallow the device in their sleep. Although the latter will not happen, the worry can keep you awake. In this case, it is probably best to seek out an alternative approach.

The Alternatives

Alternatives include items such as pillows, pills, strips and injections.

The Stop Snoring Pillow

You may have heard this pillow referred to as a sleep apnea pillow. It is simply a pillow with a special design intended to prevent snoring. When this pillow proves effective, you do not need any other anti-snoring devices.

The stop snoring pillow has many features that contribute to a snore-free sleep.

To begin with, they are made from memory foam. This is a material that keeps its shape after being pushed out of shape. Regular goose down or other traditional pillows cannot offer this feature. Also, many individuals are allergic to regular pillows, or to house dust occurring in regular pillows, as discussed earlier. A memory foam pillow is often hypoallergenic.

Next, a stop snoring pillow encourages an ideal position of the jaw while you lie on your back. Snoring tends to be most prevalent when the sleeper is lying on his or her back. In this position, the jaw assumes a position that restricts the airflow. With a stop snoring pillow, you are unlikely to fall into this position so you avoid snoring.

Some of the stop snoring pillows prevent you from sleeping on your back in the first place. People who prefer to spend at east part of the night on their backs will not appreciate this feature.

The top rated stop snoring position available today is a new addition to the marketplace. Japanese manufacturers have developed a pillow that senses when the snoring starts and alerts you by vibrating.

The vibrations are gentle enough that you do not become fully alert. You simply move your sleeping position and the snoring ceases.

Another Alternative: Stop Snoring Pills

To many snorers and their partners, a stop snoring pill sounds like a dream come true. There are indeed pills that may contribute to a lessening or cessation of the snoring. They must be used with care.

Stop snoring pills are drugs. Since snoring is a complex situation with more than one cause, there is no such thing as a simple drug that can zero in and instantly cure someone’s snoring. There are drugs that may help alleviate the cause of the snoring, however.

As an example, if the snoring is caused by allergens in house dust, mites or pollen, drugs such as antihistamines and corticosteroids can reduce the swelling and constriction that takes place in the airways. Consequently, the airways stay open and the snoring is prevented.

You will also find a number of products being advertised as natural pills to stop snoring. Some people claim that these pills have been effective. Proceed with caution, since there are no clinical studies that prove their ability to stop snoring.

First, you will encounter various types of herbal pills alleging they will prevent snoring. These pills are prepared from natural herbs and plant enzymes said to prevent inflammation of the airways.

Also, there are homeopathic remedies claiming to prevent snoring. There is considerable controversy surrounding these products. Some swear that they work and others disagree, saying there is no evidence to support the claim.

Relatively few snorers use pills and medication to stop snoring. Most seek out other, more reliable methods.

Stop Snoring Spray

Some inflicted with snoring have found relief in a stop snoring spray.

Stop snoring sprays are intended to be used at bedtime. The sprays lubricate the soft tissues found at the back of the throat. Some sprays also contain anti-inflammatory products designed to keep the airways open.

For the most part, stop snoring sprays are natural and made from essential oils. The oils cause the temporary lubrication which in turn prevents the tissue vibration that causes snoring.

Some essential oils used in stop snoring sprays are menthol , which is believed to be helpful to the airways. However, there is no solid clinical testing to support this belief.

When reading the list of ingredients in a stop snoring spray, understand that elaborate ingredient names do not necessarily mean the product is more effective. For example, you may find Citrus Limonum listed as an ingredient. This is the botanical name for lemon oil.

To use a stop snoring spray, you should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. With most, all you have to do is spray three times toward the roof and back of your mouth. This is usually enough to last throughout the night.

If you want to do-it-yourself, you could try making your own nasal spray using essential oils.

Other stop snoring sprays are nasal sprays, meaning you squirt them into your nose. Some people find this uncomfortable at first, but often get accustomed to it in time.

Some people report a small stinging feeling when they first begin using stop snoring sprays. This usually lasts for a few nights then disappears.

Aside from stop snoring exercises, stop snoring spray is often the lowest priced of all of the anti-snoring devices and aids. The price will vary depending on where you live. In the US, you may pay approximately ten dollars for a bottle that lasts six weeks.

Because of the low price tag, many people use sprays as their first attempt to cure their snoring.

Snoring Nose Strips

Snoring Nose Strips are another alternative to try. They look like a plaster or a band-aid that you apply to a cut or blister. Nose strips incorporate flexible bands. After you apply a band on each side of your nose, then take your fingers away, the nostrils walls are pulled outwards. This opens up the nasal airway, preventing snoring.

To understand how this works, picture an ordinary garden hose. When you step on it, you prevent the water from moving through. Remove your foot, and the water flows freely. The nose strip works in a similar way.

These aids are extremely effective if nose snoring is the type of snoring being addressed. Nose snoring, if you recall, happens because the nasal passages are constricted. However, snoring nose strips can make throat or mouth snoring worse.

If your snoring is related to a blocked nose, then the snoring nose strips can help you. However, you are advised to look for ways to prevent the nasal congestion in the first place. It could be an allergy triggering the problem.

Stop Snoring Injection

This procedure is also known as injection snoreplasty. It is not simply a needle in the arm, as you might think (or hope). In fact, the stop snoring injection is made into the uvula. The uvula is the soft flap of flesh hanging from the back of the throat.

The injection is performed under local anaesthetic so you remain awake during the procedure.

The active ingredient in the injection is a substance once used for treating varicose veins. Depending on where you live, the product may or may not be approved for the treatment of snoring. It works by burning the soft tissue with a chemical. As the tissue heals, scar tissue forms and this scar tissue cannot vibrate.

Although it may sound intimidating, this procedure is said to be painless. Patients return home immediately and can eat and drink in under an hour.

However, the results are temporary. At best, this approach may be effective for about a year. At that time, it will require a repeat injection. Up to three injections a year are possible.

This injection is a new procedure, but a promising one. A small clinical test with sixty patients showed that forty experienced significant relief.

This procedure is not advisable to persons whose snoring is related to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a different and more serious medical condition. You will find information about sleep apnea snoring at this link.

The cost of the stop snoring injection will vary, depending on where you live. In the US, expect to pay anywhere from two hundred to three hundred dollars.

Stop Snoring Surgery

Surgical procedures are available to help people stop snoring. Since surgery is a radical approach, it should be attempted when other methods have proved ineffective. All surgeries, including this one, have an element of risk.

The standard stop snoring surgery is known as Uvulopalatoharyngoplasty . In recent times, alternative approaches have become available.

Uvulopalatoharyngoplasty involves the surgical removal of excess tissues at the back of the throat. As explained earlier, these soft tissues are linked to snoring for two reasons: first, they cause a high pressure constriction in the throat and secondly, by vibrating in unison. When you remove the tissues, you solve both problems.

Uvulopalatoharyngoplasty tends to be effective. Almost everyone opting for this procedure reports that the snoring has decreased. Fifty percent have a complete cure that continues throughout their lifetime. Unfortunately, the other fifty percent have some remaining symptoms to a lesser or greater degree.

A surgery such as this also has side effects. Patients typically have discomfort and difficulty swallowing for several days. There are usually no lasting side effects, but a small percentage do experience scarring, pain and voice change.

Other Procedures

Since uvulopalatoharyngoplasty comes with risks, alternative surgical procedures have been developed.

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoharyngoplasty is one such method. With this approach, the surgeon uses a laser to modify the uvula and soft palate. This procedure is less costly than the traditional uvulopalatoharyngoplasty, but medical professionals are not sure whether the success rate and complications are any different.

Radio frequency tissue ablation is another new innovation. With this method, surgeons change the uvula’s shape and tone, or perhaps even unblock a congested nose. The side effects are minimal and the treatment does not require a general anaesthetic.

The financial aspects of the above mentioned surgical treatments will vary, depending on location and the amount of work that must be performed. A ball park figure could range from five hundred to two thousand dollars.

Summary

To sum up, snoring is a complex condition. There are various types of snoring and various causes. Many treatments and remedies are available, ranging from simple, but often effective exercises to surgical intervention.

While snoring is often viewed as a nuisance rather than a medical condition, it should be taken seriously. Untreated snoring can lead to sleep apnea, a potentially life threatening condition.

If you know anything about EFT, tapping, energy psychology, energy medicine and related therapies, you have probably heard of the DVD called The Tapping Solution. You may have heard of it by its former name, Try it on Everything.

Its a documentary film that shows the power of EFT or tapping  to change lives.  Its the real deal and its helping people around the globe change their lives for the better.

If you have never heard of tapping before, let me just say that it is an extraordinarily powerful technique that you can learn easily. You use it to manage emotional challenges and conditions that are related to emotional challenges. This includes weight loss,  phobia cure, relief from stress and anxiety of all sorts, low self esteem, post traumatic stress disorder, depression and much more.

The easy to learn process seems almost too simple to be effective.  Its based on a blend of Eastern energy techniques and Western mind-body healing. You simply tap your fingers lightly on a series of acupressure points while focusing your mind on the condition or emotion that is troublesome.

Now, back to the DVD, The Tapping Solution.

Featuring well known experts such as Jack Canfield, Bruce Lipton, Carol Look, Dr. Joe Mercola, Joe Vitale, Dr. Patricia Carrington and more this film is a riveting ninety minutes where you’ll laugh, cry and most importantly learn the secrets to getting the most out of tapping so you too can experience the miracles and breakthroughs seen in the film.

Now the creators of the film have offered an incredible deal.

Find out what’s going on here:
The Tapping Solution

This incredible opportunity is only available for FIVE days. For one dollar, plus S&H, you get the DVD mailed to you, PLUS you get a free 30 day membership in the tapping membership web site called The Tapping Insider’s Club. At the end of 30 days, you can cancel your membership if you wish, or convert to a paid membership. It’s your choice.

This is one of those “no-brainers”

But it’s only for those that are really ready to change and who are open minded enough to try a new approach even though it admittedly sounds silly.

The Tapping Solution

If you sound like a buzz saw at night, there is a chance it is sleep apnea snoring.

Sleep apnea (or sleep apnoea as it is spelled in Britain) is a sleep disorder in which the person stops breathing while sleeping. One or more breath is missed per episode and numerous episodes occur throughout the sleep.

Some say that sleep apnea occurs as often as asthma. However, asthma is usually diagnosed easily, whereas many people suffering from sleep have no idea that they have this sleep disorder.

Snoring often accompanies sleep apnea, although snoring is far from being the only side effect. Sleep apnea suffers have increased risk of premature death stemming from cardiovascular disease, stroke and heart failure. They are also more prone to accidents (due to sleep deprivation) and are more prone to weight gain and obesity as well. Studies have shown that fatigue causes us to crave foods high in carbs and starches – foods which contribute to overweight.

However, sleep apnea need not be a serious concern. If diagnosed correctly, many excellent remedies and treatments are at the person’s disposal.

If sleep apnea occurs infrequently, it is no cause for alarm. In more serious cases, the condition is usually diagnosed using an accepted medical definition. This diagnoses uses a polysomnogram, or a “sleep study” to determine the number of breathing pauses that occur throughout the sleep cycle, as well as any changes that occur in brain activity and blood oxygen levels.

Why is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed Infrequently?

The majority of people with sleep apnea are not aware that they have the sleep disorder. They may experience other symptoms – such as fatigue, weight gain, accident proneness and poor concentration. They may also have headaches, sexual dysfunction and other effects. However, people are likely to think these conditions stem from getting older, or partying too much or to stress, and so on.

Quite frequently, sleep apnea is diagnosed with an individual’s partner tells them they have a problem with sleep and recommends that they visit a physician.

If the physician suspects sleep apnea, he or she is likely to refer the person to the sleep study mentioned earlier. A sleep study is the only way to confirm sleep apnea for sure, although symptoms may be pointing to it.

Varieties of Sleep Apnoea

There are two main types of sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the best known and most prevalent. In this type, an airway obstruction occurs during sleep. This obstruction is caused by the soft tissues at the back of the throat. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs most often when the sleeping person is lying in a certain position, perhaps on the back. It occurs more frequently in people who are overweight and who are middle aged and older.

Central sleep apnea is the second type of sleep apnea. It is relatively rare, occurring in only four percent of the diagnosed cases. This form of apnea does not stem from an obstructed airway. It is caused by a neurological situation. To explain, the body typically monitors levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide and uses these levels to regulate breathing. However, in central sleep apnea, this process is faulty, so patients undergo apneas in which they do not attempt to breath.

Remedies for Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is treated by opening up the airways. There are many treatments for snoring that work by opening these airways without surgical intervention. Thus, a stop-snoring treatment can also aid a person with sleep apnea. One of the first things to try would be a simple series of snoring exercises that have proven effective with many people

If these natural treatments for snoring prove ineffective, the usual approach would then be the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. These devices push air into the throat when a person inhales, thus providing sufficient oxygen to the body. In the most extreme case, a machine called a BiPAP is used to assist with both inhaling and exhaling.

In some cases, a person may experience both types of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea can have severe consequences, but many treatments, both natural and surgical are available for the sufferer.

Introducing my newest client, International Nannies and Homecare Ltd.

International Nannies and Homecare Ltd. is the premier nanny referral service in Canada. The company provides services to nannies and families all across Canada, and has offices in several provinces.

Although the industry is going through a rough stop right now due to changes in Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program, this agency is well positioned. Owner and operator Manuela Gruber Hersch is on top of the changes and operates in complete adherence to all rules and regulations.

I’ll be doing some Squidoo lenses and other online services for the company. The first Squidoo lens is published here: Canadian Nannies Offer Quality Childcare .

The EFT Hub Event Reloaded happens on May 30, 2010.  Anyone who missed some of the videos first time around has a second chance to catch up. Those who didn’t catch the event have a chance to listen to as many audios as they can fit into one day.

The original event lasted for seven days and offered those who signed up (free) a chance to hear several tapping audios per day. The audios were prepared by experts and well respected people in the field of Emotional Freedom Technique, energy psychology and energy medicine.

Emotional Freedom Technique is a remarkable method of stress reduction loosely based on acupuncture pressure points.

No pain, no needles, and highly effective.  Check it out.   The link is EFT Hub Reloaded