Approximately 40 million Americans are making up the 300 million visits to acupuncturists, chiropractors and massage therapists each year. According to a Consumer Reports online survey, three out of four respondents said they choose these alternative methods for general health over prescription drugs and other types of conventional medical care.
Why is this? Participants in the survey claimed they used alternative methods because of the way they were raised or because some life changing illness caused them to look more closely at other ways to take care of their health.
If you are unfamiliar with alternative health care, it is easy to get overwhelmed when choosing what to do. For those who have an interest in learning about natural and holistic health care, the following explanations may help you decide which direction to take.
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If you’ve never had a massage by a licensed massage therapist before, let me tell you something: You are missing out. Massage therapy is fantastic for exercisers as it can help keep your muscles flexible, reduce soreness and even improve your mobility and range of motion. It is also the perfect reward for a few solid weeks of eating right and moving more!
The first time I got a massage, I was excited, but really nervous about what to expect and what to do. So I put together a list of seven tips to get the most out of a massage, be it deep tissue, sports or just a basic Swedish treatment. These tips are geared to first-timers, but it’s also a great refresher for those who visit a massage therapist often!
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In response to rising health care costs, numerous U.S. companies offer corporate fitness and wellness options to employees. “The most important thing a company can offer employees to advance wellness is a willingness to meet employees needs no matter what stage they are at in their wellness journey,” says Marianne Jackson, senior vice president of human resources at Blue Shield of California. “By keeping the healthy well, companies can lower health care costs and increase employee productivity.”
Weight-Loss Programs: Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of all time, and the annual medical costs associated with obesity are estimated to be as high as $147 billion in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for 2009, more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults were obese. Obesity is an important driver of costs in the workplace, so companies offer programs that help employees lose weight. Lopez Negrete Communications, a Houston-based marketing agency, sponsored a weight-loss contest in 2010 in which the winner was awarded $1,000.
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During an intense workout, the human body undergoes all sorts of different processes. Almost every system in the body chips in and focuses its efforts on keeping the muscles working properly. It is an inevitability that the body gets beat up during exercise. But that’s where protein and massages come into play.
First off, protein helps build and repair the broken down tissues from the intense workout. That’s why everyone these days is so protein-driven! Secondly, massages don’t affect muscle strength, but have been proven to optimize recovery. There are two different ways to use massages to help speed up recovery: self-massage (self-myofascial release) or professional massage.
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Well, the final week of the wedding fitness plan is upon us and I hope that you have found success with your workout routines. Over the past few weeks I covered the importance of self-stretching as well as assisted stretching, but this week self-massage is the focus. Self-massage can be referred to as self myofascial release, which is a form of soft tissue therapy.
Wedding Season Week 10:
“Nothing takes as long as you think when you put your heart and mind to it.” (unknown)
Tip: Snacking before a workout is extremely important. By doing so, you will provide your body with enough fuel or energy to get through a long hard workout. Keep it small and simple, then grab a good healthy meal right after. A few quick healthy pre-workout snacks are fruit, granola, protein bar, egg whites, or a vegetable.
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