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Your Health News
February
Love
Potion #9
For more than 5,000 years, lovers from
all cultures have searched the natural world and beyond for a
food, potion or spell that would heighten sexual pleasure. Aphrodisiacs,
named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty,
are defined as “arousing or intensifying sexual desire;
something, such as a drug or food having such an effect.”
According
to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “the
reputed sexual effects of so-called aphrodisiacs are based
on folklore, not fact.” Don’t let those killjoys
get you down. The ecstatic fact is, studies published in medical
journals indicate that certain herbs, nutritional supplements,
and scents may help promote female sexual arousal. More heartening
news: Over 2,000 years of Chinese herbal tradition suggest
that various botanical substances boost the libido.
Happy Valentine’s Day, indeed!
You give me fever….
“Give me the
power to create a fever, and I shall cure any disease,” proclaimed
Hippocrates more than 2,000 years ago. The father of
modern medicine was hardly the first person—and
certainly not the last—to extol the virtues of
heat therapy. From the elaborate baths of ancient Rome
and similar soaking rituals in Japan to Turkish hammams,
Native American sweat lodges, and the near-ubiquitous
Finnish sauna, many cultures have traditionally turned
up the heat to cure a variety of ills as well as maintain
general well-being.
Heat is a proven therapy,” says
Dr. Edward J. Bernacki, director of the division of occupational
medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
In the case of illness, heat therapy duplicates the effects
of a fever, the body’s natural defense against viruses
and bacteria. Not all invading organisms are killed off by
heat, but the ones that survive are eventually dispatched
by the immune system, which is strengthened during the therapy
through the increased production of antibodies.
Sweat is another positive result of heat. A natural process
that cools the body through evaporation, perspiration has an
impact on both health and beauty—it releases toxins and
cleanses skin of impurities.
Key to the heat experience is proper hydration—before
and after—as it’s possible to lose up to one liter
of sweat during a 15-minute sauna. Without replenishing those
fluids (or having enough of them to eliminate in the first
place), the benefits are lost and dehydration and heat exhaustion
are likely results.
Heat also strengthens the cardiovascular system. When the outside
temperature warms up, capillaries dilate, increasing blood
flow to the skin. To keep up with the additional demand, the
heart rate quickens much like during cardio exercise. A recent
study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology
found that using a dry sauna for 15 minutes a day, three to
five times a week, can improve the function of the heart and
blood vessels.
Therapies like saunas and steam baths are not recommended for
pregnant women and anyone with high blood pressure or a heart
condition is encouraged to check with a physician.
This is a good month to turn up the heat, don’t you think?
What do you say…Let’s
Get Healthy and Stay That Way!
Even with day spas opening on every
corner, the get-healthy spa experience has felt hopelessly
out of reach for many people for reasons of time, economics,
or both. While no one is giving their services away,
there is a new breed of places dedicated to making wellness
a true lifestyle, and at a pace real women might even
have time for.
Long weekends, couples
getaways and even fast, rejuvenating ayurvedic immersions
are coming onto the scene in record numbers. This unparalleled
diversity guarantees a fit for every lifestyle. What we all
need to have in common is being a place of knowledge and
guidance in achieving our own best health, through diet,
exercise, reflection and the power of touch.
ARE
YOU READY TO START EXERCISING?
PERSONAL ASSESSMENT
Testing your readiness and
suitability for exercise.You will know whether your relationship
with that elusive partner, fitness, has been a fleeting one,
a tempestuous one with many partings and reconciliation, or a
long-lasting and trusting one .Answer the following questions
truthfully.
Over the last two years, approximately
how many times have you been to the gym? Once
a week: give yourself 1 mark. Twice a week: give yourself
2 marks. Three time plus a week: give yourself 3 marks
Only answer this question if you attended
a gym two or more times a week on average. Otherwise go on
to question 3 Have these workouts predominantly
combined cardiovascular (CV) work with resistance
based exercise?
If they have, give yourself 3 marks.CV predominantly (include
aerobics and sports such as football and workout classes):
give yourself 2 marks. Resistance predominately: give yourself
2 marks
Again, only answer this question if
you worked out on average, two or more times a week. Over the last year, on average, have
your workouts involved:15 minutes or less
continuous exercise:
give yourself 1 mark.15-30 min continuous exercise: give yourself
2 marks.30-45 min: give yourself 3 marks.45 min plus: give
yourself 4 marks. Continuous exercise is deemed to be a workout
in which your exertion level never drops back down to pre-exercise
commencement levels no matter how slightly (or strenuously!)
you’re exerting yourself – breathing above normal
levels, experiencing muscular fatigue or sweating more than
normal.
Injury problems
This is a test of your body’s readiness for an exercise
program.No current injury problems: 3 points Some pain in activity
but not limited by the injury: 2 points Activity limited by
the injury: 1 point Unable to do much strenuous training: 0
points.
Age
In general; the younger you are, the less time you will have
had to slip out of condition. However, we’ve given
these question two categories – for non active versus
active people regardless of age. See below for definitions
of active/non active and answer only one part of the question,
part a or b. A) Non active person – defined for our
purposes as scoring 6 or less points on the first four questions
above .Under 20: 4 marks21-29: 3 marks30-39: 2 marks40 plus:
1 mark .B) Active person regardless of age – defined
for our purposes by scoring more than 5 points on questions
1-4. Give yourself 4 points.
Conclusions Adding
up your scores will allow you to ascertain a measure of your
personal fitness history and suitability to undertake your
home gym workout.
Score between 3 and
6
Ready for a low (beginners) level program. Score between 7 and 11
Ready for a moderate (intermediate) program. Score of 12 and above
Ready for an intensive (advanced) program. If you’ve scored less than 3 points, it’s
advisable that you consult your doctor. Don’t be dismayed;
once you’ve been given the go-ahead you’ll also be
on your way.
Travel for February 2003
The Woods Resort & Spa
Killington, Vt 05751
2 night stay at
The Woods Resort
1 hr. Swedish Massage
for Her
1 hr. Deep Tissue
Massage for Him
Facial for Her
1hr. Reflexology
for Him
Complimentary Fruit & Cheese
Platter in Unit
Rate:
$1599 Grand total Valid From: 02/04/2003 Valid
Until: 03/16/2003
Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa
U.S. Virgin Islands
Includes All Meals, Snacks, Drinks,
Recreation, Entertainment, and Tips & Taxes
Non-Motorized water sports, Complimentary
snorkeling gear
Unlimited Tennis, Use of Fitness
Center
3 nights include the above plus
two Journey's Spa signature experiences
5 nights include all the above plus
two Caribbean Hydrotherapy treatments
7 nights include all the above plus
two services from either Caribbean hydrotherapy treatments
or a journey's Beach Stone Massage
Deluxe accommodations
Minimum Stay 3 nights
Rate:
Starts from $2208 for 3 nights Valid through: 1/1/03 to 12/20/03
Lausanne Palace & Spa
Switzerland
6 nights in a deluxe room
Daily buffet breakfast in the restaurant
Cote Jar din
Daily lunch and dinner in the Parisian-style
brasserie or the healthy restaurant Cote Jar din
Medical
check-up on arrival and departure
18 Spa treatments during stay
Unlimited use of the fitness and
sport facilities, including indoor swimming pool, Moroccan
hammock, Jacuzzi and sauna
1 day of outdoor activities
VAT and services included
Exclusive of daily local tax Chf
2.60 per person per night
Rate: Deluxe room Double occupancy Chf.
5,005 per person Valid From: 01/31/2003 Valid
Until: 12/31/2003
We wish you all a very prospers New Year and look
forward to assisting you with your travel needs.
Information
on upcoming events at certain
spas
