Thank you notes essential to the job search

The interview is often regarded as the most important part of the job search process, and with good reason, as it is typically the first interaction one has with his or her prospective employer. However, there is an aspect of the interview that is often overlooked, the thank you note.

When an interview is concluded and one returns home, he or she should be certain to send a short thank you note to everyone they interacted with. While it may seem unnecessary to send a thank you note to the receptionist, it is important. Not only is it the respectful thing to do and a sign of strong personal development but such employees are often “gate keepers” to the higher-ups, meaning that they can help one communicate with his or her potential future employer.

One of the modern conundrums that has arisen regarding the thank you note is whether to send it via email or regular mail. There is no firm answer for this question, however, and one should approach the situation on a case-by-case basis. If the interview was at a smaller, more formal firm, a hand-written note may be more appropriate, while at larger firms, an email may be less likely to get lost.

Many vacationers bring yoga with them

Today, most Americans are leading hectic, fast-paced lifestyles that leave barely any room for relaxation. Is it any wonder that so many people are suffering from stress, anxiety and tension? The good news is that yoga can help. This holistic mind-body system, which has improved the health of countless individuals for millennia, comprises relaxation techniques and soothing poses that can simultaneously enhance emotional, physical and mental well-being.

Although most busy people choose to engage in yoga at home or during rare breaks at the office, some are beginning to bring the meditative regimen with them on vacation. Easier Travel reports that Castlemartyr Resort in County Cork, Ireland, is promoting the mindfulness technique to help people shape up for summertime.

"Given the growing trend for health and well-being holidays, we are enhancing our offering with packages to suit this audience and have been pleased with the feedback to date," said Andrew Phelan, general manager of the resort, quoted by the source.

Those who are on vacation can relax even more when they participate in the soothing stretches and deep breathing techniques of yoga. 

Adventurous people practice yoga below sea level

Yoga is a versatile exercise that can be performed almost anywhere an individual chooses, at his or her convenience. For example, some prefer to engage in the relaxation technique in the privacy of their own homes, while others enjoy participating as part of a large group.

While yoga on the beach is a popular choice, the UK Daily Mail reports that some adventurous enthusiasts are literally taking the regimen to a whole new level by going underwater.

This trend has emerged at a resort on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, where vacationers in need of a little rest and relaxation are practicing their gentle postures and stretching exercises in full scuba gear.

The deep breathing that is so integral to the exercise is performed on the beach, just before participants don their flippers and oxygen tanks. In addition to relaxing the mind and body, deep breathing is meant to give beginners more confidence to go into the water.

It can also help more experienced divers by strengthening their lungs and facilitating their use of the respiratory equipment, the news source reported.

Whether it's performed at home or at a studio, on land or in the water, yoga can enhance the well-being of many who practice it. 

American School for the Deaf introduces yoga to students

Yoga is a relaxation technique that has united individuals from across the world in the pursuit of a stronger mind-body connection. The practice, which originated many years ago in East Asia, has helped countless people overcome diseases, stress and tension.

Now, the American School for the Deaf is offering yoga to its students, many of whom have autism in addition to hearing problems, according to the Hartford Courant. The regimen has been introduced to help the children focus better and increase their mindfulness.

"One of the characteristics of the children is a tendency toward anxiety and poor motor control," said Peg Higgins, the administrative assistant who is coordinating the program, quoted by the news source. "Yoga is about the mind-body-spirit connection. It gets their minds focused away from the self. This is helping to break the barriers of poor communication with the world."

The instructors conduct the classes in sign language, and the students sit on mats in the cafeteria to perform simple poses and deep breathing techniques.

According to experts, the heightened awareness of oneself and of others may help improve the way in which autistic and hard-of-hearing individuals communicate with those around them. 

School offers dog therapy as a relaxation technique

Stress is a common occurrence in school, and while some people may try relaxation techniques such as Dahn Yoga in order to calm down, there are still measures that schools can take to ensure that those who attend are in a healthy mental state.

Students at Yale Law School were recently given a therapy dog named Monty in an effort to help them deal with stress, according to The New York Times. Since law school can be very demanding, students will be able to rent out Monty for a half hour in an effort to calm their nerves.

School officials noted the positive aspects that have been reported from pet therapy, which is why the school decided to start the program.

"It is well documented that visits from therapy dogs have resulted in increased happiness, calmness and overall emotional well-being," Blair Kauffman, the law librarian, wrote in an e-mail to students.

ABC News reports that the program is currently being run on a trial basis and that the school is encouraging student feedback to see if it should continue.