INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This is a great, soft way to get the comfort of a hug without another person. If you don't have a pillow nearby, you can hug anything like a blanket, a jacket, a backpack, or any other object with a soft texture. If the object doesn't belong to you, you should either ask for permission to hug it, wait until no one is looking, or find something else. If someone finds you hugging their backpack, they might be a bit confused or even annoyed. There is nothing more comforting than getting a furry hug from a dog or a cat. It's best to hug your own pet. If you don't have a pet, you can certainly hug someone else's, but again you should ask the owner for permission first. If you don't have access to any animals, invest in a great stuffed animal.  Petting an animal can help you relax by lowering your blood pressure and decreasing stress hormones.  Make sure it's a friendly animal. Just because it's fuzzy doesn't mean it's nice! You don't want to get bitten. There is nothing like getting outside and getting some love from nature. If you're down in the dumps, venture outside and find a nice sunny patch of grass to relax on. Stretch your arms wide and imagine hugging all of Mother Nature. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and feel the earth hugging you back.  Spending time in the sun can help improve mood, so this works best when the weather is nice. Just wear sunscreen! If the weather is bad, sit by a window and appreciate whatever weather you do have. Admire the beauty of the rain, the power of the thunder, or the calmness of the snow. Hug yourself or something soft while you take in the great outdoors. Post a status on Facebook that you need a hug, and you'll be sure to get some, “Sending hugs!” comments. Simply knowing that others love you is sometimes all it takes to get the relief of a hug. You can also call, text, or FaceTime someone that you love, like a friend or a family member. While virtual hugs are not exactly the same thing as physical hugs, you can get some of those good vibes from an encouraging conversation.

SUMMARY: Hug a pillow. Cuddle with an animal. Hug nature. Find virtual or long-distance hugging partners.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Yogurt has the same kind of "good" bacteria that your vagina needs to stay healthy. You can replenish your body's bacteria by making yogurt part of your daily diet. Eating yogurt is a great way to both prevent and treat yeast infections.  Other foods besides yogurt also help your body in this way. Kimchi, kombucha, and other fermented foods can be substituted for yogurt if you aren't a big fan. Yogurt pills are also available if you'd prefer not to ingest yogurt on a daily basis. Cranberries, pineapples, strawberries, and other fruits help to freshen the smell of the liquids secreted by the vagina. Eating fruits won't exactly make your vagina smell fruity, but it can help you develop a more pleasant scent if that's something you're concerned about. Fruit also has a high water content, and staying hydrated helps flush the body of toxins that can lead to bad smells. Sugar can make a yeast infection worse, so it is important to limit or avoid excess sugar. Don't add sugar to your food, and check labels to identify foods that have added sugars. Also, steer clear of processed carbohydrates and alcohol since these are high in sugar. Garlic has properties that kill yeast, making it an effective tool for preventing and treating yeast infections. Eating cooked or raw garlic a few times a week is a great way to keep your vagina healthy. It has also been said to help get rid of bad vaginal odor. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and the pubococcygeus muscle. These muscles tend to get looser and weaker with age and after giving birth. Strengthening them can help you avoid issues like urinary incontinence and also increase sexual pleasure. To do kegel exercises, follow these steps:  Locate your pelvic floor muscles. To do this, pretend you are stopping urination in midstream. The muscles you use to stop are the ones you are targeting with kegels. Tighten the muscles and hold for three seconds, then release. Repeat this 15 times. Continue doing kegel exercises daily, holding for longer and adding more repetitions as you gain control. The vagina is also strengthened through sexual activity and pleasure, since sex keeps it toned and elastic. Having regular intercourse is a good way to keep yourself in shape. Focus on tightening and releasing the vagina during sex to exercise the vagina as much as possible.  Try mula bandhas (practiced in yoga) to help strengthen your pelvic floor.  Using a vibrator can help you achieve the same effect. Jade eggs, vaginal cones, ben wa balls and vaginal barbells are also implements designed to exercise the vagina through "weight-lifting" techniques.

SUMMARY: Eat plenty of yogurt. Eat lots of fruit. Cut back on sugar, processed carbohydrates, and alcohol. Eat garlic. Do kegel exercises. Explore other ways to exercise the vagina.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Find the “c” curves of the stitching on the softball. Then, place your four fingers inside the “c” on the top of the ball, and your thumb in the middle of the “c” on the bottom of the ball. Make sure the ball lays flush to your palm.  There are no hard rules about how to grip the softball in fast-pitch softball. However, using the 4-seam grip generally allows you to pitch the ball with the most power. If it feels comfortable, you can place the pads of your fingers on the seam of the top “c” curve to help you grip the ball more securely. First, stand on top of the pitcher’s plate with your feet shoulder-width apart. Then, move your dominant foot (the foot that is on the same side as your throwing arm) just in front of the plate with your heel touching the front plate. Stagger your non-dominant foot (the foot on the side of your gloved hand) in back of the plate with your toes touching the plate.  For example, if you’re right-handed and throw with your right hand, stand with your right foot at in front of the plate with your left foot at the back.  If you’re left-handed, stand with your left foot at the front of the plate and your right toes touching the back of the plate.  The pitcher’s plate in fast-pitch softball is 6 inches (15 cm) wide, so your feet will only be staggered a bit to start. Both of your feet have to be touching the plate when you start your pitch. Once you’ve gotten into the correct pitching stance, grip the ball with your throwing arm and place it into the palm of the glove. Then, bend your arms so that you’re holding the ball and glove right in the center of your chest. Keep the ball in the glove until you’re ready to start going through the pitching motions. Make sure that you maintain good posture by keeping your shoulders pulled back but relaxed. Keeping your shoulders back will help you maintain focus and control, while staying relaxed will avoid building tension in your muscles that can lead to injury.

SUMMARY:
Grip the ball inside the seam curves to do a 4-seam grip. Stagger your feet over the pitcher’s plate to set up your stance. Hold the ball in the pocket of your glove at your chest.