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blogpost66 · 4 years ago

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Tips for Easy Jacket Back Needlework for PATCH DESIGNER

Master 2 necessary variables-- hooping as well as positioning-- for much less complicated, gratifying sewouts.

It's that time of year once again. The environment is obtaining cooler, the dropped leaves are modifying colors and likewise individuals are attracting jackets out of storage rooms. As an embroiderer, why not benefit the possibility to market even more embellished things in this apparel group?

Coats as well as coats can be terrific moneymakers. They are much more pricey as well as supply themselves to higher margins. In addition, if a client desires a large style on the back, you can obtain optimal manufacturing from your equipment, which suggests optimum income if you are a PATCH CREATOR.

I made use of to dislike doing big formats on coats. They are harder to hoop as well as also the huge designs take a long time to run; I utilized to think such styles were eating my maker time. I ultimately understood my thinking was incorrect. Yes, the coat was on the equipment for a long time, nevertheless the layout still was producing cash for me-- and additionally at a better price than a great deal of my left-chest logo layout sewouts.

Let's say I'm running a 5,000-stitch logo on golf shirt. I can get perhaps eight runs an hour. If I'm charging $1 per thousand stitches, that's $40 a hr (per head). On the other hand, if I have a 60,000-stitch style, it is mosting likely to take a human resources as well as 20 minutes to sew. Nonetheless, I'm obtaining $60 for the layer back format. That exercises to $45 per hour and also I truly did not require to function as hard. I might sit back and likewise relax as well as likewise the enable the maker do the benefit a hr approximately. This remains in addition to the reality that there normally is far more revenue margin in the markup of layers as a result of their high cost factor.

Since it's evident that coats can be as rewarding-- otherwise a whole lot much more so-- than the "typical" things most embroiderers stitch, allow's take a look at the challenges of managing layers. First of all, there are various coat ranges. From wind breakers and additionally warm-ups to Varsity jackets as well as workwear, they are available in all products as well as additionally thicknesses. Some are shiny, tough, thick and also slim-- and afterwards, certainly, there's all-natural leather. Learning to take care of all the variants takes a while along with technique, yet there are some principles you can follow-- despite the kind of layer you are dealing with-- that will definitely aid guarantee success.

MAINTAINING AND HOOPING

Prior to beginning any kind of kind of task, it is required to choose the appropriate stabilizer. The good news is, the selections are simple when it comes to coats. For light-weight layers, like wind breakers and likewise different other nylon layers, a sheet of tearaway stabilizer require to be enough. For thicker layers, little or no stabilizer whatsoever is needed.

When making your option, remember that the secret is just how much an item stretches. Thick layers have little stretch and so much mobile lining that consisting of one more layer of something is not absolutely helping anything. If you stress over distortion, toss a thing of tearaway stabilizer behind it which will certainly be more than adequate. The only time an exploded view stabilizer is required is when you're stitching stretchy weaved layers.

Hooping coats, specifically thick ones, constantly is a barrier. They are larger than a normal-size garment. Frequently, embroiderers do not have a theme for the mounting board to fit the back hoop measurement and likewise there are extremely couple of suggestions for you to know whether the layer is hooped right.

If you sew a lot of coats, it pays to purchase or make a mounting theme for your framework board, or have a table that appropriates for hooping these bigger items. It does not have to be expensive; I utilize a traditional workdesk. I find it is the perfect dimension for the layer and also it similarly allows me to use more descending pressure as I try to push thick jackets right into a hoop.

LINING IT UP

The point of using a hooping device is to help in getting points aligned frequently from product to piece. Coats can be a little tough when it worries alignment, particularly when they do not have numerous marks or joints. Facility joints produce very easy alignment, as well as likewise lots of coats have a seam up around the shoulders, that makes a fantastic, straight line to referral. Simply ensure the design stays listed below that shoulder joint for proper placement.

If there are no joints or numerous other reference marks, start by noting where you desire the facility of the style to be. Positioning guides state to place the layout 7-10 inches listed below the neck. This depends upon the measurement of the design along with the style of the layer.

You frequently can reference the sleeves and also lowest level of the layer, too. Line up the clips on the hoop with the sleeves to aid straighten out the layout. Afterwards, to guarantee straightness, step from each side of the hoop to the bottom of the coat to guarantee it is even. I make use of the tab on the hoop where the steel clips are screwed on for the referral point on each side of the hoop.<br>

PUSHING THINGS IN

Hooping a slim layer isn't really a big deal. Thick coats, nevertheless, are one more story. Relying on its density, there are different strategies you can utilize to obtain the coat onto the embroidery machine, as well as additionally there are some standard and also not-so-conventional methods for attaining this.

A great deal of coats you sew will definitely fit in a hoop; they just require a great deal of initiative along with strength to do so. In these instances, you can attempt to loosen up the adjusting screw greater than what need to be required to hold the coat prior to hooping. When the product is hooped, just tighten up the screw.

Normally, it is not suggested to utilize tools to aid in tightening up the screw-- yet I make an exemption in the case of thick, durable products like substantial coats. It sometimes calls for a lot more make use of than can simply be created by even the best of fingers. A collection of pliers (or screwdriver, depending upon your changing screw) might remain in order.

Most of the moment, jackets should be hooped inverted because of the reality that the midsection has a larger opening than the neck. That suggests less product will certainly be accumulated in the back, and also it makes the coat much less complicated to jump on and additionally off the maker. It additionally is a lot less most likely to catch on something or push the hoop off the gadget.

There are numerous hoops on the market with countless credit to assist with these problems. Allied's Grid-Lock collection consists of a really prolonged readjusting screw that enables the hoop to open broader. These hoops also consist of grid lines to assist with positioning.

When pushing the internal ring into the hoop, begin with one side and also afterwards the various other rather than trying to press the whole hoop in entirely. This "heel-to-toe" method helps for take advantage of as well as additionally to line things up. Let's state I'm making use of the top-shoulder joint as a mark. I can line up and likewise establish that side of the hoop at first, after that press in the bottom side.

Another alternative is to use a larger-than-necessary hoop. I understand this breaks the conventional wisdom that states to make use of the smallest-possible hoop, but in some cases it is almost hard to acquire a thick coat right into hoop of a smaller sized dimension. The additional location in a larger hoop makes this possible. This periodically holds true, especially with smaller positionings.

The hoop popping apart is one of the most disheartening things that can occur when managing thick coats. This normally occurs right after you get it hooped and additionally are relocate to the equipment. Also even worse is when it occurs while embroidery. To ease this trouble, I utilize plastic springtime clamps around the beyond the hoop. You need to take care to guarantee they do not strike anything, yet that they assist maintain the hoop with each other while sewing.

Whatever you do, some layers simply will certainly not fit in a hoop. Do not stress and anxiety. There are suggests to obtain points onto the needlework tools that aren't in a hoop. For newbies, when utilizing a regular hoop in addition to glue stabilizer, you can stick the product into the hoop. To do this, hoop the stabilizer with the peel-away paper still on it. Once it is hooped, score the paper to in addition to peel it away. Put the hoop onto the machine and afterwards align the layer over it. It is a good concept to utilize basting stitches at the start of the style to better safe it to the stabilizer. Basting stitches are absolutely lengthy (9mm-10mm) running stitches around the beyond the style that can be utilized to tack it down prior to the needlework begins. The size makes them simple to get rid of as quickly as the style is completed.

This coincides concept as the Fast Frames and the EMS HoopTech Quick Change structures use. These supply a less complex methods to get the coat onto the maker in contrast to hooping absolutely thick points.

Nevertheless, there are a few disadvantages to utilizing this approach. First is the placement. Because the hoop is on the within, there is no aesthetic recommendation that will definitely recommend whether it is straight. Second, the layer's cellular lining will certainly stick, leaving the external layer to move. To overcome this, I connect the plastic spring protects around the outside of the hoop to hold things together.

You can currently actually excitedly expect the cooler weather and also the subsequent layer orders you will certainly get this period. They might need a little a lot more job, but the repayment is absolutely worth it. You can loosen up in addition to value the appealing autumn leaves while your manufacturer winds up those long, profitable jacket back runs.

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meditativeyoga · 6 years ago

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Yoga for Back Pain: Are Your Tech Devices Ruining Your Posture?

Tech tools are here to stay, but raising evidence reveals they could additionally ruin your body as well as bring about severe pain in the back issues. Physiotherapist and yoga teacher Stefanie Foster offers understandings right into the damaging effects of technology devices on your stance, as well as how yoga could help you avoid the neck and back pain issues that often arise from persistent forward head posture.

Several news posts have actually turned up just recently (1, 2) after a short article in a medical journal (3) highlighted just how peering down at our technology devices boosts loads on our spine. Numerous of you might be believing that a lot of severe 60-degree, 60-pound pressure appears like some young adults you recognize! It's not just young adults. If you head out in public, as well as take enough time to seek out from your very own cellular phone, it's around you! Individuals of every ages have their head down in tech tools. Possibly you claim, 'That's not me, I keep my head up straight as well as simply look down with my eyes ...' Another research study (4), released before clever phones and also tablets were so common, recommends that merely gazing with pose regulated sufficed to increase spinal loading. So why all the hassle? Due to the fact that this is not simply a single loading (although, I would certainly be reluctant to allow a 60-pound kid remain on the back of my neck!). This is a repeated position or continual position that we find ourselves in over and also over once again. As well as the extra long term or much more frequently our body does the exact same point, the easier it gets. The muscle mass on the front get short and/or careless, muscular tissues, ligaments and also fascia on the rear end come to be as well extended to do their job properly, as well as over a period of years, the shapes of the bones might begin to wedge as well as adjust to that setting too. As we discussed in a previous write-up, the body complies with the path of the very least resistance similar to other mechanical system ... ask your secondary school physics educator! Therefore, without intervention, the short obtains much shorter, the stiff gets stiffer, the lengthy gets much longer, and also the weak gets weaker.

Now, think of a day in the life of Bob: Bob awakens as well as reads the paper over morning meal (he's old fashioned like that.) He boards the train to function, reading articles and also e-mails on his iPad the whole way. At work, he invests a lot of the day peering down at a laptop computer display. After job he goings to his CrossFit box where his preferred WOD entails as many sit-ups as he can achieve in a timed initiative. Among Bob's friends suggested that he try yoga exercise, so he catches a course after CrossFit. He's been going with about 4 months currently and also truly feels like he's mastering it. After an energetic class (entailing more crunch-like abdominal workouts), the teacher invites the trainees to become part of 'the queen of all yoga exercise poses' Salamba Sarvangasana or Shoulderstand, 'if it remains in your technique.' Bob checks out what every person's doing, remembers that he used to do that as a kid and easily throws himself up into Shoulderstand. After yoga, he goings residence, spends even more time on his laptop computer, then checks out a little bit in bed prior to falling asleep. The next morning, he wakes up with a splitting frustration as well as an aching neck and also can't envision why!

Ok, so perhaps once of doing Shoulderstand will not always send out Bob reeling. It can happen! It's not simply that Shoulderstand though, is it? Bob has actually been exercising all those various other poses of prolonged forward head setting (checking out the paper, his iPad, laptop computer, analysis in bed) for far longer compared to his Shoulderstand. And also hence, he set himself for the relative stiffness/flexibility imbalance that comes with it.

There are a couple of even more problems I see with this photo. Did you catch them?

Many abdominal muscle works out further aggravate a slouching (flexion) of the upper (thoracic) spine by contributing to a shortening of the abdominal muscular tissues that develop stiffness from the ribcage to the hips. (5)

The teacher glorified Shoulderstand before an all-levels class by calling it 'the queen of all yoga positions.' I'm aware that this is oft mentioned in the yoga exercise area. (If any person could tell me the initial resource, I 'd enjoy to understand!) Just how can the yoga exercise professional cultivate equanimity when they're hearing they're less of a yogi if they do not do Shoulderstand?

The teacher said "if it is in your practice.' This statement is one of my pet dog peeves. It is meant with great objective. In a regular all-levels class, a teacher could not be expected to check every single trainee as well as provide each of them something to deal with ideal for their existing demands. The instructor is meaning for the trainees to self-assess their capabilities, and needs and select what is suitable. Teachers need to understand far better than to believe that a human being, with a vanity as well as a gently competitive spirit, in their very first year of yoga exercise will determine properly exactly what they await. I keep in mind back to my very first year of yoga exercise technique ... Shoulderstand was the first inversion I exercised on a routine basis! Several of you may be wheezing in scary, while others may be asking yourself 'exactly what's incorrect with that said?'

So, what's the solution?

' If you practice Shoulderstand effectively you have absolutely nothing to stress over' Wrong.

I can listen to some knowledgeable practitioners stating, 'Well, if you do Shoulderstand correctly, you don't place any type of stress on your spinal column at all.' Point taken. And I will concur that an effectively performed Shoulderstand is absolutely much better compared to Bob (and newbie me) tossing himself right into what appeared like the present outside. just since the spinous procedures of your vertebrae don't touch the ground, doesn't imply you're exempt from the forces of gravity going through your spine at very various factors than they're created for. Check out the picture of cell phone man once more: that 60 extra pounds of force is not coming from straight stress on his vertebrae.

' I constantly do Shoulderstand with props, never without.' Excellent. Especially if you are exercising longer holds. even if you have your shoulders on a number of coverings, your head is still forward, also if you are functioning to keep a neutral curve or typical lordosis in your neck. Although I have no idea of anyone that has examined it, I would certainly wager even if you transformed the middle cell phone man inverted with his directly the ground as opposed to his feet, and also supported his shoulders on coverings, there would be greater than 40 extra pounds of pressure at that point. Plus, I want to bet that Iyengar didn't invest the rest of his day when he wasn't practicing yoga exercise floating his going a tech tool. I would certainly also wager that if he ever before got harmed, it wasn't advertised. * gasp! *

' As long as you include a counterpose, you have absolutely nothing to stress concerning' Wrong.

I understand the idea process here, that the counterpose in some way terminates out exactly what you simply did, however it's not that basic. What after that is the counterpose for 10+ hrs a day we invest with our heads forward? Points like Fish Pose (Matsyasana), gazing up in Urdvha Hastasana (Upward Salute), taking the head back in Cobra or Up Pet dog, looking between the hands in forearm stand or handstand are not going to amazingly undo just what we have actually done in everyday tasks and Shoulderstand or Rake Pose.

One reason is that it's more compared to simply our muscular tissues, tendons and also fascia that get stretched in that forward head position. Our nerve tissue gets extended also. In several individuals, this nerve tissue is delicate and also not alleviated by backbending.

It's not a rainbow-like forward flexing curve many of us are developing in the neck. A lot of the time, there's a shear taking place at the CT joint, or the component of your spinal column where the neck becomes the upper back. With this long term forward head setting, the lower neck (cervical spinal column) begins to glide forward loved one to the upper thoracic vertebrae developing a motion like a moving tectonic plate. In this instance, going right into cervical extension (like the counterposes mentioned above) may actually feel worse as there is increased pressure on the discs, joints and also nerve roots.

Here are my recommendations:

Spend much less time on your technology devices. We could all take advantage of this, myself included! Batch process your messages instead than inspecting them regularly all the time. Be with whomever is in the area with you live. Go outside.

When you do have to utilize tech tools, attempt to maintain a neutral spine with regular contours as well as have watching at eye level. Assistance your arms on a cushion if essential to hold publications or reading tools. If you do a great deal of deal with a laptop computer, take into consideration a docking terminal or separate screen so you can have both look and also arms at appropriate setting. If you work from house, consider some options such as existing on the flooring component of the time.

Minimize forward head positioning at various other times. (at dishes, watching TELEVISION, while exercising)

Recalibrate your partnership to 'core job.' A six-pack may look nice, however it could function versus your capacity to maintain healthy back placing. Curling your spine into a "C" form does nothing to enhance main stability. Putting your tailbone or posteriorly turning your pelvis has also been shown to close down your key stabilizing team.

Learn what it feels like to engage your cervical core. No, I'm not speaking about Jalandhara Bandha (Chin Lock). I'm talking about well balanced stability around the neck as well as scapular stabilizers.

If you're a yoga exercise practitioner as well as uncertain that you're doing Shoulderstand 'properly,' or that you await it in any way, work with a seasoned educator 1:1 .

If you're a yoga teacher, bear in mind your language as mentioned over. Take into consideration that your students are 'householder yogis' as well as doing all these things cumulatively outside your class. Show your trainees exactly what it indicates to have a healthy contour in the neck and also to preserve it first in progressive heights of bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) before ever before attempting Shoulderstand, whether with or without props. Hold company authority in your yoga class that if anybody is doing shoulder stand in a harmful way, you reserve the right to give them an alternative, or inquire to rest out the pose.

Check out Tom Myer's webinar The Fascial Matrix - The Lifelong Dynamic In between Flexibility as well as Stability.

Maybe it is time to pause from our tech devices, take pleasure in some sensible recommend as well as wholehearted understandings from Factor, Elise Museles.

#Yoga #yoga positions #yoga teacher #Yoga Weight Loss

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yogaadvise · 5 years ago

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Sun Salutations - Part 1 - Tadasana

There is absolutely nothing that appears to cross all borders of yoga styles as clearly as sun salutations. Naturally there are variations on the style, however it appears that all styles do them. Sun Salutations put motion through every one of the joints of the body as well as relocate in several directions. Maybe we have a little problem in searching for state, a spin, yet many activities are represented.

Since it is so global in one form or an additional, it has constantly captivated me and also at different times along my journey, asked me to look deeper right into its definition. We are admiring the sunlight, why? Surya used normally means sunlight. But Surya is likewise a god as illustrated in the image on a chariot. The sunlight is the bringer of life and health.

But sun salutations go even deeper. It is a mode of worship and also the most advantageous means of doing the namaskaras is to do 108 per day. Not just by themselves, however with rule that is related to each motion. You can have a look at the concepts at Wikipedia.org

Alas, I am simply an inadequate little anatomy instructor, what do I recognize of these deeper a lot more esoteric things, right? The sunlight is the seed of life for the entire world. Without it we are nothing but a cool, dark planet. In a comparable means, the movements of sunlight salutations are the seeds of several various other positions. As I have actually already mentioned, we discover that sun salutations take us through a large series of activities. Without doing them initially, don't we really feel a little bit chilly and also ran out as well?

The various other component that I locate vital in sunlight salutations is the vinyasa. Despite the system or style of sun salutation going on, the breath and the activity are linked together. Tying this along with the namaskaras is the literal translation of the word vinyasa. Vi suggests 'to go, to move, to cast forth, to conceive, or to begin from'. Nyasa implies 'putting, growing, or compliance'. You might incorporate both components to get "relocate in prostration."

OK ... let's jump on to the composition. That's why you're below besides, isn't it? The strategy for this little collection on sun salutations is to require time and break down the sunlight salutations into each of the significant elements and explore several of the why's and also why not's. As with all things, you can reason or suggest any position you such as and also these are just my observations.

The Body in Action

The main thing that I enjoy most around sun salutations is that the body is in movement for so much of it. Although we usually speak about the body in static stances during a yoga exercise class, for me, there is a lot extra exposed in the way in which all the parts incorporate as well as work together.

During sunlight salutations we see the patterns of movement reveal in manner ins which we are not likely to see when the individual is static. To be reasonable, when the body is fixed, we see things that could be concealed when the body is moving!

I am frequently considering a collection of movements as they happen and right here are a few of the thoughts or inquiries that drift around between my ears.

With how much effort as well as focus is the pupil in samastitihi or tadasana?

When they increase their arms airborne, where are they relocating from, exactly how have they revolved their arms, or otherwise, and also at what point in the movement?

Do they backbend when they get to up?

When they dive onward, exactly how far back do their hips go about their ankles?

Does this state something about their hamstrings?

Do they flex their knees whatsoever or keep them directly when they fold up forward?

Are their legs participated in the front?

Are they using their arms to deepen their forward bend or are they utilizing hip flexors?

When they search for, from where do they launch the movement?

Are they on their fingertips, flattening their back or are they keeping their hands flat?

Where have they put their hands?

When they leap or go back, do they drift or do they land hard?

Do they keep their shoulders moving on or do they relocate back to a down dog-like position?

Do they understand exactly how to stabilize their upper body and also their shoulder band at high plank or as they lower down into chaturanga?

Do they move right into higher canine in a manner that adds tension to their shoulders as well as wrists?

Are they moving with their entire spine or just flexing in the reduced back?

Are they making up with their feet, shoulders, or neck while in higher dealing with dog?

When they relocate from up dog to down pet dog, where do they move from?

Can they manage and also regulate their breath or do they hold it in specific areas in the movements?

When they step or jump forward, how are they doing this?

Is their weight in their feet?

Is their weight in their hands?

Where are their shoulders when they land, if they jump?

Reverse the very first few inquiries right here ...

Again, these are the items that I would certainly be refining without thinking concerning it. Of course, none reach the interpretation of what all of it means, but that's the factor of this write-up series. There are a range of methods that sunlight salutations are carried out. There are additionally great reasons to stress various elements at various times for students, depending on the level of their practice as well as abilities.

Samasthiti or Tadasana

The Feet

There is a great deal of job that a person can do in tadasana or samasthiti. It develops our neutral area for standing yoga positions. One more way of stating that, is that all standing positions evolve from or arise from this basic standing stance. I understand there are educators out there who spend hrs on describing all of things you "ought to" be feeling and experiencing in this position however I'm not one of them. That's not to state that there is absolutely nothing to do. I have kept a much more generalized internal feeling of interest throughout the whole body.

Instead, I utilize tadasana from the teaching viewpoint as a chance to observe the student as well as what placement, or imbalance problems they may have while static. I then watch them move with and via that alignment/misalignment as well as allow that educate me and also the specific directions I may offer to them.

Samasthiti is classically finished with the feet with each other and tadasana extra typically with them at hip size apart. These feel like easy things to do, however not for everyone.

I have actually fulfilled people along the way that have legs that bow inward, in some cases referred to as knocked-knees. If he or she places their feet together as in samastitihi, their knees would certainly not just touch, they would certainly need to melt into each other or cross before or behind the other. These individuals are an exemption to the rule for samasthiti and would certainly need to have their feet divided a little bit. I have actually fulfilled some that were compelled by teachers to keep their feet together as well as after that bend one knee slightly to move it out of the way!

The next problem at the feet is having them straight. Well, what is directly? Are we looking at the inner or external side of the foot to figure out this?

Those that produce their placement with the external edges of the foot will have huge toes touching and also heels a little apart. Aligning the external sides of the foot with the outer sides of the floor covering revolves the thighs internal and the knees with them. There are claims of this having some result on mula bandha, I haven't discovered it myself. It certainly feels different, however there doesn't seem to be much anatomical basis for it.

What is essential to me from a physiological perspective is the instructions that the knees are pointing when standing, walking as well as moving through yoga exercise postures. Why? Since it's the knee that is one of the most at risk joint in the leg.

If the knee is right, the turning that we see at the foot actually originates from the hip. If the knee is bent, it's feasible that the turning is happening at the knee joint itself. The ankle joint does not rotate.

Any time the foot is going one method and also the hip is going the other, there will certainly be force passing via the knee joint. It's not like we're made out of glass or anything, nonetheless, with time these pressures can build up. So, when the feet are not in the location you would like them to be or you determine to change their placement, do not fail to remember to look at the entire leg, not simply one end of them.

The Pelvis

There is additionally a whole lot of interest provided to the pelvis and also to its placement when standing directly in samastitihi or tadasana. Personally, I believe the whole, 'tuck your tailbone' thing has actually been overdone for the majority of people. I obtain the seed of it, however I do not believe it was ever implied as a gross activity the method I commonly see individuals doing it.

First, check out the individual and also their makeup. There are certainly people who have a hips that is slanted forward and also down way too much. By way too much, I mean it's a pattern that might be part of various other troubles for that person. These people might need to re-train certain tissues to get the hips in the best location, as well as yes, they must do the gross activity of putting their tailbone or raising their pubic bone.

If you don't have this strong anterior tilt going on, then the activity is a lot more refined. In this situation, it's truly about engaging the pelvic floor slowly and also gradually, which has a result on the tail bone straight. This ends up being less of a pelvic activity and also even more of a sacral tilt. If you intend to learn more about sacral movement, examine out the article and the comments in this old Nutation/Counternutation article.

This more subtle motion is just one of grounding. Whether you're doing samastitihi or tadasana, you are indicated to be based and firm.

#yin yoga #yoga #yoga music #yoga positions #yoga styles

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jenroses · 8 years ago

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Demystifying US taxes

Okay, kids, so look, I know a lot of you are paying taxes for the first time, and it’s important to do it right, but for most people, doing it right is not terribly difficult. I am not a tax professional. I’m just a grownup who has to handle taxes that involve a business, rental properties, medical expenses, mortgage deduction, etc. I did, once upon a time, qualify for EIC and various child care credits, and have handled the educational bullshit that comes with the luxury of a 529 educational trust fund.

1. If you have income that is on W2s, and not a lot of investments and stuff, and you don’t need to itemize deductions (most people don’t! If you don’t own a house, it probably doesn’t benefit you to itemize!) then doing your taxes is likely to be pretty straightforward and it doesn’t have to be scary.

2. Turbotax (and other programs like it) will do the math for you. If your income is under a certain point and you’re not using fancy features like for owning a business and shit, it’s FREE. You don’t have to pay until you file, regardless, so it’s worth running through the program to make sure you have everything.

3. It is worth using a program like Turbotax, because it might flag deductions and tax credits you didn’t know you qualified for. Earned Income Credit, health care credits, etc.

4. It can get complicated if your parents claim you, or if there’s educational stuff going on. You’re going to get some tax documents, and your parents might, too. You’re going to need to work it out with them which things are relevant.

5. It’s a good idea to keep a box, folder, whatever with various Important Papers that come in from January to March for taxes. If you do anything involving an online business (*cough*Patreon*cough*) and you are paying expenses related to that business, they all go in the box, and if they’re not tangible paper receipts, you need to keep track of them online. Google docs spreadsheets are a fast, easy way to do this. I also set up a dummy account on facebook and message numbers to myself a lot.

6. It is possible to reconstruct a LOT of expenses via your credit card bill, Paypal account, etc. If you’re paying with a credit card via paypal, don’t double dip. If you buy supplies on Amazon, your entire history forever is up there.

7. Google Docs has a spreadsheet function! This means you can plug in a bunch of numbers in a column, highlight the numbers, and click the SUM button. And that will add them for you. You usually don’t have to do any actual math to do your taxes if you know how to use the tools available to you.

By far the easiest situation is if you have ONE job, one W2, and no reason to itemize. Your taxes are probably mostly paid! That’s great.

If you have TWO jobs (or more), there’s a good chance you’re going to have to pay extra money in April. This is because they don’t tax the first chunk of income, and if you have two jobs, that means two chunks that didn’t get taxed, instead of one. Talk to HR if you are in this situation. You may need to have fewer exemptions on your second job, or they may handle it differently if you ask.

If you have self-employment income, even if your overall income is low, you’re going to PROBABLY end up sending something to the government. Why? Because of medicare/social security taxes, which employees pay at like 7.5% (or something, I forget) and the employer pays the same, and self employed people pay both “halves” of that payment, so whatever your profit is on your business, you’re going to pay a minimum of 15% on it, in most cases. If your income is higher (or the business is supplementing a day job) it is likely to be higher, a total of anywhere from 30%-50% depending on what tax bracket you’re in. Turbotax will help you figure this out, but you REALLY need to be setting aside money out of every withdrawal, regardless. Put it in an account that you don’t touch. If you’re really with it, see if you can put the money in a short-term low-risk investment account with a maturity date shortly before you file. But even a box under the bed is better than not saving up as you go along.

If you owe more than a certain amount of taxes come April, you could owe a penalty! The way to avoid this is to pay quarterly taxes as you go. If you have a W2 and a business, when you do your taxes, make a note of how much your advance payments (from the day job) were, in total, and subtract that from the total tax, and divide that by four. Turbotax should be able to handle this. Send it in every 3 months. If you’re ONLY paying self-employment stuff, you’ll probably just take the total tax owed, divde by four and send that. If you do that, even if your income goes up, if you can show you made a good faith effort to put in what you paid last year, they won’t charge a penalty. The first year you go over the amount ($1000 last I looked?), they won’t charge a penalty.

At least through this year, most low-income people are not likely to pay a lot of taxes and might actually get a refund, and possibly a substantial one. Next year? Fuck if I know. Who knows what those yahoos will do to the tax code.

After dealing with my own taxes, running through a simple 1040EZ for someone with one job is downright relaxing.

Anyone else want to chime in?

#Mine

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lowcarbnutrients · 6 years ago

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I Fed My Family on a Budget and it SUCKED

We're just at the end of week one, and also it's been a little a rough week for us, in all sincerity. Spirits was a bit low throughout the week as we tried to make do with things that weren't our common fare and also the pain that included the abrupt adjustment to our diet regimen, and it was compounded by the truth that my child appears to have actually simply started stockpiling for a growth spurt.

Before we started, I prepped for this difficulty by learning more about the costs of a lot of points I never ever paid also close focus to. I made a checklist of a whole lot of the things that we preferred to buy, and afterwards discovered an average cost for them to ensure that I would have some suggestion of concerning what price was great as well as reasonable without having to spend a hr calculating rates in the supermarket every journey. I likewise understood I was unlikely to be able to maintain to budget plan today, given that my kitchen would certainly be entirely empty besides salt as well as pepper. And also I didn't. I was over by almost $40, restocking the fundamentals like oil, margarine, seasonings, flour, sugar, and vinegar.

I got actually fortunate, just days before the project kicked off, excellent sales began to start. Prices on fresh vegetables and fruits, which had me seriously fretted at the beginning, started to decrease. That provided me a great deal of wiggle space that I could not have had if I had begun this in April, in April, I would certainly have been stuck to mostly tinned and also frozen fruits and vegetables.

Here's the breakdown of the grocery expense:

The Grocery Bill (Week 1)

Pantry Items ($58.62)

Flour (2.5kg) - $5.69 White Sugar (5lbs) - $1.67 Brown Sugar (2kg) - $2.59 Olive Oil (1L) - $3.88 Cocoa Powder (2 cups) - $2.56 Baking Soft drink (1 little box) -$ 0.50 Baking Powder (approx. 4 tbsp) - $.50 Vegan Margarine - $2.47 Cinnamon (1/4 cup) - $0.30 Other Bulk Seasonings in little quantity - $1.00 Oats (2kg) - $3.20 Barley (900g) - $1.29 Rice (1kg) - $2.22 Cheerios (525g) - $3.97 Mayo (890ml) - $1.99 Mustard - $0.88 Apple Cider Vinegar - $1.69 Vanilla Extract - $4.99 Lentils (900ml) - $1.79 Soy Sauce - $1.99 Wowbutter - $5.99 Pasta Whole Wheat (4 boxes) - $4.97 Raisins - $2.49

Grocery Things ($ 96.01)

Bread (3 loaves) - $5.99 1 Lemon - $0.60 Strawberries (2lbs) - $3.89 Spinach (1lb) - $2.99 Eggs (30) - $5.99 Mixed Fruit Applesauce (36) - $8.99 Brick Cheddar (heritage) (800g) - $6.44 Pork Loin (3.34 pounds) - $21.03 Carrots (5lbs) - $3.47 Bananas (9) - $1.68 Celery (2 hearts) - $2.88 Peas (500g) - $2.49 Apples (8lbs/32) - $2.88 Zucchini (2) - $0.77 Garlic (1) - $0.84 Green Onions (bunch) - $0.69 Red Onion - $1 Pears (3; legacy) - $1.65 Potatoes (2.5 pounds, heritage) - $0.74 Soy Milk (12x980ml) - $14.98 Strained Tomatoes (2x28oz) - $2.50 Motts Mixed Drink (4x945ml) - $3.52

Total: $154.63 (over by $39.13)

Where I bought

Mostly, I patronized Costco and Food Fundamentals. I likewise 'acquired' a few of my continuing to be perishables (as well as things I currently had in extreme amount, like olive oil) from prior to the challenge began at going rates so they wouldn't be wasted.

What I made

I butchered the pork loin I purchased Thursday evening, after the buying trip (as well as you could read about how to do it on FoodRetro) so I can make the slow-cooker pork stew the following day. It's a little bit messy, however very easy and also not that time consuming.

I spent a couple hrs on the weekend and also prepped ahead in the cupboard for the month by making a solitary container of Strawberry Jam (dish coming) ($ 1.51) as well as concerning 12-14 half-cup servings of instantaneous oatmeal ($ 2.37) for my hubby, on Saturday. On Sunday, as I made lunch, I likewise made a dozen delicious chocolate zucchini muffins ($ 2.02/ doz.) as well as a dozen unleavened 10' flour tortillas ($ 1.94/ doz). I must note I might have made the tortillas for about fifty percent that if I had spent an added couple bucks for the 10kg sack of flour (something I remorse).

Breakfasts were fairly basic: typically salute with or without Wowbutter for me, oatmeal for my spouse, as well as grain for my child. On Sunday, to abide by custom, I worked up a double-batch of 1/4 cup-size pancakes (regarding 11 1/4 mug batter pancakes from square one for $1.67), offered with margarine and also jam, and he ate them with the week as well.

Lunch alternatives were poor this week, including mostly leftovers, egg salad sandwiches ($ 0.69/ ea), Wowbutter as well as strawberry jam sandwiches ($ 0.65/ ea), smoked cheese ($ 0.35/ ea), plus fruits and also veggies such as we had them. There was also a vegan lentil as well as barley stew (dish NOT coming) which was neither great nor actual satisfying.

For dinner, we had slow-cooker pork as well as lentil stew (dish coming) ($ 3.68/ 6 portions) which was excellent, broiled pork chops served with rice, spinach as well as strawberries, fried rice with eggs as well as pork ($ 2.37/ 6 servings), and also a slow-cooked pork roast on top of potatoes and a spinach salad (concerning $7 for the roast, however there was lots of leftovers). Tonight, after hitting the food store, kidlet had actually clambered eggs and spinach, I spruced up a variation of pastas and olive oil with some frozen peas and also a newly-bought cubed, pan-roasted tomato.

We're fed up with pork. Sick of it. I can't even.

What's gone and where we stand

As I compose this at end of day, Thursday, I have about a third a loaf of bread left out of three. The spinach is gone. So are the potatoes, strawberries, and pears. I used up almost all my cinnamon making the oatmeal. The bananas were gone by Tuesday, and there's only 6 eggs excluded of thirty. I've consumed a quarter of my oil, among my 2 zucchini, concerning a third of my Wowbutter, one of my Motts Cocktails, fifty percent of my carrots, and also concerning fifty percent of my rice. While numerous points are out as well as running reduced, I've still got some food to see us via the next week, which is great, due to the fact that I'm short $39.13 for next week. I have actually barely made use of a few of the items, like the barley and also pasta.

When I try to approximate where we represent household spending plan on a daily basis, we're mainly running between $8 and $9.75. While this appears like we're doing incredibly well, I have to keep in mind the fact that it took us essentially the whole week of consuming in this price array making up for the deficit spending I produced. But given that I still have many things left over and most pantry goods, I'm meticulously optimistic that we'll have the ability to introduce some of things my family members misses out on most. I intend to bake insane cake for my son this weekend, if absolutely nothing else. Even with the more costly flour, I can produce a lots cupcakes for $1.41, or about $.12 each.

Morale and other things

Aside from being ill to death of pork, as I stated previously, spirits has actually been sort of reduced. I've been attempting to not obsessively compute whatever till I have a better suggestion of just how much we consume and how cheaply we can do it. Spouse and I are dealing with our choices, also if they are unexciting as well as the variety is inadequate. My kid, nevertheless, is not dealing also with the changes. For the first 3 days, he was singing as well as dissatisfied about the lack of specific items in our diet that we were prevented from acquiring as a result of rate, like Oreos, his common lunchmeat, as well as maple syrup for his pancakes. Every meal for 3 days, he was dissatisfied about something that he couldn't have that he was used to consuming, we battled a whole lot, and also this brought a whole lot of stress to hubs as well as I.

I'm not proud regarding this, however on Sunday, after even more than two complete days of problems and also attitude from my boy about his dish options, I cried. We described that there was just 'say goodbye to loan now' to him. Unsurprisingly, he didn't obtain it, 6 year-olds are not popular for having an excellent economic acumen at the best of times. As I'm sure I'm not the first mom that has actually been placed in between this rock and also hard location, I really feel for the parents that have needed to clarify the realities of low-budget living to their child.

We've been adhering relatively well to the Canada Food Overview (with the exemption of dairy, which occasionally we neglect because milk is not a component of our regular diet plan). We need to ready concerning sticking, though, since with the minimums I noted in the rules, often I'm still hardly skating by with around 1200 calories (by the estimate of Myfitnesspal). Fruits and veggies are not super-high, calorically, and also I think this is the catch that a lot of low-income individuals fall under: healthy and balanced, or plenty?

Kidlet is fine, hubs says he's fine, but I find I'm a little starving some days, and I need to graze a lot more frequently. We still have freedom in the daily spending plan - although kidlet is eating like an equine - so I don't really feel guilty about having another item of toast or an extra item of fruit. Still, understanding that we're minimal is enough to maintain me conscious of making it via the month.

It's oppressive, bothering with food at all times, as well as I've lost a pound.

Regrets

I regret my decision to buy an entire pork loin without having somebody to split the expense as well as butchering of it. It was an excellent rate, yet it implied that our only protein alternatives for the week were lentils, Wowbutter, eggs and pork, and we are all sick to fatality of pork as well as lentils now. The excellent (and poor) information is that I still have quite a little bit of pork to spread out for the remainder of the month.

Other deep thoughts

There were a great deal of individuals that commented how very easy this difficulty would be simply by bulk buying. Bulk-buying is a double-edged sword. I actually found that in most cases, Costco was actually much more pricey than the grocery store, even prior to items went on sale. There are still a few truly good purchases to be made there regularly, particularly my son's soy milk, bread, and also eggs. The other issue with buying something wholesale is, even if it's a great price, it takes a big piece out of the budget plan, which can interfere with one's capability to obtain range. I normally most likely to Costco with a friend, and also we often divided bundles. I would certainly suggest that any person on a restricted budget plan split mass products with an additional buyer, at the very least while aiming to build up a kitchen, unless the products are a fairly valued staple like eggs or bread.

As far as other bulk alternatives go, while this is absolutely viable for lots of, we were restricted greatly due to my son's allergies (he's adverse dairy products, nuts, and also peanuts). The majority of things wholesale bins have some danger of cross-contamination with several of these items.

So, cheers! We've survived week one. I'm hoping this week was the hardest component, as well as it gets easier from below.

Read about Anne's Hunger Games Adventure initially.

Follow Anne's Spending Plan Eating Difficulty from the beginning:

Could You Feed Your Family for $5.50 each Person Per Day?

I Fed My Family Members On a Budget Plan and also It Drew

The Emotional Price of Budget Eating

Budget Groceries: Ways To Prevent Scurvy and also Mutiny

Budget Eating: You Won't Starve, But You'll Be Exhausted

#diet #metabolism diet

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billssefton · 7 years ago

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can I be paid in comp time instead of overtime pay?

A reader writes:

I work for a chapter of a national nonprofit organization managing several fundraising events. I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the way our organization handles overtime during our busy event season, and am wondering if it’s completely legal.

At the end of 2016 with the pending overtime law, the organization decided to change all full-time development staff to from (salaried) full-time exempt to hourly full-time non‐exempt. Of course, the law never passed, but the organization kept the changes in place. We are entering our busiest time of year and my colleagues and I find ourselves working over 40 hours a week, especially on weekends. Evenings are when most of our volunteers are accessible, and weekends are when the actual events take place. While the official policy states all overtime needs to be approved by a manger in advance, it is common knowledge that overtime will not ever be approved. Instead we are supposed to take comp time as compensation for any overtime hours. Plus, I don’t always know ahead of time if I’ll be working overtime. Sometimes an issue comes up in the evening or on a weekend and I need to deal with it immediately.

From what I’ve read, the law says that any comp time given must be taken with in the week it is accumulated. However, this isn’t always possible. I simply can’t afford to work any less during the work week without out missing key meetings and deadlines. In order to reach my event’s fundraising goals, I sometimes need to work a 50-60 hour work week. On top of that, there is no real way we’re tracking our overtime hours other than using the honor system. My manger doesn’t have a problem with us “banking” comp time and using it whenever we’d like.

Last year, a colleague was paid overtime one week, but was told to take the “extra” time off unpaid later that month.

Honestly, during this busy time, I’d rather have overtime than keep weeks of comp time saved up. Is this legal? Should I talk to my manager, or go right to HR at our headquarters? Or do I need to simply suck it up and only work 40 hours a week even if it means my event (and how the majority of my performance reviews are measured) would suffer?

Yeah, this isn’t legal.

If your organization has you classified as non-exempt, which it does, the law requires them to pay you overtime (meaning 1.5 times your normal pay rate) for any hours over 40 you work in a week. You can be given comp time instead, but it must be used within that same work week. If it’s not used within that same work week, it’s got to be paid out as overtime in your next check.

It’s not legal to tell you to bank it as comp time for later use.

Some notes about this: Comp time is legal if you work for the government (which has conveniently exempted itself from its own rules), so if you know someone who works in the government and gets comp time, that’s why. Also, if you happen to work in California, that state computes overtime by the day rather than by the week, so you’d need to get overtime any time you work more than eight hours a day, regardless of what happens the rest of the week. And last, what they did with your coworker was legal — they can adjust her hours later in the month to make up for the overtime they had to pay her earlier.

Okay, so what to do about this. I’d start with your manager and say something like this: “I’ve recently learned that we could get into trouble for the way we’re handling overtime. It turns out that now that we’re non-exempt, we’re actually required to pay overtime for any hours over 40 that we work in a week. We’re not allowed to pay it out in comp time later. Given the hours we have to work right now in order to make our events go smoothly, what’s the best way for us to proceed?”

Frankly, if the only reason your organization changed you over to non-exempt was in anticipation of the new overtime law that never happened, it might make sense for them to switch you back to exempt now (assuming that your work meets the legal qualifications for that), which would neutralize this whole issue. And if your boss seems stumped about what to do — or sounds like she’s going to tell you to get 50 hours of work accomplished in 40 hours — you might point that out (if you’d prefer that outcome).

But if your boss is going down the road of “just stick to 40 hours then,” be ready to walk her through what that will mean for your work — as in, “In 40 hours, I could do A, B, and C, but not D and E, and here’s why.” And if there’s any hint of “just put in the time it takes to do the work, but don’t log those hours,” be ready to say, “We could get in serious trouble for doing that, and it could really harm us. We could be ordered to pay back pay and penalties that would really add up.”

And if she won’t bend, it’s okay to say, “I think we need to loop in HR on this since the potential legal ramifications are serious.”