Tag Archives: health

Pilates vs Yoga

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yoga

Yoga was created in India with the purpose to not only improve your physical health, but your emotional and spiritual health as well. These movements focus on building flexibility and strength.

Pilates is unique in that, unlike yoga and other activities, its origin is relatively recent. Pilates was created in 1920 by Joseph Pilates for physical rehabilitation. The main goal of Pilates is to strengthen the stomach, improve posture, stabilize and elongate the spine and develop balance and overall strength.

Overall, the biggest difference between Pilates and yoga is the ultimate goal.  Yoga provides a meditative environment for you to improve your overall quality of life.  It focuses on stress relief while improving your body.

Pilates works from the center of your body outward. It forces you to increases your body awareness and work from your core, resulting in a stronger body.

Keeping Your Back Healthy

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Tips to Avoid Lasting Pain
Chances are good that, at some point in your life, you will have back pain. In fact, 70-85 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. But even with those odds, there are still several ways to minimize your risk and give yourself the best chance to live pain-free.

Several factors can cause back pain, including stress, poor posture, bad ergonomics, lack of exercise, arthritis, osteoporosis, a sedentary lifestyle, overexertion, pregnancy, kidney stones, fibromyalgia, excess weight, and more.

With all of these potential causes lurking, it’s important to look at behaviors that can help you prevent and avoid back pain before it starts. Here are a few simple healthy back tips from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke:

–Stretch and warm tissues before exercise or other strenuous activities.
–Practice good posture. Avoid slouching when sitting or standing.
–When standing, keep your weight balanced on both feet.
–Follow good ergonomics in the workplace. When sitting for long periods of time, rest your feet on a foot support. Make sure your chair and work surfaces are at the proper height. Get up and move around in between long sitting stints.
–Avoid high-heeled shoes.
–Watch your weight. Excess weight, especially around the waist, can put undue stress on lower back muscles.
–Exercise. Core strengthening moves, especially, will also benefit your back.
–Don’t lift items that are heavier than you can handle. Remember to lift with your knees, not your back. Pull in your stomach muscles, keep your head down and in line with your straight back, and do not twist when lifting.
–Get a massage. Using therapeutic bodywork can melt pain-inducing stress away from your back and the rest of your body.

A Cornerstone of Health

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Why Now, More Than Ever, You Need a Massage
While you may be tempted to trim your wellness budget when economic times are tough, now more than ever, massage should play a role in reducing stress and strengthening the health of Americans.

When you feel your best, you are more likely to be able to face the challenges difficult times present. With greater health and peace of mind, you can face difficulties with poise, clarity of purpose, and strengthened emotional reserves.

Truly, massage is more than a luxury–it’s a vital part of self-care that has a positive ripple effect on us as we work, play, relax, live life, and care for others.

Invest In Yourself, Invest in Those You Love In economically challenging times, it is vital to invest in preventative health care. The last thing you want is to get sick, have to take time off of work, and pay expensive medical bills. Staying healthy means maintaining your ability to take whatever life has to throw at you. Besides lowering stress levels and, in turn, reducing the risk of stress-related illnesses, massage also boosts immunity, helping you fight colds, flu, and other viral infections.

Following is a sampling of a long list of bodywork benefits:
– Ease anxiety.- Reduce the flow of stress hormones.- Improve sleep.- Boost the immune system.- Build energy levels.- Reduce fatigue.- Foster concentration.- Increase circulation.- Develop self-esteem.- Reduce frequency of headaches.- Release endorphins.

And if you think about it, massage is an excellent value. The price of massage has remained stable in recent years, as the cost of movies, dining out, and sports events has risen. Which of these has the power to improve your health and your outlook on life?

The positive effects of regular massage can have far-reaching effects in many areas of your life.

At Home Massage therapy will also help families under stress create healthier households with clear-thinking and more relaxed moms and dads. Children are very sensitive and often pick up on tension in a household; parents who are taking care of themselves are more likely to be better caregivers and provide a sense of security to their kids. This goes for caregivers of aging parents and other family members.

At Work The health benefits of massage can help forestall illnesses and lost work time, especially when you may be asked to produce more with fewer resources. Decision-making skills will be better and your performance is likely to be improved with a clear focus and more energy.

A hint for the boss: Research shows employees exhibit less stress and improved performance when given twice-weekly, 15-minute massages in the office!

For Health Conditions Those with already existing health conditions can continue to reap benefits in the following ways. And proactively caring for health through massage may help reduce costly doctor visits and use of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Research shows:
– Massage can reduce sports-related soreness and improve circulation–good to know when you may be exercising more to reduce stress.

– Deep-tissue massage is effective in treating back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia patients receiving massage also have less pain, depression, anxiety, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep problems.

– Massage reduces symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

– Oncology patients show less pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety and depression following massage therapy.

– Stroke patients show less anxiety and lower blood pressure with massage therapy.

– Massage therapy is effective is reducing post-surgical pain.

– Alzheimer’s patients exhibit reduced pacing, irritability and restlessness after neck and shoulder massage.

– Labor pain. Massage during labor appears to reduce stress and anxiety, relax muscles and help block pain. Some medical professionals believe massage also reduces tearing, shortens labor, reduces the need for medication and shortens hospital stays.

– Preterm babies receiving massage therapy gain more weight and have shorter hospital stays than infants not receiving massage.

– Massage is beneficial in reducing symptoms associated with arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, and premenstrual syndrome.

There is now a body of research to support the benefits listed above. But there’s no greater testimonial than the person who is a regular receiver of massage. The first-hand experience of bodywork clients largely echo the same sentiment: bodywork enhances quality of life, and the return on your investment is great.

While bodywork feels like a luxurious mini-vacation, and you should by all means enjoy it, there is an actual physical need for massage. Maintaining a regular massage schedule will help you operate at your peak level–whether it be at work, at home, or at play. Invest in yourself, and book a massage today.

Handwashing for Your Health

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How to do it and why it helps
You know that washing your hands is important, but studies suggest that washing frequently and thoroughly can help keep you, and the people you come in contact with, healthier.

Clean and Healthy Researchers in Denmark instructed students to wash their hands three times a day. According to the study, which was published in the American Journal of Infection Control (August 2011), the children that learned new habits significantly reduced their amount of absences due to illness.

Sanitizers or Soap? A study by the American College of Preventive Medicine showed that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are less effective than soap at preventing outbreaks of norovirus in long-term care facilities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using these sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol. Here is some more hand-washing advice from the CDC:

When Should You Wash Your Hands?–Before, during, and after preparing food and before eating
–Before and after caring for someone who is sick
–Before and after treating a cut
–After using the toilet or changing diapers
–After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
–After touching an animal or animal waste
–After touching garbage

What Is the Right Way to Wash Your Hands?–Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.
–Rub your hands together to make lather, then scrub the entire hand.
–Don’t forget the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
–Continue for at least 20 seconds.
–Rinse your hands well under running water.
–Dry your hands using a clean towel or air-dry them.
#handwash