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Overall, the most common reason that a woman would need to defend herself is in the case of violent sexual attack. According to George Mason University research, 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced sexual assault or rape! One-third of all women in the world seem to be an extraordinary number. In some countries where women’s rights have not evolved, one-third of adolescent girls report “forced sexual initiation”. One report publicized in 2000 claimed that more than 60% of victims in 7 countries knew their attacker. Another study performed in 2001 found that 24.7% of women interviewed in 8 different countries reported being the victim of sexual violence by the person they were dating.

We rarely expect to be assaulted by our friend or lover, but this is the scenario all too often. There seems to be no way of predicting or preventing this situation, and so our only hope is to know how to defend ourselves. Since the possible situations vary greatly, from unacceptable sexual advances to extreme cases of aggressive and violent attack, there are also many different techniques to deter an attack or defend yourself physically.

Techniques range from simple eye-contact and straight-forward verbal response to training in martial arts techniques. In general, physical self defense techniques for women should be a little different from techniques taught in most martial arts classes. Instructors must consider that a woman will be smaller than, and not usually as strong as her attacker. Techniques must also revolve around possible scenarios, teaching you to make the most of your position and get the upper hand on your assailant. They must also keep it simple, nothing too technical. This is not because women can’t easily learn technical martial arts, but because anyone is not going to be calm enough to execute a technical move efficiently in such a high-stress situation.

W.O.W (Women Only Workout) claims that by physically defending herself against an attacker, 85% of women will escape the situation and 50% of the time all it may take to avoid an attack is to yell or scream. However, I wouldn’t rely on a 50/50 chance of survival, so it’s important to find a self defense technique that will work for you. With all of the options available, there is something for everyone, some classes even incorporate Yoga (see related article) to help train their students in self-discipline and enable them to have a clear head when attacked. Motivational seminars about confidence and empowerment can also be helpful. If you choose to train in a martial arts studio, it’s important to choose one that is not oriented toward competition (unless you have such goals), those that advertise self defense directly would be best. Sometimes your local police department may offer classes as well.

Since you are already online, it’s a good idea to start your research here. You may want to watch videos, read How-To articles, order a book or purchase an eBook; there is an abundance of information at your fingertips already. Please feel free to return and let others know about your experiences!

You can hardly go anywhere on the internet without seeing references to one blog or another. You may even hear about them from colleagues or friends, even perhaps your own kids or your parents! There are blogs in every nook and cranny of the web, written by people all around the world and regarding every topic you can imagine. Blogging knows no age requirements or limits, no restrictions of race, gender, or religion. All that you need to start a blog is a computer with internet access and something to say!

Blogs can also offer you numerous opportunities when it comes to your business, or you can even make extra money writing your personal blog. If you’d like to know more about blogging, but are embarrassed to ask more knowledgeable co-workers and friends, have no fear for you may start right here!

A “Blog” (short for “web log”) is simply a website created to regularly post your thoughts, commentary, reviews or videos that you would like to share with others, or just what you have been doing in your life and work. It can be much like a journal, but one that your brother or sister doesn’t have to hide under the bed to read! It can be open to anyone on the internet or as on some websites, exclusively accessible by your friends. The content is completely your discretion and your entries may be as long or as short as you desire.

There are more blogs on the internet than can be counted. Technorati, an internet search engine designed expressly for blogs, claimed to be tracking more than 30 million blogs back in 2006 and blogging has only gained popularity since then. There are now also video-blogs (“vlogs”) taking websites like YouTube.com by storm, as well as Artlogs, Photoblogs, Sketchblogs, and linklogs. A blog written from a mobile device can even be called a moblog.

As a sort of social phenomenon, researchers have actually been analyzing the dynamics involved with blog popularity, as well as their social properties and implications. Time Magazine’s controversial choice to name “YOU” as their Person of the Year, due to the amount of people using the internet to aid in the advancement of the information age, represents just how significant this trend in personal expression and free speech has become. Quite simply, if one person in the world knows something and posts it on the internet, in theory, everyone can access it and learn from it if they want to, which can have an extraordinary impact on the collective knowledge of the human race! There are many who praise the internet for this capability, and some others (various governments or corporations) who would like to regulate it and control access to information and education.

It is possible to use your blog not only for the spread of information, but also for profit or acclaim. Many bloggers offer advertisement space to other businesses and websites or even use that space to advertise their own businesses. Some bloggers have even become similar to local celebrities in their chosen genre, for their experience, expertise, and insight. As well, a select few have come to be recognized and employed by mainstream media or even progressed to publishing books based on the topics they had addressed in their blogs.

But with possibly close to 100 million blogs operating on the internet today, you may be wondering how you can compete with them and attract regular, repeat readers to your own. It’s not impossible. With just a bit of research, a few important tips, and maybe a little patience and determination, you too can create a blog that will satisfy your personal and/or business goals. Please look for further articles here regarding blogs in the near future to continue learning how to make yours the best it can be!

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Whether you have a large property, an average backyard or no more room than a patio or balcony, you can transform your space into a peaceful and attractive garden for you and a sanctuary for a variety of local wildlife. Your wildlife habitat can be as simple as choosing a few large potted plants to attract butterflies or hummingbirds, or hanging bird-feeders supplying an assortment of foods for your favorite birds. Or it can be as elaborate as your space will allow.

You can create a pond for fish, turtles, frogs, toads and other wetland creatures; surround it with Typha (cat-tails/bulrushes), Irises, Saggitaria (arrowhead), and who could forget water-lilies? This scenery could attract some very interesting and unique wetland wildlife, such as beautiful dragonflies whose larvae are aquatic. Depending on your locale, ducks could even be drawn to your garden pond.

You may also want bee-attracting plants, because bees are oftentimes a garden’s best friends. Plants and flowers which are high in nectar and pollen are great for attracting bees, also make sure to plant them so they are accessible and obvious. It is an especially good idea for a back yard where children play, because bees will be more attracted to those plants rather than small flowers on the ground that children may step on.

If you’re particularly interested in butterflies, it’s a good idea not to concentrate only on plants that will attract adult butterflies. Instead, choose plants that may also give them a place to hibernate and lay eggs, and plants that caterpillars like to eat. Some of them are not very attractive and generally aren’t included in most gardens, such as nettles and thistles, dogbane, or milkweed.

Birds may enjoy flowering shrubs, you could choose a species of Viburnum, and with over 150 different kinds it should be easy to choose one that will be a perfect addition to your garden. Viburnums are relatives of honeysuckle, but not often victimized by pets, another reason for their great popularity. The foliage of Viburnums vary greatly from one kind to another, there are evergreen, semi-evergreen, as well as many deciduous varieties which are especially attractive in autumn.

It’s also important to have a water source in your garden, an old tub or basin would be fine, otherwise you could install a birdbath or fountain. You could also place a broken clay pot in your garden to house a toad, or a woodpile to welcome all sorts of insects or a frog if it’s wet enough. If your woodpile is big enough, you may even find a rabbit living in your garden!

You may want to leave part of your garden wild (or plant wildflowers there), near a fence line or an isolated corner, and do not tend it often. This can also attract a variety of your local bugs, and entice butterflies and birds to linger longer in your garden sanctuary.

If the goal of your garden is to attract and shelter wildlife, you may also be interested in organic gardening and pest control. After all, you wouldn’t want to harm all of the creatures you’ve successfully lured to your garden, would you? There are lots of organic gardening tips and tricks available, especially since so many people are now starting to “wise up” and go green!

By now you have probably heard of Feng Shui, a hugely popular interior design and decorating technique now used by so many people, both professionals and hobbyists. You may be curious where this technique originated and why so many people are raving about it.

If you’re contemplating re-decorating or re-arranging your home or office, try doing it the Feng Shui way to enhance your prosperity as you improve the organization, comfort, and comeliness of your space! Learn about the origin of Feng Shui here before you embark on your quest to utilize it in your living room, office, or even your bathroom.

An ancient Chinese practice that may have begun around 4000 BCE or earlier, Feng Shui is commonly used in western cultures today to decorate homes and arrange furniture. Many people claim that Feng Shui can affect one’s personal relationships, physical well-being, and even finances. However, the practice was traditionally used in China to choose a place to live, a place to be buried, or even for crop arrangement and agricultural planning.

Pronounced “fung-shway” or “fung-shwee” in English, the words “fung shui” are literally translated to mean “wind-water”. The practice is believed to promote positive Qi, which can help to improve one’s life, by using the laws of heaven and earth. Qi is often translated to mean “energy flow” or the energy that is active in all things.

An early example of the use of Feng Shui in China is Banpo, an archaeological site in the Yellow River Valley, which was discovered in 1953 and is made up of settlements dating back to around 4500 BCE. The doors of dwellings there were astronomically aligned to the winter solstice. Similar alignments have been discovered within ancient ruins elsewhere in the world, so the Chinese were not the only ones using such building practices.

There are numerous classical techniques of Feng Shui, including Bagua, Zi Bai, Ba Zhai, and Qimen Dunjia, all utilizing differing methods and practices. Overall, Feng Shui seems to be based on Taoist principles, an understanding that nature is full of energy and very alive.

Practice of Feng Shui incorporates the compass (lo-pan) and the Ba-Gua, a grid in the shape of an octagon which contains I-Ching symbols. I-Ching, Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements are basic principles derived from Taoism and play a large part in the practice of Feng Shui.

I know this all may seem very complicated at first, but there’s no need to be intimidated for there are many resources which were created to make it easier for you to use Feng Shui decorating techniques in your home! You can easily find tips for decorating each room of your house according to Fen Shui, as well as adding the use of crystals, fountains, or clocks to decorate your home for optimal prosperity. There is even a Feng Shui technique for the proper use of colors in your home.

Without a doubt, your home or office can be beautifully decorated, uniquely organized, and Qi-optimized using Feng Shui techniques! Whether you’re planning to redecorate or just re-arrange and re-organize, why not do it the Feng-Shui way? You can start now with an informative eBook, how-to videos, or even sign up for an online class!

The ancient mystical practice and spiritual path of Yoga is believed to date back to the 8^th century BC, the main sources of its concepts being Indian texts such as Upanishad and the Mahabharata. Although, seals from as distant a time as a thousand years earlier depicting yoga- and meditation-like postures were discovered by archaeologists at the Indus Valley Civilization site and many scientists think these drawings suggest a precursor of yoga.

In essence, the aim of the spiritual path of Yoga is achieving a union with the Supreme Consciousness, or even loftier goals set by some yogis (practitioners of yoga). However, outside India it is most commonly associated with the practice of postures and/or as a form of exercise. It can certainly have its advantages in both cases.

Raja Yoga is one of six orthodox āstika (schools of thought) in Hindu philosophy. The term yoga is derived from Sanskrit, its root word can be translated a number of ways. For instance, it is most commonly taken to mean “uniting” or “joining”, but sometimes it is understood as “mode, manner, means”. With so many varied systems of yoga philosophy (similar to sects of Christianity) there may really be something for everyone to identify with and take to heart, but as mentioned before it is generally practiced in the western world today for health and well-being.

Practicing yoga postures can help to ensure optimum blood flow and supply throughout your body while massaging your various organs and gently stretching your joints and muscles as well. Yoga may increase the flexibility of the practitioner by exercising little-used joints and also help to lubricate different tendons and ligaments in the body of the practitioner. This can even be done by beginners with non-strenuous positions!

It is also suggested that by regularly messaging organs within our body which tend to not receive any external stimulation during everyday activity, we can become more aware of our bodies and more quickly and easily sense early onset symptoms of disease and infection, enabling us to take sooner action and better control of our physical health.

In addition, increasing and enhancing blood flow throughout the body of the practitioner can help to flush out toxins, which may lead to decreased ageing, increased energy, and essentially enhance the practitioner’s quality of life! (Not to mention this valuable exercise can tone your muscles and trim excess body fat.)

I know, in spite of the vast multitude of benefits that yoga can offer for your mind, body, and soul, you still may not want to join an expensive class, or wear something like a leotard in a room full of strangers! Breathe easy, the above is not necessary at all, you are free to try it for yourself in the comfort of your own home by taking advantage of one of many available resources such as videos, books, or even eBooks which can help you to get started. Good luck and namaste!

When you begin your personal path to operating your own small business, one of the first things that you realize is just how stressful it can be. Without a doubt, your small business will add a number of new responsibilities and concerns which can begin to dominate your life. While it is important and worthwhile to commit and devote yourself to your personal projects, spending too much time stressing about your work and meeting all of your goals can have some very negative effects on your health and well-being!

It is so important to take time for yourself each day and do what you can to relax, get those worries off your mind, relieve all the pressure that can build up more and more each day and weigh you down. When you feel good and think positive it can have an incredible effect on your productivity, especially if you have contact with clients during the course of your day, because rest assured those clients can perceive when you are under a lot of stress.

There are innumerable possibilities when it comes to relaxing and lowering your overall level of stress and it is certainly a very personal matter, techniques range considerably among individuals. Some people find listening to their favorite music relaxing enough, others like to practice meditation, tai chi, or yoga, and still others find jogging the most beneficial exercise for clearing their mind of stresses. You may also like to try taking a long, hot bubble bath at the end of the day, or just putting on some comfy pajamas and settling into your favorite chair to read a novel. The options really are endless!

Just remember that while you may be a dedicated small-business owner, you are still an individual whose mind, body and spirit also need nurturing and nourishment. You may indeed be capable of taking the world on your shoulders, but remember mind over matter… if your mind is full of worry and stress, all the work you can do may not matter. Would you rather have a large quantity of work to show for your stress, or experience a quality of life and work which you can both enjoy and take pride in?

According to the Mayo Clinic, by allowing your self time to completely relax on a daily basis, you can reduce muscle tension, increase blood flow throughout your body, and even lower your blood pressure. The valuable effects of relaxation are numerous. In general, it can help to improve how you physically respond to stress. You can experience fewer headaches and less back pain, as well as less anger and frustration in response to stressful situations.

Not only that, but relaxation can also enhance your productivity and efficiency by improving your concentration and increasing your capacity to handle unforeseen problems during your workday. So really, sacrificing a little bit of time everyday to draw your attention away from your work to focus on your self, may in fact be one of the best things you can do for your business!

If you have read our previous article on this topic, you know how common it is for women to be assaulted or raped by their friends, associates, even their lover or their spouse. Those cases of assault are often unforeseen and self defense techniques are necessary. However, women can also be very vulnerable to assault by strangers, and this can largely be prevented by understanding high risk situations, making the right choices, and sometimes following your gut instinct when something doesn’t feel right!

Women can indeed have uncanny intuition and instincts at times and listening to it can pay off in dangerous situations. Think about it… How many times has it crossed your mind “If only I had listened to my gut”? I’m sure we can all recall at least a few incidents in the course of our lives where we have done something, against our better judgment and instinct, and later said that very thing. If something suddenly tells you to look around, walk faster, or run, you need to listen to it! The worst thing that can happen in this situation is that you might look very odd to strangers, but it could very well save your life. If you have an instinct not to enter a building, leave a building, round a corner, follow that intuition!

There are countless safety tips to help women understand high-risk situations and prevent unnecessary vulnerability; I’ll try to sum up as many as I can:

-          Always be aware of your surroundings. It may look strange to be constantly glancing in all directions, but paying attention to your immediate environment is of the utmost importance. Try to look at people’s faces whenever possible, rather than their clothes. Possible attackers may also be deterred from approaching someone who appears aware of what’s going on, they want to catch someone off-guard.

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-          Routines are a stalker’s best friend. Try to change yours whenever possible, it will make it harder for a possible attacker to predict where you are going to be at any time.

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-          Don’t assume you will be safe in public places. Laundromats, bus stops, parking lots, even public restrooms can be targeted by attackers as places to find vulnerable victims. Go during busier hours when there are more people around even if it’s uncomfortable or crowded. Choose a more populated bus stop whenever possible. If you must go to the store at night when the parking lot is dark and empty, don’t be afraid to ask an employee to escort you to your car.

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-          While driving, always lock your doors. Never pull over if someone in another car comes along-side you and tries to signal to you, wait until the nearest populated place, like a gas station or rest area, if you want to check your car. Try to park near an entrance or exit in a parking garage or parking lot. Always let friends and family know where you are going and the route you are taking to get there. Never EVER pick up a hitch-hiker or stop to help someone who seems to have car trouble, just call the police to assist them. If you suspect you’re being followed, do NOT drive to your home or stop in a desolate area, call the police or drive to the closest police station.

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-          When jogging or walking, try to stay in bright and open areas. Avoid passing too close to big bushes, dark doorways, alleys, vans or high vehicles. Don’t wear headphones. Try to take someone with you whenever possible, find a jogging partner, and walk to and from your car with co-workers. Vary your routines. If you think someone is following you, look at them and do it often, show them that you are aware.

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-          Before getting into your car, look inside and look under your car and the ones parked next to yours before you approach. Have your keys ready before you get to your vehicle or your home. Before getting out of your vehicle, and before getting a child out of the back seat, look around, note anyone nearby and make sure you are safe. You are especially vulnerable while leaning into the back of your car and when your hands are full. If there are signs of entry when you get home, do NOT go inside.

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-          While “out on the town,” attach yourself to friends, agree to watch over each other. Never leave your drink unattended, attackers can easily get their hands on a date rape drug. Don’t get intoxicated. Have fun, but keep a clear head. Never leave with a stranger, or even a drunk male acquaintance. Ask your friends if you can leave together, or if you must leave alone ask an employee to walk you out (like a bouncer).

Your brain is an attacker’s worst enemy. Be smart. Be informed. Be confident. Be careful. Be prepared. And be ready to defend yourself!

Violence is prevalent in society, no matter where you live chances are you hear about more violence than you would like. Thinking about the possibility of being a victim of violence can be very uncomfortable. You may not even want to admit that you too could become a target at any time, but it’s so important to overcome that fear and address the issue. Doing so can allow you to take proper precautions to prevent vulnerability for an attack and it can also help you to be better prepared to defend yourself and your family or friends in the case of an attack.

When you think about and visualize a situation that would require you to physically defend yourself, you may imagine yourself inside a parking garage, or a darkened alley, or traveling to your car in an empty parking lot at night, and you may think that you simply wouldn’t be in alone in such obviously risky and vulnerable positions. While this thought process does indicate an understanding of prevention, it does not mean that you don’t need to know about self defense!

According to the National Organization for Women (NOW) in America, women are most commonly assaulted by someone that they know, or even someone that they trust. They have found that 572,000 women are reportedly assaulted each year by someone whom they are intimately involved with, and as many as 170,000 of these incidents result in emergency room care, hospitalization, or doctor’s attention. However, if these are the statistics of reported battering, how many more do you suppose go unreported? Even the most conservative estimates suggest as many as 2 to 4 million of all races and classes are battered each year.

Considering that violence against women knows no bounds as far as class or race goes, I think it’s reasonable to assume that such rates may be similar all over the world, or even higher in many countries where women are still commonly discriminated against.

The NOW also informs us that every year approximately 132,000 women in the US report having been victims of rape or attempted rape, and more than half of them knew their attackers. They estimate that anywhere from 2 to 6 million rapes and attempted rapes go unreported! They also claim that 1.2 million women each year are forcibly raped by their current or former male parents, some more than once.

These are almost unbelievable statistics and anyone can surely become one of them unexpectedly. You do not have to allow yourself to be victimized simply because you lack the knowledge and training to fight back and defend yourself! We can take an active part in ensuring that these rates do not climb, but decrease, simply by learning to be responsible for our own safety and flat out refuse to be another victim.

If an attacker learns that his victims will no longer be bullied and abused, do you suppose he will think twice about continuing to try assaulting women? I think so. We are the weaker sex no longer! Check back for future articles on this topic, or start educating your self about defense and return to tell other readers about your experience.