Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Walking is a Superfood!


Though shows like "The Biggest Loser" suggest more drastic, grueling forms of exercise, walking may be more effective than exhausting gym routines or high intensity training.  "Walking is a superfood.  It's the defining movement of a human," said Katie Bowman, a biomechanist of the Restorative Exercise Institute in Ventura, California.  

Even those who believe they are promoting fitness often fall into the "active sedentary" lifestyle, as an hour of intense cardio is not enough to compensate for an otherwise sedentary lifestyle. For those who hope to offset stillness and prevent heart disease, shorter walks throughout the day may be better than cutting out time for one brief period of intense exercise. If you have a desk job sitting at the computer for long periods of time and the weather is bad, try taking a brisk walk around inside or up and down the stairs a few times.

And don't forget to visit your local day spa for relaxing massages to complement your walking routine. 


Saturday, January 17, 2015

Dry winter weather playing havoc with your skin?

Winter weather: Dry skin is especially common in the winter months, when the humidity level outside drops. When the air outside is cold and dry, the water in your skin evaporates more quickly; this makes your skin feel dry and tight, and makes it look flaky. In fact, your skin loses more than 25 percent of its ability to hold moisture in the winter. Windy weather (especially if you enjoy winter sports) can cause your skin to look and feel dry and chapped.  
The solution: Protect your skin by wearing protective clothing, gloves, and scarves to shield it from the elements. Be sure to apply a rich moisturizing lotion (immediately after showering to lock in moisture) that contains ingredients like glycerin that help hold moisture in paying special attention to your hands, feet, elbows, and knees.  Also for your skin and especially your face, schedule moisturizing and hydrating facials and massages on a regular basis to keep your skin looking soft, smooth, supple and beautiful.

Indoor heating: Many of us spend more time inside in the winter and use indoor heating. Dry indoor air not only dries out your skin, it also dries out your mucous membranes, leading to dry, chapped lips, dry noses (nosebleeds), and dry throat (hoarseness, sore throat).

The solution: Set your heater to the lowest setting that’s comfortable, and use a humidifier, especially at night. This will replace the moisture in the air that gets sucked out by dry indoor heat. The humidifier helps hydrate dry skin and soothes chapped lips, dry throat, and nasal passages.

And of course visit your local day spa for expert moisturizing treatments or to purchase the best product for your skin type.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Feeling chilled to the bone on these cold wintery days? Then a Far Infrared Sauna may be just the thing for you!

Far Infrared Sauna Therapy is said to duplicate the healthy frequencies of our own cells.  

Far Infrared is claimed to penetrate the body’s tissues to a depth of 1.5 – 3 inches.

Due to the supposed deep penetration of infrared rays, a heating effect is observed deep in the muscular tissues and even into the internal organs.

This “deep heating”, along with sweating, is thought to be responsible for the healing effects and other health benefits associated with infrared rays.

Unique Benefits from using an Infrared Sauna

Increases skin rejuvenation 
Speeds wound healing
Increases collagen flexibility
Relief of post-operative edema
Relieves muscle spasms
Decreases joint stiffness directly
Increases circulation
Blood pressure reduction
Faster muscle recovery
Increases cell health
Detoxification
Aids in weight loss
Natural pain relief
Relaxation

Visit your local spa to try this marvelous sauna for yourself.