| How to Whistle with Two Fingers Posted: 18 May 2019 01:00 AM PDT Learning how to whistle can be tricky, but if you practice enough you will be able to do it with ease. Whistling with two fingers can come in handy if you're trying to gain someone's attention because the sound is loud and commanding. As long as you learn the proper technique and dedicate some time to practice, you'll be able to whistle with your fingers in no time! EditPositioning Your Lips and Fingers - Tuck your lips between your teeth. The first thing you need to do to whistle with your fingers is to use your lips to cover your teeth. When you whistle, your teeth and outer lips should not be visible. To accomplish this, tuck your upper and lower lips over your teeth and into your mouth.[1]
- Form a U-shape with two of your fingers on one hand. You can use your thumb and middle finger, or the thumb and index finger. It doesn't matter which two fingers you use. Use the two fingers that feel most comfortable to you.[2]
- Some people also find success whistling when they form a triangle with their fingers. In this example, the fingertips are touching.
- Use a finger from each hand if that feels more comfortable. Some people whistle using one finger from each hand. For example, they may whistle with their right and left index fingers, or even their right and left pinky fingers. Form a U-shape with these fingers in order to produce the whistling sound.[3]
- It really doesn't matter which two fingers you use, as long as you form the right shape and do the proper technique.
- Put your two fingers in your mouth. Your fingers should be positioned so that they are each placed between the corner and center of your lips. Do not put them in too far, only to about the first knuckle.[4]
- The purpose of your two fingers is to keep your lips in place over your teeth.
- Angle your fingertips inward. Your fingers should be angled towards the center of your tongue, almost in the shape of a circle, but not touching. Do not touch the inside walls of your mouth with your fingers.[5]
- Make sure your fingers are still holding your lips over your teeth at this point.
EditProducing the Whistling Sound - Move your tongue down and back in your mouth. Position your tongue so that it is down at the bottom of your mouth and behind your bottom teeth. There should be about between your bottom teeth and the tip of your tongue. This allows the front space of your mouth to be open and allow the air to flow to produce the whistling sound.[6]
- The position of the tongue is a very important part of the technique.
- Inhale deeply to collect air in your mouth. When you inhale, you are collecting air in your mouth that will allow you to create the sound when you exhale. Try to inhale very deeply to collect as much air as possible.[7]
- Exhale forcefully to produce the whistling sound. Now it is time to blow the air out to produce the sound. When you let the air out, blow forcefully so that the air travels fast across your tongue and lower lip.[8]
- While you're exhaling, slightly pull your fingers down and out onto your lips and teeth to create more pressure going out.
- Try this inhaling and exhaling motion a few times until you're able to produce the whistling sound.
- Adjust the position of your fingers, tongue, and jaw as you blow. At this point, you may not be able to produce the sound, or you may find that your whistle is very low. Try to slightly adjust the position of your fingers and jaw by moving them from side to side or up and down. You can also try to produce or enhance the sound by adjusting the position of your tongue forward and back.[9]
- Practice until you produce a clear, high-volume whistle. Your first few tries may only produce a breathy, low-volume whistling tone. Repeat the previous step until you're able to produce the desired sound. For some people, this may take a few minutes. For others, it may take a little bit longer.[10]
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| How to Teach Parrots to Talk Posted: 17 May 2019 05:00 PM PDT Many types of parrots love to mimic human words, including cockatoos, parakeets, macaws, Amazons, and African greys.[1] Getting your parrot to say specific words may take a little time and work, but if you're patient, you may be able to get it to say some fun things! Work on simple phrases at first to encourage your bird to talk. You can also use treats to help teach your parrot words. EditWorking on Simple Words - Put the parrot's cage in a central room in your home. Parrots need to interact with you and anyone else in your household, so put yours in a room with a lot of traffic. The more you interact with it, the more social it will become. The more words it hears, the more likely it is to repeat them![2]
- However, don't put it in the kitchen or the bathroom. Both have too much temperature variation, and the kitchen can have dangerous toxins in the air.
- Talk to your parrot like you would a 3-4-year-old. Parrots are very intelligent, so even when you're not trying to teach your parrot specific words, engage it by speaking sentences to it all the time. That way, it gets used to hearing you talk, and it will want to return the favor because it is a very social creature![3]
- For instance, as you walk by the cage, you might say, "How are you doing today, Bridget? Do you like the sunny weather? Your feathers are looking nice!"
- Start with an easy, frequently used word. Simple words will be easier for your bird to pick up, especially at first. "Hello!" and "Bye-bye!" are a good place to start. Say them when you come and go from the room to help your bird understand what you want it to do.[4]
- You could also try "bird." It really doesn't matter what the word is, as long as it's simple.
- Repeat the word as often as you can. Repetition is key to getting your bird to say a specific word. The more you speak it around the bird, the more likely it is to say it back to you. If you're starting with a word like "Hello!" make sure you say it every time you enter the room with the parrot.[5]
- Similarly, if you're trying to get it to say the word "bird," repeat it to the parrot a few times when you walk by the cage. Make sure to emphasize the consonants of the word to help your bird learn the word.
- Speak with the same inflection each time you address your parrot. When you're repeating the word to your parrot, make sure you're saying with the same inflection each time, the way you want your parrot to repeat it. This will help your parrot grasp the word better – they mimic tone as much as other aspects of the word. [6]
- Try a higher pitch if your parrot is having trouble. Parrots seem to like higher pitches better, probably because their range is higher than yours. If your bird isn't quite getting a word, try changing your pitch to a higher one, and it may help.[7]
- Tell your parrot it's doing a good job. Like most animals, parrots like to be told "Good job!" or "Good bird!" Say it in a happy and encouraging tone when you hear it attempt to say one of the words you're repeating to it over and over. You could also try "Good boy!" or "Good girl!"
- Give your parrot time to learn the word. Parrots are good mimickers, but it may take yours a while to learn the words you want. You have to be patient and keep working with your bird a little each day to help it learn new words! Also, stay focused on 1-2 words at a time. Wait until your parrot learns one before moving on to a new one.[8]
EditTeaching Words for Treats - Say the word for the treat each time you give it to your bird. Whatever the treat is, repeat its name a few times as you hand the treat over. So if the word is "banana," say "Banana! Banana! Banana!" Then, hand the bird a piece of banana.[9]
- Do this for every kind of treat or food you give it. If you're feeding it a strawberry, say "Strawberry! Strawberry! Strawberry!"
- Wait until the parrot looks at you the next time you give it a treat. As you reinforce the word, try to wait for your bird to respond. Hold out the treat and say the word. However, don't give it to the bird yet. When the parrot looks at you after you say the word, give it the treat.[10]
- This helps connect the treat to the word for the parrot.
- Give your parrot a chance to try the word. After your parrot is consistently looking at you when you say the word, wait until the parrot attempts to say it on its own before you give it a treat. Hold the treat out and say the name of the fruit. If the parrot makes an approximation of the word, give it the treat.[11]
- You may need to repeat it a few times to get the parrot to try it.
- Work on pronunciation by waiting for longer periods. Now that the bird is trying to say the word, encourage it to say it more distinctly. Repeat the word while you hold out the treat, but wait until the bird gets closer to the correct pronunciation before offering it the fruit.[12]
- Use treats to teach other words. Use the same technique for teaching names of objects that you did with treats. Hold it up and say the word, such as "Ball!" When the bird looks at you while you say ball, offer it a little treat. Soon, the bird will likely start to mimic you, and you can offer treats for that.[13]
- Parrots, like most animals, are food-motivated, so you can offer treats to help learn other words, too. Teach the parrot the word for the treat first, then try using it to help learn other words, particularly for objects.
EditEncouraging Longer Phrases and Songs - Build on words your parrot already knows by stringing them together. Your parrot can put phrases together, but it helps if it's already got parts of it down. Repeat the words or phrases you want your parrot to say, but now, always say them together so your parrot figures out what you want it to do.[14]
- For instance, maybe you've taught your parrot, "Hello!" and "How are you?" If you treated "How are you?" as one quick word ("HowAREyou?"), then simply putting them together shouldn't be too hard: "Hello! How are you?"
- Sing your phrases the same way every time you repeat them to the parrot. Try starting with a simple song to encourage your parrot to say longer phrases. Use the same pitch and speed each time to make it easier for your parrot to hear what you're trying to get it to repeat.[15]
- Just like saying words with the same inflection encourages your parrot to pick up words, so does singing words and phrases.
- Add extra words on slowly. While your parrot can learn phrases, it's going to take time. Be patient, and only add 1-2 words at a time. That way, your parrot won't get overwhelmed trying to learn longer phrases or even songs.[16]
- Use your voice to praise your parrot when it does well. As it picks up on words and phrases, be sure to offer praise to your parrot. You can say "Good job, Polly!" or "Good girl!" As long as you use a happy and engaging tone, your parrot is likely to get the idea.
- Keep your training sessions short. You don't need to spend more than 5 minutes at a time several times a day.
- Be careful what you say around your parrot! It's likely to pick up something you may not want to be repeated when company is over.
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| How to Use a Yoga Block Posted: 17 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT Yoga blocks are a rectangular prop that can help you enhance your yoga practice. Whether you're new to yoga or have years of experience, using a block helps with balance, posture, and intensifying stretches. Try using the block with different poses to find your best fit! EditSupporting Balance - Place the block in front of your feet for a Standing Forward Fold. Standing with your ankles and knees aligned your hips, slowly fold your body from the hip joints, bending your knees slightly. Instead of reaching to touch the floor, put your hands on the block.[1]
- Using this modification allows your body to relax more and puts less strain on your hamstrings.[2]
- Position the block under your hand for stability in Triangle Pose. Keep your feet wide, making the distance between them about the length of your leg. Stretch your arms to your sides so they are parallel with the ground. Turn the toes of your the foot closest to the front of the room 45 to 90 degrees to face the front of your mat. Place your back hand on your hip and ease your front hand down the shin and then onto the block.[3]
- The block reduces the risk of over-extending hamstrings and joints while opening the chest.[4]
- Avoid locking your knees in this position.[5]
- Rest your head on the block during a Wide-Legged Forward Bend. Standing with your feet just wider than your hips, place the block in front of you on the floor. Bend from the hips toward the floor, balancing your head on the yoga block to avoid overextending or straining.[6]
- Use the block to "elevate the floor" in any standing pose. When in a yoga pose that requires you to both stand and stretch toward the ground, the block adds height to the floor so that you can find your balance and settle into the posture.[7]
- Balancing is a key part of practicing yoga that challenges beginners and experts alike. Even if you have practiced yoga before, poses may feel different from day to day, so feel free to keep a block nearby for days when you need it![8]
EditEnhancing Posture and Form - Place the block between your thighs in Downward Facing Dog. Stand with your feet under your hips and use your thigh muscles to secure and hold the yoga block between your legs. Fold your body forward at the hips, bending your knees slightly, and place your hands on the ground in front of you, walking them forward slightly to balance your weight. Balance on your hands and knees with your hips reaching upward.[9]
- The block keeps your leg muscles active in this pose and keeps a strong alignment from head to toe.[10]
- Hold the block between your thighs in Bridge Pose. Lie on your back and align your legs in a straight line with your hips. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the ground. Place the block between your thighs. With arms to the side, press into your elbows and shoulders to lift up your back and hips toward the ceiling. Bring your hands together underneath of your back and move shoulder blades closer together on the mat.[11]
- Instead of allowing your legs and knees to move apart, the block to ensure that you engage your legs. [12] Proper alignment reduces the chances that an injury would occur during your practice.[13]
- Sit on the edge of the block for Sukhasana. Also known as "Easy Seated Pose," this position can be uncomfortable if you experience tightness in your hips. With the block at its lowest height on the floor, sit on the edge. Bend the knees and bring the ankles closer to the body. Cross one ankle over the other and open your knees to rest naturally to each side.
- Laying the block to its lowest point and sitting on it supports the hips, back, and knees.[14]
- Additional blocks can be used to support the knees in this position.[15]
- Use the block to support your spine and knees in Hero's Pose. Kneel on your mat with your knees in line with your hips. Put the block between your calves and sit on top of the block. Allow hands to rest on the thighs.[16]
- Keep the core and spine long and strong. Using the block supports this posture by lifting the hips and lessening pressure on the knees.[17]
EditIntensifying and Deepening Poses - Position the block under your pelvis in Viparita Karani. While lying on your back, place the block under your pelvis. Raise your legs in the air so that they are aligned straight above the block. This reduces lower back pain and pressure while supporting the hips.[18]
- Inverting your normal posture in this pose encourages calmness in the body.[19]
- Use the block between your shoulder blades in Reclined Hero Pose. Kneeling with your feet slightly wider than hip-width, place the block in the space between your feet. Use your hands to help you lie back, with your block supporting your upper back.[20] Rest your arms on the ground beside you.[21]
- The block opens the chest to encourage breathing and relax the body. Breathing deeply during yoga is important to help the body perform at its optimal level.[22]
- Place the block under the elbows in Frog Pose. With hands and knees on the ground, position your elbows onto the block. Widen your knees and bring your hips closer to the ground, aligning ankles with knees.[23] The block helps to open and stretch the hips and groin area.
- Use separate blocks for the elbows for added comfort.[24]
- Put a block underneath your ankles in Elevated Butterfly Pose. Sit on the floor and place the soles of the feet together. Move your feet closer to your body and let the knees lower toward the floor. Elevate the ankles onto the block and allow the back to fold forward over the ankles.[25]
- Using the block helps increase flexibility in the hips without straining the IT bands.[26]
- Pay attention to your body's signals to avoid overstretching![27]
- Use two blocks under your back and neck in Fish Pose. Sit in the middle of the mat, leaving enough behind you space to lie down. Place one block vertically where your shoulder blades and the other horizontally where your head will be. With your legs stretched out in front of you, lean back to position yourself onto the blocks and allow your arms to fall to the sides and rest on the mat.[28]
- Creating this space in your chest allows you to relax more by breathing deeply.[29]
- When practicing yoga, avoid poses that hurt your body. Be aware of how your body feels and talk with a specialist such as a doctor or yoga instructor about your questions or concerns.[30]
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