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The workplace is one of the top sources of stress in the average person’s life. According to a 2009 study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), a staggering 69% of employees in the U.S. say work is a “significant source of stress,” and 41% say they are tense throughout the workday. If you constantly feel stressed at work, try some of the following tips to create a more tranquil and relaxing work environment.
There’s nothing quite as relaxing as receiving a massage from a licensed therapist. Just a brief 30-minute session can relieve built-up tension, promote blood flow, and flush toxin-filled liquid out of your system. But this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the practice of massage therapy.
While most people are familiar with Swedish and Deep, there are hundreds of other types of massage that shouldn’t go unnoticed, some of which includes myofascial release, pediatric, sports, Balinese, Anma, Esalen, Reflexology, and Shiatsu. continue reading
Adults who need 2,000 daily calories to maintain a healthy weight should eat 2 cups of fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables per day (a total of nine servings). According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, only 14% of adults consume the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables (source). That’s a shockingly low number that should serve as a wake-up call to people everywhere.
If you struggle to consume the recommended amount of vegetables and fruit, you should consider investing in a blender or juicer. Juicing and blending are both excellent ways to include more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. Now for the million dollar question: which method is better for your health? continue reading
Seniors are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. According to the government-run organization-Administration On Aging (AOA), there were 39.6 million Americans 65 years of age or older in 2009 (source). This number is expected to double by 2030 to 72.1 million. With such a large percentage of the population entering their “golden years,” it’s important for the general public to take a proactive approach towards seniors’ health and well-being. continue reading
Are you addicted to sugar? If so, you aren’t alone. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the average American consumes a whopping 89 teaspoons of sugar per day – about 3-4 times more than the recommended daily allowance.
Sugar adversely affects the body in a number of different ways. It increases a person’s chance of developing diabetes, promotes tooth decay, contributes to fat accumulation and subsequently obesity, and weakens the immune system. continue reading
Tension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches, affecting tens of millions of Americans each year. They are characterized by shooting pain in the head, scalp, neck and surrounding area. While most people treat their tension headaches with acetaminophen or similar over-the-counter pain relievers, massage therapy can prove to be just as effective, if not more so.
What makes makes tension headaches unique is how they are created. Scientists and doctors are still trying to determine exactly what happens when a person experiences a headache. The brain is an incredibly complex organ with an estimated 100-500 trillion synapses, and the more we study it, the more we realize just how little we know about it.
With that said, doctors have pinpointed the cause of tension headaches as built-up muscle tension – muscles in the head or neck which remain constricted. continue reading
You are what you eat is an adage that holds more truth than you may realize. Unfortunately, many people today focus their diet around processed foods that are high in sugar, sodium and fat. Diets such as this can increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and more. You can protect your body and health against such illnesses, however, by eating lean meats, fresh vegetables, and by adding the following “superfoods” to your diet. continue reading
Have you ever noticed that you or others have less than ideal posture? Whether you’re sitting down at a desk, standing, walking or running, you should focus on maintaining your body’s natural position. This means keeping your head and neck up while avoiding slouching or slumping.
Some of the physiological problems linked to poor posture include:
The good news is that you can reverse the effects of poor posture by following some simple steps.
One of the most common causes of poor posture is sitting incorrectly. Allowing your lower back to slump down and curve places additional stress on the vertebrae, which in turn can lead to poor posture.
The right way to sit at a desk or table is to plant your feet about shoulder-width apart, keep your head and neck faced straight ahead, and provide support for your lumbar region. Depending on the type of chair in which you are sitting, you may need to use a special cushion or insert for lumbar support. Without this support, your lower back will slump down and throw off your body’s natural posture.
Yoga is both a spiritual art and a physical discipline, and includes controlled breathing, meditation, and practice of bodily postures. Practicing it regularly is almost certain to improve your posture. Yoga incorporates a wide variety of bodily positions into regular exercises, strengthening and toning muscles that would otherwise go unnoticed in traditional workouts.
How exactly does yoga work to improve the body’s posture? It’s able to do this in a couple different ways, one of which is by repetition. If you sit in and watch a yoga class, you’ll notice the instructor and participants frequently stretch their body into various positions. Performing these same positions regularly gradually improves the body’s posture. Of course, yoga also strengthens muscles which support the body’s natural posture.
A third technique for improving posture is to perform exercises which strengthen the core abdominal muscles. A stronger core means more spinal support; thus, promoting a natural, proper posture.
There are dozens of different exercises which focus on the core, the easiest of which are leg raises. Simply lay down on the floor, raise both of your legs parallel about 2-3 feet, hold the position for 10 seconds and lower. Rinse and repeat until you are no longer able to perform any more reps. Other core-building exercises include bicycle crunches, planks, and situps.
There are many ins and outs of stretching; both literally and figuratively. Some of the most appealing aren’t always the best ones. When muscles haven’t been stretched in a while, and/ or have not been exercised regularly, you may experience some irritation as you begin or resume your stretching program. Resist the temptation to over stretch, to stretch too fast or to stretch to a place that is more uncomfortable than necessary. This helps you avoid possible and sometimes serious injuries.
Many people associate massage with pampering or as luxury reserved for special occasions. And indeed, it can be so, with its own appealing benefits. Additionally, and with increasing scientific evidence, massage has been shown to be a valuable adjunct to your wellness, health and fitness program. Consider these possibilities:
Massage is good for improved flexibility in muscles and joints. However much we try, we cannot always maintain the correct balances to keep joint and muscle movement optimized. We favor one leg over the other, we bend over our computers for too long, we sit too much – all these practices contribute to imbalances. Through massage, and specifically, active and passive stretching, your massage therapist can bring relief to any compromised flexibility. continue reading
