Article: Scientists are increasingly arguing that there is a solid connection between thoughts and physical health. The idea is that those who focus on positive thoughts or those who visualize feeling well typically have a positive physiological response. You can use this technique to help relax your stomach. Begin by relaxing. You might need a quiet space for this. Relax and become aware of your breathing. Picture good health. Your idea of feeling well is unique to you. Imagine your stomach feeling better, what you'd do if your stomach felt great. Be detailed. You might be able to see a mental picture or you may just have a feeling either is appropriate. Take steps to bring what you imagined to reality. You were detailed in your visualization, and you can employ some of those details in your everyday life. You likely breathe from your chest rather than your stomach, as most of us were taught to do. Many believe that breathing from your stomach, the way you did as an infant, offers a list of health benefits, including relaxing your stomach. Qigong breathing, or belly breathing, may take some getting used to, but is well worth the effort. If you can, breathe only through your nose. Take long, steady, slow breaths. As you inhale, focus on your breath coming in and traveling through your body, all the way to your stomach. Let your lower stomach expand to receive the breath. As you exhale, focus on your breath leaving your body, letting your stomach retract first. After you have mastered this, focus on expanding your mid-belly, and then, after that, your upper belly. Stress causes a bevy or physical and mental issues, and can really do a number on your stomach. Unfortunately, stress is a part of most of our lives and isn't completely avoidable. You can manage it, though. Think about what situations, responsibilities, or people are causing you the most stress and then develop a plan to handle each differently. Your job may be a significant source of stress for you. Consider what exactly it is about your job that is causing you to feel this way. Be as specific as possible. This will help you develop a plan. Finances may be causing you substantial stress. Again, isolate the issue and decide how to best resolve it. Your relationship may be stressful, and once you figure out what it is that is causing you stress, you can speak to your partner about changes that need to be made, such as counseling or even them taking over the laundry and trash responsibilities. Progressive muscle relaxation is a great technique for isolating and calming particular muscle groups on your body. Your stomach, of course, because it's the core of your body, is full of muscles and an excellent candidate for progressive muscle relaxation. You only need about 15 minutes per day and a quiet space to reap the rewards of this technique. The first step is to take a deep breath and flex your stomach muscles (by sucking your stomach in) as much as you can for five seconds. Then exhale, letting all the tension out of your muscles. Stay relaxed for 15 seconds. Repeat as comfortable. Make sure that you pay attention to how you're feeling and stop if you feel any discomfort.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Visualize good health. Breathe to relax your stomach. Manage your stress. Progressively relax your muscles.
Article: If you are intending to travel by plane or if you are going to a country which has a significant time difference, it is worth planning ahead, so that you can minimize any disruption to your baby's, and your, sleep. In preparation for the flight, if possible: Reserve a bassinet, or find out the policy on taking baby car seats on board. Fresh unopened sachets are easier to use and pre-measured for convenience. It's wise to get a doctor's note giving you permission to take it on the plane. If your baby is old enough (4 months plus) buy some dried organic apple rings. Hook one onto their thumb which will prevent boredom by allowing sucking and chewing. This will also help with ear pressure changes. Alternatively, use a dummy or pacifier. A light, roomy bag with lots of compartments will help you feel organized and in control. This will help to ease the pressure in their ears, as well as preventing dehydration. Regardless of the time difference, feed at the usual times as far as possible. If you need a bottle to be warmed, ask well in advance. When awake, walking up and down will help, also, pointing out things in a suitable in-flight film and allowing them to play with a few safe objects. Don't bother packing too many toys though; your baby will soon get bored with them!
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Plan in advance. Prepare for the flight. If necessary, take an infant painkiller with you. Try apple rings. Dress your baby in a simple one piece soft suit with popper fastenings and take two or three more with you for the journey. Have a good baby bag in tow. Check in as early as you can, and don't be afraid to ask if there are any spare seats. As soon as you can after take off, offer your baby a drink. Allow your baby to sleep as much as they like on the plane. Keep your baby entertained.
Article: Technically, there is no set structure to a free verse poem, as there are no rules around meter or rhyme scheme. So, you have the freedom to express yourself in almost any way you can imagine. But, some poets argue that the lack of rules can actually be more difficult and challenging, or as the poet Robert Frost describes the difficulty of composing a free verse poem, it's like "playing tennis without a net." Though there are no rules for a free verse poem, it is still a form of artistic expression, so its important to create striking images and emotions that your reader can see and feel and to express yourself clearly. Though free verse may not have been Robert Frost's preference, many other poets have used the openness of the form to their advantage and have approached free verse poetry in their own unique ways. It may be useful for you look at several examples more closely, including: "After the Sea" by Walt Whitman "Little Father" by Li-Young Lee "Winter Poem" by Nikki Giovanni "Fog" by Carl Sandberg "in Just-" by e.e. cummings Read the examples out loud and consider how they are effective. Do they have a certain rhythm or meter, despite appearing free verse and not using rhyme? Do they create strong images through description, word choice, or a certain mood or tone? Identify any metaphors or similes. Think about how they work effectively to reveal details or create images associated with the subject of the poem. Make note of any examples of alliteration, which is a literary device where the first sound in a series of words is the same. Alliteration is one way the poet can create a particular mood, feeling, or sound to the poem. For example, in Whitman's poem "After the Storm", there are two instances of alliteration in the first line of the poem, "sea-ship" and "whistling winds", which then set the tone for the rest of the poem. Identify any personification. Personification is a device that takes an inanimate object and describes it as though it were animate or alive. For example, in Sandberg's "Fog", the fog is personified as having "little cat feet", and in Giovanni's "Winter Poem", the snowflake is personified as "happy" and the other snowflakes are addressed as "its cousins and brothers." Consider if the poem breaks with the traditional form of a line poem, and how the poem's form adds to the overall meaning or theme of the poem. For example, in e.e. cumming's poem "in Just-", the breaking up of the lines so there is more space between certain words and the arrangement of certain words so they move down the page suggest a certain choppiness or shift downward in the poem.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Feel free to express yourself, but don't forget you are still writing a poem. Look at several examples of effective free verse poetry. Analyze the examples.