 "Absolute Body Balance" Writes. . . Massage therapy is an ancient art of healing and prevention which has been practiced for thousands of years. As children we first practice the instinct of holding or rubbing an injured part of our bodies in an attempt to make the pain go away. How simple and yet how much touch is a necessity to the human race. While massage can be helpful for relaxation and stress relief, it is also beneficial in coping with anxiety, headaches, insomnia and depression. Therapeutic massage is making great strides with the medical profession in treating TMJ, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel syndrome, arthritis, low back pain, thoracic outlet syndrome, frozen shoulder, sciatica and many other conditions. Massage therapy can be extremely helpful with pregnancy, newborns and infants. Therapeutic massage is now being utilized as stress management for traumatic events in accord with debriefing and safe touch. Clients are seen at the office for thirty, sixty, ninety and one hundred twenty minutes sessions. The frequency of appointments is determined by the therapist and the client depending on the situation; clients can be seen several times a week, weekly, biweekly or monthly. If a client's situation or difficulty does not permit them into the office, such as post surgical patients, bed ridden, elderly persons or the disabled, a licensed massage therapist can be contracted to their residence to provide therapeutic massage for their needs. The benefits of massage include increased circulation, improved flexibility, increased range of motion, enhanced relaxation, decreased anxiety and reduced muscle tension, aches, discomfort and stiffness. Massage therapy can produce physiological as well as pyschological benefits for the client. The specific modalities affect the body's systems by either stimulating or relaxing them depending upon the method and pressure. The sensation of touch can also stimulate the receptors in the brain responsible for pain management, such as endorphins. When stimulated these chemicals, the body's own "pain killers", can trigger a response to lessen the perception of pain. Massage therapy is one solution that will make you feel less tired, less mentally cluttered and less stressed overall. This provides an increased sense of well being which is a most optimal advantage in the pursuit of living healthier. Incorporating massage therapy into your regimen will not only assist living longer, but can decrease the association of ill health with the aging process; therefore, living a longer and healthier life which is obviously a better life!! Kim Barker 
Race For The Cure Nancy Bono Writes We are so appreciative that you included our Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in your August mailer (thank you - thank you - thank you). As you may know, October is breast cancer awareness month, and we are making every effort to secure a great turn out for this cause. This year's Raleigh, NC, American Cancer Society's Annual 5K Walk/Run in support of the fight against breast cancer, is being held on October 5, 2002 at the Shops of Cameron Village. Sponsorships are still available (ranging from $300 to $10,000), volunteers are needed, and walkers and/or runners are the KEY to the success of this event. (It's $25 per walker with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society). You can contact the American Cancer Society directly for more information at Raleigh.Strides@cancer.org or by calling Catherine Schmid-Lohr at 834-8463. I thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, 
Are You Naturally A Small Size? Then you'll want to read my September Article 
Home Spa: Try this HOME BODY WRAP TREAT which will leave your skin feeling BETTER! 
Would You Like to Submit An Article? If you have good information to share on a home-based health service and you would like to submit an article, contact Angela at 919-788-8981 or info@thfitspa.com 
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Snickers Update Heather Haste Writes "Hello. I’d like to know where you got your snickers info. It is wrong. The calorie content in a REAL snickers is 280, sugar 2.9 g, 14 g fat, and 36 carbs. Is this some new diet snickers?" Last month's information was taken from a King Size Snickers bar, per serving size (as all bars were referenced per serving). The serving size is 1/3 of the bar, but it is a very large (King Sized) bar, with 1/3 being roughly equivalent to some of the smaller "nutritional bars." Thanks Heather for your interest and for adding to the fun! READ THE LABELS. Don't take anything that goes into your body for granted. Year-End FANTASTIC FITNESS Savings!!  The Body Sculptress New Client Incentive!!! Recipients of this newsletter can purchase (1) $25 Home Fitness Sessions (2) $10 Phone Coaching Sessions -- before October 10th! No gimmicks - just trying to fill up my fall schedule and entice you to go ahead and do what you've been wanting to do. The sessions are subject to availability. Home session pricing is for North and West Raleigh residents only (other rates may apply to other areas). Review Phone Coaching here. Home Combination Strength and Cardio Program One of my favorite workouts is done around my staircase, which has 13 stairs. I do it without stopping and it takes 30 minutes. It's tough, it's comprehensive, and it will target your total body -- all at home and without any weights. Please take care to work at your own pace, work at the number of repetitions that challenges you without overdoing it, and call for a phone session if you would like further direction or explanation. Most of all, though, have fun!!
 The Typical Un-American Diet Mmmm... The good ole' American Diet. Fatty burgers, greasy fries, processed chips, overly sweet sodas, super-extra-double portions, gooey donuts, chocolate cereals, foot long subs... shall I go on? Hmmm... America's health. Child obesity, adolescent obesity, adult obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, high anxiety, mood disorders... shall I go on? Obviously, the "typical American diet" is in some desperate need of help. Though at times it may be hard to see through the mountains of toppings and around the super-sized buns, there IS still hope. Let's take a closer look at various diets from around the world and maybe begin to incorporate some refreshing and healthier alternatives into our new Un-American diet. Life Expectancy Chart Country Male (years) Female (years) Japan * Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world- and their longevity has much to do with their diet. * The Japanese consume twice as much fish as they do meat. * Japanese meals are significantly low in saturated fat. * Vegetables are a staple of each meal. * Most food is flavored naturally in the form of herbs, spices and condiments such as ginger, lemon, sesame seed, mustard. * The Japanese diet is greatly varied. This is essential for disease prevention. France * Portions, portions, portions. The French do ENJOY their fine foods. The key word is enjoy. They actually take the time to sit and eat and converse and taste the food. Sure their foods may be rich at times, but when you taste a little of this and a little of that without wolfing down huge portions, your weight stays healthy. * Just 8% of the French qualify as obese, compared to 33% of Americans. * The French do not eat lots of calories late at night. * France is very "snack free". Food is quality NOT quantity. You won't see too many French walking around scarfing down bags of chips or cookies. * The French do not rush their meals. The sit, relax and enjoy. * Garlic, red wine and olive oil are staples of the French Diet. Italy *Italians are famous for their long lunches and family meals. Food is a very social aspect of their every day life. They put both time and effort into preparing wholesome and delicious meals. *Daily shopping for fresh food ingredients helps them get in some extra exercise along with their after lunch and after dinner walks. *Their diet mainly consists of fresh, healthy, whole and unprocessed foods such as olive oil, vegetables, fruits, fresh fish, cheese, wine and pasta. These types of foods are #1 to fight off disease. **The lesson from all of this is to recognize the benefits of a high food variety, with minimal saturated fat, more fish, less meat, and especially more fruit, vegetables and grains. Also, remember that serving sizes in almost every other country are significantly smaller than what we find here at home** |