Everyone enjoys a little pet behind the shoulders,neck and back. AND guess what! It's good for your dog too. A gentle pet massage is a great way to connect with your pet but they will enjoy all the benefits of massage that we receive when we get them. According to Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals benefits include:
* Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
* Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow the body's natural defense system.
* Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
* Help prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
* Lessen depression and anxiety.
* Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
* Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
* Reduce spasms and cramping.
* Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
* Release endorphins amino acids that work as the bodys natural painkiller.
* Relieve migraine pain.
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March 2009 Archives
Recently Living Healthy checked out Sports and Ortho Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine in Oak Lawn. If you have had a orthopedic or sports related injury, this spot is a viable option in helping you recover faster.
Well it's no surprise that kids are getting more obese and overweight just like their parents. In fact, it's been said that this may be the first generation to die before their parents due to Type II Diabetes and obesity related illnesses. Kids are getting fatter too! Check out this new information from schools in Georgia.
Many U.S. middle school kids physically unfit: study
How much should you exercise?
We all have heard that regular exercise is key to living a healthier, longer life, but the type, duration, frequency and intensity of what that exercise should be, is a little different for everyone. Beginners should understand that getting a physician's clearance before starting an exercise program is a good practice. Another rule of thumb for beginner exercisers is to understand that muscles learn patterning first and then build strength. So for the first six weeks of starting a new exercise program, realize two things:
Everyday I receive a motivaltional quote from Linked In Power women... I had to share with you this one!
Subject: DAILY MOTIVATION- YOU HAVE THE POWER TO LIVE YOUR DREAM
The day you take complete responsibility for yourself,
the day you stop making any excuses,
that's the day you start moving down the road to success.
No one else can do it for you.
A little goes a long way- check out these ways to burn 100 calories - try a few! You may be surprised how you really have to move to burn those calories and don't forget approximately 3,500 deficit equals a pound!
rake the lawn for 20 minutes
mow the law with a push mower for 14 minutes
walk with a snow blower for 20 minutes
I didn't know a thing about "vibration technology" until we did a story on Powerplate--a relatively new piece of equipment that strategically vibrates various body parts (like your thigh or calf) and helps improve your work out.
Working out is an excellent way to keep your body in shape, but if you're not careful, you could get seriously injured.
We checked in with Dr. Vishal Mehta of Fox Valley Orthopedics for tips on preventing ankle injuries.
It's Friday the 13th and today is a beautiful day in Chicago to get out there and exercise! Here are 13 reasons to go out and make it a great day!
1. Better flexibility. It's the old "use it or lose it" concept. If your muscles are strong and balanced you will have better flexibility and better control of movements.
2.Better Balance. Constantly moving sharpens our inner ear balance centers and keeps muscles stronger, keeping you more steady on your feet.
3. Better sleep. Lack of sleep is now linked to weight gain; exercise helps promote better rest and burning of calories.
4. Stronger Bones. Weight-bearing exercise helps stimulate muscles, which pull on the bones to make them more dense. These exercises, coupled with a diet rich in calcium and magnesium, will build stronger bones as you age.
5.Better Immune System. People who are physically active are less likely to catch colds, and a little bit of exercise may actually speed up your recovery. If you are running a temperature, rest is your best bet. Otherwise, get moving and walk. Deep breathing may boost your immune response and get you feeling better faster.
6. Better Response to Stress. Exercise raises endorphin levels and lowers the stress hormone cortisol. The release of these exercise-induced hormones not only make you feel happy but they stay elevated even after you are done with your workout.
If you have children, you know how hard it can be to get them to eat their veggies! But a
new study released noted that kids eat more vegetables if they think they are cool. My kids are teenagers now, but when they were little, I would call broccoli: dinosaur trees and brussel sprouts- mini lettuces. So if you're having trouble getting them to eat right- put stickers of their favorite characters on the fruit in their lunches or look at "x-ray eyes carrots"!
When I met my wife, I didn't even consider wearing sunscreen over an SPF of 4. Because of my dark, olive skin, I thought I was immune to any type of skin melanomas.
Well I was wrong! About 8 years ago I had two moles removed: one from my chest, the other from my heel. Yes, that wasn't a typo...my heel!!! When does my heel see the sun??? How could I get a melanoma on my heel? Well, from what I've read, the foot is the second most common area for such melanomas!!!
At "Living Healthy Chicago" we meet a lot of amazing Chicagoans whose stories of success with dieting and weight-loss inspire us to transform and improve our own lives.
But on this week's show, we're bringing you the particularly touching story of stroke survivor Phyllis Weiss. Phyllis is a woman of unparalleled strength and determination and her road to recovery is as heart-warming as it is awe-inspiring.
There are many different kinds of food I love, but at the top of the list? PASTA! I realize the older I get the harder it is to keep the pounds off without more intensive workouts, as well as watching my calorie and carb intake.
I reached out to my friend the other day to see how he and his family were doing. His wife was diagnosed with cancer about 8 weeks ago, and underwent surgery that for the most part removed the tumor.