Issue Date: April 6, 2008
Spring-cleaning for your body
Come spring, many of us want to clean our closets and fling open the windows. According to Pamela Serure, author of "3 Days to Vitality," spring is also the perfect time to focus on cleansing your "insides," too. "Spring is when we experience the new of everything," Serure says. "We aren't as tired like we are in the winter, and we are more contemplative, which offers great potential."
Yoga poses like the cobra replenish energy and relieve stress.
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A successful spring detox requires acknowledging the harmful effects of being overscheduled and stressed. "We are drinking lattes from morning until night and constantly on the phone or writing e-mails, and then when we finally get a chance to take a deep breath, we have a martini," she says. "The toxins are at play all along, and you can become irritable, angry or get sick."
Serure suggests taking an hour out of the rat race to start: "Shut off your phone and your computer, and just sit for an hour in silence -- no talking, no TV -- nothing. Stare at a picture or a candle flame if you need something to focus on. This will help you get back in touch with yourself."
To cleanse your body, try healthful tonics and juices. For example, "Wheat grass with a ginger chaser is a great way to re-energize," Serure says. "It's like fertilizer for your body. Carrot, beet and apple juice is also a great tonic."
Restorative yoga poses also can help replenish energy. "Try the lion, where you open your mouth and stick your tongue out, or any heart-opening pose like cobra (pictured) is great for you," Serure says.
Contact FitSmart editor Jorge Cruise, author of "The 12-Second Sequence," at 12second.com.
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Free office-type apps
Most new PCs don't come with office software, but that shouldn't stop you from creating spreadsheets, documents, even editing photos with apps you can access through your Web browser.
Web-based software lets you create spreadsheets and draft documents.
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Applications from Google and Zoho.com offer fully functional office suites that run in Safari and other Web browsers. Google's offerings include a spreadsheet and Google Docs, which is like Microsoft Word. To use them, visit docs.google.com and click on "Get Started." You can create an account and begin editing documents, including presentations. The suite also can import and export Microsoft-compatible files.
Zoho.com offers a suite of applications geared toward families and small businesses. This includes Zoho Writer, a word processor, and Zoho Projects, a program that helps you manage projects of all sizes. It has planner and chat functions so you can share schedules and talk online. To sign up, visit zoho.com and click "Sign Up." The applications are free for individuals, but there may be a subscription fee for businesses.
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Do you really need rental car insurance?
Uncertain whether to purchase insurance when you rent a car? First, review your own auto insurance policy, or contact your agent to find out if there are situations in which your policy would not cover a rental. Next, call your credit card company to see if it provides you with rental car insurance, and check for any limitations. Finally, use these tips from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners:
Your personal auto policy doesn't offer rental car coverage? Ask your insurer if you can add an insurance rider for a small fee.
Renting for a week, a month or more? Check to see if there are any time limitations on the coverage your auto policy provides.
If you don't have personal auto insurance and your credit card doesn't provide benefits, take the rental company up on its offer. Purchase the liability insurance and collision damage waiver on the spot.
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