Posts Tagged ‘fitness’

Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Massage Chair Therapy

Saturday, June 27th, 2009
by Claudine Balsells

There are many things that can impact getting an effective massage therapy session. It is important to think about where you are receiving the massage and what possible distractions can occur. To maximize your massage experience, you want to create an environment which is conducive to relaxation. This will help your mind and body both relax and release their attention. Here are a few simple ideas that will help you get the most out of your massage therapy session.

Relaxation is a vital aspect of receiving a massage. The mind has a great hold over the tension residing in your body. When your mind cannot relax then neither can your body. This will help you unwind the tension that is permeating through your body when under stress.

One of the important elements of massage is helping to activate the healing processes in the body. This is better facilitated when the mind can relax. If the mind is ruminating on its problems then it will still retain tension and stiffness in the body. This makes it harder for the massage therapy to be effective.

When your body is under tension, it is holding your muscles taut. This sustained attention results in muscle stiffness and fatigue. The muscles simply become tight and loose their flexibility. If your mind hold on to its troubles then it is harder for the muscles in the body to relax.

Maximize your massage experience with a couple of these ideas. First and foremost remove potential distractions which can intrude during your massage therapy session. It is important to have a calm and soothing environment to assist in relaxing. If there is too much muscle then the mind may not be able to easily relax.

So, turn off your cell phone. Make sure you won’t be disturbed during the course of your treatment. If you are getting a 20 minute massage, then try to find a time when you will be able to relax the whole time. You don’t want to have to get up and do something in the middle of your massage which breaks your relaxation period.

There are ways to cut out the ambient or background noise. Playing music is a perfect way to control the auditory reactions. Normally, it is good to play instrumental music without words. Many popular tracks used in massage therapy come from the new age and smooth jazz categories.

An excellent way to drown out the ambient noise is by using headphones. Many massage chairs come equipped with a music player and provide headphones for the users. By playing the music through the headphones, it is easy to get lost in the music. Headphones also help to drown out any ambient noise.

Lowlight conditions are preferred to induce greater relaxation. If the lights are too bright, then it is harder to relax and distracting. Low lighting helps to establish an environment of relaxation. If you have a dimmer, put the lights on the lower settings.

Many times adding the fragrance or sent to a room can help you with your relaxation. A single rose placed near you during the massage can provide a beautiful scent. A soft fragrance such as from a Rose will help you to relax and if you a better massage treatment.

Make sure that what you wear is not too tight. Tight clothes can act as another layer of skin. This will make it harder for the massage to come in contact with your muscles and soft tissue areas. You can also better relax with loose fitting clothes then with tight fitting clothes.

These are a few simple ideas that you can put in place very quickly. You’ll be surprised at how much more effective your total massage experience will be. Remember this is a time for relaxation and recovery. Your body needs time to heal and recovery. Allowing the mind to clear its thoughts and be calm helps the body to relieve tension and stiffness. Make your massage chair treatments much more effective by minimizing distractions and creating a soothing and relaxing environment.

About the Author:
Improve the effectiveness of your massage therapy by following a few of these simple tips. Check out the most Effective Massage Chair, the Montage Elite from Omega. They are the trusted name in Effective Massage Chairs. Relax your body and mind with a massage chair recliner from Omega.

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The Future of Hiking Shoes

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
by George Marcos

The use of hiking shoes is strictly required and implemented in activities such as mountain climbing, hiking and other similar tasks. This is because hiking shoes gives the users the capacity to have the traction and stability in dealing with the very dangerous terrain. Lack of this equipment has caused many accidents and unwanted mishaps.

The development and research of hiking shoes have undergone a very meticulous process due to the increased quality invested by the manufacturers and shoe makers. Hiking shoes are very important in the sense that it serves to keep the hiker’s stable to the ground. In fact during the last decades, billions of dollars have been spent on the development of hiking shoes.

One of the main technological breakthroughs found in the latest hiking shoes is the spike attachments radiating from the sole of the shoe. Although this has been used in shoes for decades, the latest hiking shoes have allowed the spikes to have the correct placement to have better traction and stability.

The latest hiking shoes are created to be a perfect fit to the foot of the hiker and climber. One feature which allowed the shoe to be a better fit to the user is through the use of the sole adapting foam which easily adjusts its form to the wearer’s foot. This creates maximum comfort and functionality.

Another important feature integrated into hiking shoes is the use of a protective cloth placed towards the lower part of the legs. This comes in the form of sleeves which can be pulled up and protect the wearer from unwanted scratches and contact with pointed plants and other obstacles.

The hiking shoes are designed to withstand any elemental damage and hazards. That is why it is outfitted with a thick front covering which allows the shoe to force any obstacles away when used with force. This is very useful in time of running and climbing where mountains of dirt and soil are distributed around the ground. Instead of the wearer tripping, it allows him to move the obstruction away using his shoe.

To ensure quality and strength, the shoe is created with a couple of materials integrated together to maximize its sturdiness. Basically, rubber and leather are the two main materials used. The rubber and leather allows flexibility and consistency at the same time. It is ideal especially in conditions where the shoe needs to be stretched.

Hiking shoes are the best options for hikers and climbers for them to experience nature with ample protection since it uses only the most advanced and reliable materials for its production and manufacturing. Considering the fact that the environment is very dangerous, this should be perfect and comfortable for the foot of the hiker and climber.

About the Author:
Choosing gore tex hiking shoes instead of hiking boots should be done when you are doing light duty hiking. Hiking boots are a better choice when you need extra support for rugged trails or are doing longer hikes. There is lots more to learn about hiking shoes, so keep doing your research until you are confident before your next hiking shoe purchase.

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Massage Chairs Assist With Spinal Therapy

Saturday, June 13th, 2009
by James Knolan

The health of your spine is vital to living an active life. If you have ever hurt your back even slightly, you know how your mobility can be significantly decreased. You may have pulled your back or had a pinched nerve. A little irritation can cause a lot of pain and loss of mobility. Many of the top chiropractors use massage chairs to help their patients with spinal therapy.

Hopefully, any problem you have had has not resulted in you having to visit a chiropractor. A chiropractors role is to align everything up to its prior functioning capabilities and once he or she has done so the rest of the body will be back in good order. Chiropractors use different techniques to help restore your spine to good health.

One of the main goals of a chiropractor is to align the spine to its prior state. Some conditions or injuries require manipulation, stretching and massage. The chiropractor must align the cervical discs and get the soft tissue and muscles to hold the proper alignment in place. They are simply just trying to get it all back in place.

Chiropractors employ a variety of techniques to induce the spine to return to its original health. Manipulation is direct action by the chiropractor. Hands are used to apply specific pressure and angles to adjust specific areas of the back. Other treatments employed are electrical stimulation, stretching, massage and physical therapy. Massage chairs can provide some of these treatments and are used by some of the top chiropractors.

You can now find a variety of effective treatments for spinal therapy in today’s massage chairs. Massage chairs can apply specific treatments consistently and can be precisely timed and controlled. A slow kneading massage can be applied to the lumbar area for 5 minutes. Massage chairs also come equipped with heat therapy and have stretching capabilities.

Massage therapies included in many of the top massage chair models include shiatsu, kneading, chopping, deep tissue, Swedish, finger press and more. These can be applied to a specific area or point. The flexibility and the precision of the targeting give good control over the therapy being applied.

The convenience of a massage chair to provide a general back massage to precise targeting is tremendous. The key to back health is to receive periodic treatments to aid the spine. These massage therapies help to loosen stiff muscles and restore mobility. They also help to flush out built up toxins and reduce lactic acid.

A complementary therapy integrated into some of the top massage chairs are heaters. Heat is used to decrease swollen muscles and improve blood circulation. The heating elements can be activated for specific areas to target the application of the heat to particular muscles.

You can also find systems that can do stretching. These massage chairs can actually stretch out the legs, shoulders and arms. With the use of the air compression system, parts of the body can be held and then the chair will move to provide the force to stretch out muscles. This helps to increase joint mobility.

Although everyone wants to avoid going to the doctor, there are many reasons to seek the proper care for your situation. If you are in doubt about your situation, consult with your health care provider for the proper treatment for you.

A chiropractor’s goal is to get your spine back to its proper condition. There are a variety of techniques used to deal with the soft tissue and bones of the spine. Massage chairs have found their way into chiropractor’s offices to assist their patients to recover and prevent injuries. The periodic application of massage therapy helps to provide greater flexibility to the muscles and soft tissues while providing traction systems. All these treatments are geared to your spinal therapy.

About the Author:
Many top doctors are utilizing Massage Chairs in their practices to give consistent and dependable massage therapy. See how healing your back, spine and attitude can be assisted with your own massage chair. We give reviews of the top Massage Chairs to help you find the perfect chair for your needs.

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Product Review: Sanyo HEC DR7700K Massage Chair Recliner

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
by Steve Esquire

Sanyo entered the massage chair industry just a few short years ago. They have the name, but they lack the retail store distribution. The biggest customer complaint is finding one to try. This is extremely difficult with most distribution channels pretty locked up. Sanyo has pushed more into internet dealers. Shiatsu massage chairs have been on the market for 30 years, so Sanyo is a late entrant. Their HEC-DR7700K Zero Gravity Massage Chair is their flagship model. This shiatsu recliner retails for about $5,000.

First off, you are buying a chair for your needs. Second, the company that makes it is like your mother-in-law, it is just part of the package. You pick the chair like your spouse, but then the manufacturer becomes your mother-in-law. Now, of course, manufacturers vary (just because you are big does not make you better, kind of like mother-in-laws). So, Sanyo, your potential mother-in-law, how will she treat you, or how is their customer service? Sanyo has a 24/7 call center for warranty issues located in the US (sometimes a big plus if you speak English). Their service in our experience has been fine, with most issues resolved in a relatively short time.

Warranty is always an interesting area. You can benchmark a manufacturer’s confidence by their warranty. The longer and more comprehensive the better and brings additional value and protection to customer. Sanyo’s warranty is weak. One would think that Sanyo would have one of the best warranties, but it is rather short compared to other massage chair manufacturers. Sanyo’s warranty is 1 year labor, 1 year parts, 3 years on the roller mechanism. Finally, Sanyo is offering in-home service, which it will cover for the first year. The warranty is a good indication of the company’s faith in its product. Sanyo’s massage chair warranty is weak for the price-remember the price tag is $5,000.

Officially, a zero gravity chair must recline back so your knees are above your heart. The HEC-DR7700K Zero Gravity shiatsu massage chair meets this requirement. In the zero gravity position, your weight is evenly distributed across your back. This takes the weight off your spine. This is a comfortable position. One can certainly relax before and after their massage.

The HEC-DR7700K has a built in Stiffness Detection Sensor based on lie detection technology. The Stiffness Detection Sensor can locate stress points on your back. Bby monitoring changes in your perspiration and pulse rate, it can pinpoint areas in need of attention and focus the massage in those areas.

Image that as you move on the chair, the chair adjusts the massage to where your body is now positioned. Sanyo has a Physical Shape Sensor that adjusts the massage rollers to your body shape. These smart rollers adjust as your body shifts during the massage. If you are a bit squeamish about massage, this feature will follow your every move.

Sanyo’s has an exclusive GK Roller Technology. The GK rollers have the capability to “reach out” of the massage chair. The reaching out is a great function for the neck and shoulders. Sanyo has added an extra thumb as part of the roller system. It is great to see 3 dimensional massage functions be incorporated to massage your neck and shoulders. These rollers extend out to give an extra dimension of massage sensation. Congratulations Sanyo on breaking into the 3 dimension robotic massage chair!

The massage makes or breaks any shiatsu massage chair. The Sanyo DR7700K has a variety of massage therapies. 5 automatic massage courses, 4 full body automatic courses and a total combination of 83 combination manual massage courses. Manual massage techniques include Grip, Shiatsu, Kneading, Tapping, Kneading & Tapping and various stretches. Need anything more? How about some 3 dimensional massage with Sanyo’s jointed massage head unit. This mechanism pushes outward and strongly grips your shoulders from above. This is solid technology in Sanyo’s flagship shiatsu massage chair recliner.

About the Author:
Browse through the fantastic Sanyo HEC-DR7700K Massage Chair and learn about all the features and functions of this highly advanced top end shiatsu lounger. You will find the complete line of Sanyo Massage Chairs for every massage therapy need. Visit Massage Unlimited for honest and unbiased reviews of top manufacturers including Panasonic, Sanyo, Human Touch, and Omega Massage.

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