Jul
1
Written by:
Jada
7/1/2009 2:22 AM
Free Your Mind...and the rest will follow
As we prepare to celebrate the independence of the United States, I can’t help but to think about all of the freedoms that we have in this great country. For example, we choose where to go to travel, how to earn a living, who to marry and what to eat. At the same time, we are so constrained by what we’ve been made to believe is the healthiest way to live. We are given guidelines for certain lifestyle choices that may not be in the best interest of our well-being. By opening our minds to healthy alternatives to mainstream ideas about health, we could add years, quality, and true independence to our lives.
Stress Free
In this country, massage therapy has been viewed as a luxury- a treat, to be enjoyed only during celebratory occasions or in times of extreme stress. However, at its very origin, massage therapy and other forms of bodywork are to be enjoyed frequently- even daily- in order to receive the maximum benefits to each and every system of the human body. So while many simply view massages as a self-indulgent stress reliever, they are also quite therapeutic with true health benefits including: more efficient digestion, greater skin elasticity and regeneration, improved circulation, correction of muscle and skeletal imbalances, hormone regulation, and faster healing. Some massage techniques may even be used to increase the chances of conceiving a child. So while treating someone to a massage on a special occasion is a wonderful gift, treating yourself to a regular massage regimen (at least once per month) is the best way to celebrate and enhance the very essence of your precious life.
Chemical Free
To add to your stress free lifestyle, the types of products used during a massage can also make a difference. At One Touch Wellness, we only use high quality products that are skin-friendly, Earth-friendly and paraben free. Parabens are chemicals that operate as a preservative to extend a product’s shelf life to ward off bacterial growth and are found in thousands of American skin care products, and toiletries. You can tell if your product has parabens by looking at the ingredient list. You may see one or more of the following: Methylparaben, proplyparaben, isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, sodium butylparaben. It is thought that parabens mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancer. When parabens are applied to the skin and absorbed through the pores they can mimic estrogen in the body. Too much estrogen in the system can result in hormonal mood disturbances, weight gain, fluid retention as well as the greater potential for breast cancer. There have even been studies that have found parabens in breast tumor samples. However, the FDA has not yet concluded that parabens are unsafe, though they are continuing to research the probability (*wink*). While they figure it out, consider joining us in using paraben free products to meet your skin, body and hair care needs. Most companies will tout “paraben free” right on the label. Parabens may also be used in some processed foods… which we will address in part II of this topic later this month.
Fat Free
We’re not talking about a tasteless bag of cookies, we’re talking about exercise. Our personal trainers are frequently asked about the best way to burn fat. One truth is that that are no short-cuts that are both safe and long-lasting. Another truth is that losing weight is relatively simple. Everyday, you need to expend more calories than you ingest. Most fitness professionals agree that in order to bun fat, you must include some type of aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is frequently referred to as “cardio” and are those exercises that get your heart pumping within your target heart rate zone. As you perform cardio exercises, you are moving your arms and legs with a rhythmic movement that allows your body to pump blood and oxygen to all parts of your body. This strengthens your heart, burns calories and burns fat. There are many different types of aerobics so your workout routine will never get boring. Along with aerobic exercise, you need to be building lean muscle through strength training in order to burn fat. The more lean muscle mass you have the higher your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Your BMR is responsible for 60 - 70% of the calories you burn in a day. Are you clear? Let us create a customized wellness program that is sure to free you from the bondage of crash diets, dangerous pills and brick walls.
Stay In TOUCH,
Jada
"Freedom you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully;
Just look about, you owe it to yourself to check it out"
~ From Brand New Day by Michael Jackson & Friends from The Wiz
Copyright ©2009 Jada Wright
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